Staples to close its Goleta and Levittown stores after 27 and 15 years. Staples is closing its Goleta, California store after more than 27 years and its Levittown, New York store after more than 15 years, both shutting in August as the retailer consolidates its network, according to TheStreet.

UK retail sales jump 2.5% in July on hot weather and food price rises. Total UK retail sales rose 2.5% year on year in July, with food sales up 3.9%, as warm weather and higher prices drove spending, the BRC and KPMG Retail Sales Monitor found, as reported by KamCity.

eBay completes $1.4 billion acquisition of Depop from Etsy. eBay completed its acquisition of secondhand fashion marketplace Depop from Etsy on July 30 in a deal worth approximately $1.4 billion in cash, according to Chain Store Age.

Asda partners with Ocado to overhaul online grocery, rollout starting 2027. Asda is rolling out Ocado's Smart Platform technology across its website, app and in store picking under a partnership announced May 29, with changes to search, recommendations and checkout due to begin in 2027, according to Retail Gazette.

Tariff driven frontloading pushes transpacific rates up 51% and US ports toward a record August. Retailers rushing to beat expected tariff increases have pushed Asia to US West Coast container rates up 51% in a single week to $4,836 per forty foot container, fueling an early and record breaking peak shipping season, according to FreightWaves.

DHL Supply Chain to build a 194,000 square foot automated healthcare hub in Derby. DHL Supply Chain is building a 194,000 square foot automated healthcare hub at Infinity Park Derby for consumer health, pharmaceutical and medical device clients, with completion expected by the end of 2026, according to Motor Transport.

DOJ creates new Global Trade and Commerce Enforcement Section to pursue tariff evasion. The Department of Justice announced on July 14 the creation of a Global Trade and Commerce Enforcement Section within its National Fraud Enforcement Division, adding permanent prosecutorial capacity as tariff evasion enforcement ramps up in 2026, according to Sourcing Journal.

Alfor Aviation invests £50 million in Teesside expansion creating 250 jobs. Alfor Aviation is investing £50 million to relocate its global headquarters to Teesside Airport under a 50 year agreement, creating 250 permanent jobs, according to Tees Business.

UNIT AI raises $12 million to scale its AI powered ecommerce fulfillment and returns platform. UNIT AI raised $12 million in a round led by Prologis Ventures, Dynamo Ventures and Ground Up Ventures to expand its modular automation platform for ecommerce fulfillment and returns across North America, according to PR Newswire.

Morrisons becomes first UK grocer to trial Instacart's AI powered Caper Cart smart trolleys. Morrisons is trialling 30 Instacart Caper Cart smart trolleys, fitted with cameras and built in scales, at its Preston store from July 29 in a three month pilot, according to The Grocer.