TikTok Finalizes U.S. Deal 📱

TikTok has finalized a deal to keep the app operating in the United States, ending years of uncertainty over a potential nationwide ban. The agreement creates a new TikTok U.S. joint venture backed by major investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi–based MGX. It follows U.S. legislation passed in 2024 requiring Chinese owner ByteDance to divest control of the platform’s American operations.

🔢 Algorithm Change: Beyond tighter data safeguards — including the local storage of U.S. user data on systems operated by Oracle — the joint venture will place significant focus on TikTok’s algorithm. The platform’s content recommendation system, which determines which videos users see based on their interests and behavior, will be retrained, tested, and updated using U.S. user data.

📖 Congressional Approval: U.S. lawmakers said Congress should investigate the newly finalized TikTok deal, citing a lack of transparency and unanswered questions. They said the agreement with ByteDance does not clearly show that TikTok’s algorithm is free from foreign influence, raising national security concerns.

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DoorDash and Uber failed to block a New York City law requiring food-delivery apps to display a tip prompt of at least 10% at checkout. A federal judge on Friday denied the companies’ request to pause the rule, allowing it to take effect on January 26 while their lawsuit proceeds.

The companies argued the requirement would discourage orders and hurt small businesses by increasing upfront costs for customers. DoorDash said it expects millions of dollars in lost revenue as fewer New Yorkers place orders, and warned of reduced deliveries for couriers. Both companies filed an immediate appeal following the ruling.

U.S. District Judge George Daniels said the challenge was unlikely to succeed, finding the rule reasonable and aligned with the city’s goals of transparency and worker protection.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said tariffs are starting to “creep” into the prices of some products sold on the platform. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Jassy said many sellers had initially buffered the impact by stockpiling inventory. That inventory, however, largely ran out last fall.

Jassy said sellers are now taking different approaches as higher import costs bite. Some are passing costs on to consumers through higher prices, while others are absorbing the hit to preserve demand. Amazon, he said, is trying to keep prices as low as possible, but retail’s thin margins limit how much cost pressure it can absorb.

The comments mark a shift from earlier statements that tariffs had not materially affected prices

On January 29, we are publishing an exclusive deep dive into Target’s evolving fulfillment strategy, featuring direct insights from the company.

The piece offers a rare, inside look at how one of the world’s most influential retailers is re-architecting its fulfillment model — and what those decisions signal for the future of retail operations, inventory flow, and supply chain design.

This story is available only to our paid subscribers — upgrade now to get access to the full story.

Clorox said it has agreed to acquire Gojo Industries, the maker of Purell hand sanitizer, for $2.25 billion in cash. The debt-funded deal adds a major hand hygiene brand to Clorox’s portfolio of cleaning and consumer products. After tax benefits, Clorox said the net purchase price will be about $1.92 billion.

The acquisition expands Clorox’s presence in health and hygiene while giving it access to Gojo’s strong business-to-business distribution network. Gojo generates nearly $800 million in annual sales, with more than 80% coming from professional customers supported by millions of installed soap and sanitizer dispensers. Clorox said it expects at least $50 million in cost savings from the transaction.

The deal is expected to close by the end of June and be accretive to adjusted earnings in the second year. Clorox said the acquisition supports its long-term sales growth target of 3% to 5% and reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 outlook excluding the transaction.

L’Occitane Groupe, the French skincare retailer, is weighing a potential initial public offering in the United States as soon as this year, according to people familiar with the matter. The skincare company was taken private in 2024 by its billionaire owner, Reinold Geiger. The move would mark a return to public markets just two years after its buyout.

The company is working with JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley on preparations for the potential listing. Sources said discussions are ongoing and no final decision has been made on timing or valuation. Market conditions and investor appetite will play a key role in determining whether the IPO proceeds.

A U.S. listing would place L’Occitane alongside a growing number of consumer and beauty brands seeking deeper capital markets and broader investor reach.

We sat down for a detailed conversation with Marc Levinson, economist, historian, and the award-winning author of The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger.

From supply chains and shipbuilding to tariffs and China +1 policy, the conversation examines the forces reshaping global commerce.

This interview is available exclusively to CrossDock paid members on Feb 12.

Saks Off 5th, the e-commerce unit of Saks Global Enterprises, has received court approval to liquidate its inventory as part of its bankruptcy proceedings.

The digital business is currently being run by independent managers, with an outside chief restructuring officer overseeing the process. Its bankruptcy attorney said the unit is also exploring alternative transactions beyond liquidation. An independent structure was put in place after concerns that the digital arm may owe money to its parent company.

Saks Global filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this month, citing high debt levels and a liquidity squeeze, and disclosed at least $3.4 billion in liabilities. Its core banners — including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdorf Goodman — will continue operating during the restructuring

The U.S. Postal Service has launched a new bid solicitation platform that opens access to its last-mile delivery network to a broader range of customers. More than 18,000 destination delivery units and local processing centers nationwide are now available for same-day or next-day delivery entry. Previously, direct access to these facilities was largely limited to a small number of large shippers.

Postmaster General David Steiner said the move reflects changing shipping patterns, supply chain disruptions, and rising demand for faster delivery. Under the platform, customers can propose volumes, pricing, and tender times tailored to specific locations.

Accepted bids are expected to be formalized through negotiated service agreements, with winners notified in the second quarter of 2026. Service under those agreements is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026.

U.S. private label sales climbed to a record $283 billion in 2025, rising $9 billion year over year, according to data from the Private Label Manufacturers Association and Circana. Growth significantly outpaced national brands, which saw slower sales increases and declining unit volumes.

Private labels posted 3.3% sales growth and a 0.6% increase in unit volume, compared with just 1.2% sales growth for national brands. Gains were broad-based, led by refrigerated foods, beverages, pet care, beauty, and frozen categories. Industry executives said consumers are increasingly choosing retailer-owned brands for value, quality, and sustainability rather than price alone.

Retailers have accelerated private label investment as shoppers seek lower-cost alternatives. Target, CVS, Walmart, and Aldi were among the fastest-growing private label players, according to Numerator.

Procter & Gamble reported quarterly earnings that topped Wall Street expectations, even as softer consumer demand weighed on sales. Adjusted earnings came in at $1.88 per share, slightly above forecasts, while revenue rose 1% to $22.21 billion but missed estimates. Shares rose after executives expressed confidence in performance through the rest of the fiscal year.

Demand weakened across several core categories, including Gillette razors and Pampers diapers, as inflation-weary consumers continued to pull back on discretionary spending. Overall volume fell 1%, with declines in three of the company’s five business segments.

P&G lowered its full-year earnings outlook, citing higher restructuring costs and a slower consumer environment. The company now expects fiscal 2026 earnings growth of 1% to 6%, down from its previous range.

We’re also working on a detailed e-book that’s nearing completion. BuildOut AI — a comprehensive e-book that goes beyond models and chips to map the physical supply chains powering the AI boom. From energy systems and grid capacity to critical materials and industrial infrastructure, it reveals the real-world foundations shaping AI’s next phase.

CrossDock paid subscribers will receive full access at no additional cost, while non-subscribers can purchase the book through a limited-time early-access offer.