Consumer VC Roundup #112
The Latest News For the Emerging Consumer Ecosystem
This Past Week In Consumer
🧃Consumer Brands👚
💸M&A💸
Skims has acquired Coty’s 20% stake in Skkn by Kim, consolidating its beauty and lifestyle ventures under one brand in a major expansion move. RD
Vera Bradley has sold Pura Vida, marking a strategic shift after taking full ownership last year. The sale is expected to close by the end of Q1. RD
Dollar Tree is selling Family Dollar to private equity firms Brigade Capital Management and Macellum Capital Management for just over $1 billion. This comes a decade after acquiring the struggling retailer for $8.5 billion. The sale is expected to close in Q2, as Dollar Tree looks to refocus its business. RD
Megalabs expands its portfolio with the acquisition of skincare brand Geologie. BI
WHSmith is selling its UK high street business to Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital for £76m to focus on travel retail. The 480 stores and 5,000 staff will transition under Modella, rebranding as TGJones after a short period. WHSmith will retain its name for its travel division. RG
Interparfums SA has acquired the global intellectual property rights for Maison Goutal from Amorepacific Europe and will begin developing the brand in 2026. BP
Fresh Del Monte acquires a majority stake in Uganda’s Avolio to expand into premium avocado oil, boosting margins and sustainability. FD
🚀Debuts, Distribution & Expansions🚀
Food Empire Holdings is expanding into Central Asia with a new coffee factory in Kazakhstan, backed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Located near the China border, the facility will produce coffee for retail and foodservice, including the MacCoffee brand. JD
Vera Wang has launched the "Vow" collection at Jared Jewelers, featuring engagement, anniversary rings, and wedding bands in 14-karat gold, priced from $900 to $8,800. This marks an expansion of Wang’s partnership with Jared, the luxury banner of Signet Jewelers. WWD
Toteme has opened its first China flagship in Beijing’s Taikoo Li Sanlitun, designed by Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron. The store features the spring 2025 collection and three exclusive colorways of the new Bevel bag. WWD
Jon Buscemi’s luxury golf brand Redan is launching an Italian-made apparel collection, blending classic golf traditions with off-course style. The exclusive members-only club offers curated experiences, concierge services, and high-end partnerships. WWD
Designer Brands plans to open more DSW stores and refresh its rewards program after reporting a 5.4% sales drop in Q4, though comparable sales rose for the first time in over two years. RD
Universal Standard has expanded into 20 Nordstrom stores after launching on the retailer’s website in January, offering a selection of top-selling styles in sizes 12 to 32, with more pieces arriving through September. RD
Amazon is constructing a massive robotics fulfillment center in Wilmington, North Carolina, set to open in 2026. Spanning over 3 million square feet, the facility aims to enhance efficiency and cut costs. RD
The Vitamin Shoppe has introduced its new Hometown Stores concept, launching five shop-in-shops dedicated to nutrition and supplement brands with deep roots in their respective metro areas. Each location includes at least 200 square feet of retail space with branded signage, enhanced fixtures, displays, and custom refrigerators stocked with energy drinks, protein shakes, and hydration beverages. RTP
Advance Auto Parts will open 30 new stores in 2025, aiming for 100+ by 2027 after completing footprint optimization. Expansion includes market hub stores with 75K+ SKUs to support same-day delivery. RTP
Simon has opened Jakarta Premium Outlets, its first in Indonesia, featuring 302,000+ sq. ft. and 150+ brands. Highlights include the region’s largest Adidas outlet, luxury labels like Versace and Marc Jacobs, and Indonesian-inspired architecture. A grand opening is set for Q2 2025. RTP
Everlane alums are redefining mineral sunscreen with Good Weather Skin, a new brand blending luxury skincare with sun protection. BI
Ellixi, a new woman-owned beauty brand, is launching sustainable, waterless, and preservative-free cosmetics. With a focus on minimal environmental impact, its debut line features rich body butters, invigorating cleansers, rejuvenating face serums, and soothing bath salts—each formulated with no more than five active ingredients. GCIM
Dr. Squatch has launched a Call of Duty-inspired collection featuring two bar soaps and two deodorants. Ghost Grit, inspired by Lt. Simon "Ghost" Riley, has earthy notes of pepper, leather, and charcoal, while Sarge Soap, based on Sgt. John "Soap" McTavish, blends Scottish juniper, pine, and moss. BP
Hourglass Cosmetics has opened its global flagship store in New York City's Soho. Designed with a luxury apartment aesthetic, the space features a marble beauty bar, bespoke furnishings, and a chic lounge area. It will also host an artist-in-residency program. BP
SoulCycle plans to open standalone fashion stores and expand retail spaces, aiming for apparel to make up 15-20% of its business. MR
Hydrow announced a partnership with Soho House, the global private members club, becoming the provider of connected rowers to select Soho House locations worldwide.
💰Funds Raising Funds💰
Asda is investing £80 million in retail pay, raising hourly wages to £12.60 from October for 115,000 store workers. Staff within the M25 will see rates increase to £13.82. Since 2021, Asda has raised its base hourly pay by 35%. RG
Chobani is investing $500M to expand its Idaho plant by 500,000 square feet, boosting production by 50% and creating at least 160 jobs. Once complete, the facility will span 1.6M square feet with 24 production lines. FD
↪️Rebrands & Relaunches↩️
BuyBuy Baby is set to relaunch online on May 8, just months after being reacquired by Beyond. The relaunch will include a "Baby Days" sales event, featuring essentials, registry picks, and giveaways. Beyond is also launching a crowdfunding offering tied to BuyBuy Baby’s intellectual property on tZero’s brokerage platform. RD
South Asian-inspired skincare brand Love, Indus returns to QVC after a sellout debut last year, marking its third feature in under six months. BI
Plantkos has rebranded, emphasizing its pharmacist heritage and introducing an upscale design after four years on the market. BI
Boohoo will proceed with its rebrand to Debenhams Group despite failing to secure the required 66% shareholder approval, with 62% voting in favor and 38% against. RG
Coverpla has unveiled a new logo to mark its strategic shift and upcoming 80th anniversary. The refreshed design features clean, rounded letters, a minimal color scheme, and an unfinished "a" to symbolize an ongoing journey. BP
Weleda has unveiled its first rebrand in 100 years, featuring a new logo, corporate design, and brand presence. The refreshed identity emphasizes its commitment to nature, with a new tagline, "With Swiss Natural Science," replacing "Since 1921." BP
🪇Collabs🪇
J.Crew has signed its longest-ever partnership, a three-year deal with U.S. Ski & Snowboard, to strengthen its presence in sports and the outdoors. CEO Libby Wadle and board chairman Kevin Ulrich see it as a milestone in showcasing J.Crew’s quality, fit, and branding. WWD
Mahou San Miguel has partnered with PE firm McWin Capital Partners to drive digital innovation in hospitality as part of its open innovation strategy in Spain and beyond. JD
L’Oréal Group and the WHO Foundation have partnered in a four-year initiative to improve global access to skin treatments, focusing on low- and middle-income regions. The partnership will support WHO’s efforts to address skin conditions, including those linked to neglected tropical diseases, climate change, and common dermatological issues like acne, psoriasis, and vitiligo. BP
📰 Consumer News📰
The failed Kroger–Albertsons merger has sparked a legal battle. After Albertsons halted the $24.6B deal, it sued Kroger for failing to secure approval. Now, Kroger countersues, denying a $600M termination fee and accusing Albertsons of undermining the process. RTP
Henkel S.A. has recalled 1,068 units of Tec Italy Shampoo Totale due to potential contamination with Klebsiella oxytoca, a bacteria that can cause infections. The recall applies to 33.81 fl. oz. (1 L) green bottles with Lot #1G27542266 and UPC 7501438375850, distributed in the U.S. through New York and California. No injuries or illnesses have been reported. BP
Lululemon shares dropped nearly 13% in premarket trading after issuing downbeat annual forecasts. The company cited weak consumer demand, inflation concerns, and uncertainty around U.S. tariffs. BOF
Hoka, the popular French-American running shoe brand, is facing criticism for misappropriating Māori culture. Indigenous intellectual property experts in New Zealand have accused the company of failing to acknowledge the Māori origins of its name. BOF
The FDA is delaying its food traceability rule by 30 months, giving companies more time to comply. Originally set for January 2026, the rule aims to help remove contaminated foods from shelves faster amid rising outbreaks affecting brands like Boar’s Head and McDonald’s. FD
🔻Closures, Bankruptcies & Downsizes🔻
GameStop plans to close a “significant number” of stores this year, following nearly 600 U.S. closures last year. The company also announced that its board voted to add bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset. In Q4, net sales dropped 28.5% to $1.3 billion, but net income more than doubled to $131 million. RD
Diageo is exiting Distill Ventures as shifting market conditions make incubator programs less essential. The move highlights the culture clash between global spirits giants and artisanal distillers like Denmark's Stauning, known for its traditional, labor-intensive whisky-making methods. JD
Conagra will close its 100-year-old Michigan pie filling plant by June, laying off 85 workers as part of its supply chain simplification. FD