Express Checkout #85 - the latest in CPG, Retail, and eComm

Hello hello!

Thank you to everyone who sent me kind birthday wishes! (And to those who filled out my audience survey)!

This week I helped launch the Think Like an Operator podcast for Levitate Foundry - check out our first episode with my friend Cayla, the founder and CEO of Subset!

I hope to see some of you next week in Boston for eTail east! If you’re in eCommerce or retail I highly recommend attending! You can use my link to register HERE.

Now onto the news of the week!

(If you’re reading this email in Gmail, it might get clipped! You can always view full issues here.)

🗞️ News from the week (7/29/24 - 8/4/24)

🔥Big News 🔥

• PB&J gets a facelift. Uncrustables, the popular sandwich-like snack owned by J.M. Smucker, has recently undergone a brand refresh.

• Be careful with those deli meats...Because Boar's Head is expanding its recall of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Approximately 7 million additional pounds of products are being recalled.

• Big Brother is coming for high grocery prices. 👀 The FTC and the DOJ held their first public meeting of the Strike Force on Unfair and Illegal Pricing, focusing on enforcement actions to lower prices for Americans including at the grocery store.

• Consumer startups get a boost. Siddhi Capital raised $135 million for its second fund. Co-founder Melissa Facchina aims to focus on growth equity investments in CPG startups generating between $25M-$100M in revenue.

  • Clearly, there are still whitespaces to fill in consumer—just takes a bit of searching. I’m excited for the future of consumer!

🛒 CPG & Consumer Goods

• Graza goes kid-sized. Little Spoon partnered with Graza to launch a new line of Gen Alpha-focused food products.

• Candification of health. Kourtney Kardashian’s Lemme brand is expanding its product line with Lemme Glow Lollipops, which combine vitamin C and collagen, offering an alternative to the existing Lemme Glow Gummies.

  • Nothing will beat the OG Get Better Bear pops

  

• Lots of haircare news this week…

  • Issa Rae’s Sienna Naturals hits Sephora online.

  • Freewill, co-developed with Sally Beauty, is launching a new line of 32 professional hair care products.

  • Blake Lively launched a new haircare line called Blake Brown, available at Target.

• The pet care boom continues: Raw Sugar Living launched its largest line yet, a "clean" personal care range for pets called Fur Kids.

• Hello, libido. Hello Cake introduced two new prescription medications aimed at addressing low sexual desire in women.

• I love me some Japanese spirits. The House of Suntory is focusing on expanding its Japanese vodka and gin brands globally, following double digit growth in 2023.

  • Fun fact! Suntory owns Jim Beam and Makers Mark bourbon!

• Top Chef Season 15 was elite... mostly because it featured Celebrity chef Joe Sasto, who just launched Tantos! It’s a puffed pasta chip that comes in 4 Italian inspired flavors.

  • I recently sat down with Joe to talk about becoming a CPG founder, entrepreneurship, and CPG innovation. 👇️ 

💻 eCommerce

• Instacart’s going all in on ads. Instacart introduced new ad solutions for consumer discovery and engagement—including features like recipes, curated occasions, and product bundles.

🛍 Retail

• An icon closes its doors. LA fashion legend Fred Segal closed its last two stores in Los Angeles, marking the end of an era since the 1960s.

• We love a store-in-a-store. Kohl's is rolling out Babies"R"Us shops in 200 stores, following the success of Kohl's Sephora partnership.

• Which reseller is next? Mercari opened its first physical store in LA, featuring curated items and a space for sellers and events. The company also launched an online selection of rare items from Japan.

• NEW IN-HOUSE BRAND ALERT: Kroger launched a new fresh produce line called Field & Vine™, which features berries sourced from local U.S. farmers during peak growing seasons.

🏭 Supply Chain

• Walmart goes green. Walmart and Sam's Club are implementing the Zero Depack program, which simplifies the depackaging of expired food—making recycling more efficient and sustainable.

• To all AMZN Sellers: Amazon set an earlier deadline of October 19 for third-party sellers to send their inventory to fulfillment centers, ensuring timely delivery for the Black Friday rush.

• First infant formula plant in 23 years! Bobbie, an organic infant formula brand, opened a new manufacturing facility in Ohio to meet rising demand.

  • Back in 2023, Bobbie acquired leading infant formula manufacturing company Nature's One in Heath, Ohio.

💸 Funding news

• PE has their hands in everything these days, huh? Winky Lux, a beauty brand, announced a majority investment from CORE Industrial Partners, a private equity firm.

• Well deserved $$. Oats Overnight secured $35 million in Series B funding, led by Enlightened Hospitality Investments (Danny Meyer’s fund). The company engages over 250,000 subscribers in its R&D process to create high-protein oatmeal products.

  • IMO: Breakfast has lots of room for disruption. Consumers want something BFY… just look at the success of Mush!

• A humble acquisition. Fresh Hemp Foods Ltd. acquired The Humble Seed.

• I ❤️ sweets. A Ferrero-related company, CTH Invest SA, is acquiring Nonni’s Bakery, known for its artisanal biscotti and baked goods.

  • The candy and sweets maker is clearly trying to grow its presence here in the States. Back in May Ferrero opened it’s first ever chocolate processing facility in North America.

🧐 Interesting reads + data

• How sustainable diaper brand Kudos is taking on industry giants — with a Target rollout

• Why Walgreens And CVS Are Shutting Down Thousands Of Stores - YouTube - CNBC

• Pet Influence Hits Home for Consumers

Nate :)

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