The comeback is always greater than the setback, even for a retail giant like Walmart, which was once late to the world of e-commerce—and is now making strides in the retail industry with AI.

Gone are the days when Walmart was only known for its low-price inventory and vast selection of products under one roof. Today, Walmart has been driving conversations around AI and how it can be deployed within the retail industry. The scale of Walmart’s tech ambition is significant, with Walmart Global Chief Technology Officer and Chief Development Officer Suresh Kumar saying this is “just the beginning” for the legacy retailer.

Walmart earned an advantage by being early to the AI race, Scot Wingo, CEO of ReFiBuy, an AI startup focused on solving problems for retailers using advanced AI frameworks, told Retail Brew.

“They’re one of the first people to do something, and they’re not just a fast follower of Amazon,” Wingo added. “It’s a really interesting signal to me that they’re charting their own course.”

Several experts told IT and Retail Brew that Walmart, after a long game of catch-up in the e-commerce space, has found its bearings with its organization-wide AI deployment. But what does its AI strategy actually look like?

Keep reading here on IT Brew.—BM, VC

Shopify shoppers got serious about those Thanksgiving dinners and spent a lot of time in the kitchen cooking up a storm this November, according to data shared first with Retail Brew.

Orders for food steamers, roasting pans, and sauté pans spiked 385%, 256%, 237%, respectively, according to Shopify. Consumers also shelled out to buy cooking thermometers (up 180%), carving forks (178%), and saucepans (142%).

People also stocked up on sweet essentials. Orders for marshmallows soared 123%, while cookie decorating kits were up 118%. Demand for pie crusts (up 63%), cookie and brownie dough (61%), hot chocolate mixes (20%), and cocoa powder (17%) also went up in the early days of the holiday season.

Overall, Shopify reported global sales of $14.6 billion through the Black Friday-Cyber Monday weekend. Consumers spent on vanity essentials like cosmetics, clothing staples like tops and pants, activewear, fitness, and nutrition items, in that order.

Keep reading here.—VC

On Wednesdays, we wear pink spotlight Retail Brew’s readers. Want to be featured in an upcoming edition? Click here to introduce yourself.

Socrates Rosenfeld is co-founder and CEO of cannabis industry tech provider Jane Technologies.

How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in retail? I help create the space for a team of about 150 human beings who are dedicated to expanding global access to cannabis by developing innovative digital solutions that help all operators across the industry. The Jane platform was designed to empower cannabis retailers, brands, and consumers, ultimately transforming the cannabis shopping experience into one as seamless and enjoyable as shopping for anything else in the world.

One thing we can’t guess about your job from your LinkedIn profile? In addition to working in cannabis, I am a major advocate for the plant and its medicinal benefits from my own personal experience. After I left active duty in 2011 as a US Army veteran and Apache helicopter commander, I found it challenging to readjust to civilian life. Seeking peace and healing, I turned to cannabis. However, living in Massachusetts at the time meant that cannabis wasn’t legal, forcing me to resort to the illicit market. It was a gamble; I couldn’t guarantee the quality of what I was purchasing. The frustration of navigating this unregulated market, and the realization that many of my fellow veterans faced similar struggles, propelled me into action. Alongside my brother Abraham and friends Ben, Howard, and Simon, we co-founded Jane–determined to provide a safer and more reliable way to access cannabis.

Keep reading here.—EC

Who said desk calendars have to be boring? Introducing the Morning Brew 2026 Daily Games Desk Calendar. It’s perfect for desks, nightstands, and kitchen counters, so give yourself (or others) the gift of entertaining coffee breaks.