Express Checkout #100 - the latest in CPG, Retail, and eComm

Hello hello!

Two years and 100 issues. Can you believe it?! Thank you to every single one of you who has read, shared, and engaged with Express Checkout since it launched. We have MANY things planned—so get ready!

To mark our 2-year anniversary and 100th issue, we decided to give ourselves a little makeover! Isabella Jaramillo and her studio IS A JAR handled this rebrand. She brilliantly brought to life everything I had envisioned. The depth she explored in creating this new identity for Express Checkout was not only incredible but also inspired me to consider new content directions in my content. Her work is amazing and I highly recommend reaching out (tell her Nate sent you ◡̈).

Before we dive in, I want to introduce my friend and now collaborator on Express Checkout, Jenna Movsowitz! Jenna brings a wealth of experience in marketing and content strategy.

Together, we'll be working on exciting new features, including industry expert interviews, deep-dive reports, and interactive content. Stay tuned for these upcoming enhancements that will hopefully make Express Checkout an even more essential resource for you!

PS. Jenna is going to be in Austin in December and would love to meet other CPG/retail/ecomm folks out there! Message her on LinkedIn if you’d be intersted in collaborating on an Austin Express Checkout event or meeting up 🙂 

Grove Collaborative just made a bold move: ditching retail completely to go all-in on DTC. In a landscape obsessed with omnichannel strategy, Grove’s decision feels almost…rebellious. But looking deeper, this return to their digital roots might be exactly what they need. Let’s dig into it.

The numbers tell the story: Grove's Q3 2024 revenue dropped from $61.8M to $48.3M year-over-year—with brick-and-mortar accounting for less than 4% of that revenue. But here's what's interesting: they've still got 700,000 active DTC customers and research pointing to 57 million U.S. consumers who are willing to spend a premium on sustainable products.

The pricing challenge shows why this strategy could work. When your 16oz dish soap costs $5.49 compared to Dawn's $4.89 for 28oz, retail shelves are unforgiving. Online, however, Grove can target what their CEO calls "intentional affluent shoppers" with six-figure incomes—customers who prioritize sustainability over price tags and want to deep dive into product stories.

Looking at brands like Quip—who found success in the DTC-to-retail pipeline—proves there's no one-size-fits-all solution. What works for a straightforward toothbrush brand might not work for premium sustainable products that need more customer education.

The bottom line? Sometimes the most innovative retail strategy is knowing when to swim against the current. For Grove, that means doubling down on what they do best: direct digital relationships with sustainability-minded consumers.

• From the theme park to your freezer. Dippin’ Dots is launching ice cream sundaes in grocery for the first time—a move to capture a larger share of the competitive ice cream market (with a side of nostalgia).

• Jack is Back. Jack Owoc, the controversial founder of Bang Energy, has re-entered the beverage market with a new drink called Ai Energy.

  • Jack Owoc 101: The very…eccentric founder and former CEO of Bang Energy. He saw Bang rise to become America's third-largest energy drink brand…then later face a $293M false advertising lawsuit from Monster Energy in 2022, leading to bankruptcy and Monster acquiring Bang's assets for $362M. Owoc was ousted as CEO in 2023 and now faces a $100M lawsuit over alleged misuse of company funds.

  • Want more drama? Check out Owoc’s infamous interview BevNet live 2022 interview or Youtuber Danny Gonzalez’s video deep dive.

• First razor to launch in Sephora goes national. Hanni, a body care brand, expanded to all Sephora US locations following its successful launch in 2021. Hanni is also available DTC and on Amazon, with DTC currently responsible for 50% of its sales.

• No sole left behind. Vivobarefoot launched a new program that allows customers to recycle used sneakers from any brand, offering a 20% discount on new shoes in return.

• Love this brand expansion. CASETiFY launched a new line of customizable luggage that honestly looks like they took the signature look of their iPhone cases and blew it up to be a piece of luggage.

• Happier kids at Whole Foods. Clean kids' snack brand Happy Wolf launched their organic, refrigerated bars (in Strawberry, Chocolate Chip, and Choco Banana) nationwide in Whole Foods, expanding from 120 to 450 doors.

• A W for dupe culture. Amazon officially launched its Temu competitor "Amazon Haul," a selection of products priced at $20 or less, available in the US through the Amazon Shopping app.

  • The funny part? A recent study from Profitero found that Amazon still is in the lead as the lowest-priced online retailer, with a 14% price advantage over competitors.

• Let the holiday shopping begin. Pinterest launched new holiday shopping features including a "quick save" option for easy wishlist creation, a personalized "holiday finds" tab, and over 1,000 curated gift guides (many curated by celebrity partners) spanning 27 categories.

• Kum & Go(ne). Maverik, the new owner of Kum & Go, announced plans to rebrand all Kum & Go stores under its own name, with the goal of creating a unified customer experience.

• Anything to avoid human interaction. CVS and Walmart are both testing technology that allows customers to unlock locked display cases using their phones.

  • This initiative responds to significant consumer frustrations: Numerator recently reported that 27% of shoppers switch retailers or abandon purchases when encountering locked items.

• Smart carts for all. Instacart announced that several local and independent grocers are adopting its AI-powered Caper Carts. These smart carts allow customers to track their spending, access personalized promotions, and checkout directly from the cart.

• Nowhere is safe from adverts. Both CVS and 7-Eleven are beefing up their retail media offerings by incorporating in-store audio advertising. CVS partnered with The Trade Desk and Vibenomics, while 7-Eleven is expanding its Gulp Radio service.

• US production. Electrolit is opening its first US production facility in Waco, Texas. The $400 million, 600,000 sq. ft facility plans to open in early 2026. Previously, Electrolit's production was based in Mexico.

• Half a billion. That’s how big Forerunner’s newest early-stage fund is. Like many investors, it’s aimed at leveraging AI to enhance consumer experiences across various sectors. Forerunner is a prolific fund, investing in brands like Ritual, Farmers Dog, Oura, Glossier, Faire, Prose, and Faire Wholesale

• A win for skin. OneSkin, a peptide-infused aging-focused skincare brand, secured a $7 million Series A investment led by Selva Ventures (nice job Kiva and Madeline!) and included participation from various investors, including model Camila Alves McConaughey.

• Time for a great hair day. Divi, a scalp care brand founded by influencer Dani Austin, secured a minority investment from Norwest Venture Partners to enhance its product offerings and brand awareness.

• One of my favorite yogurts. Campbell Soup Company announced the sale of its noosa yogurt business to Lakeview Farms.

  • Makes sense: Noosa was Campbell’s only dairy product—now, they’re focusing on their core snack and meal brands.

• Speaking of yogurt… Danone is still trying to buy Lifeway Foods. They increased its offer from $283 million to approximately $307 million. The dairy giant aims to expand its portfolio of healthier dairy options.

• Money in the (ecomm) bank. Ecomm banking platform Parker just raised $20M in Series B funding led by Valar Ventures, pushing their total funding to $178M. The cash will help launch new financial tools for online sellers.

We got a 4 in one here - Caraway Stainless steel (I have the set and it’s amazing), Desert Dust Taco seasoning, Bawi Guava, and Brightland olive oil. For dinner we made taco bowls, obviously. Everything was delicious!

And now that I have a dog I’ve been learning about all the amazing pet-care brands out there! Like Cleo & Hooman. The 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner smells incredible, it’s a mandarin orange + basil scent! Ginger loves it.

See ya next week,

Nate + Jenna :)

📰 Got news? Submit it here! 📰

Any other questions or inquiries you can respond to this email or DM me on Twitter or LinkedIn or TikTok

If you are enjoying my newsletter please share with anyone you think would benefit from it! 🙏