Bubbies Gets Acquired, Bloom Joins BFY Soda Race, Shore Capital Partners Raises Fund III, & More
Latest News in Emerging Consumer Brands, Tech & Commerce Enablement From the Week of June 30th
Hey friends,
I hope you're doing well. A couple of quick event announcements before we kick it off:
TechChicago Capital Summit | Chicago, IL | July 22nd
I’m headed to Chicago in a couple of weeks for a day to speak at P33’s TechChicago Capital Summit during Chicago Tech Week. I’ll be chatting with one of the OG Consumer VC guests, Ezra Galston. Ezra is the founder of the VC firm Starting Line. Their investments include Cameo, Made In, and Hungry Root [Full Portfolio Here]. Ezra last appeared on Consumer VC in June 2020, so there’s a lot to cover regarding consumer tech and AI. If you’re in Chicago, I would also love to say hello. BIG thanks to P33 for thinking of me!
Get your ticket here and enter FRIENDOFSPEAKER at checkout for 50% off
Embark Summit | Bentonville, AR | September 16th
The Embark Summit is set to become the premier brand and retail conference in Bentonville – home of Walmart. I’m delighted to collaborate with the Embark and Fieldbook Studio team as Consumer VC will be running the Showcase Stage on September 16th. We also have opportunities for brands to get involved and showcase at this event (more details to follow next week), which is set to bring together brands, CPG sales leaders, investors, and category innovators.
Get your ticket here and enter consumerVC25 for a 50% discount. We would love to see you there!
📰 Consumer News📰
President Trump announced new tariffs of 25% to 40% on imports from countries like Japan and South Korea, starting August 1. The tariffs may change based on trade relations, and a 90-day pause was extended to that date. Deals with China, the U.K., and Vietnam are in progress, but only the U.K. agreement is finalized. RD
Ikea is cutting restaurant prices by 50% Monday through Friday in 14 countries, with kids eating free, to help ease cost-of-living pressures. The initiative includes new Asian-inspired dishes and is part of Ikea’s broader investment in the in-store experience. Countries participating include France, Germany, Canada, China, and the UK, among others. RTP
Lululemon has filed a lawsuit against Costco, accusing the retailer of selling low-cost dupes of its popular athleisure products that infringe on its patents and damage its brand reputation. Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the suit claims Costco’s items—like the $19.97 Hi-Tec Men’s Scuba Full Zip—mimic Lululemon staples such as the Scuba hoodie and ABC pants, which typically retail for over $100. With “dupe” culture blurring lines between inspiration and infringement, Lululemon emphasized its commitment to protecting its intellectual property. RTP
Family Dollar has officially split from Dollar Tree to become a standalone private retailer, now owned by private equity firms Brigade Capital Management, Macellum Capital Management, and Arkhouse Management. The company will continue to be based in Chesapeake, Virginia, and will be led by Chairman and CEO Duncan MacNaughton. RTP
🧃Consumer Brands👚
💸M&A💸
Bubbies Ice Cream, the top mochi ice cream brand in the natural channel, has been acquired by Japan’s Marubeni Corporation. Now part of Marubeni America, Bubbies will continue operations in Phoenix, AZ. The deal aims to accelerate Bubbies’ global growth, leveraging Marubeni’s supply chain expertise and international reach. BW
The FTC has approved Alimentation Couche-Tard’s acquisition of the 270-store GetGo Café + Market chain from Giant Eagle. The deal, expected to close soon, will form a new business unit within ACT, with operations staff remaining at Giant Eagle’s HQ. As part of the agreement, ACT will divest 35 stores. Meanwhile, ACT’s merger talks with 7-Eleven’s parent, Seven & i Holdings, have stalled. RTP
Home Depot’s SRS Distribution will acquire specialty building products distributor GMS for $4.3 billion in a deal expected to close by February 2026. GMS, which supplies materials like drywall and steel framing, will expand SRS’s reach and capabilities across the U.S. and Canada. RTP
Alimentation Couche-Tard has sold 35 convenience and fuel stores in Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania to Majors Management as part of an FTC order tied to its pending merger talks with 7-11 parent Seven & i Holdings. The divested locations will be rebranded as Mapco stores, reflecting growing signs of progress in the merger discussions. RTP
Big 5 Sporting Goods has agreed to be acquired for approximately $112.7 million in an all-cash deal by a partnership between Worldwide Golf and Capitol Hill Group. The transaction includes the assumption of around $71.4 million in debt, and shareholders will receive $1.45 per share—representing a 36% premium over the company’s 60-day average share price. RTP
🚀Debuts, Distribution & Expansions🚀
NISSIN FOODS, known for CUP NOODLES, has launched KANZEN MEAL, its first entry into the frozen meal category. Designed for health-conscious consumers, the single-serve meals offer nutrient-dense comfort food with balanced nutrition. “Kanzen” means “complete” in Japanese, reflecting the brand’s focus on delivering both taste and wellness as part of NISSIN’s global growth strategy. PRN
Bloom Nutrition has launched Bloom Pop, a gut-friendly soda offering bold flavor and health benefits. The better-for-you beverage is available exclusively at Walmart and follows the success of Bloom Sparkling Energy, which sold over 35 million cans in its first year. BI
Premier Protein has launched Almondmilk Non-Dairy Protein Shakes, offering 20g of plant-based protein, 160 calories or less, and just 5g of sugar. Made with real almondmilk and no artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners, the shakes are designed as a tasty, creamy alternative for those seeking non-dairy nutrition. PRN
VenHub has opened a new 24/7 autonomous smart store near the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, expanding its footprint across Southern California. Powered by robotics and intelligent systems, VenHub stores operate without on-site staff and offer convenience items like snacks, beverages, medicine, and essentials. This Hollywood location follows recent openings in Glendale, North Hollywood, and LAX’s Metro Transit Center. RTP
🪇Collabs🪇
QVC Group is partnering with live TV streaming service Philo to bring nearly 40 hours of daily live shoppable content to new viewers. As the first livestream shopping channels on Philo, QVC and HSN will be available through its core subscription and free channels. The move aligns with QVC’s strategy to expand live shopping across platforms where audiences already spend time. RD
H&M has formed a multi-year partnership with Circulose to scale the use of materials made entirely from discarded textiles, aiming to reduce its environmental impact and improve its sustainability image. RTP
99 Ranch Market, a longtime favorite supermarket chain in Asian-American communities, is expanding nationally by partnering with ecommerce platform Temu. Known for its imported pantry staples, 99 Ranch had limited reach beyond major metropolitan areas. After experimenting with direct-to-consumer channels during the pandemic, the company joined Temu in December 2024 to overcome distribution barriers and scale its reach across the U.S., making it the first Asian grocery chain to sell pantry staples on the platform. RTP
Amazon UK has partnered with Gopuff to offer grocery deliveries in as little as 15 minutes, available 24/7 across multiple cities including London, Manchester, Bristol, and more. This national rollout follows a May 2025 pilot in Birmingham and Salford, leveraging Gopuff’s microfulfillment centers to deliver items like snacks, alcohol, and baby essentials. The move builds on Amazon’s earlier UK grocery partnerships with Morrisons and Co-op. RTP
🔻Closures, Bankruptcies & Downsizes🔻
Design Group Americas, the supplier behind sewing pattern brands like McCall’s, Simplicity, Vogue, and Butterick, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and plans to wind down operations. The company, sold in May to Hilco Capital Group for $1, cited Joann’s decline and U.S. tariffs as major reasons for its downfall. It secured $53 million in debtor-in-possession financing and will sell off many of its brands while shutting down its U.S.-made ribbon products business. RD
Levi Strauss is closing its Hebron, Kentucky distribution center, cutting nearly 350 jobs as it shifts to using third-party logistics. Some employees may transfer, and the move follows similar changes in other states. The company recently reported $1.5 billion in revenue and $140 million in profit. RD
💻Consumer Software💻
💰Fundraises💰
Fantasy Life, the fantasy sports platform founded by Matthew Berry, has raised $7 million in seed funding led by LRMR Ventures and SC Holdings. The investment supports the launch of a new tech platform and the acquisition of Guillotine Leagues, expanding Fantasy Life’s tools, content, and mobile experience. The brand continues to grow as NBC Sports’ official tools partner. PRN
🛒eCommerce & Retail Tech🛒
💰Fundraises💰
Berlin-based Talon.One has raised €114.7 million ($135 million) in funding to scale its platform that helps companies with promotions, loyalty, and gamification. The round was led by Silversmith Capital Partners and Meritech Capital, with participation from existing investor CRV. The funds will support platform innovation and expansion across the US, UK, Europe, and APAC. SC
Remark has raised $16 million in Series A funding to expand its human-powered expert models for e-commerce. Unlike typical AI startups, Remark uses real human experts to assist shoppers and trains AI personas based on their interactions. The approach has boosted partner revenue by 10%. The round was led by Inspired Capital, with support from Stripe, Neo, Spero Ventures, Shine Capital, and Visible Ventures, bringing total funding to $27 million. TC
UK delivery startup Hived has raised $42 million in a Series B round to expand its AI-powered parcel delivery network across Britain over the next two years. The round was led by NordicNinja, with participation from Wex Venture Capital, Marunouchi Innovation Partners, and Elemental Impact. RT
Saks Global, the parent of Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdorf Goodman, has secured $600 million in financing from its bondholders, including a $400 million asset-based credit facility and $200 million in additional commitments, replacing a previous deal with SLR Credit Solutions. RTP
💰Funds Raising Funds💰
Shore Capital Partners has closed its third food and beverage fund with over $450 million in commitments, bringing its total assets under management to about $13 billion. Alongside the fund’s close, the firm promoted Tom Smithburg, Jeff Smart, and Jeff Smith to Partner, recognizing their key roles in building Shore’s growing food and beverage platform. BW
Weekly Finds
OpenAI has disavowed Robinhood’s new “OpenAI tokens,” saying they do not represent actual equity in the company and were created without its approval or involvement. Robinhood launched the tokens in the EU to give users indirect exposure to private firms via a special purpose vehicle (SPV), but OpenAI warns consumers to be cautious, reiterating that any equity transfer requires its consent. TC
Thank you for reading!