Hundreds rally to protest Amazon expansion in France as retailer plans digital makeover

Hundreds rally to protest Amazon's expansion in France

Hundreds of French people organized a rally to protest Amazon's plan to build a 400,000 - square-foot warehouse in Fournes , a small southern town near the Pont du Gard .

"For four years, the residents of Fournis and its surroundings have been opposing the construction of a giant Amazon warehouse, " said Raphael Pradeau, spokesman for French civic activist group Attac.

U.S. online gift card sales nearly doubled in 2020

As consumers avoided crowded stores and malls in favor of online shopping, U.S. online gift card sales nearly doubled in 2020. Consumers purchased gift cards online to support their favorite retailers and restaurants and give them to friends, relatives, and employees as a token of appreciation.

While physical gift cards remain the preferred gift for consumers, digital gift cards also saw significant growth in 2020, accounting for more than half of online gift card purchases.

As e-commerce booms, retailers plan digital transformation

Data from global cybersecurity company ESET shows that 70% of Americans are buying more products online, and 44% of consumers say they will continue to shop online after the pandemic.

It is precisely because of the booming e-commerce that many retailers plan to undergo digital transformation in 2021. Among the 100 retail CFOs interviewed, 64% said they plan to increase their e-commerce investments in the next six months, while 54% plan to develop their mobile channels within the same time frame.

U.S. household CPG spending surges 19% in 2020

New research from NCSolutions shows that U.S. household spending on fast-moving consumer goods surged 19% in 2020, driven by the COVID-19 crisis, and will continue to grow in 2021. Americans are also gravitating toward buying new CPG products, with nearly half of respondents saying they have tried a new brand or product category.

By CPG category, respondents are most willing to try new brands in snack foods, with 52% saying they are most willing to try new options in snacks, followed by beverages (44%) and cleaning supplies (43%).

Walmart donates $14 million to support racial equality

In the wake of the killing of George Floyd, Walmart pledged to expand diversity within its own ranks and to donate $100 million over five years to help fight systemic racism across the country.

Walmart and its foundation recently donated $14.3 million to 16 nonprofit organizations that aim to promote racial equality in education, health care and other areas.

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