Express Checkout #68 - the latest in CPG, Retail, and eComm

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Hello hello!

Welcome back! I wanted to start off this issue sharing the first ever guest post on Express Checkout! Thank you Emmy for writing this one!

It’s all about one of my favorite things, Pickles! You can read it here!

Some asks 👋 

🙋 I wanna help friends looking for jobs & companies looking to hire amazing people, if you want to get on that list on either side let me know!

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Now on to the news of the week!

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

🔥 Big News - 10 items or less 🔥

• Just Walk Out, walking out - Amazon is replacing its "Just Walk Out" technology with smart shopping carts in its amazon fresh U.S. grocery stores. The company will continue to use the "Just Walk Out" technology in its U.K. stores. The new smart shopping carts aim to change how people shop for food. source

• A bad look for David and his brand - Momofuku, the food empire founded by David Chang, is attempting to control the market for term "chili crunch" by sending cease-and-desist letters to companies using it on their labels. The move has sparked reactions ranging from fear to disappointment among food entrepreneurs and consumers alike. source

• Non Alc retailer closes shop - After a bit of speculation we learn the rumors are true. Boisson's Board of Directors has decided to undergo a restructuring process, leading to the closure of all retail locations. The founder is out and looking for his next role. Source

  • Meanwhile….Sèchey is expanding its curated booze-free product range at Target nationally! This initiative reflects a growing trend of prioritizing non-alcoholic alternatives. Brands include De Soi, Ghia, Kin, Surely, and more source

• Baltimore bridge updates - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has developed a tentative timeline for reopening the Fort McHenry Channel following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. This is the bridge that collapsed the other week after a container ship ran into it. A limited access channel is expected to open by the end of April, with the permanent federal navigation channel aiming to reopen by the end of May. source

• ABG finds its Champion - Authentic Brands Group is set to acquire the Champion athletic apparel label from HanesBrands Inc. for a little over $1 billion. The deal is expected to close around the end of May or early June. This acquisition comes after a bidding process that involved several interested parties. source

🗞️ News from the week (4/1/24 - 4/7/24)

🛍 Retail

• JCPenney has opened its first store in eight years (nuts right?!) as part of a $1 billion "refresh" program. source

• The Citizenry, a DTC home decor brand, is opening an outpost within Interior Define's store in Denver, Colorado. The collaboration between the two brands, both owned by Havenly, aims to increase The Citizenry's physical presence. source

• Ernesta, the home design brand specializing in custom-sized rugs, has opened its first showroom on New York's Upper East Side. source

• Maverik has completed the rebranding of 30 Kum & Go stores in Utah and Colorado, integrating them with its Adventure Club rewards and Bonfire foodservice program. source

• Bain Capital Real Estate and 11North Partners have formed a joint venture to invest in open-air retail centers throughout the U.S. and Canada. source

• VF Corp, the parent company of Vans and The North Face is expandomg its retail presence in the MENA and SEA regions with the opening of over 300 stores in the next five years. Source

🛒 CPG & Consumer Goods

• Coach has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Gap for selling t-shirts featuring the word "Coach" without permission. Coach is seeking unspecified damages and the removal of unsold inventory. source

• Beauty Bakerie has announced its closure. Founder Cashmere Nicole cited personal reasons for the closure. source

• Walmart has announced the second class of its Walmart Start beauty brand accelerator program, which provides mentorship and networking opportunities to brand founders. Source

  • Current State

  • LatinUS

  • Kazmaleje

  • Sundae Body

  • Dossier

  • Pardon My Fro

• YITTY, co-founded by Lizzo, has launched a new swimwear collection. The collection includes seven shaping silhouettes in a range of colors and prints. source

• LeBron James men's grooming company, The Shop, is now available exclusively at Walmart stores nationwide. The products were co-created by Paul Rivera and Randy Mims. source

• Ross Mackay, founder and CEO of Daring Foods, has announced his departure to pursue a new venture in the beverage industry called Cadence. source

• Multi-exit entrepreneurs Jason Cohen and Samuel Kestenbaum have launched Pretzelized, a new brand that combines pretzels with crackers and pita chips. They have successfully raised $10 million for the new venture. source

• Halfday, a delicious prebiotic iced tea, is expanding to Wawa stores across the Mid-Atlantic and Florida. This new authorization comes after Halfday's national rollout at Whole Foods Market earlier this year. source

• Mela Watermelon Water has announced its partnership with 7-Eleven, expanding its retail presence nationwide. source

• Danone is entering the $1 billion yogurt mix-in category with a focus on healthy offerings. The company is launching its mix-in platform, called Remix, under three brands in its yogurt portfolio: Light + Fit, Oikos, and Too Good & Co. source

💻 eCommerce

• Paramount is partnering with Shopsense AI to introduce a shopping experience during the CMT Music Awards, allowing viewers to make purchases directly through the broadcast. source

• Chase has recently introduced Chase Media Solutions, a digital media venture aimed at connecting brands with Chase’s 80 million U.S. consumers. source

• Gopuff has launched FAM20, a new benefit for FAM members that promises delivery in under 20 minutes for just $1.49 per order. source

• Lunr, a fintech lending platform for brands, has partnered with Crisp to offer clients data insights in the retail industry. By leveraging Crisp's powerful platform, brands can track sales performance, monitor inventory levels, optimize trade spend, and access their retail data seamlessly. source

🏭 Supply Chain

• Happy Returns, which was acquired by UPS, has entered into a partnership with Two Boxes. The partnership will leverage Two Boxes software to enhance the efficiency of returns processing via the expansive Return Bar network under Happy Returns. source

• UPS has announced a partnership expansion with the USPS, becoming its primary air cargo provider in the US. source

• Clarins has acquired 115 hectares of land in France to produce one-third of the plants used in their formulas by 2030. The brand aims to follow a "from farm to skin" philosophy. source

• Big Lots has launched two new Asia-based buying offices in Shanghai, China, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. source

💸 Funding news

• Slate Brands has acquired men's acne care brand Frontman in its first acquisition, aiming to expand its presence in the men's personal care market. The deal will integrate Frontman into Slate Brands' portfolio, specifically its men's brand, Insanely Clean. Frontman's co-founders will not be joining Slate Brands. source

• Grown Alchemist, a biological beauty brand, has been sold to a private group by L'OCCITANE just 2 years of it was acquired. source

• Full Glass Wine Co. has announced two significant updteas: the successful closing of a $14 million Series A funding round led by Shea Ventures, and the strategic acquisition of subscription-based wine service, Bright Cellars. The news comes just a few months after acquiring Winc and Wine Insiders. Source

• FullBeauty Brands has acquired Dia & Co., an online fashion marketplace. This acquisition will integrate Dia's marketplace into FullBeauty's digital mall. Source

• Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has invested in Tony’s Chocolonely, purchasing a 2% stake in the slave-free chocolate maker. The company has experienced significant growth in the US and has a presence in major retailers. source

• Lucky F*ck Energy drink has hired a new CMO, secured new funding, and introduced new packaging with "duct tape" covering the word "Fuck" (probably because retailers didn’t want it under its old name 🤷). They also raised $8 million, led by Austin-based Brand Foundry Ventures along with with Imaginary Ventures who participated in Lucky's $4 million Seed round in Nov ‘23. source

• Searchspring has acquired Intelligent Reach, a full-service data feed management software provider, to create a global Conversion Optimization Platform. Source

• Oros Labs has raised $22 million in funding to develop warmer hiking boots, army tents, and other outdoor products. The funding round was led by Airbus Ventures, with participation from Culper Ventures and REI's Path Ahead Ventures. source

• Monogram Capital, a LA-based private equity firm, has acquired a majority stake in Tru Fragrance & Beauty, a global beauty brand builder. source

🧐 Interesting reads

• What a new dupe-hunting site says about the industry’s relationship with knockoffs (Business Of Home)

• 'It's really about quality over quantity': Pattern Brands' Suze Dowling on the new roll-up brand playbook (Modern Retail)

💡 Data, reports, and trends

• Shein, Temu share highest percentage of customers with TikTok Shop (Earnest Analytics)

😋 Brands and things I’ve tried this week

Thank you Canopy team for sending over a your new Canopy Mini!! This thing feels solid, and I love having it at my desk for a little humidity and aroma therapy.

Thanks for reading! If you have any suggestions, feedback, or stories I missed, let me know!

Nate :)

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