Walmart is testing a kitchen robot called Flippy in its labs for possible deployment at some of its in-store delis. The robot would watch the time for prepared food staples like chicken fingers or mozzarella sticks, then remove them from the fryer at the right time.

SpartanNash has begun offering a scan-and-go app for use in two Family Fare stores in Michigan, with plans to expand its availability to more stores in 2019. The Check Out Now app also connects to the banner's shopper rewards program.

Tivity Health will acquire Nutrisystem in a deal valued at approximately $1.4 billion. Nutrisystem owns weight loss programs and products under the South Beach Diet name as well as its namesake brand.

Mall of America has implemented augmented reality technology from XenoHolographic in an app to make the holiday shopping experience more interactive. Shoppers can use their phones to interact with toy decor throughout the mall and tell a story by sharing photos on social media.

Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman, has added six new Hamilton Beach-made products to her Walmart cookware line, including a two-slice toaster and 1.5-quart slow cooker set. The appliances come in Drummond's signature floral patterns.

Amazon has rolled out new skills for Alexa, including location-based routines, better timer controls, verbal email notifications and app notifications. Also new are Wait Actions, which allow users to delay certain actions.

Google Fit's app received improvements recently, including the reintroduction of home screen stats, which allow users to quickly check "Heart Points" and "Move Minutes." Users can also adjust the intensity of activity to better track those points.

Saturn, the largest consumer electronics retailer in Europe, is unveiling a cashier-less shopping feature; it allows users to check out via mobile with the assistance of MishiPay. The program will begin in the retailer's Hamburg store, where consumers will be able to use their smartphones to scan and pay for more than 100,000 items.

Consumers, including a majority of millennials, say they want to cook at home more often in the coming year, according to a survey from online grocer Peapod. The survey found considerable interest in using click-and-collect at 27%, followed by home grocery delivery at 26% and meal kit delivery at 20%.

Health outreach efforts including in-store clinics and dietitian-led tours have helped Albertsons win acclaim for innovation in pharmacy services, Seth Mendelson writes. "It just makes sense to teach patients about healthy eating and medication management for conditions like diabetes in the same place they buy their groceries and pick up prescriptions each week," says Donna Dolan of Albertsons Pharmacies.