2021_Alabama_Grocer_Issue_3

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OUTSIDE THE BOX NEW RETAIL PERSPECTIVES

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EVERY COMPANY IS A MEDIA COMPANY

It’s become a common trope in the 21st century that everyone is in the content business. Your old high school flame’s awkward selfies now compete against Netflix for attention, which competes against Fortnite. Sports gambling companies, swimming in profits, are also joining the content wars. In January 2020 Penn National Gaming purchased a 36% stake in Barstool Sports. The Ringer, a popular sports and culture website and podcast company, has joined forces with Fan Duel. Content is still king, even in the casino business.

THE RETURN OF G e o f f r e y THE G i r a f f e After going bankrupt in 2018, Toys “R” Us is back. The toy retailer has announced plans to open 400 storefronts inside Macy’s stores in 2022. This concept is known as a shop-in- a-shop, and with nostalgia for the 1990s at an all-time high, there might just be plenty of Millennial parents who grew up visiting Toys “R” Us ready to share the experience with their children.

Korean

Korean corn dogs are the latest street food sweeping the United States. The South Korean delight ditches corn flour for a rice flour similar to what you’ll find in mochi ice creams. From there things

Corn Dog Craze

can go all sorts of directions. Add powdered sugar? Sure. Mozzarella inside the corn dog? Why not? Call us suckers for that classic savory and sweet combination. If that’s wrong, who wants to be right?

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