Amazon Layoffs, Tesco Profits and Walmart AI Savings

<p>Amazon layoffs hit around 1,000 corporate roles, most of them in its stores division, as Tesco&#39;s profits rise and Walmart puts its AI savings back into customer service. Today&#39;s briefing tells retail leaders that efficiency is the theme of the season, and the difference lies in where the savings go.</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Intro</p><p>00:08 Tesco H1 profits rise, sales momentum weakens</p><p>00:31 Aldi names first 10 towns for 2027 stores</p><p>00:46 Amazon cuts around 1,000 corporate jobs</p><p>01:07 Freemans rebrands for women over 40</p><p>01:24 Amazon restructures retail stores division</p><p>01:33 Walmart reinvests AI savings in service</p><p>01:54 Walmart one-hour express pickup and ASL</p><p>02:08 Levi&#39;s Q3 propped by tariff refunds</p><p>02:25 Albertsons retail media leadership shakeup</p><p>02:39 Tesco online sales drive growth</p><p>02:55 Zalando opens 140,000 sq m French hub</p><p>03:17 Swiss retailers back e-commerce rule changes</p><p>03:34 7-Eleven pulls out of India</p><p>03:52 Rapidus US$15bn chip programme in Japan</p><p>04:13 Adore Beauty opens largest store yet</p><p><br></p><p>Sources:</p><p>- Retail Times: Tesco H1 Profits Rise; Consumer Spending Softens https://retailtimes.co.uk/tesco-enters-the-second-half-with-stronger-profits-and-weaker-sales-momentum-says-globaldata/</p><p>- Talking Retail: Aldi Names First 10 Locations in £900m UK Expansion https://www.talkingretail.com/news/industry-news/aldi-reveals-first-locations-for-new-stores-in-its-900m-expansion-08-10-2026/</p><p>- Retail Gazette: Amazon Cuts 1,000 Corporate Retail Jobs After Overhiring https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2026/10/amazon-cuts-retail-jobs-after-overhiring/</p><p>- Retail Times: Freemans Rebrands Around UK&#39;s £92bn 40-Plus Female Market https://retailtimes.co.uk/freemans-unveils-major-rebrand-with-renewed-focus-on-uks-92bn-40-female-market/</p><p>- Retail Dive: Amazon Cuts Hundreds From Retail Stores Division in Restructure https://www.retaildive.com/news/amazon-retail-stores-division-layoffs/832501/</p><p>- Retail Dive: Walmart AI Savings Reinvested in Customer Experience, U.S. CEO Says https://www.retaildive.com/news/ai-walmart-sparky-CX-investment/832327/</p><p>- Retail Dive: Walmart Launches 1-Hour Express Store Pickup and ASL Interpretation Ahead of Holidays https://www.retaildive.com/news/walmart-one-hour-express-store-pickup-asl-service-holiday/832464/</p><p>- Retail Dive: Levi&#39;s Q3 Profits Propped by Tariff Refunds as Direct-to-