The Consumer VC Roundup #99
The Latest News For the Emerging Consumer Ecosystem
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This Week In Consumer
🧃Consumer Brands👚
💰Fundraises💰
SevenVentures, the investment arm of ProSiebenSat.1, has made a media-for-equity investment in Swiss food tech Planted Foods, valued in the mid-single-digit millions. The deal will boost Planted's visibility in retail and gastronomy through targeted advertising on ProSiebenSat.1's TV channels and the Joyn streaming platform, starting in spring 2025. Vegconomist
ICL, a global leader in specialty minerals, has increased its investment in Plantible Foods as part of the company's Series B funding round, building on its previous involvement in Series A and further strengthening their strategic partnership on innovative protein ingredients. Vegconomist
Yeastup has raised €9.47 million in Series A funding to convert a former dairy facility into a site for upcycling spent brewers' yeast, processing over 20,000 tons annually. The project aims to support global expansion and is backed by investors including Beyond Impact and Gentian Investments. Vegconomist
TruArc Partners has invested in DMI Personal Care, which will merge with Trademark Cosmetics. The partnership aims to expand DMI's national presence and support TruArc's goal of building an innovative beauty and personal care platform. GCIMagazine
Violette_FR, the beauty brand founded by Violette Serrat, has closed its Series B funding round led by Silas Capital. The investment will support global expansion, product innovation, and digital growth. The brand has also appointed Heidi Merris as president. GCIMagazine
💸M&A💸
Germany's RhönSprudel Group, acquired by France's Alma Group in 2022, has taken full ownership of the juice business Bauer Fruchtsaft, including Alma’s previously held 50% stake. While the financial details remain undisclosed, Bauer Fruchtsaft's managing director, Rainer Bauer, will stay through a transition period before stepping down early next year. JustDrinks
Campari Group has fully acquired South Korean spirits importer Trans Beverages, rebranding it as Campari Korea and making it a wholly-owned subsidiary. JustDrinks
Post Holdings is set to acquire Potato Products of Idaho, a maker of refrigerated and frozen potato products, for an undisclosed amount. Expected to close in early 2025, the deal includes a Rigby, Idaho facility and complements Post's existing potato offerings, including Bob Evans sides, Simply Potatoes, and its foodservice-focused Michael Foods division. FoodDive
H&M Group has acquired a minority stake in Swedish retail tech platform Voyado, strengthening their long-term partnership. Voyado's platform optimizes e-commerce, personalizes customer experiences, and streamlines communication, supporting its expansion and enhancing value for customers. RetailGazette
Kose Corporation, the Japanese multinational cosmetics company, has acquired a stake in Puri Beauty to expand its portfolio and accelerate global growth, leveraging external partnerships and assets to drive the company’s expansion. GCIMagazine
Covalo has acquired Cosmetitrovo, an Italian platform connecting cosmetic ingredient suppliers and service providers. This acquisition strengthens Covalo's regional presence and supports its strategy to offer regionally tailored solutions while enhancing global interactions. GCIMagazine
Puig, the Spanish fashion and beauty company, will fully acquire Charlotte Tilbury Limited by 2031 as part of a strategic partnership extending through 2030. BeautyPackaging
L’Oréal has sold its skincare brands Decléor and Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc to Cospal, a new brand builder founded by Matthieu Lesieur. The acquisition supports Cospal’s expansion into the beauty and wellness markets. BeautyPackaging
🚀Debuts, Distribution & Expansion🚀
Nestlé has launched a mocha-flavored Boost pre-meal drink designed to suppress hunger and promote GLP-1 hormone production. Targeted at consumers managing weight, the 45-calorie beverage, containing 10 grams of protein, is available on Amazon and select CVS stores. While it complements GLP-1 medications, it is less potent and not a replacement, according to Nestlé. FoodDive
Range Beauty, part of Sephora Accelerate’s 2023 class, is launching online at Sephora on December 30, with plans to expand to physical stores next year, despite facing funding challenges. BeautyIndependent
Aldi UK is launching its largest-ever plant-based range for Veganuary 2025, with prices starting at £1.49. New products include the Plant Menu Kimchi Kofta for gut health, Tempura Frickles, a viral deep-fried pickle snack, and the Plant Menu Plant-Based Egg, a versatile liquid egg replacer fortified with vitamins D and B12. Vegconomist
The €5 million DELICIOUS project, launched under Horizon Europe, aims to accelerate the shift to plant-based dairy alternatives. It will use microbial fermentation and plant-based materials to create affordable, tasty alternatives to products like cheese and kefir. Vegconomist
Tatcha will launch at over 1,400 Ulta Beauty stores and online on January 1, 2025, featuring its iconic Dewy Skin Cream and exclusive sets. CEO Mary Yee expressed excitement about introducing Tatcha's Japanese rituals to Ulta's beauty enthusiasts, highlighting the shared values of excellence and authenticity in the partnership. GCIMagazine
Molton Brown has entered Indonesia with its first flagship store at Ciputra World Surabaya. This expansion supports Kao’s strategy to lead in premium markets and includes plans to partner with luxury hotels in Bali, aligning with Molton Brown’s omnichannel and Asia-Pacific growth strategy. BeautyPackaging
Sofie Pavitt Face, founded by NYC aesthetician Sofie Pavitt, launches at Sephora online on December 26 and in 363 U.S. stores on February 28. The brand offers studio-grade skincare designed to simplify routines and target acne effectively. BeautyPackaging
Briogeo, the haircare brand, launches the Style + Treat Dry Shampoo Puff, offering mess-free, targeted application with its puff-top design. Available in two shades, the talc-free, aerosol-free formula is perfect for on-the-go use. BeautyPackaging
Mintel is launching Mintel Spark, a product concept generator aimed at revitalizing CPG innovation by helping brands visualize packaging and concepts. BeautyPackaging
Natura & Co., the Brazilian global personal care cosmetics group, plans to transition to a franchise business model in Mexico by mid-2025, moving away from direct selling. This model has already proven successful in Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, and Chile. BeautyPackaging
🪇Collabs🪇
Sofia Coppola has partnered with emerging skincare brand Monastery to launch the $120 Hideaways Essence, a hydrating spray inspired by Belize, reflecting her signature discerning taste in collaborations with brands she’s personally connected to. BeautyIndependent
Peter Thomas Roth Skincare partners with Listrak to enhance its eCommerce platform and personalize customer communications, following its migration to Shopify Plus. BeautyPackaging
Cosmogen has formed a strategic partnership with Weinberg Capital Partners through a majority acquisition, facilitating growth and international expansion. BeautyPackaging
Two K-beauty brands, CJ Olive Young's BringGreen and WakeMake, have partnered with Netflix to release a Squid Game special edition collection ahead of season 2's debut on December 26. The collection features items like a dalgona lip balm and a palette, inspired by the character Young-hee, with bloody rose and show motifs. BeautyPackaging
LVMH's Beauty R&D division, LVMH Recherche, has partnered with Integrated Biosciences to develop science-backed, anti-aging skin youth products. The multi-year collaboration will use AI and optogenetics to identify chemical compounds that target aging, leveraging deep learning models to screen molecules for potential age-related benefits. BeautyPackaging
↪️Rebrands & Relaunches↩️
Jolt Cola, the iconic soda from the 1980s and 1990s known for its high caffeine content, is making a comeback as an energy drink. Now nearly tripling its caffeine, ditching sugar, and adding functional benefits, Jolt aims to cater to modern consumer demands after years of market challenges and brief reappearances. FoodDive
Hostess, the American bakery company, has unveiled a refreshed logo and packaging as part of a broader modernization effort following its $5.6 billion acquisition by J.M. Smucker. The update keeps the iconic red heart but introduces a bolder font, vibrant colors, and new snack photography. This is the first step in a larger transformation, with an advertising campaign planned for 2025. FoodDive
📰 Consumer News📰
Post Holdings’ egg business, Michael Foods, has been hit by bird flu, losing 4.5 million birds from a third-party facility in Iowa, impacting 12% of its egg supply. The outbreak, amid rising cases in U.S. poultry, has driven up prices but remains within the company’s fiscal 2025 outlook. FoodDive
The Body Shop has returned to profit just three months after being rescued from administration, making a £2m profit and £28m in sales during its first 100 days under new ownership. The rescue, led by British cosmetics tycoon Mike Jatania, followed the company’s administration earlier this year. RetailGazette
The global skincare market is projected to reach $220.75 billion by 2029, driven by trends like clean beauty and e-commerce growth, according to ResearchAndMarkets.com. Brands investing in marketing, distribution, and loyalty programs are positioned for success. BeautyPackaging
The fragrance ingredients market, valued at $17.1 billion, is projected to grow at a 5.1% CAGR, reaching nearly $22 billion by 2029, according to Markets and Markets. BeautyPackaging