Dick's Sporting Goods will open 11 new stores in nine states this month under its namesake, combination Dick's and Golf Galaxy, Dick's Sporting Goods Warehouse Sale and Overtime by Dick's Sporting Goods banners, giving the retailer 839 stores in 47 states. Dick's will add about 300 full-time, part-time and temporary staffers to its payroll with the new store openings.

ALDI is reported to be looking for computer vision and artificial intelligence startups to help itdevelop cashierless technology similar to Amazon Go. The German discount grocer is looking to partner on automatic product recognition technology and shopping apps that can offer details on dietary information and stock levels.

Kroger's QFC banner is testing mobile contactless payment methods that would allow shoppers to check out using Google Pay, Apple Pay and other banking or payment apps. The near-field communication program is being piloted at 61 Kroger stores in Portland, Ore., and in Washington's Puget Sound area, and could add to the grocer's current Kroger Pay and Scan, Bag, Go contactless payment options.

Adidas reported a loss for the second quarter as the coronavirus pandemic caused massive store closures, but the athletic brand saw e-commerce sales grow 93% during the quarter and said revenues should recover in the third quarter. "We are now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel," CEO Kasper Rorsted said.

Work wear has been growing more casual for years and the pandemic has sped up the trend as many consumers continue to work from home. Menswear brands and other retailers that specialize in office wear have been particularly affected by the shift, and men's clothing revenue is expected to drop 13% this year and continue to decline, according to data from IBISWorld.

Nearly half of shoppers have switched brands or tried out new retailers, according to a report from McKinsey, with 51% saying better prices inspired them to try new brands and 27% citing a wish to shop with retailers who have supported employees through the pandemic. The report also found that nearly two-thirds of shoppers take the ability to find what they want quickly and easily into account when choosing where to buy online.

More than half of American shoppers say they will stock up on groceries if there is another pandemic-related shutdown, new research from Acosta shows. The data, collected by online surveys in mid-July, reveals "most shoppers believe we're headed for another shutdown and plan to respond accordingly, so retailers should be prepared for a new surge in stocking up," said Acosta CEO Darian Pickett.

E-commerce retailers from NRF's Hot 100 Retailers list have seen strong growth in consumer spending for groceries, home furnishings and household gadgets. Consumers are discovering new services, with Wayfair seeing "millions of new shoppers" across a variety of goods and regions. Read more.

About one-third of retailers in the United States have BOPIS, retail analyst Tom Enright says. Source: NRF.

Store foot traffic trends are expected to fluctuate for US retailers as consumer shopping patterns transition from leisurely to intentional with larger basket sizes, less trips and weekday rather than weekend purchases. To make visiting a store worth it, retailers must ensure they are communicating when items are in stock and notifying shoppers of protocols in place. Read more.

Papa John's saw a sales boost of 28% in the US during the last quarter and expects the trend to continue as consumers continue to turn to delivery during the pandemic, CEO Rob Lynch said. Mobile ordering has become the chain's fastest-growing platform, and it is considering opening new stores as more real estate opens up.