Express Checkout #87 - the latest in CPG, Retail, and eComm

Hello hello!

There is some seriously big news this week. I'm excited to get into it.

But first, a quick question: Are you a brand looking for your next vendor?

I chat with tons of vendors and brands daily, giving me a good pulse on what's working in our space. If you're looking to pick a new vendor (for anything from subscription tools to SMS platforms), I'd love to help out!

Why? I just love connecting people and sharing knowledge—and there’s honestly nothing more satisfying than finding that perfect brand-vendor fit.

Interested? Grab some time with me 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 (8/12/24 - 8/18/24)

🔥Big News 🔥

• Is Olipop gearing up for an acquisition? 👀 This week, the company…

  • Launched a new shelf-stable version of its functional soda, designed to be pantry-friendly (with 6 grams of fiber instead of 9g…I wonder if anyone will notice).

  • Secured a deal to sell its drinks at the LA Clippers' new Intuit Dome.

  • Introduced another better-for-you dupe, Ridge Rush. It’s a caffeinated soda with blend of lemon, lime, and orange juices…AKA Mountain Dew.

• The illusion of choice grows. Mars, Inc is acquiring Kellanova for $83.50 per share in cash, totaling approximately $35.9 billion.

  • This will merge countless iconic brands like Mars’ M&M's, Starburst, Pedigree, Ben's Original, KIND, and Kellanova’s Cheez-It, Pringles, MorningStar, Eggo, and Pop-Tarts.

• Meet the surprising new craft beer powerhouse. Tilray Brands, a cannabis company, acquired four craft breweries from Molson Coors.

  • Beer Aficionado on TikTok broke down why Tilray has suddenly become the largest craft brewer in the US.

• No more lies. The Federal Trade Commission announced a final rule prohibiting the sale or purchase of fake reviews. It also includes provisions against insider reviews, misrepresentation of review websites, and suppression of negative reviews.

🛒 CPG & Consumer Goods

• The paper packaging boom is on. Vital Proteins is transitioning its packaging from plastic to an 80-percent paperboard canister by 2026.

  • Vital isn’t the only brand moving in this direction—brands like Dole are also on this path. IMO? It should be table stakes at this point.

• Morning Joe turned multivitamin. Huel launched its new energy drink, Huel Energy+, in the US, featuring 27 vitamins and minerals, 200mg of caffeine, and electrolytes for hydration.

• More brands launch in Walmart:

  • Curology expanded its retail presence by launching its products in Walmart stores nationwide, following previous launches in Target, Amazon, and CVS.

  • Futurewise, a vegan skin-care brand, is expanding its retail presence into over 2,000 Walmart stores.

• Dyson’s first CPG product. Dyson launched a new line of styling products called Chitosan.

• An unlikely team-up. Coca-Cola and OREO have partnered to create two limited-edition products: a Coca-Cola flavored OREO and an Oreo-flavored Coke Zero Sugar. This is the first time Mondelēz and Coke have partnered up.

• Damn, I guess it is almost fall. Daily Harvest is launching a limited-edition Pumpkin Spice Latte made with organic ingredients.

  • Chobani just announced all their PSL products last month. So many.

• Simple yet effective upgrade. United Sodas launched a new packaging and a reformulated product line.

  • Can you tell the difference? Few things I like: They kept the bold colors, better on-pack hierarchy (brand name up top), easier to read the flavors

💻 eCommerce

• Instacart partnered with Ibotta to offer digital coupons to its customers.

• Best Buy introduced a new live delivery tracking feature for large product orders. The initiative is part of Best Buy's broader investment in customer experience innovations.

• Amazon rebranded its used goods shopping section from Amazon Warehouse to Amazon Resale.

🛍 Retail

• Walmart does what Walmart does best. Walmart announced price cuts on over 7,200 items, marking a significant effort to combat inflation and reduce grocery costs for consumers. This strategy has allowed Walmart to attract a broader customer base and increase market share amidst a challenging retail environment.

🏭 Supply Chain

• ShipHero announced the spin-off of its fulfillment business into a new third-party logistics subsidiary named LVK.

💸 Funding news

• Butterfly, a private equity firm, exited the majority of its stake in supplements brand MaryRuth Organics.

• Digital marketing agency Gr0 acquired DLVRD, an Amazon and Marketplace agency.

• Heatmap, an ecomm data analytics tool, raised $4M in Seed funding led by Vine Ventures.

  • Heatmap is a super solid tool, if you run any eCommerce site I’d recommend checking them out! Not a sponsor, just a fan!

• Celebrity hairstylist Mara Roszak's brand Rōz closed an oversubscribed seed funding round led by Silas Capital, with participation from actress Lily Collins and several well-known makeup artists.

• Alice Mushrooms, a functional mushroom chocolate brand, secured an undisclosed investment led by L Catterton, with participation from celebrities Zac Efron, Pedro Pascal, and Kevin Hart.

• Trove acquired Recurate, enhancing its position as a leader in branded resale technology. With over 75% of U.S. branded resale traffic, Trove aims to expand its global reach while promoting sustainable retail practices.

• Conagra Brands acquired Sweetwood Smoke & Co., known for its Fatty Smoked Meat Sticks brand.

• InvestBev has made its first investment in the non-alcoholic sector, backing the US brand Sèchey.

🧐 Interesting reads + data

• Designer 'dupes' go mainstream as shoppers choose affordability over luxury.

• Did you know McDonalds started RedBox? The Bright Sun Films YouTube channel in their series “Bankrupt” breaks down the movie rental company.

• What’s with everything being “protein-packed” these days? Gabi from Modern Retail breaks down the “proteinization” of everything from donuts to sparkling water.

• Incomplete product content is seriously hindering shopper engagement. Here’s what you need to know.

• Find out 7 brands that are getting it right, and why. Shout out to Zoe for writing such a solid newsletter!

😋 Brands and things I’ve tried this week

Best,

Nate :)

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