Ty Haney Back at Outdoor Voices, Pepsico Launches Prebiotic Soda, Sugar Capital Raises Third Fund & More
The Consumer VC Roundup #128, Latest News in Emerging Consumer Brands, Tech & Commerce Enablement From the Week of July 21st
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📰 Consumer News📰
UK authorities arrested four suspects tied to April’s cyberattacks on Harrods, M&S, and Co-op. Believed to be linked to the Scattered Spider gang, the suspects face charges including blackmail, money laundering, and organized crime. Devices were seized for investigation. RD
Ty Haney is back at Outdoor Voices, relaunching the brand under new ownership. Since she left the brand she founded in 2020, it experienced a sharp downturn – closing its retail stores, filing for bankruptcy – and eventually sold to Consortium last year. – The Cut
PepsiCo launches Pepsi Prebiotic Soda. The soda includes 5 grams of cane sugar, 30 calories, and no artificial sweeteners. Many were surprised since they acquired prebiotic soda brand Poppi only a few months ago. – PepsiCo
Shein is facing a class action lawsuit for allegedly sending marketing texts to people on the national Do-Not-Call Registry. The plaintiff claims to have received unsolicited messages despite registering in April and is seeking a jury trial, citing invasion of privacy and nuisance. RD
Bark has received a second noncompliance warning from the NYSE in under two years after its stock averaged below $1 over 30 days. The company is exploring options to regain compliance, including a possible reverse stock split. RD
Hackers from the group DragonForce have claimed responsibility for a data breach at North Carolina-based retailer Belk, stating they stole 156GB of data. The group is also linked to the April attack on Marks & Spencer and is believed to have ties to the Scattered Spider cybercrime gang. RD
Alimentation Couche-Tard has officially ended its bid to acquire 7-Eleven parent company Seven & i Holdings. After nearly a year of pursuit, the Canadian retailer cited a lack of constructive engagement and insufficient data sharing from the Japanese company, despite both parties signing NDAs earlier this year. RTP
The EU is taking France to the Court of Justice over its recycling label laws, arguing they breach EU rules by hindering the free movement of goods. The dispute centers on France’s mandatory ‘Triman’ logo and ‘Info-Tri’ sorting instructions, required on packaging like milk cartons and glass bottles. Despite prior warnings in 2023 and 2024, France has not amended the rules. JD
Russia’s Novabev Group, owner of Beluga and Belenkaya vodka, reported a major cyberattack on July 14. The incident caused temporary disruptions to parts of its IT systems, including its retail arm WineLab. The company described it as a large-scale, coordinated hacker operation. JD
XRC Ventures and SHOPLINE announced eight CPG startups will receive an average of $50K in non-dilutive capital to level up their ecommerce game as a part of the XRC Brand Builder Grant Program. PR Newswire
🧃Consumer Brands👚
💸M&A💸
Backcountry has acquired Utah-based value retailer Level Nine Sports. The move combines Backcountry’s digital strengths with Level Nine’s budget-friendly gear offerings. Both Utah store locations will stay open, staff will join Backcountry’s Gearhead team with added training, and the Level Nine website has been refreshed with more products. RTP
L.Catterton (backed by LVMH) has acquired a majority stake in L.A.B. Golf—a niche putter maker known for torque‑reducing models—at a valuation topping $200 million. The move follows a surge in demand after J.J. Spaun used an L.A.B. putter to win the U.S. Open, with sales projected to triple in 2025 and CEO Sam Hahn remaining in place – Golf Retailing
Keurig Dr Pepper has acquired Dyla Brands, the U.S. maker of powdered drink mixes and water enhancers. KDP previously held a minority stake in the company since 2017. JD
Pernod Ricard has sold its Knappogue Castle and Clontarf Irish whiskey brands to Irish company Cobblestone Brands. The deal adds the whiskeys to Cobblestone’s portfolio alongside Four Corners American Gin and Star & Key Rum. Terms were not disclosed. JD
🚀Debuts, Distribution & Expansions🚀
Launching this fall, BamJam is a new functional fruit spread from Gen Z founder Cristian Gaggi, reimagining nostalgic flavors with clean ingredients and added health benefits. Made with real fruit, bovine collagen, chia seeds, and monk fruit, each serving delivers 8g of collagen protein, 1–3g of fiber, and 0g of added sugar for just 60–90 calories. Available direct-to-consumer, BamJam will debut in three classic flavors: Strawberry, Grape, and Raspberry. PR
Antonio Marras has opened his first store outside Italy in New York’s SoHo. The 7,500 sq. ft. flagship at 121 Wooster Street had a soft launch on July 19, with an official opening set for September 12 during New York Fashion Week. WWD
Vuori will open its first stores in Seoul and Beijing this fall, expanding its global reach. With new locations and expanded e-commerce in 11 countries, the brand expects to surpass 100 stores worldwide by year-end. WWD RD
Tractor Supply plans to open 100 new stores in 2026 after a strong Q2, where sales hit $4.4B and net income rose to $430M. The retailer opened 26 stores last quarter and expects continued growth in sales and profits for the year. RD
Target is opening 8 new stores this summer in CA, CT, FL, NJ, NY, and PA as part of its expansion plan. Three will exceed the typical 125,000 sq. ft., including a new Queens location and its 53rd in NJ. More store openings are expected in October. RD
Waldencast is expanding its Obagi skincare brand into the dermal filler market through the acquisition of Novaestiq Corp., marking a strategic move into aesthetic injectables. BI
Med-spas are increasingly broadening their services beyond aesthetics, with entrepreneur Cindy Eckert leading the charge by introducing Addyi, a libido-boosting pill for women, into these spaces—blending beauty treatments like Botox with sexual wellness care. BI
Proven, known for its AI-powered personalized skincare, is expanding beyond customization with the launch of SkinSpecific, its first non-personalized product line. This new range marks the brand’s debut on Amazon, aiming to reach a broader audience with data-driven formulations that don’t require customization. BI
Flower Shop’s Cirque du Soleil fragrance, L’eau de Parfum, is going global after launching last year as a $195 direct-to-consumer luxury gourmand scent. In just 90 days, the brand has expanded distribution to nine countries through niche retail channels, marking a major milestone in the collaboration between the fragrance house and the iconic circus producer. BI
Lisa King, founder of B-Glowing, is launching a new brand called Zen Dew to tackle skincare overwhelm and "decision fatigue fatigue," aiming to simplify routines with a more mindful, less-is-more approach. BI
🪇Collabs🪇
DressX has launched its first Roblox game, DressGo, in partnership with Puma. The game features styling challenges using digital wearables, including items from Puma’s Roblox catalog and three new dresses in mystery boxes. Aimed at Gen Z and female gamers, the collab will include more Puma drops in future updates. RD
Marks & Spencer has launched its first international fashion wholesale partnership with Australian retailer David Jones. The deal brings M&S womenswear, menswear, and lingerie to 24 David Jones stores and online, including its Sydney and Melbourne flagships. This follows a successful food partnership with Target Australia earlier this year. RTP
Dermatologist Whitney Hovenic and the mayor of Reno, Nev., have launched a bold and playful Gen Z-focused sunscreen brand to combat rising melanoma rates among young adults, addressing a growing health concern with a fresh, engaging approach. BI
↪️Rebrands & Relaunches↩️
Rimowa has reopened its largest North American boutique at 535 Madison Avenue in New York. The redesigned space was created in collaboration with Porto Architecture. WWD
Tween period care brand Scarlet, formerly RedDrop, has rebranded ahead of its launch at Ulta Beauty next month, marking its first entry into retail. BI
🔻Closures, Bankruptcies & Downsizes🔻
La-Z-Boy is overhauling its distribution network to cut warehouse and inventory costs while improving home delivery. The move is part of its long-term growth strategy, aiming to boost efficiency and maintain strong operating margins. RD
Champagne producers have cut the 2025 harvest yield by 10%, setting the marketable limit at 9,000 kg/ha. Comité Champagne cited ongoing global economic uncertainties as the reason for the reduction. JD
PepsiCo will shut down manufacturing, transport, and maintenance operations at its Detroit site on September 27, affecting over 80 employees. While sales and delivery teams will remain, the company says it will provide support, pay, and benefits to impacted staff. JD
🛒eCommerce, Retail Tech, Supply Chain🛒
💰Fundraises💰
TakeUp, an AI-powered revenue optimization platform for independent hospitality brands, has raised $11M in a Series A round led by 1848 Ventures. The funding will help expand its causal inference AI technology, which helps small hotels and stays boost demand, convert guests, and maximize revenue by adapting in real time to market changes. PRN
MapLight Therapeutics has announced an oversubscribed $372.5 million Series D financing round, co-led by Forbion and Goldman Sachs Alternatives’ Life Sciences division. New investors include Sanofi, T. Rowe Price, and Avego BioScience Capital, with continued support from existing backers like Novo Holdings, 5AM Ventures, and Blue Owl Healthcare Opportunities. PRN
Queen One, a brand technology platform focused on turning websites and communication portals into vibrant, revenue-generating experiences, has raised over $5.5 million in a Friends & Family funding round. The round was led by Charge VC, Inspired Capital, Red Swan Ventures, and Prospeq, along with a network of entrepreneurs and close supporters. PRN
ArcSpan, a publisher-first audience monetization platform, has raised $5.2 million in a Seed Extension round to help digital publishers turn first-party data into high-performing, advertiser-ready audience solutions. The funding, supported by new and existing investors, comes as demand grows for data platforms that enable direct monetization and content intelligence in a post-cookie digital landscape. PRN
5C, an AI infrastructure and data center solutions provider, has secured $835 million in funding—led by Brookfield Asset Management (equity) and Deutsche Bank (debt)—to support its rapid growth. Specializing in advanced, liquid-cooled GPU data centers built for AI training and inference, 5C serves neo-clouds, foundation model developers, and AI-native enterprises. PRN
Funds Raising Funds
Sugar Capital has raised a $75 million third fund as co-founder Brian Sugar proclaims that “consumer is back,” signaling renewed investor confidence in consumer brands and a strategy focused on identifying the next wave of breakout companies in the space. BI
Thank you for reading!