Retail Focus 12/9/19 – Aldi Delays AZ Plans; Kroger Earnings; Big Lots Shifts Focus (Again)

We begin with sad news—that of Ollie’s CEO Mark Butler’s passing. From there, we discuss Aldi’s postponement of building in Arizona, Kroger’s latest earnings call, and retailers we both paid a visit to last week. Additionally, we conduct a deep dive on Big Lots, discussing how their “Store of the Future” layout and their movement away from essentials marks another pivot for the company. In closing, we look ahead to Conn’s earnings and how tariffs may affect Five Below’s runaway success.