Despite the massive culling of its weakest stores this year, Sears Holdings, the owner of Sears and Kmart, announced its deepest quarterly sales plunge in recent times and said it could sell off 140 stores. The struggling retailer, which has lost more than $10 billion in the last six years, also said it may sell off 140 stores in a deal with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp to pay $407 million into its underfunded pension plan.

Investors in Outcome Health have sued the Chicago health information and advertising startup and two of its founders, alleging they committed fraud to secure almost $500 million in funding earlier this year. Considered among Chicago's most promising tech startups, the company delivers pharmaceutical ads to patients on screens it places in doctors' offices. The screens, free to doctors, show educational programming.

Intel and Turner Sports announced a multiyear partnership under which the Silicon Valley technology company will become the exclusive provider of virtual reality for the NBA on TNT. Separately, Intel reached another agreement with the NBA to become a provider of virtual reality and 360-degree volumetric video with Intel's freeD technology for the league's global broadcast partners.

PepsiCo is extending its alliance with NBA champion Golden State Warriors, signing a multi-year deal that includes becoming a founding partner at the franchise's new arena, scheduled to open for the 2019 season. The company becomes the team's exclusive snacks and non-alcoholic beverage provider, with marketing rights that will carry over when the Warriors move to the Chase Center in San Francisco.

Aditi Gokhale was named Northwestern Mutual's first-ever chief marketing officer in May. Gokhale says she is focused on strengthening Northwestern Mutual's brand, while expanding engagement with clients and prospects. Gokhale says she is a very data-driven person and that one of her biggest priorities is designing a comprehensive marketing strategy built around what the data is telling her.

CVS Health is moving into year four of its fundraising campaign to raise money for Stand Up To Cancer. The company is supporting this year's efforts with in-store radio and marketing featuring Tracee Ellis Ross, Stand Up To Cancer ambassador, Golden Globe-winning actress and star of "Blackish." The campaign also will feature a public service announcement created in partnership with comedy brand Funny or Die.

Waymo announced Tuesday that it has been running Level 4 autonomous cars, with no human behind the wheel, in Arizona since mid-October. Previously, vehicles have been operating on public roads with a test driver at the wheel. Waymo is Google's self-driving car program that was spun off from its parent company last year. The company will tackle less-than-optimal weather conditions in Michigan this coming winter.

Starbucks is opening its first high-end Italian bakery at its Starbucks Reserve Roastery location in its hometown of Seattle. Next, it will bring the concept to Shanghai, followed by Milan, New York, Tokyo and Chicago. The bakery and cafe will feature Italian-inspired sandwiches, breads and other baked goods. Starbucks has made no secret of its desire to expand its business into other parts of the day after the morning coffee rush fades.

You may find yourself sipping some surprising beverages in 2018, if Whole Foods' predictions for the hottest food trends next year come true. Floral influences, such as elderflower and lavender, will increasingly come to teas and sodas, while a growing number of people will incorporate wellness powders - and even ground-up mushrooms - into smoothies and other drinks, according to the grocery chain.

In the aftermath of the Amazon-Whole Foods deal, Kroger aims to be a destination for more than just groceries. The supermarket chain is launching an apparel brand in the fall of next year. This news comes after the Ohio-based company outlined its "Kroger Restock" initiative at an investor day last month. The plan will consist of heavy capital investments - $9 billion over the next three years.