Warehouse club Costco is issuing a recall for certain gift cards sold at its locations nationwide.

The retailer said in a letter to members that customers who purchased Synergy restaurant gift cards between Oct. 27, 2025, and Jan. 26, 2026, are eligible for a refund for the remaining card balance.

The recall comes after Synergy World, a gift and loyalty card company, abruptly shut down last month after filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. As a result, its gift cards can no longer be redeemed, leaving some consumers holding unusable balances with little immediate recourse.

SOME GIFT CARDS SOLD AT COSTCO ARE NOW WORTHLESS

Synergy World filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in late January. (Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Synergy’s gift cards were third-party products. While they were sold at Costco and redeemable at hundreds of participating restaurants nationwide, the cards were issued and managed by Synergy – not Costco or the restaurants themselves.

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Once Synergy shut down, the cards effectively became worthless.

“One of the biggest lessons that people should learn from this is that gift cards should be used sooner rather than later,” Matt Schulz, LendingTree’s chief consumer finance analyst, told FOX Business. “That’s especially true if the company involved is on shaky footing. However, with any gift card, you’re better off not letting it gather dust. Otherwise, you risk losing it, forgetting about it or just having it lose value. That’s the last thing anyone needs today.”

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Synergy initially said gift cards would be honored through early February, but later halted redemptions altogether, citing a surge in demand. The total amount of money tied up in unredeemed cards will not be known until bankruptcy filings are made public.

The gift cards were sold by Costco but issued by Synergy World. (Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group)

Expert tips when it comes to gift cards

Schulz suggested that consumers keep the gift card’s receipt until it’s been used. That way, the refund process is more likely to be more hassle-free.

He also advised registering the gift card, when possible, which can help if the card gets lost. And, Schulz said paying for a gift card with a credit card can be beneficial to the consumer in the event that there is fraudulent activity that needs to be reported.

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Good afternoon. Welcome back from the break. It’s now my pleasure to introduce Sysco Corporation. The leading global distributor of fresh food and related products to the food-away-from-home industry.

Sysco generated about $81 billion in sales in fiscal ’25 and serves roughly 730,000 customer locations with a business that is well balanced across customers and geographies. Many of us know Sysco best from seeing their trucks outside our favorite local restaurants, which make up 60% of sales, while the other 40% is built around recession-resistant categories, including government, education, health care and large campuses and office complexes, where Sysco also enjoys leading share positions.

I’m excited to turn the conference over to Kevin Hourican, President, CEO and Chairman; and Kenny Cheung, CFO, to dive deeper into the story and discuss the company’s specific initiatives that are driving structural improvements currently unlocking durable and compounding performance and supporting the company’s commitment to a steady return of capital to shareholders.

Before turning it over to Kevin, please join me in thanking Sysco for sponsoring dinner tonight. Kevin, thanks again, and over to you.

Kevin Hourican
CEO & Chairman

Thank you, everyone. It’s great to be back at CAGNY. We have the pleasure of being able to update you on our Sysco story, and it’s also our pleasure to be able to host you all for dinner tonight. I really do hope you have a chance to come join us. Our Sysco chefs will be here in force delivering the best of Buckhead Meat, FreshPoint produce, our Italian cuisine business, our Asian foods business and

Apple is poised to launch an updated iPad Air featuring the M4 chip in the coming weeks, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, as retail stock shortages signal an imminent refresh for the mid-range tablet.

The report, published Feb. 12, 2026, cites declining inventory of the current M3 iPad Air models and the iPhone 16e, a pattern Gurman says typically precedes new product announcements. “Apple retail employees say that inventory of the iPhone 16e has basically dried out and the iPad Air is seeing shortages as well,” Gurman wrote in his Power On newsletter. “I’ve been expecting new versions of both (iPhone 17e and M4 iPad Air) in the coming weeks.”

The next-generation iPad Air — likely designated as the eighth-generation model — is anticipated to upgrade from the M3 processor introduced in March 2025 to the more powerful M4 chip, which debuted in the iPad Pro lineup in 2024 and later in MacBooks. Industry analysts expect the M4 to deliver roughly 20-30% gains in CPU and GPU performance over the M3, enhancing tasks such as video editing, graphic design and AI-driven features under Apple Intelligence.

Additional rumored enhancements include Apple’s custom N1 wireless chip for improved Wi-Fi connectivity, potentially supporting Wi-Fi 7 standards, and faster 5G capabilities via an updated modem. However, major design changes appear unlikely: the device is expected to retain the same slim aluminum chassis, Liquid Retina display (without ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate or OLED), camera setup and RAM configuration as the current models.

The refresh aligns with Apple’s historical spring timing for iPad Air updates. The M3 version arrived in March 2025 alongside a redesigned lineup, while prior generations often launched in March or April. Some reports suggest a possible March 2026 announcement, potentially tied to an Apple event on March 4 in New York City, London and Shanghai — though Apple has not confirmed the event’s focus. That date has fueled speculation about bundled reveals, including the iPhone 17e, entry-level Mac updates or other hardware.

Alongside the iPad Air, Apple is reportedly preparing a 12th-generation base iPad with the A18 chip (up from A16), enabling Apple Intelligence support for the first time on the entry-level model. The iPad mini is slated for a more substantial upgrade later in 2026, including an OLED display.

Pricing for the M4 iPad Air remains unconfirmed, but analysts anticipate a possible modest increase due to component costs and the chip upgrade, starting around the current model’s $599 for the 11-inch version. No official details on storage tiers, colors or accessory compatibility have surfaced.

Fan and consumer reactions on platforms like Reddit and X highlight mixed sentiment: excitement over the performance boost and better future-proofing for AI features, tempered by disappointment that the Air won’t receive the Pro-level display or design innovations. Many current M3 owners question whether the incremental upgrade justifies waiting or upgrading immediately.

Apple has not commented on the rumors or announced any launch plans. The company typically reveals new iPads through press releases or virtual events rather than full-stage keynotes for minor refreshes.

With shortages already reported and Gurman’s timeline pointing to late February or March 2026, potential buyers weighing an M3 iPad Air purchase may benefit from monitoring official channels closely in the coming days.

The Austin, Texas, region has seen its population grow rapidly over the last decade, with new data showing it added households at about four-times the pace of the nation as a whole.

Data from the National Association of Realtors showed that the metropolitan area encompassing Austin, Round Rock and San Marcos saw the number of households grow roughly 51% from 2014 to 2024.

The Austin region gained 357,000 households from 2014 to 2024, which brought the number of households in the region from 703,976 to 1,061,155 in that time. Over that same period, the number of households in the U.S. as a whole grew at a rate of about 13%.

NAR’s analysis found that household growth in the Austin metro area was driven across younger and older age groups.

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The Austin area added households at roughly four-times the national rate over the 2014 to 2024 period. (iStock)

The data showed that the share of households in Austin, Round Rock and San Marcos led by those under the age of 25 grew from 5.1% to 5.9% from 2014 to 2024. Among those between the ages of 25 and 34, the proportion rose from 21.1% to 21.7%.

“Households headed by people in their late 20s and 30s grew significantly,” wrote NAR senior economist and director of real estate research Nadia Evangelou. “Those are the classic years for household formation. That’s when people move for jobs, form families, and step into the housing market for the first time.”

She said that growth in those age groups can spur demand for rentals and starter homes, keeping entry-level housing demand very strong and competitive, while eventually boosting demand for move-up properties. 

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Austin saw strong demand for different classes of housing that met the needs of different age groups. (Mark Felix/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The youngest age cohort of those under 25 in particular played a role in driving an influx of new apartment buildings, which helped lower rental prices in the area.

Older age groups also saw their share of the Austin area household mix rise, with the share of those led by people aged 65 to 74 rising from 9.5% to 10.7% from 2014 to 2025, while those over the age of 75 rose from 5.6% to 7% in that period.

“The number of households headed by those 65 and older increased significantly over the decade, and their share of total households rose,” Evangelou said. “That tells us Austin isn’t just attracting younger workers, it’s also keeping residents as they age.” 

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The Austin region’s growth kept demand strong for a variety of types of homes. (Matthew Busch/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

“That kind of growth creates steady demand for different types of housing: single-level homes, properties with less maintenance, and communities that allow people to age in place,” she explained.

With the growth in younger and older households, other age cohorts declined slightly. The share of households led by those between 35 and 44 was little changed, dipping slightly from 22.9% to 22.7%. Those between the ages of 45 and 54 fell from 19.2% to 17.7%, while the 55 to 64 age group declined from 16.6% to 14.2%.

The growth seen in Austin, Round Rock and San Marcos across different age groups helped keep demand strong for a variety of housing categories that cater to the needs of the disparate groups.

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“When only one age group drives the market, demand tends to be concentrated in a single segment, demand tends to be concentrated in a single segment. But when young adults, families, and older households are all growing that the same time, housing demand becomes stronger across multiple price points and housing types,” Evangelou explained.

“Here is why: Starter homes remain in demand. Move-up homes stay competitive. Downsizing options matter more,” she added.

Most business owners view waste disposal as a necessary cost. You generate rubbish, you pay someone to take it away, and that is the end of the transaction.

However, one waste stream works differently: used cooking oil. Restaurants, hotels, and food manufacturers produce oil that can be collected through structured channels and handled responsibly, yet many businesses still follow traditional disposal methods.

Over the past decade, demand for biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has increased as renewable energy targets have tightened. Used vegetable oil has become an established feedstock. Some businesses are still operating under older assumptions, not fully aware that professional collection provides an efficient and compliant solution for this type of waste.

How waste cooking oil collection works in practice

High-volume food businesses naturally generate significant quantities of used cooking oil. A busy restaurant or a larger hotel kitchen can produce hundreds of litres monthly. Using professional waste cooking oil collection services ensures this oil is handled safely and in line with environmental regulations.

Exact arrangements vary depending on volumes and service agreements, but the principle is consistent: used cooking oil is collected by licensed operators and businesses receive payment based on the quantity and quality of the oil. At the same time, kitchens avoid the risks associated with informal disposal methods. Companies such as Quatra provide compliant, licensed collection without adding operational complexity for kitchen staff.

Practical benefits for all businesses

Even small operations benefit from structured oil collection because it removes the need to manage disposal informally and reduces compliance risks. Proper collection supports reporting requirements for corporate clients and public sector tenders and demonstrates that a business is managing waste responsibly.

Environmental responsibility has become increasingly important to customers and business partners. Demonstrating that waste oil is collected and converted into renewable energy reinforces sustainability credentials. Combined with financial compensation, this adds measurable operational value without changing day-to-day kitchen routines.

Making the switch to structured collection

Transitioning to professional waste cooking oil collection is straightforward. Licensed collectors provide storage containers, manage logistics, and handle all compliance documentation. Staff procedures require minimal adjustment because the main change is storing oil for a licensed collector.

When choosing a provider, it is advisable to compare terms, check licensing credentials, and ensure that collection frequency and procedures meet operational needs. Reliable providers maintain clear and transparent arrangements so that the collection process is simple and effective.

Most UK businesses with commercial kitchens are still using outdated approaches for used cooking oil. Structured collection services now offer a balanced combination of regulatory compliance, environmental responsibility, and financial return.The infrastructure exists, the process is efficient, and businesses benefit from compliance and operational simplicity. This is one of those cases where environmental care and smooth business operations align naturally.