Executive Summary

• This week’s note “From the Desk of Deborah Weinswig” looks at how warehouse clubs have been upping their digital games following the Amazon–Whole Foods acquisition.

In the news this week:

• In the US, Fred’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, months after the pharmacy and discount retailer began shuttering hundreds of stores.
• In Europe, online apparel retailer Zalando is testing artificial intelligence-powered 3D scanning technology to cut size-related returns.
• In India, Amazon has partnered with Indian Railways to install pickup kiosks in the CSTM, Thane, Dadar and Kalyan railway stations in Mumbai.