We’re entering a new phase of retail shopping, as AI steps into store aisles.

Brands are plugging AI anywhere they can to help employees more easily find and access information and cut down on the manual work baked into the in-store experience. More recently, brands like The Vitamin Shoppe and Tecovas have rolled out AI-powered touchscreens and apps, respectively, to make the in-store experience more productive.

In early 2026, The Vitamin Shoppe rolled out a namesake digital touchscreen called “Shoppe Advisor” in its Upper East Side store in New York City, dubbed an “innovation” center by the retailer. The supplement retailer used AI to build and code the new interactive screen, which gives consumers information about workouts, energy drinks, sleep, and other related wellness content, which was previously really hard to get to.

“We did not set out to say, ‘How can we use AI in our stores?,’” Andrew Laudato, COO of Vitamin Shoppe, said on a recent Shoptalk Spring panel. “What we said was, ‘How can we provide a better customer experience, bringing digital content into the hands of our stores and to our customers?’”

Keep reading here.—VC

As more higher-income shoppers flock to Walmart, the retail giant is giving its flagship private label brand, Great Value, a “comprehensive redesign” with the goal of enhancing visibility and encouraging exploration.

The packaging redesign will change the look and feel of 10,000 food and consumable products, making it the company’s most extensive private brand update ever, and one that will have some impact on a significant number of US consumers. According to the company, Great Value products can be found in 9 out of 10 US households.

Keep reading here.—AV

It’s no secret that cancer treatment is a financial burden in the US. Within six months of diagnosis, a 2025 Dana-Farber study found that 1 in 3 children being treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia have food, housing, utility, or transportation insecurity. Food insecurity has also been linked to higher mortality rates among cancer patients worldwide.

That’s why Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts-based grocery store chain Stop & Shop created a food pantry in the hospital. Opened on March 25 with a $1 million donation from the store (and an extra $500,000 already committed), the pantry will begin its work with pediatric patients and their families, eventually expanding to adult patients as well.

Keep reading here on Healthcare Brew.—CM

Heading to NRF, CommerceNext, Shoptalk, or another retail event in 2026? Tell us what’s on your calendar so we can plan how the Brew shows up—and where we should connect.

Tired of one-size-fits-all job boards? CollabWORK highlights roles that reflect your interests and goals—delivered through communities like Retail Brew. Click here to explore the full job board.