The Consumer VC Roundup #106
The Latest News For the Emerging Consumer Ecosystem
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This Past Week In Consumer
🧃Consumer Brands👚
💰Fundraises💰
Olipop, the modern soda brand, raised $50 million Series C from J.P.Morgan at $1.85 billion valuation. The brand became profitable early in 2024 and is now in almost 50,000 stores. CNBC
Australian cultivated meat company Magic Valley has secured a $100,000 grant from the federal government’s Industry Growth Program (IGP) to support its expansion. Known for its animal component-free cultivated meat, Magic Valley uses induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to enable continuous cell growth without fetal bovine serum, addressing a key challenge in the industry. Vegconomist
Sequential Skin Ltd. and AMILI have secured a $1.8 million UK-Singapore Collaborative R&D Grant to research gut-skin microbiome connections. Backed by Innovate UK and Enterprise Singapore, the initiative aims to advance diagnostics and treatments for inflammatory skin disorders like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. GCIM
💸M&A💸
Grove Collaborative has acquired eco-friendly cleaning brand Grab Green, strengthening a partnership that began in 2019. Grab Green co-founders Patricia Spencer and Michael Edell will join Grove in advisory roles to support integration and product development. RetailDive
Party City’s IP and wholesale operations will be acquired by New Amscan, an affiliate of Ad Populum, for $20 million, while Dollar Tree and Five Below emerged as top bidders for its store leases. RetailDive
A private investor group, led by Southeastern Grocers' CEO and C&S Wholesale Grocers, has reacquired Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket from Aldi, which had completed its purchase in March 2024. Aldi will proceed with converting about 220 stores to its format by 2027, while the investor group continues operating the remaining locations. RTP
Steve Madden is acquiring UK-based footwear brand Kurt Geiger for $364.1 million from private equity firm Cinven. The deal includes Kurt Geiger London, KG Kurt Geiger, and Carvela, as well as its luxury department store concessions. The brand is expanding in North America, with plans to grow from four to 50 U.S. locations. RTP
Sky Marketing Corp. has acquired CBD beauty and wellness brand Prima from The Hedgehog Co. for an undisclosed amount. The deal expands Sky Marketing’s presence into CBD skincare and body care, complementing its existing brands, Hometown Hero and Orca, which focus on cannabis edibles, inhalables, and recovery products. BeautyIndependent
Finnish food company Raisio is selling its plant protein business, including the Härkis® and Beanit® brands, to dairy and food giant Valio for €7 million. The deal, which will be paid in cash upon transfer, marks Valio’s expansion into the plant-based protein market. Vegconomist
L’Oréal has acquired a minority stake in luxury perfumery house Amouage, as revealed in its 2024 annual results report. Founded in Oman in 1983, Amouage specializes in "the Arabian art of perfumery" and has experienced strong sales growth in recent years. With this investment, L’Oréal becomes a long-term minority shareholder, while SABCO LLC retains majority ownership. GCIM
🚀Debuts, Distribution & Expansion🚀
Aldi is set to open over 225 new stores in 2025, its largest U.S. expansion in nearly 50 years. Growth will come from new locations and the conversion of 220 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores acquired in 2023. Aldi recently sold 170 remaining stores to a private investor group. RTP
Starboard Group has launched its first land-based retail stores, The Boutiques at Westgate Las Vegas, in partnership with Westgate Resorts. The shops offer luxury items, fine jewelry, fashion, and Starboard’s exclusive fashion jewelry brand. RTP
Target is expanding its beauty assortment with over 2,000 new products and nearly 50 brands, with 90% priced under $20. The retailer is spotlighting the additions online and in stores, featuring science-focused skincare, haircare, cosmetics, and more. Target’s Beauty Studio also offers virtual try-on tools and personalized quizzes to help shoppers find the right products. RTP
Latina-founded haircare brand Eva+Avo, known for its avocado oil-powered formulas, is making a major retail push, expanding into Target, Walmart, and CVS stores nationwide. BeautyIndependent
Former StiVectin executive Smitha Rao is launching Parëva Beauty, a “clinically crafted skin longevity” brand focused on transparency and results. With over 200 product formulations to her name, Rao aims to simplify skincare with three targeted products: the Coll20 Gel Cream Moisturizer ($69), C35.5 Firming Glow Serum ($74), and RH5.5 Hydrabond Primer ($49). BeautyIndependent
Stratia, the science-driven DTC skincare brand, has launched Sespia, a contract manufacturing, formulation, and fulfillment subsidiary aimed at supporting small beauty brands. As larger manufacturers consolidate and raise minimum order quantities, Sespia seeks to fill the gap by specializing in skincare and haircare production with MOQs under 1,000 units and no monthly minimums for fulfillment. BeautyIndependent
FP Labs unveiled a range of advanced skin and sun care formulations at Cosmoprof Miami, catering to the growing demand for clean, sustainable, and high-performance beauty products. The collection includes SPF solutions, hydrating serums, and versatile skincare sticks designed for diverse consumer needs. GCIM
Gattefossé has unveiled its 2025 beauty concept collection, "Guilty Pleasures," which transforms indulgent sweets into luxurious skincare and haircare experiences. Developed by its French and American labs, the collection features four sensorial products designed to mimic a four-course meal, blending culinary inspiration with advanced beauty formulations. GCIM
Lumson celebrates its 50th anniversary with the launch of TAG ELECTA, the first airless packaging system with a pouch in a square design. Expanding its premium airless solutions, Lumson offers TAG ELECTA in 15ml, 30ml, and 50ml sizes, reinforcing its innovation in glass, plastic, paper, and aluminum packaging. GCIM
🪇Collabs🪇
Ikea has expanded its partnership with Taskrabbit, allowing customers to book and pay for furniture assembly directly at checkout, streamlining the process since their collaboration began in 2017. RTP
Swedish oat milk brand Oatly has partnered with Circle K to launch its Barista oat milk in Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia. Oatly Barista will be the exclusive plant-based milk option for in-store coffee at all Circle K locations in these countries. Vegconomist
John Lewis has partnered with Rough Trade to bring vinyl records to its department stores and online platform. The curated selection includes classic and contemporary albums from artists like Nirvana, Nick Drake, Chappell Roan, and Fontaines DC. RetailGazette
Superdry has extended its licensing deal with Brand Collective in Australia for another 12 years. The multi-million-dollar agreement grants Brand Collective exclusive rights to the label in the region. RetailGazette
📰 Consumer News📰
France has reportedly opened a judicial investigation into Nestlé’s local water business and Sources Alma over bottled water treatment. Nestlé stated it will cooperate with authorities and reaffirmed its product safety, while Sources Alma claimed it had not been informed of the complaint. JustDrinks
Dairy Farmers of America has sued Westrock Coffee and six former employees, alleging they misappropriated confidential trade secrets, while Westrock denies the claims. JustDrinks
President Donald Trump signed an executive order implementing a reciprocal tariff policy, stating the U.S. will match any tariffs imposed by other countries. RetailDive
RetailROI’s "Tech and Tears" event, held before the NRF Big Show, raised $386,000 to support orphans and vulnerable children. Sponsored by major retailers and tech firms, the event combined industry insights with philanthropy. RTP
Uniqlo is partnering with Feeding America to donate the equivalent of 2 million meals in 2025, committing at least $200,000. The retailer will donate $150,000 upfront, with an additional $50,000 raised through in-store PIN pad donations, while corporate and store teams volunteer at local food banks. RTP
↪️Rebrands & Relaunches↩️
Z Gallerie is relaunching under new owner Karat Home, with its first store opening in Los Angeles next month. After a 2023 bankruptcy, Karat Home acquired the brand for $7.2 million, revamping its website and planning a renewed physical presence with exclusive collections and a membership program. RTP
🔻Closures & Bankruptcies🔻
Dick’s Sporting Goods is scaling back its outdoors business, reducing Public Lands locations from eight to three and shutting down Moosejaw’s remaining stores. The Moosejaw website now redirects to Public Lands, signaling further consolidation. RetailDive
Joann plans to close over 500 stores as it seeks court approval amid its second bankruptcy in a year. Going-out-of-business sales could begin Saturday, and if a sale to Gordon Brothers goes through, the retailer may liquidate entirely. RetailDive
Qurate Retail Group closed its Florida headquarters, consolidating QVC US and HSN operations at Studio Park in Pennsylvania, where it will focus on social shopping and streaming. The company also announced leadership changes, including new presidents for QVC and HSN. RetailDive