The Consumer VC Roundup #108
The Latest News For the Emerging Consumer Ecosystem
Hey friends,
Expo is just one week away—who’s excited?! Hope to see you Thursday at our Rise, Roast & Meet CPG event for some caffeine-fueled connections. ☕️🔥
Also, a HUGE shoutout to everyone who joined our coffee meetups yesterday in Austin, Chicago, San Diego, and Philly—hope you had a blast!
Lots of big moves this week, especially with brands expanding their product lines and growing their retail footprint. Dive in and enjoy the updates!
Expo West Morning Meetup
Rise, Roast & Meet CPG
Hilton Hotel on the Sunset Deck → 🍹 Rise, Roast & Meet CPG
📆 Thursday, March 6th
🕘 8:00 AM-10:00 AM PST - SIGN UP HERE
This Past Week In Consumer
🧃Consumer Brands👚
💸M&A💸
Celsius Holdings is acquiring energy drink rival Alani Nu for $1.8 billion in cash and stock, marking its biggest deal since its founding in 2004. The move expands Celsius’s portfolio with a fast-growing brand popular among young women, strengthening its position against competitors like Red Bull and Monster. The transaction is expected to close in Q2. FD
Rhodium, a spa-focused data and machine learning platform, has acquired SiO Beauty, Rootine, and Solomomo to expand its beauty and wellness offerings. BI
🚀Debuts, Distribution & Expansion🚀
Spindrift is entering the better-for-you soda market with Spindrift Soda, featuring 20% real fruit juice and no added sugar, stevia, or prebiotics. Positioned as a clean-label alternative to Poppi and Olipop, the line includes flavors like Concord Freeze, Ginger Ale, and Orange Cream Float. FD
Curie, a clean deodorant brand popular among millennial moms, is expanding to Target after launching at Walmart, offering added convenience for busy parents like founder Sarah Moret. BI
Scalp care brand Jupiter is launching at Target with a refreshed look and lower prices, aiming to disrupt the dandruff category in a major retail space. BI
Nimbi, a new sustainable brand at Target, is redefining women's shaving with eco-conscious design, bold marketing, and wide distribution. BI
Sakara, known for its plant-rich meal delivery service, has launched a new supplement line targeting whole-body wellness, including skin, sleep, and metabolism, using high-quality, whole-food ingredients. GCIM
Saltair, the body care brand founded by Iskra Lawrence, has expanded into all 1,400+ Ulta Beauty locations nationwide, offering its full range of body washes, lotions, treatments, lip oils, deodorants, and body oils. BP
LTK, the influencer monetization platform, is expanding its app beyond shopping as competition in the space intensifies. The company is focusing on its signature app as a key differentiator to maintain its edge in the market. BOF
Old Navy has launched StudioSmooth, a new activewear collection featuring a specially developed fabric that has been in the works for three years. The line includes leggings, bras, tops, a skort, biker shorts, an athletic dress, and full-zip options, with prices ranging from $24.99 to $59.99. WWD
💰Funds Raising Funds💰
Super Bock is investing €80 million to achieve carbon neutrality at its facilities by 2030, as part of its decarbonization roadmap. JustDrinks
↪️Rebrands & Relaunches↩️
Qurate Retail Inc. has rebranded as QVC Group Inc., with its stock now trading under the symbols QVCGA, QVCGB, and QVCGP. The group, which includes QVC, HSN, Ballard Designs, Frontgate, Garnet Hill, and Grandin Road, is also consolidating operations by closing HSN’s campus in St. Petersburg, Florida, and centralizing at QVC’s Studio Park in West Chester, Pennsylvania. WWD
🪇Collabs🪇
Target and Warby Parker are teaming up to open five shop-in-shops this year, staffed by Warby Parker employees and offering eyewear, eye exams, and vision screenings. These locations, launching in select Target stores without Optical departments, will debut in Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, with more planned for 2026. Warby Parker will also become available on Target’s website. RetailDive
Target and Champion are teaming up again for a 500-piece collection launching in August, featuring apparel, accessories, and sporting goods for adults and children, with most items priced under $40. This marks their first collaboration since the C9 by Champion line ended in 2020. RetailDive
Lovesac is partnering with Habitat for Humanity to provide sustainable furniture at accessible prices, donating over $600,000 worth of sactionals and sacs through Habitat’s 900+ ReStores to support local housing initiatives. RTP
The Estée Lauder Companies is partnering with Serpin Pharma to explore applying Serpin's anti-inflammatory research to cosmetics, aiming to develop advanced skincare ingredients that promote skin longevity. BP
Simon Property Group is partnering with Shopify and Leap to help e-commerce brands establish brick-and-mortar stores in its shopping centers. This collaboration provides brands with the technology and operational support needed to expand into physical retail, with companies like Ring Concierge and True Classic already leveraging the initiative. WWD
📰 Consumer News📰
Uoma Beauty founder Sharon Chuter has filed a lawsuit against the brand’s new owners, alleging that the December 2023 sale of the brand’s assets was unauthorized. The suit seeks damages for “unjust enrichment” and challenges the legitimacy of the acquisition. BOF
🔻Closures, Bankruptcies & Downsizes🔻
Saks Global is moving forward with its post-acquisition restructuring, implementing another round of layoffs following its $2.7 billion purchase of Neiman Marcus and closing Neiman Marcus’ Dallas flagship store on March 31. RetailDive, RD
Joann will close all its stores, pending court approval, after a bankruptcy auction won by GA Group and the retailer’s lenders. Going-out-of-business sales will begin, with the buyers offering cash to pay off Joann’s $615.7 million debt and a $105 million credit bid for most assets. RD
PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay will close its PopCorners plant in Liberty, New York, laying off all 287 workers by June 6. The company plans to support employees and work with local officials during the transition. FD
Forever 21 is preparing to close at least 200 of its 350 stores as it considers a second bankruptcy, aiming to find a buyer for its remaining U.S. locations or face potential liquidation. RTP
Beyond Meat reported modest revenue growth in late 2024 but remains unprofitable, prompting cost-cutting measures, job cuts, and an exit from China as it aims for profitability by 2026. Vegconomist