Consumer VC Roundup #111
The Latest News For the Emerging Consumer Ecosystem
This Past Week In Consumer
🧃Consumer Brands👚
💰Fundraising💰
K-Beauty brand Yepoda secured Series B funding, led by Verlinvest, to support global expansion and retail growth. The brand, which achieved 120% profitable growth in 2024, has debuted in over 100 Sephora Europe stores. BI
Mexican sustainable makeup brand Aora raised $2.9M in pre-seed funding and expanded to the U.S. via e-commerce ahead of its retail launch, with backing from prominent Mexican investors and global creatives. BI
Swedish foodtech company Hooked Foods has secured SEK 8.4 million in a combination of equity financing, loans, and grants to support its expansion and new product launches. The capital will primarily be allocated towards the introduction of new plant-based items, slated to hit the market this month. V
Shaquille O’Neal has invested in BeatBox Beverages, known for its high-alcohol RTD cocktails, and collaborated on a new 11.1% ABV Blueberry Lemonade flavor. FD
💸M&A💸
Czech drinks group Kofola ČeskoSlovensko will acquire a 100% stake in Slovak vending machine supplier ASO Vending through Vending S.R.O., pending approval from Slovak competition authorities. CEO Daniel Buryš called vending a promising sales channel. Financial terms were undisclosed, and the deal is expected to close by Q2 2025. JD
Infinium Spirits has acquired Howler Head whiskey from Campari, calling it a “landmark acquisition” in building a world-class brand portfolio. Financial terms were not disclosed. JD
Beyond has sold a majority stake in Zulily to Lyons Trading Company, owner of Proozy.com, for $5 million, marking Zulily’s fourth ownership change in two years. Beyond retains a 25% stake, valuing Zulily at $6.7 million, and says the sale will have minimal impact on its earnings. RD
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet has acquired 40 former Big Lots locations as part of its plan to open 75 new stores by early 2026. The discount retailer, which operates 559 stores across 31 states, reported an 8% increase in net sales for FY 2024, reaching $2.27 billion, with comparable store sales up 2.8%. RTP
Brand management firm WHP Global has submitted a buyout proposal to take Guess? private. WHP, which owns Toys ‘R’ Us and Babies ‘R’ Us and holds stakes in Express and Bonobos, already has a history with Guess?. In 2024, the two partnered to acquire Rag & Bone, with Guess? taking over its operations while both companies jointly own the brand’s intellectual property. RTP
Unilever has found a buyer for The Vegetarian Butcher just months after announcing plans to sell the plant-based meat brand. Dutch plant-based food company Vivera will acquire the brand, which Unilever originally bought in 2018 and helped expand into 55+ markets. Unilever cited supply chain and R&D challenges as reasons for the sale, which is expected to be finalized by Q3 2025, pending regulatory approval. V
Fast fashion retailer In The Style has been rescued from administration through a sale to Alps Sourcing Limited, saving 87 UK jobs. The pre-pack sale was handled by administrators from FTS Recovery, who cited significant debt and cash flow issues as key challenges. RG
🚀Debuts, Distribution & Expansion🚀
Michael Kors is launching its first official Amazon storefront, offering handbags, ready-to-wear, and accessories directly from the brand. The store will feature thousands of items, fast Prime delivery, and immersive brand content, marking a shift as more fashion brands embrace Amazon as a retail platform. WWD
Macy’s has launched Arch Studio, a new private label brand focused on home goods, including bedding, bath, kitchenware, and dinnerware, with prices ranging from $14 to $220. The collection is available online, in the Macy’s app, and in all 425 stores nationwide. RD
Kohl’s has launched two private-label home brands, Miryana and Mingle & Co., with most products priced under $50. Miryana focuses on linen and home goods with over 170 items, while Mingle & Co. offers more than 400 kitchen and dining essentials. RD
Miami skincare expert Amy Peterson launches Lenox And Sixteenth, a high-tech skincare brand inspired by her sought-after treatments at her South Beach aesthetics office. BI
TBH founder Risa Barash leveraged her decades of experience in retail distribution to turn an initial rejection from Target into a successful distribution deal for her Gen Alpha-focused haircare, skincare, and body care brand. BI
Walmart is expanding its fuel station network with over 45 new or remodeled locations this year. By the end of 2025, the retail giant will have more than 450 fuel and convenience stations across 34 states, offering low-priced snacks and beverages similar to its full-scale stores. RTP
Ikea is set to open its new Oxford Street store in London on May 1, 2025, following a three-year environmental renovation. Spanning 62,430 square feet across three levels, the store will feature curated London-inspired shops, a home planning hub with free design consultations, and 3,500 home accessories and small furniture items. RTP
Electronics reseller PayMore has opened 18 new stores in March as part of its aggressive 2025 expansion plan. The franchise retailer, which buys used electronics for cash, currently operates 71 stores across the U.S., Canada, and the UK, with plans to more than double that number to 150 by the end of the year. RTP
Macy’s has secured the exclusive rights to develop When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion into a fictionalized television series. The retailer, led by Chief Marketing Officer Sharon Otterman, is now searching for a showrunner and talent. While Macy’s is known for live events like the Thanksgiving Day Parade, this marks its first foray into scripted TV. RTP
Instacart has launched Smart Shop, an AI-powered platform designed to personalize grocery shopping through generative AI and machine learning. The platform includes Health Tags, which provide detailed nutrition insights, and Inspiration Pages featuring expert-backed health recommendations and shoppable recipes. RTP
Wayfair is continuing its expansion into large-format retail with a second massive store set to open in Atlanta in 2026. Following the success of its 150,000-square-foot flagship in Wilmette, IL, the new location at The District at Howell Mill will offer furniture, home décor, housewares, appliances, and home improvement essentials. RTP
Ann Summers is expanding into the Middle East through a franchise and distribution partnership with Liwa Trading Enterprises, bringing its lingerie products to the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. Its Knickerbox platform will also launch in the region later this year, featuring Ann Summers products, KBX, and select third-party brands. RG
Savor, a Bill Gates-backed startup, has commercially launched a carbon-based butter alternative designed to replace animal fats and palm oil without conventional agriculture. Restaurants and bakeries will be among its first customers. FD
💰Funds Raising Funds💰
Coca-Cola FEMSA is investing $45 million in its Calle Blancos production plant in Costa Rica to boost exports to markets like Nicaragua and Panama. JD
L’Oréal Groupe has opened its $160 million North America Research & Innovation Center in Clark, New Jersey. Spanning 250,000 square feet, it is the company’s largest R&I center outside France, focused on innovation, sustainability, and economic growth. GCIM
🪇Collabs🪇
Estée Lauder Companies’ India subsidiary has partnered with Startup India to expand the Beauty&You India program, supporting women-founded startups. This first-of-its-kind collaboration between a global beauty brand and Startup India aims to strengthen India’s innovation ecosystem. BP
Mondelēz International and Lotus Bakeries are expanding their partnership into ice cream, collaborating with Froneri to produce Biscoff-branded frozen novelties. Already available in the U.S., U.K., and E.U., Biscoff ice cream will expand globally, starting in Europe in 2026. FD
📰 Consumer News📰
The EU is considering delaying tariffs on US goods, including Bourbon, to mid-April instead of implementing them in two steps on April 1 and April 13. JD
Prebiotic soda brand Poppi, set to be acquired by PepsiCo, has settled a US lawsuit over misleading gut-health claims, stating it “acknowledges no fault, liability, or wrongdoing.” JD
Google has agreed to pay $28 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging it favored white and Asian employees in pay and career advancement. The settlement, covering over 6,600 employees in California from 2018 to 2024, received preliminary approval from a judge. Google denies wrongdoing but says it remains committed to fair hiring and compensation. CNNB
J.M. Smucker Co. is splitting its supply chain and manufacturing divisions, with SVP Bryan Hutson overseeing supply chain operations and SVP Randy Day leading manufacturing. FD
🔻Closures, Bankruptcies & Downsizes🔻
Forever 21 has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing inflation, consumer weakness, and competition from Temu and Shein. The retailer plans to close all 354 U.S. stores by May 1 unless it finds a buyer, following years of financial losses. RD
Hudson’s Bay plans to liquidate by June after failing to secure financing for a restructuring deal. The retailer, which operates 80 stores, is still seeking alternatives but will begin liquidation sales soon, potentially laying off over 9,000 employees. RD
Purdue Pharma has filed a new bankruptcy plan for a $7.4 billion opioid settlement, aiming to resolve thousands of lawsuits over OxyContin’s role in the opioid crisis. The plan details how funds will be allocated to states, local governments, and affected individuals. CNNB
💻eCommerce and Retail Software💻
Edible Arrangements, now Edible Brands, has launched Edibles.com, an e-commerce marketplace for hemp-based products. Initially debuting in Texas, the site offers THC-infused drinks, chews, and wellness enhancers, with plans to expand across the Southeastern U.S. The company is also opening a flagship store in Atlanta’s Inman Park as a prototype for a future franchise program. RTP