Kraft Heinz Considering Split, David Protein Starts Selling Cod, Dollar Tree Sells Family Dollar to PE, Ulta Beauty buys Space NK & More
The Consumer VC Roundup #127, Latest News in Emerging Consumer Brands, Tech & Commerce Enablement From the Week of July 7th
Hey friends,
Hope you’re having a great week. To start, here are a couple of events that I’ll be speaking at – would love to see you there! Followed by the latest news in consumer.
Events:
TechChicago Capital Summit | Chicago, IL | July 22nd
I’m grateful P33 invited me to speak at TechChicago Capital Summit next week. I’ll be interviewing Ezra Galston, 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
I’m delighted to collaborate with the Fieldbook Studio team on the inaugural Embark Summit, the premier Bentonville retail conference. Consumer VC will be running the Showcase Stage on September 16th.
Get your ticket here and enter consumerVC25 for a 50% discount. We would love to see you there!
📰 Consumer News📰
The World Health Organization is urging countries to raise taxes on alcohol and sugary drinks by at least 50% by 2035 as part of its new “3 by 35” initiative. Aimed at curbing chronic diseases and generating $1 trillion in public revenue over the next decade, the WHO says these products are major contributors to the global noncommunicable disease epidemic. JD
Bounce Curl has spent over $500,000 fighting copycats of its viral Define EdgeLift Brush, which has sold out 14 times and gained massive traction on TikTok. Founder Merian Odesho patented the brush globally and uses social media to warn customers about dupes. Despite losses from imitators, the brand’s visibility has grown, leading to collaborations, retail plans, and a spot in Sephora’s 2025 Accelerator. BI
Diageo has begun its legal push to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that its Casamigos and Don Julio Tequilas are not truly “100% agave.” The company filed its response on July 14 in New York, aiming to counter claims that it misled consumers about the authenticity and purity of its products. JD
🧃Consumer Brands👚
💰Fundraises💰
Brooklyn Dumpling Shop has launched a new investment round led by RSE Ventures to fuel its omnichannel expansion, including franchised locations and its CPG product line. PRN
💸M&A💸
L’Oréal has signed an agreement to acquire Color Wow, a fast-growing and award-winning professional haircare brand known for innovative products like Dream Coat and XL Bombshell Volumizer. The acquisition will enhance L’Oréal’s professional products portfolio and support global expansion. L’Oreal
Dollar Tree has sold Family Dollar to private equity firms for just over $1 billion, a sharp drop from its $8.5 billion purchase in 2014. The deal allows Dollar Tree to focus on its core business, while Family Dollar will now operate privately under new ownership. RD
Walgreens shareholders have approved a $10 billion acquisition by Sycamore Partners, with about 96% voting in favor. The deal, expected to close in Q3 or Q4 of 2025, will take the company private for the first time in nearly a century. Shareholders will receive $11.45 per share in cash, with the potential to earn an additional $3 per share from future sales of VillageMD businesses, bringing the total transaction value to nearly $24 billion including debt. RD
Kraft Heinz may be preparing to split its business, nearly a decade after the 2015 merger of Kraft Foods and H.J. Heinz. The move follows weak performance and a May pledge to pursue a “strategic transaction.” Shares have plummeted from around $88 at the time of the merger to about $27, and Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is reportedly considering selling its 27% stake. Former partner 3G Capital exited its position in 2023. JD
Spanish conglomerate MaserGrup has acquired vermouth brand Perucchi 1876 through its subsidiary Vermuts Miró, aiming to expand its portfolio and strengthen its leadership in the local market. The company expects the acquisition to generate industrial and commercial synergies across Spain’s hospitality and modern food sectors. JD
🚀Debuts, Distribution & Expansions🚀
David Protein now sells wild-caught Pacific cod. David Protein
You’ve probably seen the buzz—it’s all over my LinkedIn feed and across social media. David’s selling cod now (yes, fish), and no one can tell if it’s a real product or just an elaborate stunt. Either way, they’ve got our attention. And they’re leaning into the moment, poking fun at themselves and the critiques about their protein bar.
Ikea plans to launch over 20 brand-agnostic smart home products in January 2026, all compatible with Matter, the universal smart home standard. The new line will work with Ikea’s Dirigera hub and other systems, aiming to provide affordable, high-quality smart tech that seamlessly integrates across different brands and platforms. RTP
Target will open eight new stores this summer across six states, including California, New York, and Florida, as part of its ongoing expansion strategy. Three of the locations will be larger than the retailer’s typical 125,000-square-foot format, and more store openings are expected in October. RD
Guess Jeans has opened a new flagship store in Tokyo as part of its global expansion, joining other key locations in Amsterdam and Berlin, with Los Angeles coming later this year. To celebrate the launch, the brand brought its "Next 40 Years of Denim" exhibition, previously shown at Florence’s Pitti Uomo, to the new Tokyo store. RTP
Ulta Beauty is entering the UK market by acquiring British beauty retailer Space NK, adding 83 stores across the UK and Ireland, along with a regional website. Space NK will operate as a standalone subsidiary led by its current CEO and team. Ulta funded the deal using cash and existing credit, without altering its other financial plans for the year. RD
Former Coola CMO Christina Peng launched Havyn, a fragrance brand for people with sensitive skin and fragrance allergies, inspired by her son’s eczema. Avoiding over 80 known allergens, Havyn offers candles, perfumes, and hand creams designed to be safe and soothing. The brand recently expanded through crowdfunding and partners with nonprofits to support vulnerable communities. BI
Mike Tyson has launched a new online shopping platform called Price Fighter in partnership with ChaChing, aiming to help consumers combat inflation. The site offers shoppers up to $6,000 cash back annually—up to $500 per month—paid weekly directly to their card or bank account when they make purchases through the platform. RTP
Eastside Golf has opened its first physical retail store at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in partnership with Paradies Lagardère, which also operates PGA Tour Shops. The 300-square-foot space features a curated range of the brand’s apparel and accessories, including Swingman sweatshirts, tracksuits, performance polos, and bucket hats. RD
New men’s skincare brand Dividends is aiming at health-conscious, longevity-focused consumers—particularly those who frequent Equinox gyms. Founder Jake Rosenblum sees a shift in the men’s skincare space and is positioning Dividends at the intersection of wellness, science, and premium grooming. BI
🪇Collabs🪇
99 Ranch Market, a staple in Asian-American communities for over 40 years, has partnered with Temu to expand its reach nationwide and create new jobs. Previously limited to major metropolitan areas, the Asian supermarket chain began exploring ecommerce during the pandemic but struggled to scale. In December 2024, it became the first Asian grocery seller on Temu, allowing it to distribute pantry staples across the U.S. through the fast-growing platform. RTP
Ulta Beauty is expanding its Korean beauty offerings through a new partnership with K-Beauty World, bringing eight additional brands—including Rom&nd, Mixsoon, and Some By Mi—to its stores and website this summer. The move builds on Ulta’s existing K-beauty assortment and aims to introduce more variety and innovation to its product lineup. RD
Hensol Castle Distillery has secured a UK on-trade distribution deal with Molson Coors Beverage Company, aiming to expand its reach beyond south Wales. The partnership will initially focus on distributing Hensol Castle-branded gin and rum, as well as Benjamin Hall-branded vodka and gin, to a broader audience across the country. JD
Agile and Akeso have joined forces to become the second-largest independent occupational medicine provider in the U.S., operating 42 clinics across California and Arizona to offer efficient, high-quality care. BW
↪️Rebrands & Relaunches↩️
Samreen’s Vanity has rebranded as Citarë to honor and amplify South Asian heritage. Founder and makeup artist Samreen Arshad says the change reflects a deeper commitment to cultural identity, especially at a time when DEI and immigration are facing increasing challenges. BI
Elise x Elisia, originally known for its celebrity-loved swimwear, has pivoted into chic body care with a focus on treating skin concerns like acne and hyperpigmentation. Founder Janel Livingstone launched the new direction with Papaya Glow Nectar Body Wash, blending papaya enzymes, kojic acid, and shea butter to even and nourish skin. Driven by her personal skincare struggles and a growing passion for beauty, Livingstone sees the shift as a natural evolution of the brand. BI
💻Consumer Software💻
🚀Launches🚀
Mistral has launched Voxtral, its first open-source AI audio model designed for business use. Voxtral aims to deliver high-quality speech intelligence at less than half the cost of closed alternatives, providing developers with a powerful and affordable option for accurate transcription and audio analysis. TC
🛒eCommerce, Retail Tech, Supply Chain🛒
🪇Collabs🪇
Jurny has partnered with hotel PMS provider Visual Matrix to roll out a fully autonomous guest experience platform across 300,000+ hotel rooms. The integration will automate operations with AI-driven tools like mobile check-in/out, real-time messaging, ID verification, and upsells, with future plans to add voice-activated AI features. BW
36ZERO Vision has raised €3.6M in pre-Series A funding to expand its AI-powered visual inspection platform for manufacturing. Its deep learning tech needs as few as five annotated images to outperform industry standards, significantly reducing false positives. TEU
Uzbekistan-based TASS Vision has raised €1.3M to expand its privacy-first in-store analytics platform. Operating in over 2,000 stores across 10 countries, TASS Vision uses edge AI cameras to track customer behavior and shelf interactions without sending data to the cloud. Founded in 2021, the startup aims to bring “Google Analytics” to physical retail while prioritizing data privacy. TEU
💰Fundraises💰
Sundial, an AI-powered analytics platform transforming data-driven decision-making, has raised $23 million—$16 million of which came from a Series A round led by former U.S. Chief Data Scientist DJ Patil. BW
Thank you for reading!