The Consumer VC Roundup #82
The Consumer VC Roundup #82
News & Events For the Emerging Consumer Ecosystem
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This Week In Consumer
🧃Consumer Brands👚
💸M&A💸
🍷 US-based Hundred Acre Wine Group has acquired the 286-acre Kelly Fleming Winery in Napa Valley, which includes 12 acres of vineyards and a 5,000-square-foot stone winery. The estate will be integrated with Hundred Acre’s neighboring 'Few And Far Between' vineyard, expanding their presence in the region. Financial terms were not disclosed. JustDrinks
🥐 Tide Rock LLC, an unlevered buyout firm, has acquired Glenn Wayne Wholesale Bakery, a family-owned baked goods manufacturer based in Bohemia, NY. Founded in 1990, the bakery produces a wide range of fresh, packaged, and frozen items, including donuts, muffins, and gluten-free products. FoodBusinessNews
🍺 AB Mauri North America has acquired Omega Yeast Labs LLC, a leading company in the craft-brewing liquid yeast market. The transaction, finalized on August 14, includes Omega's 14,000-square-foot facility in Chicago and its Midwest locations, employing around 50 people. Financial terms were not disclosed. FoodBusinessNews
🍫 Mars has agreed to acquire snack manufacturer Kellanova for $35.9 billion, marking the largest food and beverage deal since Kraft Heinz's $45 billion merger in 2015. Kellanova, known for brands like Cheez-It, Pringles, and Pop-Tarts, will join Mars Snacking, which includes M&M’s and Kind bars. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2025 and will be led by Mars' global president of snacking, Andrew Clarke, from its Chicago headquarters. FoodDive
🍺 Tilray Brands has agreed to acquire four craft beer makers from Molson Coors: Hop Valley Brewing Company, Terrapin Beer Co., Revolver Brewing, and Atwater Brewery. CEO Irwin Simon stated that the acquisition will boost revenue, generate cost synergies, and expand distribution, reinforcing Tilray's position in craft beer. FoodDive
🍔 Conagra Brands has acquired Sweetwood Smoke & Co., known for its Fatty Smoked Meat Sticks, for an undisclosed amount. Conagra described Fatty as a premium, better-for-you product, featuring responsibly sourced grass-fed beef, antibiotic-free pork, and free from gluten, unnecessary sugars, nitrates, and MSG. FoodDive
🚀Debuts, Distribution & Expansion🚀
💆🏻♀️ Senself, a premium skincare brand that combines traditional Georgian botanicals with modern skincare ingredients, is expanding to Nordstrom in September. The luxury retailer will offer Senself's full five-product collection, including items like the $120 Calming Botanical Serum and the $185 Rapid Release C Serum, both online and in stores. BeautyIndependent
🫧 The Body Lab, a new customization brand from the makers of Strands and The Hair Lab, is now available at 2,000 Walmart stores. Founded by Eric Delapenha, The Body Lab aims to disrupt the body care market by bridging the gap between skincare benefits and fragrance, allowing consumers to customize without compromise. BeautyIndependent
🌿 The Happy Pear, a plant-based brand from Ireland, is expanding into UK retailers. Founded 20 years ago by twin brothers Dave and Steve Flynn, the brand focuses on encouraging people to eat more vegetables. Their initial UK launch will feature a line of high-fiber granolas and vitamin drinks, with plans to further expand the product range. Vegconomist
🥦 Fujiya, a Japanese restaurant operator in Tokushima and Kagawa prefectures, has introduced Nikugoe, a plant-based meat line made from locally harvested sorghum (takakibi). The vegan-certified Nikugoe range includes Hamburg Steak, Meat Super Cheese Hamburger, Demi Sauce Meat Super Hamburger, Demi Sauce Meat Super Cheese Hamburger, and Meat Super Gyoza. Vegconomist
🛍️ Asos, the online fashion retailer, has introduced an AI chatbot named Nibble on its site, enabling customers to negotiate prices. Currently used for River Island stock, Nibble is among the 300 brands and retailers, including Iconic London, utilizing this feature. The Evening Standard reports that some users have secured discounts of up to 40% using the chatbot. RetailGazette
🌼 'Orebella, founded by Bella Hadid, has launched its fourth shake-to-activate parfum, Nightcap, a sweet and sultry scent inspired by a "grown-up vanilla." Alongside the new fragrance, 'Orebella introduced a stylish and functional Travel Case designed to protect the 10ml bottle. BeautyPackaging
💁🏻♀️ Dyson Beauty is launching its first hair styling product line, Dyson Chitosan. Featuring the brand's "Dyson Triodetic" technology, the range promises flexible, all-day hold with natural movement and shine. The name "Chitosan" refers to a complex macromolecule derived from oyster mushrooms, which is the key ingredient in the products. BeautyPackaging
🫧 RescueMD, the skincare brand, has introduced its latest product, the RescueMD Revitalizing Body Cream. This body treatment features a patented formula that works on a DNA level to provide visibly even, smooth, and supple skin from the neck down, offering advanced benefits typically found in facial care. BeautyPackaging
🍗 Elmhurst 1925, known for its clean ingredient dairy alternatives, has entered the plant-based protein market with the launch of TerraMeat Plant-Based Chick’n. This new product represents the company's first venture into plant-based proteins, reinforcing its commitment to simplicity and nutrition in the plant-based food industry. FoodDive
🛍️ GU, the sister brand of Uniqlo, is set to open its first U.S. flagship store in SoHo on September 19. Located at 578 Broadway, the two-floor, 10,225 square-foot store will offer men’s and women’s apparel, shoes, bags, and accessories. It will also feature a collaboration collection with Japanese fashion brand Undercover, marking its debut outside Asia. Many pieces are unisex and include detachable sleeves for versatile styling. WWD
⛲ Canopy, the DTC humidifier and showerhead startup, is launching in over 100 Sephora locations nationwide. This marks the first time home devices are sold in Sephora stores, following two years of successful online sales. The launch includes Canopy's portable humidifier, Ritual aroma oil kit, and filtered showerheads, signaling a shift in beauty retail to include more tools and devices. ModernRetail
🪇Collabs🪇
🪮 Jamaican Mango & Lime, the hair care brand, in collaboration with National Day Archives, has established National Loc Day on August 16. This day is dedicated to celebrating the diverse culture and heritage of the loc lifestyle. BeautyPackaging
🐞 Sally Hansen, a Coty brand, has launched a limited-edition Miracle Gel nail polish collection in collaboration with Warner Bros. for the upcoming film "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," set to release on September 6, 2024. The collection features eight polishes, each with the iconic pinstripes from the film’s classic suit and "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" branding on the cap. BeautyPackaging
🐞 NYX Professional Makeup has launched a limited-edition "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" collection in collaboration with Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products. The collection celebrates the upcoming film "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," set to premiere in theaters on September 6, 2024. BeautyPackaging
🍰 NYX Professional Makeup has launched Buttermelt Blush, a new product featuring an exclusive cake recipe created by world-famous chef Gordon Ramsay and his daughter, Holly Ramsay. The recipe, inspired by the blush, emerged from a humorous TikTok interaction between Holly and her father, which also featured Holly's attempt to bake a cake inspired by the blush on her Instagram and TikTok. BeautyPackaging
🗼 Michel Germain Parfums has teamed up with Paramount Consumer Products to launch a new fragrance collection inspired by the Netflix series Emily in Paris. Released in celebration of Season 4 Part 1, streaming August 15, the collection features Eau de Parfums with bottles embossed with the Eiffel Tower and topped with pink jewel caps and oversized pink bows, reflecting Emily’s playful, chic style and Parisian dreams. BeautyPackaging
🎮 Gillette has teamed up with Xbox and Forza Motorsport to provide integrated experiences and custom in-game content. The partnership introduces the Gillette P1 Program, offering gamers in the UK, Mexico, and Germany a 30-day Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership with the purchase of a GilletteLabs razor. BeautyPackaging
🔻Closures🔻
❌ Ted Baker's remaining 31 UK stores will close this week due to stalled licensing deal talks with Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group. Administrators for No Ordinary Designer Label (NODL), Ted Baker’s previous partner, are overseeing the closures, with Tuesday expected to be the final trading day. RetailGazette
💰Funds Raising Funds💰
💵 HighPost Capital, led by Mark Bezos and David Moross, has launched a new venture capital arm called HIPstr, with a debut $100 million fund. The fund aims to capitalize on lower startup valuations and has already invested in several early-stage companies, including Kylie Jenner's liquor brand Wild Common and cremation services provider After.com, which recently raised $10 million in a Series A round. TechCrunch