Back in May, I compiled a short list of retailers rumored to be interested in buying Whole Foods.
Amazon was a barely-mentioned entity on that list...and we all know how that worked out.
Now, the market is speculating Seattle-based Amazon is interested in expanding its brick-and-mortar footprint. The company has plans for a series of stores in Germany.
But this speculation is more than Amazon Go, the long-awaited “cashierless” urban grocery we’ve heard about for the past year.
Analysts are saying Minneapolis-based Target is in Amazon’s crosshairs, but right now I’d put the speculation setting on “wild.”
I couldn’t even pull an analyst to talk to because the chatter swings back and forth from “absolutely not” to “it’s a great move” even on a simple google search.
Here’s a few headlines:
- No, Amazon isn’t buying Target in 2018
- Three reasons why Amazon will buy Target this year
- Will Amazon.com Inc. really buy Target Corp?
- No, Amazon is not buying Target, Kohl’s or any other retailer
- Amazon will buy Target in 2018: influential tech analyst Gene Munster
- Here’s why Amazon may not buy Target
- Amazon will be the largest grocery brand by 2030
- Amazon isn’t buying Target
- Should Amazon have Target in its acquisition sights?
The last one’s a RetailWire Brain Trust discussion. My favorite comment:
“Amazon has to chew and swallow before it can really take another bite of anything else.” – Nikki Baird of RSR Research.
For now, I'll watch the speculation bounce back and forth like an avid tennis fan at Wimbeldon.