Executive Summary

• This week’s note “From the Desk of Deborah Weinswig” discusses off-price retailers’ recent expansion in Europe and their prospects for growth in the region.
• Hudson’s Bay Company, owner of the Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor retail chains, plans to review its options, including going private, following pressure from an activist shareholder.
• UK online supermarket Ocado has unveiled an app for Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant that will enable owners of Amazon’s artificial intelligence–powered Echo smart speakers to add groceries to their shopping list by voice command.
• Walmart intends to invest roughly R$1 billion (US$316 million) in Brazil through 2019 to restore about 120 stores as rivals in South America’s biggest economy ratchet up investments to retain cash-strapped consumers.