Supermarket chain Co-op has become the first UK grocer to partner with Deliveroo Express, rolling out the delivery platform’s new white label logistics solution to provide quick and convenient online deliveries.

Using Deliveroo’s back-end tech infrastructure and extensive rider network to fulfil orders from hundreds of Co-op sites nationwide, customers will be able to order items and have them delivered in as little as 60 minutes, according to Deliveroo.

Suzy McClintock, VP of new verticals at Deliveroo, said, “We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Co-op as they adopt our white label delivery solution, supporting fast and reliable on-demand deliveries through their existing website.

“Deliveroo Express is the next step in our mission to transform on-demand delivery, ensuring we remain the partner for growth, for grocers and retailers alike, helping them reach more consumers through their own online channels.”

Co-op was Deliveroo’s first major grocery partner when it launched its grocery business in 2018. Most recently, Deliveroo launched Co-op’s membership benefits on the app, enabling Co-op members to benefit from member price savings on their orders through Deliveroo.

Chris Conway, Co-op quick commerce director, commented, “Growing our quick commerce channel is a core part of our strategic approach, and I am delighted to build on our long-standing and successful partnership with Deliveroo.

“Working together we are focused on meeting the evolving needs of shoppers. This includes making the fast and reliable delivery of Co-op groceries available to more communities and creating value through member price savings as we see consumer appetite for quick and convenient grocery delivery from their local Co-op continue to grow.”

Author Credits- HAZEL KING
Parcel and postal technology INTERNATIONAL

Gap Inc.-owned activewear label Athleta has named Maggie Gauger as global brand president and CEO.

In this role, effective August 1, she succeeds Chris Blakeslee, who will step down and remain with the company temporarily as an advisor to ensure a smooth transition.

“We are thrilled for Maggie Gauger to join as CEO of Athleta as we look to accelerate the brand’s reinvigoration. Maggie blends proven business transformation capabilities, deep consumer centricity, product fluency, and a heartfelt commitment to empowering women and girls. This combination of skills and experiences will equip her to lead Athleta into its next chapter of growth – rooted in purpose, performance, and people,” said Gap Inc. CEO, Richard Dickson.

Gauger joins the performance lifestyle brand with more than two decades of leadership experience at Nike, where she most recently led the North America women’s business. Gauger’s track record spans retail, strategy, merchandising, product creation, commerce, digital, and general management.

“I’m energized to bring my experience working at the intersection of sport, style and culture to Athleta – a brand with strong purpose and still so much untapped potential,” said Gauger. “Athleta has an unwavering mission focused on the power of women – not just as athletes, but as leaders, creators, and change-makers. And I can’t wait to work with the incredible Athleta team to grow, to lead, and to inspire the next generation through the power of product and community.”

Her appointment marks a significant step in Gap Inc.’s strategy to reinvigorate its portfolio of iconic American brands.

Author Credits- Jennifer Braun
FASHION NETWORK

PayPal Holdings Inc. shares dropped 10% after the firm posted slower growth in payment volume and executives said they were seeing softer retail spending due to the US tariff wars. Shares were trading 7.8% lower at $72.13 at 10:15 a.m. (EDT).

(Bloomberg) — PayPal Holdings Inc. shares fell the most in almost six months after reporting slower growth in payment volume, and company executives said they were seeing softer retail spending as a result of the US tariff wars.

“We did see a slight deceleration” in consumer spending, Chief Financial Officer Jamie Miller said on a call with analysts Tuesday, saying goods made in China were taking a particular hit.

PayPal-branded checkout volume increased by 5% in the quarter, down from a 6% increase in the first three months of the year, PayPal said in a presentation Tuesday. The macroeconomic environment and consumer spending has been uneven, PayPal Chief Executive Officer Alex Chriss said on the call, with less robust US spending at businesses most hit by tariffs, such as Asia-based merchant.

PayPal shares slumped as much as 10%, the biggest intraday decline since Feb. 4. They were down 7.8% to $72.13 at 10:15 a.m. in New York.

San Jose, California-based PayPal has attempted to make the brand more prominent, an effort that’s started to bear fruit. The firm raised its outlook, saying it now expects this year’s per-share adjusted earnings to be $5.15 to $5.30 this year, up from a previous forecast of $4.95 to $5.10, PayPal said in a statement Tuesday.

Chriss has been investing in unifying the once-sprawling enterprise. While the strategy hasn’t enjoyed uninterrupted success, revenue gains allowed PayPal to also raise its outlook for transaction margin dollars, which represents how much the company earns from processing transactions after expenses.

That metric, a key measure of Chriss’ success in moving the company into sustained profitability, is now expected at $15.35 billion to $15.5 billion this year, up from a previous forecast of $15.2 billion to $15.4 billion.

PayPal reported a 7% increase in second-quarter transaction margin dollars, which climbed to $3.84 billion.

“We delivered another quarter of profitable growth, driven by continued strength across many of our strategic initiatives,” Chriss said in the statement.

Adjusted net income was $1.37 billion for the second quarter, up 10% from a year earlier. And adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.40 topped Wall Street analyst estimates.

Under the CEO’s leadership, the firm has focused on monetizing its existing businesses and leveraging the PayPal brand both in person and online. Venmo revenue, for example, increased 20% in the quarter, the company said in a presentation.

PayPal reported $443.5 billion in total payment volume during the second quarter, beating analyst estimates of $435.7 billion.

PayPal recently announced a platform to enable customers to use their domestic digital wallets to make purchases globally, and the company will allow businesses to accept more than 100 different cryptocurrencies at checkout.

In June, PayPal also added a new credit card to its roster to bolster its in-person checkout presence.

News Credits- mint

Temu Struggles Amid U.S. Tariffs and Amazon’s Aggressive Pricing Tactics

Temu, the Chinese online shopping platform that has attracted millions of Australian users, is facing mounting challenges as U.S. tariffs take effect and Amazon ramps up competition globally.

The rivalry between Temu and Amazon is not only reshaping global e-commerce but also impacting the bottom lines of major discount retailers such as Big W, Target, and Kmart, according to industry insiders. Local retailers are reportedly losing customers to international players offering lower prices and greater convenience with both Temu and Amazon ramping up marketing in Australia especially to existing customers.

Temu, owned by China’s PDD Holdings, is scrambling to source goods from former suppliers after the Trump administration removed the de minimis rule—previously allowing duty-free imports under a set value.

The policy shift has stalled Temu’s growth in the U.S., with its monthly active users plummeting 54% to 37 million between March and mid-July, according to Sensor Tower data.

This has led to the Chinese ecommerce operator chasing marketshare in markets such as Australia, Asia the EU and the UK.

Making matters worse, Amazon has moved swiftly to fill the gap, pressuring suppliers to avoid undercutting its prices on branded goods.

“We’ve told them they can’t undercut Amazon with the same stuff—it has to be materially different products,” a senior executive at a major third-party seller told the Financial Times.

The result: Temu is being forced to rethink its business model. In the U.S., it has slashed advertising in response to the tariffs, contributing to a sharp drop in user engagement. This pullback could cost tech giants like Google and Meta over A$2.3 billion in lost ad revenue, with Morgan Stanley estimating Temu spent around A$2.5 billion on Facebook and Instagram ads last year alone.

With the U.S. market tightening, Temu is doubling down on tariff-free regions like Australia, ramping up promotions and discounts in an effort to win back users. Analysts say this strategy is further disrupting local discount chains, especially as Amazon also slashes prices in a bid to dominate.

To stay competitive, Temu is offering new incentives to sellers—such as lower fees—to encourage them to list on the platform. However, sellers remain cautious, warning that Amazon can quickly match or beat prices due to its scale and ability to absorb short-term losses.

“Unless PDD is prepared to lose billions annually for the next five years to gain market share, it needs a smarter approach,” said retail consultant Martin Heubel, who brokers deals with Amazon vendors.

Under existing arrangements, Amazon vendors often agree to absorb the cost of price reductions, allowing the retail giant to maintain its margins while still offering low prices. Amazon maintains these deals are voluntary and designed to keep prices competitive.

For Temu, alternatives include focusing on unbranded products or offering bulk discounts—strategies common in large discount outlets.

“The only way Temu can compete on higher-quality goods is by avoiding branded items or selling overstock and returned products at lower prices,” Heubel said.

Author Credits- David Richards
CHANNELNEWS

In a bid to provide more personalized and seamless experiences for customers, Australia Post has partnered with Adobe to enhance its digital capabilities.

The partnership will see Australia Post use data and AI to tailor digital interactions, improve how customers engage with services and make operations more efficient.

Michael McNamara, Australia Post executive general manager, enterprise services, explained, “As we continue to transform our digital customer experience and modernize e-commerce operations, we are investing in technology that helps us connect more meaningfully with our customers.

“By using AI and real-time data, we can better understand what customers need, tailor services to suit them and make every interaction simpler and more efficient. This partnership is about delivering personalized experiences that meet customers’ expectations, wherever they are, while ensuring we stay competitive in a rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape.”

Australia Post will leverage the full capabilities of Adobe to bring together creativity, marketing and AI to deliver personalized customer experiences at scale. This means Australia Post customers will receive tailored digital interactions aligned to their needs and preferences, helping them complete transactions quickly and easily.

It will also drive more agile operations internally by connecting Australia Post’s creative and marketing teams in streamlined content production workflows and activate generative AI to scale the production of standout content for digital marketing and e-commerce.

Anil Chakravarthy, Adobe digital experience business president, commented, “Australia Post is on a transformative journey that not only ensures the organization thrives in a rapidly changing e-commerce delivery marketplace but also has the digital capabilities that underpin generational success.

“It’s about reimagining the digital experience and delivering value in new ways, with a comprehensive set of applications and services specifically designed to address the modern technology requirements of Australia Post.

“Together, we share a commitment to creating relevant and impactful experiences, creating value for customers and communities alike.”

Author Credits- HAZEL KING
Parcel and postal technology INTERNATIONAL