Farming isn’t typically associated with speed—most tractors can only go about 25 miles per hour—but “speedy” may be the word that best describes Tractor Supply’s growth trajectory in recent years. The farming supplies and equipment outlet opened 90 new locations in 2025 and plans to open 100 more in 2026, as the purveyor of chicken coops, horse feed, and outdoor workwear capitalizes on what Placer.ai has called a significant “unmet demand” in rural markets across the country.

But the market opportunity is only part of the story. Tractor Supply has also invested heavily in AI-powered technology to drive growth. In January, CEO Harry Lawton said the company had extended the use of AI across its entire enterprise and expanded its partnership with OpenAI. He also hinted at how Tractor Supply gauges the success of its AI investments: “The capabilities are improving forecasting, inventory flow, and team member productivity.”

With 90% of retail and CPG companies planning to increase their AI budgets in 2026, according to a survey by Nvidia, how these companies plan to measure their ROI is one of the biggest questions facing the industry—and the example of early adopters such as Tractor Supply could prove instructive.

So what does success look like for an AI-forward firm?

Keep reading here.—AV

Thinking of ordering in tonight, or getting your groceries delivered via an app? Maybe even a last-minute dress or pair of shoes? Well, apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats, both of which have partnered with several fashion brands over the past year, are hoping they can serve all of those needs within minutes.

DoorDash, which has joined forces with the likes of Steve Madden, Rally House, and Urban Outfitters, among many other fashion retailers in the last several months, said it’s part of the company’s founding vision to connect “everything in the neighborhood to the consumer.”

“Those principles are really around speed, affordability, convenience,” Mike Goldblatt, VP of enterprise sales and business development at DoorDash, told Retail Brew.

The platform now offers more than 500,000 retail items nationwide, as it continues building out its apparel and fashion categories. Still, the obvious question remains: Who really needs a last-minute pair of pants?

Keep reading here.—JS

After a tense contract standoff, Amazon has struck a deal to cut 20% of its business with the US Postal Service, though USPS is still expected to handle more than 1 billion Amazon packages annually.

Amazon ran into problems with USPS after the government organization said in December that it planned to introduce a new bidding system for deliveries. The auction would have meant Amazon had to rely on a system wherein it competes with other vendors for USPS business.

To avoid the USPS auction process, Amazon made plans to run its own delivery service. However, USPS reportedly resumed talks with Amazon after bids from other vendors did not meet expectations.

Keep reading here.—VC

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