Gov. Phil Murphy and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka cast as “speculation” published reports that Amazon has chosen sites in New York and Virginia for its second North American headquarters, bypassing New Jersey’s largest city.

More than 87 percent of store managers polled by North Plainfield-based Levin Management Corp. said they expect their holiday sales to meet or exceed last season.

Despite indications Amazon plans to open its second North America headquarters in northern Virginia instead of Newark, the city’s mayor said it is “moving forward.”

Traditional brick-and-mortar retailers are moving more toward experiential shopping to get people in the door. At Canada Goose in The Mall at Short Hills, customers can try on the brand’s parkas in what’s called The Cold Room, which can get down to as low as -13 degrees.

The soup is heating up between Campbell Soup Co. and New York-based hedge fund Third Point LLC in the battle to win over Campbell’s shareholders ahead of a Nov. 29 annual meeting that could oust the company’s current board of directors.

Toys R Us may no longer be around, but Geoffrey the Giraffe remains.

German grocer Aldi is the newest adopter of grocery delivery in New Jersey.

New York-based hedge fund Third Point LLC said it will consider splitting Campbell Soup Co. into two “better focused” companies, one grocery and the other snacks, should it successfully replace the company’s board of directors with its own independent slate.

PetSmart Inc. has commended the efforts of proposed legislation Assembly Bill 3044, or “Bijou’s Law,” which would require pet grooming licenses for services including bathing, brushing, clipping or pet styling for compensation.

Putting a new twist on the 1980s tourism campaign, a panel of experts from the public and private sectors offered insights into the opportunities and challenges New Jersey offers for businesses at the eighth annual EisnerAmper New Jersey Business Summit on Thursday night in Iselin.

About $6 billion has been invested in the nation’s legal cannabis market, according to Jeanne Sullivan, general partner at cannabis investment firm Arcview Group in Oakland, Calif. Compare that to this time last year, when $1.8 billion had been invested and, she said, “you can see it’s torquing.”

Campbell Soup Co. Chairman Les Vinney sent a letter to shareholders Thursday urging them to vote for the company’s existing board of directors at its annual shareholder meeting Nov. 29.