n.742

Amazon’s artificial intelligence services in its cloud computing unit are generating annual sales of more than $15 billion


This figure, based on first quarter results, represents about 10% of Amazon Web Services' annual revenue of $142 billion, and comes after years of anticipation from investors and analysts... Like its competitors, Amazon is under pressure to prove that its spending on artificial intelligence will pay off. The company has forecast $200 billion in capital expenditures this year, mainly for AI, a figure that has spooked investors and fuelled fears of a speculative bubble in the sector.

AIAmazon
 

n.741

Why Unilever sold its food business


Unilever had already sold Algida ice creams. Now it has sold the rest of the food business for EUR 13.6 billion. It did this not so much because of the margins, which - in 2025 - are on a par with those of the personal care sector, but because the food sector is the least growing within the company's portfolio

Unilever
 

n.734

Tajani calls for a ‘humanitarian corridor’ for fertilisers from Hormuz


Tajani calls for a 'humanitarian corridor' for fertilisers from Hormuz During the meeting between the countries that would like to reopen the Strait, the minister proposed a humanitarian-like action to facilitate the passage of ships. Continued closure would put European agricultural production at risk... the main objective concerns the rapid restoration of the flow of fertilisers and other essential goods, which are considered crucial to avert a possible worsening of food insecurity, with particular reference to the African continent... In 2025, Italian exports reached 643 billion euros ( 3.3%)... The situation is grafted onto a context already marked by imbalances, which emerged in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis, which altered market structures and accentuated price fluctuations.

Agriculture
 

n.733

Mastrolia on the short-sightedness of leading brands is absolutely right


The aim is to reach 50 per cent Mdd products, while NewPrinces' products will occupy 20 per cent. Only 30% of the shelf space will be dedicated to industrial brands. " Big brands tend to maximise profits by exploiting the recognisability of their products and customer loyalty in order to raise the price to the maximum," Mastrolia argues. "I believe this is not only unethical but also a wrong strategy because, beyond a certain price limit, you lose even the most loyal consumer otherwise, how else would you explain the constant decline in market share of multinationals and big brands to the advantage of private labels and discounters?" The big brands have raised prices disproportionately during Covid, creating inflation and disaffection: an autogoal, as can be seen from the evolution below.

Covid-19InflationPrivate Label
 

n.732

Carrefour relies on ChatGPT to win new customers


Carrefour becomes the first European food retailer to launch an application on ChatGPT, allowing users to compose shopping trolleys by drawing on its offer directly through OpenAI's chatbot... AI is one of the main pillars of the plan unveiled in February by CEO Alexandre Bompard, which aims for a 25% market share in France by 2030, up from 22% today. Carrefour had already launched its chatbot Hopla based on ChatGPT in 2023, and announced in early 2024 a partnership with Google to enable shopping via the AI agent Gemini. A third of French cyber shoppers already use AI during their online purchases, according to an Odoxa study for Fevad published in February... In Europe, only Lidl seems to be banking on AI. Confirmation of the German giant's orientation by Martin Brandenburger, CEO of Lidl Italy, can be found here. Below: Google is a historical partner of Carrefour.

AICarrefourLidl