The Consumer VC Roundup #100
The Latest News For the Emerging Consumer Ecosystem
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This Week In Consumer
🧃Consumer Brands👚
💸M&A💸
Brewery Huyghe has acquired Belgian brewery Het Anker, combining their complementary strengths to unlock significant growth potential. JusrDrinks
Harpoon Brewery and Smuttynose are merging to form Barrel One Collective, a new company housing 14 craft beer brands. JustDrinks
EssilorLuxottica has acquired French AI start-up Pulse Audition to enhance its Nuance Audio brand, which combines eyewear and hearing aid technology. Pulse Audition specializes in AI-driven noise reduction and voice sound enhancement, aligning with EssilorLuxottica’s goal to scale Nuance Audio’s offerings. WWD
Marquee Brands has acquired U.K. fashion icon Laura Ashley from Gordon Brothers, adding $750 million in retail sales to its portfolio. Known for leveraging licensing to expand global reach, Marquee aims to further scale the 72-year-old brand, marking a strong start to 2025. WWD
Carmell Corporation has acquired Elevai Skincare, a subsidiary of PMGC Holdings. The deal includes Elevai's product portfolio, which generated $2.5 million in revenue, and its commercial and product development teams. Carmell will pay $1.1 million in stock and $57,000 in cash, with additional earnout considerations tied to net sales and product milestones. The acquisition also includes $1.0 million in inventory and accounts receivable. FashionNetwork
Alibaba is selling its 78.7% stake in Sun Art Retail Group to DCP Capital for $1.58 billion. This stake, held by Alibaba subsidiaries, was acquired for $3.6 billion in 2020 as part of Alibaba's strategy to enhance Sun Art's hypermarkets with digital support. FashionNetwork
TricorBraun, a global packaging leader, is set to acquire Veritiv Containers, a distributor of custom and stock rigid packaging solutions for industries like personal care, food and beverage, and nutraceuticals. The acquisition expands TricorBraun’s North American presence. BeautyPackaging
L'Oreal has acquired Gowoonsesang Cosmetics from Migros, including the Dr. G skincare brand, which has a growing presence across Asia. BeautyPackaging
🚀Debuts, Distribution & Expansion🚀
Daiso is starting 2025 with 11 new store openings across five U.S. states. Following its Medford, Oregon launch in December, the Japan-based retailer will open seven locations in California and one each in New Mexico, Texas, and Washington. RetailTouchPoints
German fragrance brand The Heart Company, known for connecting emotions with scents, has launched online at Walmart in the U.S. as it embarks on a broader global expansion. BeautyIndependent
Amanda Kloots has launched Proper, a supplement line created with incubator The Center. The lineup includes five superfood powders—Daily Boost, Digestion + Bloat Relief, Immune Support, Metabolism + Energy Boost, and Calming Aid—priced at $28 each. WWD
Curefoods has acquired Krispy Kreme's south and west India operations and signed a multi-year franchising agreement to expand the brand in India. The agreement includes developing over 350 new locations over the next five years. Landmark Hospitality Services Ltd. will also take a stake in Curefoods India as part of the transaction. FoodBusinessNews
Dr. Squatch has launched new shaving products, including Glide Shave Butter, Soothing Post-Shave Moisturizer, and a Dr. Squatch x Henson Safety Razor, designed for a smoother shaving experience. BeautyPackaging
Benigna Parfums has launched its Adventure's Elegance Collection, inspired by modern exploration. The limited-edition fragrances feature striking bottles with an airplane tail-inspired cap and fuselage-inspired bottle design. The collection is exclusively available at Harrods in London. BeautyPackaging
Sol de Janeiro has launched its "Celebrate Out Loud" holiday campaign at Charles de Gaulle Airport in France. The 360-degree pop-up features a tropical jungle theme with life-sized animal cutouts and signature products, offering limited-edition holiday sets. BeautyPackaging
Suave has launched the Hyaluronic Infusion Shampoo and Conditioner, a new haircare collection inspired by skincare products. The duo features hyaluronic acid to hydrate and smooth dehydrated hair. BeautyPackaging
🪇Collabs🪇
Native has launched two new limited-edition collections: Native x Dunkin', featuring donut-inspired scents, and Native x Jarritos, with fruit-inspired scents. Both collections include deodorants, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, 2-in-1, and hand & body lotion. Native x Dunkin' is available exclusively at Walmart. BeautyPackaging
K-beauty brand Anua has partnered with Ulta Beauty for a significant retail expansion, marking the first time a K-beauty brand has secured distribution across Ulta’s full store network. BeautyPackaging
Dove has partnered with Crumbl for a new collection of body care products inspired by Crumbl’s cookie flavors. The collaboration features pink packaging, marking Dove's first-ever color change, in homage to Crumbl’s signature pink box. BeautyPackaging
↪️Rebrands & Relaunches↩️
Benigna Parfums has reintroduced its Royal Essence Collection, featuring luxury fragrances inspired by royalty. The redesigned bottles now feature crown-shaped caps adorned with hand-cut crystals, rubies, emeralds, and encircled by Swarovski crystals. The 24-karat gold-plated neck adds a regal touch, blending artistry with celestial inspiration. BeautyPackaging
Revlon has relaunched its Super Lustrous Glass Shine Balm with 10 shades, including five new and five bestselling ones. The non-sticky formula provides 41% more moisture and comes in sleek, glass-like packaging. The product gained over 230 million views on TikTok. BeautyPackaging
📰 Consumer News📰
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has sued Walmart and Branch Messenger, accusing them of forcing Spark Driver program workers to use costly deposit accounts to access earnings, resulting in over $10 million in fees. The suit claims Walmart and Branch opened accounts without drivers' consent and required their use for payment, violating federal law. RetailTouchPoints
Revolution Beauty has settled with former shareholder Chrysalis Investments over allegations of misstatements. The company will pay a "non-material sum" to end the legal claim, which Chrysalis had intended to pursue for over £45 million. This comes after a tumultuous period for Revolution Beauty, including audit issues and leadership changes, with plans underway for a business revival under new CEO Lauren Brindley. RetailGazette
CRLab has recalled certain batches of its Extra Strong with Basil and Blueberry hairspray due to Dichloromethane contamination. The FDA classified it as a Class II recall, affecting 578 cans distributed in multiple U.S. states. The recall was initiated on December 12. BeautyPackaging
🔻Closures🔻
Party City is preparing to shut down 700 stores nationwide, with A&G Real Estate Partners set to auction 695 store leases. The leases span freestanding locations, power centers, strips, and city streets, ranging from 7,000 to 46,000 square feet. Bids and the auction are expected in early February. RetailTouchPoints
John Masters Organics, a private equity-owned clean haircare brand featured in retailers like Whole Foods and Natural Grocers, is shutting down its U.S. and Canadian operations. BeautyIndependent