Customers will soon be able to place custom cake and deli tray orders directly through the company’s mobile app and website. Previously, shoppers were required to drive to Costco just to fill out paper order forms in-store. 

Executives of the major retailer said the upgrade, which would streamline orders from start to pickup, addresses an outdated process they described as “clunky.” 

“Very excited about what we have coming in the app,” CEO Ron Vachris said.

“We’ve got ordering cakes and deli trays online coming. So many of the things that we’ve heard from our members that could be a little bit clunky are now moving to a digital state, and we’re seeing great adoption right out of the chute.”

Costco is retiring a decades-old system customers have long found frustrating as part of its latest major digital overhaul. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The new online ordering system is expected to include sheet cake options as well as customizable cakes, allowing customers to choose sizes, shapes, flavors, designs and inscriptions from a catalog of available cake options.

The major retailer did not provide a specific date for when the system will be fully implemented across all locations. 

Fox 11 Los Angeles said customers can expect the “Order Grocery/Bakery” feature in the app by the end of 2026. 

If the feature follows a process similar to the current paper-based system, cakes and deli trays should be ready within 24 to 48 hours.

An employee slices cake inside the bakery of a Costco Wholesale Corp. store. Bloomberg via Getty Images

The move will give customers easier access to Costco baked goods, especially for those who must travel long distances to reach a store. 

In a 2023 Reddit post, one social media user described Costco’s cake-ordering process as inconvenient and time-consuming.

“I live 40ish minutes from my local Costco, so yes, an online order process would be very nice,” the user said. 

Another responded, echoing the same sentiment.  

“Same. I really don’t want to drive there two days in a row… when it’s my Birthday,” they wrote. 

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The Detroit automaker reported a fourth quarter net loss of $11.1 billion after previously disclosing large writedowns to its EV programs, which the company is realigning in response to lower-than-expected consumer demand and changing federal subsidies.

“I think the customer has spoken,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said on the company’s earnings call. “That’s the punchline.”

The company lost $4.8 billion on EVs last year and projects 2026 will bring losses in the range of $4 billion to $4.5 billion, adding that the division will continue losing money for at least the next two years. Ford CFO Sherry House said during the earnings call that the automaker is targeting break-even for its EV unit in 2029.

Ford also announced a larger than previously reported financial hit from tariff costs, as the company lost an additional $900 million after the Trump administration said in December that a tariff-relief program would only be retroactive to November, rather than back to May as originally anticipated.

Jim Farley, CEO of Ford talks on stage during the Red Bull Racing season launch at Michigan Central Station on January 15, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. Getty Images

The automaker’s tariff bill last year was about $2 billion and Ford indicated it expects tariff costs will be roughly the same level this year.

Ford was more reliant on imported aluminum due to a pair of fires that impacted an aluminum plant near Oswego, New York, which isn’t expected to be fully operational again until sometime between May and September.

Drivers charge their Teslas in Fountain Valley, CA, on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Despite those headwinds, Ford’s fourth quarter revenue of $45.9 billion beat analysts’ expectations. The company narrowly missed its revised guidance of $7 billion, as it posted earnings before interest and taxes of $6.8 billion for the year.

Late last year, Farley announced the company is cutting production of the electric F-150 Lightning and refocusing its investment on hybrid vehicles and affordable EVs, resulting in a $19.5 billion charge on its EV assets and product roadmap.

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He said the move would allow the company to refocus investments in higher margin areas like American-built trucks, vans and hybrids across its lineup, as well as more affordable EVs.

A Ford F-150 Lightning is offered for sale at a Ford dealership on December 15, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images

The company is planning a $30,000 EV platform and has signaled it will start rolling out an electric pickup on that platform next year. Ford also plans to pursue targeted partnerships in certain markets and investments in hybrid technologies.

“I do believe this is the right allocation of capital. It’s a combination of partnerships where it makes sense, efficient partial electrification investments where we have revenue power, and really hitting the EV market in the core,” Farley told analysts on a call Tuesday.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Louis Grant Peterson, who also went by “Chip Peterson,” is 61 and formerly owned Legacy Siding and Windows, an exterior construction company based in Ankeny. Prosecutors say Peterson collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in deposits from customers for home improvement projects he never finished. He later told the FBI that he spent much of that money on gambling and other personal expenses.

Ankeny Man Sentenced to Three Years’ Imprisonment for Bankruptcy Fraud https://t.co/ddb1hfUE7S

— US Attorney Office – Southern District of Iowa (@USAO_SDIA) December 23, 2025

Court records also show this wasn’t the first time Peterson had run into trouble. In 2024, he was convicted of theft in Woodbury County after taking more than $50,000 upfront for construction work that was never done.

Unfavorable reviews show pattern of behavior

According to a Yelp review, one user met with Peterson in Des Moines in 2017. They later sent a deposit to start repairs, however, they added: “The job never got finished and we were told that they did not use all of our money that his partner scammed him and we would need to wait until Chip got everything straightened out with the courts. We have not heard anything and the job is not finished. The last [conversation] was in 2019.”

Similar reviews were seen on the company’s Facebook page, however, they have not been independently verified.

Social media users describe alleged unpaid work and complaints involving contractor Chip Peterson. Credit: Facebook / Legacy Siding and Windows

Ankeny contractor admits gambling away customer funds in federal fraud case

After racking up nearly $1 million in unsecured debt, Peterson filed for bankruptcy protection. But during those proceedings, he made several false statements about his job, businesses, income, bank accounts, tools, equipment, electronics, and jewelry. Investigators said Peterson later admitted he had “no idea” where the income figures he reported came from and acknowledged that he hadn’t paid taxes for several years.

Federal court judgment shows Louis Grant Peterson pleaded guilty to false declaration in bankruptcy.

Authorities also said that even after he was federally indicted, Peterson took a $17,000 deposit for a window installation job he never completed. The money was eventually returned after the victims filed a complaint with the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.

The case was announced by U.S. Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa. The FBI investigated the case with help from the Office of the United States Trustee, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Lubben prosecuted it.

Featured image: Legacy Siding and Windows via NextDoor

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The tools, aimed at improving the customer experience, include faster withdrawals, new BetBuilder technology, live same-game parlays, app improvements, and localized features for specific markets.

Entain has detailed that the developments further evidence the company’s commitment to delivering the best betting experience for players through engaging, seamless, and localized interfaces. 

The fresh launch for the parent company of BetMGM, Ladbrokes, and Coral comes just weeks after it confirmed positive half-year results, with 7% year-on-year growth, reaching £2.63 billion ($3.59b). 

Despite the uplift, Entain will need to set aside around $100 million due to pending fines from the Australian watchdog AUSTRAC.

Key enhancements to Entain’s betting products 

Beyond the headings of what the international betting operator is improving, the company has provided specifics on how customers will receive a better experience. 

It states that 90% of withdrawals are now processed within a minute, delivering a frictionless service. 

Its gaming offering continues to expand with around 150 new titles launched monthly and 20% of those available on early-access, while roughly 40 million coins have been redeemed on the rewards system.

Other key highlights include BetMGM’s partnership with Angstrom to deliver live same-game parlays for MLB and NFL, with NBA to follow in due course. This has allowed for real-time bet tracking on Apple devices for added functionality.

Entain’s proprietary soccer BetBuilder is said to have driven an 80% increase in pre-game turnover and doubled its share of turnover to 12% in markets where it’s available. Similarly, localized features in Brazil have unlocked an enhanced soccer betting experience through Fantasy Markets, AccaBoost, in-play soccer BetBuilder, and Stats Pro. 

On the Ladbrokes and Coral brands, the Quacca Bar has provided a seamless option to place various wagers, including BetBuilders, without leaving the app or changing menus. It has been popular with users.

Entain Chief Technology Officer, Satty Bhens, stated:

“Our Sportsbook product has never been stronger. We’ve closed the gap and are now pivoting from catching up to going beyond. 

“From live single-game parlays in the US to in-play BetBuilders in Europe and Brazil, we’re upgrading player experiences while modernising our trading back office. This is just the beginning of what we can achieve as we continue to lead the industry in product innovation.”

Image credit: Entain

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It’s the largest insurance company yet to fall victim to a major hacking, with tens of millions of customers and a $55 billion market cap.

“This attack, like many insurance companies are currently experiencing, was caused by a sophisticated cybercrime group,” Aflac said Friday.

Aflac said Friday that its network had been hacked by cybercriminals. yu_photo – stock.adobe.com

Aflac — long known for its quacking duck TV commercials — said it is unable to determine the total number of impacted individuals and the specific data stolen.

Its systems were not affected by ransomware, so it is fully operational, and the company has engaged third-party cybersecurity experts, Aflac added.

It said it stopped the intrusion on June 12 hours after it noticed suspicious activity.

Erie Insurance and Philadelphia Insurance Companies have also reported hacks this month.

Both of those cases led to widespread disruptions across their IT systems.

All three of the major hacks are consistent with techniques used by a group of young cybercriminals known as Scattered Spider, sources familiar with the investigation told CNN.  

Aflac said the hackers used “social engineering” tactics to breach their network, manipulating employees to gain access to a company system and often posing as tech support workers over the phone — a trademark of Scattered Spider.

All three of the major hacks are consistent with methods used by Scattered Spider, sources told CNN. Montri – stock.adobe.com

In the past, these hackers have posed as company help desk staffers to obtain credentials from employees or tricked workers into installing tools on their devices that will hand over network access, according to the US Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency.

Scattered Spider is believed to be made up of teens and young adults in the US and UK and is known for aggressively extorting victims.

Its members recently targeted Marks & Spencer and other UK retailers, and famously carried out a hacking spree across Las Vegas casinos in September 2023.

Cybersecurity executives have sounded the alarms over the group’s attack on the US insurance industry, warning companies to tell their employees to be wary of suspicious phone calls.

Aflac did not mention Scattered Spider by name in its press release.

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