The GLP-1 Pill Is Coming, TikTok Sells U.S. Operations,
Consumer VC Roundup #148 – Latest News in Emerging Consumer Brands, Tech & Commerce Enablement From the Week of December 29th 2025
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Hey everyone,
Happy New Year! I hope you all were able to have some downtime over the past couple of weeks with family and friends. Here’s all the news in consumer from the end of 2025.
This Week In Consumer
📰 Consumer News📰
Novo Nordisk’s FDA-approved Wegovy pill, the first oral GLP-1 weight-loss treatment, will hit US shelves in January, offering a convenient alternative to injections like Wegovy and Mounjaro. The pill is expected to reduce appetite, creating challenges for food and beverage makers while boosting demand for protein- and fiber-rich options. Experts see both short-term volume pressure on high-margin products and opportunities for companies to adapt to changing consumer needs. JD
Instacart agreed to pay $60 million in consumer refunds to settle an FTC lawsuit alleging deceptive practices around delivery fees, refunds and Instacart+ trial disclosures. The settlement resolves claims that the company misled customers with hidden costs and made refunds unnecessarily difficult. RD
The UK-South Korea trade deal, finalized on 15 December, secures tariff-free access on 98% of goods, benefiting around £2 billion in exports. Scottish salmon and Guinness are set to gain from South Korea’s growing import demand, projected to rise 26% by 2035. FBM
Dollar Shave Club has launched its first AI-generated ad, poking fun at legacy razor brands by making AI the joke rather than the hero. The 60-second spot features a fictional rival cutting absurd perks before turning to AI, reinforcing Dollar Shave Club’s message that it invests in products, not gimmicks. RD
🧃Consumer Brands👚
💰Fundraises💰
Mosa Meat has raised an additional €15 million to support regulatory approvals and move toward first meaningful revenues, even as fellow cultivated meat startup Meatable shuts down. The round was backed by Invest-NL, LIOF, PHW Group, and Just Eat Takeaway founder Jitse Groen. The company says it has cut production costs by 99.999% since its first €250k burger, signaling major progress toward commercialization. EUS
Syremis Therapeutics has launched with $165 million in Series A funding to develop next-generation medicines for mental health conditions. The round was co-led by Dexcel Pharma and Third Rock Ventures, with participation from Bain Capital Life Sciences, GV, QVT, and Pictet. The funding will advance its clinical-stage pipeline, targeting underserved disorders like schizophrenia. BW
💸M&A💸
TikTok has agreed to sell a majority stake in its U.S. operations to an investor consortium, including Oracle, Silver Lake, and Andreessen Horowitz, keeping ByteDance limited to a 20% share. The deal, approved by President Trump in September 2025, ensures TikTok and its TikTok Shop division continue operating in the U.S., following years of legal and regulatory pressure for a divestment. RTP
The CMA is set to accept remedies in Vandemoortele’s acquisition of Délifrance, after concerns the deal could reduce competition in the UK frozen viennoiserie market. The proposed solution involves selling Délifrance’s UK business and two French production facilities to an approved buyer. FBM
Laird Superfood is acquiring US organic brand Navitas for $38.5M, with private-equity firm Nexus Capital Management investing $50M in Series A stock to become a majority investor. JD
The planned $950 million sale of nearly 120 J.C. Penney stores to private equity firm Onyx Partners has fallen through after repeated delays. The deal, first announced in July, was part of efforts to sell off real estate held by a trust formed during Penney’s 2020 bankruptcy. RD
Savencia Fromage & Dairy is expanding its footprint in Brazil through the acquisition of Quatá Alimentos, a well-known family-owned cheese and dairy producer. The deal adds trusted local brands like Quatá and Glória to Savencia’s portfolio. Quatá’s strong heritage and sourcing from key Brazilian dairy regions strengthen Savencia’s position in the market. FBM
Vacation has hired investment bank Raymond James to explore a minority stake deal, with a formal fundraising process expected to begin next year. Sources say the nostalgic sun care brand is most likely seeking capital from a financial sponsor as it looks to scale its lifestyle-driven positioning beyond DTC. BI
Varun Beverages will acquire South Africa’s Twizza for R2.09 billion ($125.4M) in an all-cash deal. JD
Nexture has acquired Italy’s Sipral Padana to expand its portfolio of value-added, semi-finished food ingredients. The deal strengthens Nexture’s capabilities in fat-based creams, nut ingredients and gelato products. Sipral employs 130+ people, generates over €80M in revenue, and serves customers in 20+ countries. FBM
↪️Rebrands & Relaunches↩️
Anastasia Beverly Hills has completed a recapitalization anchored by a $225 million equity investment from founder and CEO Anastasia Soare, who remains the company’s majority owner. The deal, backed by lenders and TPG, significantly reduces debt and strengthens the brand’s long-term financial position. It follows TPG’s recent $600 million exit from the company. GCIM
🚀Debuts, Distribution & Expansion🚀
BamJam is set to launch confidentially on Jan. 14 with a streamlined lineup of three flavors: Blueberry, Strawberry and Wild Berry. The spread will offer 8 grams of protein per serving and 60–70 calories, positioning itself as a low-calorie, high-protein option without added sugar, chalky textures or food dyes. The brand will ship nationwide via DTC and will debut in physical retail exclusively at Pop Up Grocer in New York starting next month. BJ
Celsius is expanding its UK and Ireland lineup with four new zero-sugar fruit flavors—Raspberry Peach, Mango Lemonade, Kiwi Guava, and Strawberry Watermelon—set to launch in January 2026. RM
Drmtlgy is entering brick-and-mortar retail for the first time with a nationwide rollout at Ulta Beauty starting Dec. 26, both in stores and online. The move strengthens Ulta’s science-backed skincare lineup with dermatologist-developed, medical-grade products at accessible price points. BND
Foreo is launching a more affordable sub-brand aimed at younger shoppers, offering beauty tech products priced under $30 to attract cost-conscious consumers who may not splurge on its premium $200 devices. BI
Lululemon will expand into six new markets in 2026—Greece, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Romania, and India—through franchise partnerships, even as it searches for a new CEO following Calvin McDonald’s departure on Jan. 31, 2026. The announcement comes after the company posted $2.6 billion in Q3 2025 revenue, up 7% year-over-year, driven by international sales despite recent market share losses. RTP
French fashion brand Sandro is expanding in Latin America, opening new stores in Chile and Argentina, and planning a Mexico flagship in Los Cabos, aiming to strengthen its presence in high-growth regional markets. FBM
Pacsun is ramping up brick-and-mortar expansion, opening its first new U.S. stores in 18 years and planning 20–35 locations over the next three years as foot traffic rises. The brand is also going international for the first time, with a Dubai debut in 2026 and up to 20 Middle East stores planned through a Majid Al Futtaim partnership. RD
Brazil Edition has launched as a performance-driven haircare brand blending Amazonian butters with peptides, debuting with a $38 hair mask and $29 leave-in to target damage in the fast-growing prestige hair market. BI
Women’s health start-up Evelyn has launched The PMS Bar, a hormone-free snack specifically designed to support mood, cravings, and energy during the luteal phase, featuring 11 active ingredients like complex carbs, prebiotic fiber, magnesium, vitamin B6, and L-tryptophan. RM
Barnes & Noble plans to open 60 new stores in 2026, expanding its footprint across nine states and Washington, D.C., following dozens of openings in 2025. RTP
Loonen, a new California-based bottled water brand, launched in select retailers and on Amazon after raising $6 million led by Brand Foundry Ventures. Founded by Clara Sieg and David Kimmell, the brand emphasizes safety amid concerns over PFAS, lead, and microplastics, sourcing water from protected mountain springs and providing lab-tested results via QR codes. FBM
Zales has unveiled a new next-gen retail concept called The Edit, focused on personalization, self-purchase and digital integration. The stores feature open layouts, customization areas, one-on-one consultations and a digital companion tool using QR codes to connect shoppers to Zales’ full assortment. The concept is live in four U.S. markets, with another location opening early next year. RD
Former Goop, Memebox and Kendo executive Jaimee Holmes has launched Fel Beauty at Sephora, debuting with a playful kiss-shaped lip-and-cheek balm that signals her confidence in the continued growth of the lip category. BI
Build-A-Bear is launching an animated series, KABU, debuting Dec. 26, 2025 on its YouTube channel. Set in Kabuville, the show follows stuffed animal friends navigating friendship and growing up, with characters like Bearmey and Pawlette redesigned in a Japanese “kawaii” style. The series coincides with a new plush collection available in Build-A-Bear Workshops worldwide. RTP
🪇Collabs🪇
Vinarchy has partnered with ASC Fine Wines to make them the exclusive importer and distributor of Jacob’s Creek wines in China starting 1 January, covering the full range from the accessible AU888 Series and Winemaker’s Selection to the premium Chosen Rows and Barrel Selection. JD
🔻Closures, Bankruptcies & Downsizes🔻
Saks Global says it’s exploring all options to stabilize its finances and has not ruled out a potential bankruptcy filing, following reports it’s considering Chapter 11 as a last resort. The company emphasized that the luxury market remains strong and that it continues to see a long-term role for itself, as it faces a major debt payment due at the end of December. RD
AB InBev plans to close its Fairfield, CA and Merrimack, NH breweries and sell its Newark, NJ facility to Goodman Group, aiming to consolidate operations and invest in remaining sites. Over 400 employees will be offered roles elsewhere as production shifts to other facilities. FBM
Heineken is ceasing production at its north-eastern Brazil brewery and relocating output to another site in the region. JD
The Honest Company will stop selling directly through its website on Dec. 28 and shut down its mobile app as part of a broader turnaround plan. The brand will shift fully to wholesale, selling through retailers like Walmart, Target and Amazon, while its website becomes an informational hub rather than a sales channel. RD
AB InBev will close two U.S. breweries in Fairfield, California and Merrimack, New Hampshire, and sell its Newark, New Jersey site to Goodman Group as part of an operational consolidation. The closures, planned for early 2026, will affect more than 400 employees, with roles offered elsewhere in the company. AB InBev says the move will allow greater investment in its remaining facilities and growing brands. FBM
Halewood Artisanal Spirits cut over 40% of its UK workforce, reducing headcount from 390 to 225, as sales faced pressure and inflationary costs rose. JD
💻Consumer Software💻
Former Tesla associate Ghezal Ebrat has launched SearchBeaute.ai, a beauty-focused AI platform designed to personalize product discovery, positioning it as a ChatGPT alternative built specifically for beauty shoppers. BI
Meta has acquired Singapore-based AI startup Manus for around $2 billion, following its rapid rise and strong commercial traction. Manus, known for AI agents that handle tasks like hiring, travel planning and financial analysis, reportedly generates over $100M in ARR. Meta plans to keep Manus independent while integrating its agents into Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp as part of its broader AI strategy. TC
Vibranium Labs raised $4.6M in seed funding to scale Vibe AI, the first 24/7 AI incident engineer, which proactively monitors and resolves IT issues to improve uptime. PRN
Octopus Energy Group has raised €850M in its first standalone funding round for Kraken, valuing the AI-driven utility platform at €7.3B and formally spinning it out as an independent business. The round was led by D1 Capital Partners with participation from Fidelity, Durable Capital and Ontario Teachers’. Kraken powers energy and utilities operations globally and marks a major tech-focused demerger from Octopus Energy. EUS
Vitalis Ventures has made a $15 million strategic investment in Drive Health to accelerate Avery, its Google-powered clinical workflow AI, bringing total funding to over $26 million. The capital will support product expansion, deeper collaboration with Google, and position the company for a Series A in 2026. PRN
Buzzy has launched an AI-powered platform that helps creators and brands generate viral content ideas by analyzing social media trends and performance data. Instead of focusing on production, it tackles the biggest pain point: knowing what content to create. The platform aims to make viral success more repeatable by translating trends into emotionally resonant ideas. BW
Architect Financial Technologies raised $35M in a Series A to expand AX, its centralized exchange for perpetual futures on traditional assets, serving institutional clients under Bermuda’s regulatory framework. PRN
Luum has unveiled an upgraded version of its AI-powered lash extension robot and announced plans to expand across the U.S. The brand will open new shop-in-shop studios at Ulta Beauty and Nordstrom, with more locations rolling out through early 2026. BND
Arcads.ai raised $16 million in seed funding led by Eurazeo to accelerate its U.S. expansion. Founded in 2024, the AI platform helps marketing teams quickly create social-ready videos — from UGC-style ads to product demos — and is already used by thousands of brands worldwide. PRN
Traini raised $7.5M to develop AI systems that understand pet emotions and will launch the Cognitive Smart Collar, the first AI-powered human–dog “language” translator, available for pre-order. BW
BriefCatch raised $6M in Series A funding to expand its AI-assisted legal writing platform, supporting law firms and courts with secure, expert-guided editing and drafting tools. PRN
Thanks for reading!