Juneteenth became an official federal holiday this week, and retailers including Target and Best Buy are among the more than 460 companies commemorating the day with paid time off or holiday pay. Home Depot, Starbucks and Nike are also recognizing the holiday.

Pharmacy retailers CVS and Walgreens were struggling ahead of the pandemic and even through last year, but their fortunes turned around with the start of COVID-19 vaccine programs. In addition to vaccine payments from federal programs that were increased this spring from $28 for a single dose and $45 for two doses to $40 for every dose, the retailers say people who come for their shots are shopping for other items while in the stores.

After launching drone delivery last fall to get at-home COVID-19 test kits to customers around Las Vegas, Walmart has invested in Virginia-based DroneUp. Walmart has partnered with other drone service providers around the country and did not reveal the amount of its DroneUp investment, but US CEO John Furner said the retailer believes in drones as a last-mile solution and that "[c]onducting drone deliveries at scale is within reach."

Amazon opened its much-anticipated Fresh store in the Factoria suburb of Bellevue, Wash., on Thursday, giving an eager crowd of shoppers a chance to try the "just walk out" technology the retailer is offering for the first time in a full-size store. Customers can choose the cashierless option and in-store cameras and sensors record purchases, which are then charged to their Amazon accounts.

Lockdowns amid a surge in new COVID-19 cases in the Chinese province of Guangdong have created a backlog at ports that are vital links in the global supply chain and raised concerns about merchandise delays ahead of the holiday season. Maersk and other large shipping companies have been warning customers about delays, changes in routes and increased shipping fees.

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About 75% of consumers plan to celebrate Father's Day this year. Source: NRF's annual 2021 Father's Day survey, conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics.

How do brands appeal to today's consumers? Is brick-and-mortar retail going to come back after the pandemic? How have retailers responded to recent discussions around racial tensions and inequality? All of these questions and more were discussed at NRF's inaugural State of Retail and the Consumer event, which explored the emergence of the "citizen shopper" -- the consumer who wants retail stores to be more than just a place to shop. Learn more.

This month's launch of Burger King's new hand-breaded Ch'King chicken sandwich marks a shift in strategy away from promotional pricing and deals to a greater focus on upgrading the core menu, said Jose Cil, CEO of parent Restaurant Brands International. "I think the development of that product and how we've launched it should be an indicator of how we're thinking about and reprioritizing the business at Burger King," Cil said.