Mark Hamstra

CONTRIBUTOR

About Mark

Mark Hamstra is a freelance business writer with experience covering a range of topics and industries, including food and mass retailing, the restaurant industry, direct/mobile marketing, and technology. Before becoming a freelance business journalist, Mark spent 13 years with Supermarket News, most recently as content director, where he was involved in all areas of editorial planning and production for print and online. Earlier in his career he also worked as a reporter and editor for other business publications, including Financial Technology, Direct Marketing News, Nation’s Restaurant News and Drug Store News. \nAreas of expertise include:\n• Company financial performance\n• Technology deployments\n• Supply chain strategies\n• Product marketing, merchandising and procurement\n• Retail real estate, design and construction\n• Labor issues

Latest—

How Eco-Diaper Disruptor Kudos Landed Target as It Courts Millennial Parents

Founder and former Procter & Gamble Engineer Amrita Saigal discusses how the on-trend startup found the perfect partner to support its brick-and-mortar debut.

How Retailers Are Tapping AI to Mitigate the High Cost of Product Returns

Technology is helping merchants cut costs by helping customers make more informed purchasing decisions, identifying “trusted buyers,” streamlining logistics, and minimizing fraud.

Let's Get 'Phygital': Fitness Centers Boost Membership via On-Site Virtual Classes from Martial Arts to Barre

Remote-led sessions offer variety, flexibility, and community for health-and-wellness-conscious consumers.

GOOD COMPANY » LAUNCH PAD

Experts Share Proven Ways to Fight Retail Theft This Holiday Season

Retailers may consider a range of tactics to deter shoplifting, from visible cameras to employee training to AI.

Indie Game Companies Seek Growth Opportunities with Social Media Platform

Advances in technology and a consumer craving for heightened communal experiences drive innovation in multiplayer gaming for brands including Rune, Innersloth, and Loftia.

Digital Shelf Labels Light Up Big and Small Retailers' Bottom Lines

Technology facilitates faster price changes and aids online order pickers for merchants ranging from mega-retailer Walmart to local Tennessee grocery Tate Family Foods.

Mushrooms Emerge as Growth Opportunity Across the Grocery Landscape

Startups including Pan's, Meati, and Renude create products that tap into the fungi's healthy attributes amid consumer demand for plant-based food options.

Demand for Restaurant-Style Meals at Home Drives Grocery Opportunities

Supermarkets are elevating their food offerings to replicate outside dining experiences, including via full-service, in-store restaurants, executives told CO—.

Wonder CMO on How Partnerships With Walmart to Chef Bobby Flay Are Key to Growth for the Digital Food Hall

Daniel Shlossman on how big retailers and high-profile chefs from Marcus Samuelsson to José Andrés are incentivized to help serial entrepreneur Marc Lore’s ‘fast fine’ dining concept grow.

Health and Wellness Disruptor Hims & Hers Finds New Niches to Fuel Growth

COO Melissa Baird on how personalization and AI tools have become core pillars for expanding the company’s specialized services, from heart health to weight management treatments.