Amazon's 'Grocery Label' Play

Amazon Plays Retail Chess in India — and at Home

Amazon-backed More Retail is gearing up for an IPO next year—and not shying away from bold moves. With 775 stores already, it reported gross sales of ₹50B (US $580M) in fiscal 2025 (up 11%), plans to double its store count over five years, and is deepening its hybrid model by integrating with Amazon Fresh.

Meanwhile, Amazon just shook up the U.S. grocery game by launching Amazon Grocery, a private-label line of 1,000+ items mostly priced under $5. The move follows a 15% uptick in private-label spending across its platforms in 2024—proof that cost-conscious consumers are already eating out of Amazon’s hand.

Both stories point to the same strategy: control the shelf + reduce dependence on middlemen. In India, Amazon leans on stores and fulfillment engines; in the U.S., it's using product labels to capture loyalty and margin. The question now: which market gives Amazon more room to dominate next?

Nothing’s AI OS Wants to Redefine Phone

London-based startup Nothing is building its own AI OS—a rethink of the smartphone interface where essential apps become lightweight “playgrounds.” Instead of a grid of icons, the OS aims to serve users contextually, weaving AI into the core of every interaction.

At its heart, the system strips down apps like camera, maps, messages, and browser to their bare essentials, then lets AI surface what you need when you need it. Think: fewer taps, more intent-driven interactions.

The move signals a broader bet: apps as we know them may be fading, replaced by AI-first layers that anticipate actions. If Nothing succeeds, it could inspire bigger rivals to rethink the 17-year-old app store model.

Kidulting: $9B and Counting

The “kidult” economy is booming, with adults now accounting for nearly 25% of U.S. toy sales—about $9B a year. From LEGO sets to Pokémon cards, grown-ups are buying nostalgia as much as plastic.

One big winner? Build-A-Bear Workshop, whose stock has surged over the past two years as more adults join its teddy-making sessions. It turns out stuffed animals aren’t just for kids—they’re stress relievers and memory triggers for a generation craving comfort.

Brands are responding by launching lines tailored to over-18 buyers, blurring the line between childhood play and adult leisure. The message: playtime sells, no matter your age.

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