Kohl's Corp. has terminated its CEO, Ashley Buchanan, for cause following an investigation into his conduct. The investigation revealed that Buchanan directed the company to engage in vendor transactions that involved undisclosed conflicts of interest with a vendor with whom he had a personal relationship, Chandra Holt, his romantic partner. Specifically, he conducted business under highly unusual terms, including a multi-million dollar consulting agreement, failing to disclose this connection as required by Kohl's code of ethics. Buchanan's dismissal, effective April 30, is not related to the company's performance, financial reporting, or operational results, according to Kohl's. Michael Bender, the current chairman of the board, has been appointed as interim CEO effective immediately. Buchanan, who assumed the CEO role on January 15, will forfeit all equity awards and must repay Kohl's $2.5 million of his signing bonus. The retailer has been facing challenges with declining sales, with preliminary first-quarter comparable sales expected to fall between 4% and 4.3%. Despite these struggles, Kohl's stock rose nearly 10% following the announcement of Buchanan's termination, indicating investor approval of the board's decision.

Walmart has announced a $6 billion investment aimed at expanding its market presence and competing more aggressively with major retailers such as Costco, 7-Eleven, and Wawa. This strategic move comes as rival retailers like Kohl’s plan to close nearly 100 stores across the United States, including 27 Kohl’s locations in 15 states. Walmart’s expansion is expected to create new jobs and contribute to economic growth in the U.S., drawing positive reactions from political figures who highlight the benefits to small businesses and the broader economy. The investment reflects Walmart’s ambition to strengthen its position in the retail sector and capitalize on opportunities arising from competitors’ store closures.

Saks Global, the parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, announced it will permanently close its distribution center in LaVergne, Tennessee, on June 4, 2025, resulting in 450 job cuts. Meanwhile, The Container Store, a specialty retailer focusing on storage and organization solutions, laid off fewer than 70 employees, representing 2% of its corporate workforce, at its Coppell, Texas headquarters and has paused capital projects. Kohl’s, a U.S. department store chain, also announced widespread layoffs and multiple store closures across the country. In the energy sector, ConocoPhillips is planning layoffs as part of a broad restructuring following its $23 billion acquisition of Marathon Oil. The company has engaged Boston Consulting Group to advise on the workforce restructuring and will cut an undisclosed number of employees in Houston amid industry-wide cost-cutting pressures driven by falling oil prices.

Fiserv, a global payment and financial technology company, has partnered with the Kansas state government to open a new strategic fintech hub in Overland Park, Kansas, a move announced by Governor Laura Kelly. Meanwhile, multiple layoffs have been reported across various industries and locations. In California, Tempest Therapeutics laid off 21 of its 26 full-time employees, representing 80% of its workforce, due to a cash crunch after failing to secure funding for a phase 3 cancer trial. The Coca-Cola Company plans to lay off 135 employees in American Canyon, and True Food Kitchen will cut 82 jobs in Santa Monica. SSP America will reduce its workforce by 105 employees in Sacramento, and Primo Brands, Inc. will lay off 38 employees across multiple California locations. MV Transportation will lay off 477 employees in Oceanside and Escondido following the end of a contract with the North County Transit District. In Minnesota, IV Media, LLC plans to lay off approximately 200 employees at its Eden Prairie facility starting June 16, 2025. In Missouri, Broadridge Financial Solutions will lay off 72 employees in Kansas City beginning June 20, 2025. AmplifyBio in Ohio laid off 212 employees in April. Saks Global is closing a fulfillment center and cutting 450 jobs, and Kohl’s announced widespread layoffs and multiple store closures across the U.S. ShopHQ’s owner laid off 72 workers and anticipates closing operations in Eden Prairie. In Israel, Cipia Vision will reduce its workforce by 50% at its Tel Aviv headquarters. Additionally, the Middle East Broadcasting Network (MBN), a U.S.-government-funded Arabic-language media organization, has terminated contracts of over 60 journalists and revoked their U.S. work and residency rights, forcing them to leave the country within a month. MBN President and CEO Jeffrey Gedmin indicated that the network would significantly reduce staff and cut production.

Several major U.S. retailers have announced their operating plans for Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025. Target, Costco, Lowe's, Macy's, Kohl's, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Sierra, Homesense, Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, JCPenney, Belk, Burlington, Office Depot, and Office Max will be closed for the holiday, a move described by Lowe's as intended to "show appreciation to Lowe's associates for their dedication to serving our customers." Walmart, CVS, Dollar General, Whole Foods, Home Depot, Kroger, Trader Joe's, Walgreens, and Dollar Tree will remain open on Easter, with some, such as CVS, potentially operating with reduced hours. Trader Joe's will be open except for its Portland, Maine location, and Aldi stores will be closed. Albertsons banner stores, including Safeway, Jewel-Osco, ACME, Vons, and Tom Thumb, will also be open, with pharmacy hours varying by location. The "retail blackout" trend, where retailers close on major holidays, continues to expand among U.S. chains. In Spain, supermarket hours during Semana Santa (Holy Week) vary by chain and region. Mercadona will generally be closed on public holidays such as Jueves Santo (April 17) and Viernes Santo (April 18), but some stores in Catalonia and the Valencian Community will open with reduced hours, typically from 9:00 to 15:00. Carrefour and Alcampo plan to keep most stores open with regular hours, though some locations may adjust schedules or close depending on local regulations. Lidl and Dia will have a mix of open and closed stores, with many offering reduced hours on holidays; Dia stores are expected to open from 10:00 to 14:30 on Jueves Santo. El Corte Inglés will operate with reduced hours, approximately 11:00 to 21:00, in regions where holidays are not observed. Consumers are advised to check with their local stores or visit retailer websites for specific holiday hours, as schedules may vary by location and community.

Kohl's Corp. closed 27 underperforming stores across 15 states on Saturday, with the largest number of closures, 10, in California. The decision, announced in January, was aimed at supporting the long-term growth and health of the business, according to CEO Tom Kingsbury. The company, which reported a 9.4% decrease in net sales for the fourth quarter ending February 1, 2025, and a 7.2% decrease in sales for 2024, expects a 2% net decrease in sales for 2025. After these closures, Kohl's will continue to operate over 1,100 stores. Kohl's also plans to close its San Bernardino E-commerce Fulfillment Center in California by May, citing improved technology and efficiency at newer facilities. Employees at the closed locations were offered severance packages or the opportunity to apply for other positions within the company.

In preparation for Easter, several major retail chains have announced plans to close their stores for 24 hours. Chipotle will shut down all locations on Easter, while Lowe's has also confirmed a complete closure for the day to show appreciation for its employees and customers. Additionally, Kohl's has joined the list of retailers opting for a 24-hour shutdown on Easter. Lidl will close 848 locations for the same duration. These closures reflect a growing trend among retailers to recognize the holiday and provide employees with time off.

Kohl's has confirmed it is temporarily halting its Amazon returns service at three test locations: Leominster, Massachusetts; Eau Claire, Wisconsin; and Washington, Missouri. This move is part of a 'test and learn' initiative to evaluate customer preferences and operational efficiency, according to a report by Modern Retail. The program, introduced in 2019 to increase store foot traffic, has faced criticism for slowing down operations without boosting sales. An internal employee subreddit post revealed that the test was announced a month ago and started on Monday. The decision comes as Kohl's reports a 9.4% decline in sales for the fourth quarter of 2024 and a 7.2% drop for the year, with further sales decreases expected in 2025. Additionally, the Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin-based company plans to close 27 underperforming stores and cut 10% of its corporate workforce by April 2025, as part of broader efforts to address financial challenges.

Fashion retailer Forever 21 has announced plans to close nearly 200 stores across the United States, with liquidation sales already underway at several locations. The closures include the Forever 21 store in Annapolis Mall and the Arundel Mills location, which is currently in the process of liquidating its inventory. This decision comes amid ongoing challenges in the retail sector. Additionally, Kohl's has revealed plans to close 27 underperforming stores by April, including one location in Texas, as part of its strategy to streamline operations and enhance profitability.

Kohl's plans to close 27 underperforming stores this spring, including several locations in the Bay Area. Concurrently, Kirkland's is set to close some of its least profitable stores as part of a turnaround strategy, which includes eliminating low-performing SKUs and enhancing its e-commerce operations in partnership with Beyond, the parent company of Bed Bath & Beyond, Buy Buy Baby, Overstock, and Zulily. This transformation aims to improve Kirkland's market position. Additionally, other retailers are also announcing closures, with a focus on adapting to changing market conditions and consumer preferences.

Marks & Spencer (M&S) is adjusting its strategy to attract family shoppers by reducing prices on kidswear and expanding its value food lines. The retailer has also reintroduced popular berry treats, which have received positive feedback from customers. M&S is actively investing in value offerings to enhance its appeal among families, a move that comes amid a challenging retail environment where other chains are facing closures and bankruptcies. Notably, the high street is seeing a mix of store closures, with retailers like Kohl's announcing the closure of 27 locations, including 10 in California, as they adapt to shifting market conditions.

Kohl's has announced a reduction of 10% of its corporate workforce, following a recent decision to close 27 stores. This move comes amid a challenging year for the retailer, which has struggled with declining sales and profitability. In a related development, JCPenney also revealed plans to close three stores in the U.S. by May, indicating broader challenges faced by major retailers as they navigate a tough retail environment early in 2025.