Executive Summary

• This week’s note “From the Desk of Deborah Weinswig” discusses Amazon’s efforts to create a network of independent, affiliated delivery companies.
• In the first quarter of 2018, of just over $1.2 trillion in total retail sales, e-commerce accounted for only $114 billion, or 9.3%. E-commerce sales are projected to surpass 10% of overall retail sales in the fourth quarter of 2018.
• British retail footfall fell 0.9% in June, according to figures from Springboard and the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Shopping centers and retail parks saw footfall drop 3.4% and 0.4%, respectively, in June, while high-street footfall slid 0.1%.
• Ele.me, a food delivery app recently acquired by Alibaba, announced that it would expand in the already competitive food delivery business in China. The company will compete with Meituan-Dianping, China’s on-demand-service provider.