David Guggina

Walmart acquired Vibe.co, a French ad-tech firm, for $1.4 billion to compete with Amazon’s advertising business. The deal aims to expand Walmart’s digital-advertising capabilities, particularly for small and medium advertisers, and follows its 2024 acquisition of connected-TV maker Vizio. Walmart’s CEO John Furner is prioritizing growth in non-retail businesses like advertising to challenge Amazon’s market dominance.

Grocery chains like Sam's Club and Walmart are expanding fresh and prepared food options to compete with restaurants, offering budget-friendly meal solutions for time-strapped shoppers. This trend is driven by rising restaurant prices and consumer demand for convenience, with younger customers leading the shift. McKinsey reports that prepared grocery meals are now a key factor in reshaping the grocery industry.

Walmart's AI-powered warehouses in Mexico use robots and AI to significantly reduce the time store employees take to unload trucks, with tasks now taking minutes instead of hours. The company plans to expand to 16 next-generation distribution centers by year-end, enhancing supply chain efficiency and enabling lower prices for customers.

Walmart and Amazon are competing to provide faster deliveries in rural America, a market worth up to $1 trillion in annual sales. Walmart has a head start, with 90% of US residents living near a store, while Amazon is investing heavily in same-day and next-day deliveries. The competition is driven by technological advancements and changing demographics.