Pret A Manger is introducing a coffee subscription program in New York City and Washington that it first piloted in the United Kingdom. Two plans allow subscribers to pay a monthly fee to order their favorite Pret drinks up to five times a day.  It launches as the subscription sales industry experiences a growth surge. The subscription economy has grown over 435% in the past nine years, per Restaurant Dive.

On Running raised $746 million in its U.S. initial public offering. The performance shoe brand, which counts tennis legend Roger Federer among its investors, would have a market value of about $7.3 billion based on the outstanding shares listed in filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “Federer became a shareholder in 2019, and last year the company unveiled a shoe named after him that he helped design,” according to Bloomberg.

Kroger has enlisted Instacart to launch Kroger Delivery Now, a virtual convenience store offering delivery of fresh groceries and household staples in as soon as 30 minutes. More than 25,000 items are available with orders filled through the supermarket’s 2,750 stores in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Kroger’s retail network puts Kroger Delivery Now within reach of as many as 50 million households. Consumers in nearly every major U.S. city can shop for essentials, with Instacart Express members getting free priority delivery on orders over $10.

Cellphone service provider T-Mobile is expanding its retail presence in more than 2,300 Walmart stores nationwide. The move will more than double the "Un-carrier's presence in large national retailers," according to the company. Starting Oct. 18, customers will be able to sign up for Metro by T-Mobile smartphones, including 5G phones, and three options for unlimited monthly rate plans at Walmart locations and on Walmart's website.

In time for the holidays, Gap is expanding its fulfillment centers in Phoenix, Arizona and Gallatin, Tennessee. The $100 million-plus investment focuses on increasing speed, flexibility and efficiency, enabling online order fulfillment for more of its brands. Gap previously announced plans to open an 850,000-sq.-ft. customer experience center in Longview, Texas to support Old Navy’s growing online business.

United Airlines is giving unvaccinated employees until Sept. 27 to get the COVID-19 vaccine or face termination or unpaid leave. More than half of United employees who weren’t vaccinated last month have gotten their shots since the company announced that vaccines would be required.“United declined to say exactly how many employees have recently been vaccinated, what percentage of the workforce is now vaccinated, or how many workers requested an exemption,” per Afar. “The airline said it will have enough workers to operate its schedule this fall and into the holidays.”

"The athletic apparel and equipment retailer, which recently reported a record-breaking second quarter with a 19.2% increase in same-store sales, plans to hire up to 10,000 seasonal workers for the holiday season, the most in its history,” according to Chain Store Age. In 2020, Dick's added approximately 9,000 seasonal employees. The company also announced its stores will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Starbucks is partnering with Meetup “to create more opportunities for people looking to make connections,” according to the retailer. “Whether those connections include making friends or volunteering for a cause, with the help of Meetup, communities around the country will be able to come together, maybe over a cup of coffee, an ice latte, or even a croissant,” per Guilty Eats. A “learn more” bubble on the Starbucks app’s home page  gives users more information on the “Grow your community” initiative.

SiriusXM is launching “its largest multi-media national ad campaign ever” featuring LL Cool J, Diplo, Kevin Hart and the Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl. “The Home of SiriusXM” was created in collaboration with independent marketing agency Translation and includes six spots and an outdoor campaign on billboards, subways, airports and commuter portals in New York City, Boston and San Francisco.

Celebrity Cruises has launched a multimillion-dollar global campaign aimed at promoting cruising to literally everyone. “According to Celebrity, the campaign blends ‘new luxury experiences’ with ‘places and people at its heart,’ doubling down on a message of inclusivity,” per Cruise Industry News. The campaign also aims to assure viewers that cruising is safe, despite the ongoing pandemic.