February 2024: Monthly Consumer News Roundup

Each month, we'll be sharing a compilation of the biggest news stories from all corners of the consumer landscape, from CPG, retail, beauty, tech, hospitality, real estate, deals, investments and more.

Here's our roundup of recent consumer and retail news articles: 

Macy’s Will Close 150 Stores but Expand Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury

The retailer, under a new chief executive and facing a takeover bid, outlined a three-year strategy to achieve “sustainable, profitable growth.” NYT

ESPN, Fox and Warner Team Up to Create Sports Streaming Platform

New service will be available as a stand-alone app, and to Max, Hulu and Disney+ subscribers as part of a bundle. WSJ

Why Costco is so loved

Costco is the world’s third-biggest retailer, behind Walmart and Amazon. Though its sales are less than half of Walmart’s, its return on capital, at nearly 20%, is more than twice as high. The Economist

The High Cost of Eating Out in America

As restaurants struggle with staffing and inflation, fast food has an advantage in the post-pandemic dining landscape. Bloomberg

Brands are betting on Apple Vision Pro’s potential as a shopping channel

For some brands, the launch of Apple Vision Pro could usher in a new era of online shopping and customer engagement. Modern Retail

Ozempic Maker Novo Gets Calls From ‘Scared’ Food CEOs

Makers of everything from snack food to knee implants are facing a potential threat from Novo Nordisk A/S’s powerful appetite-suppressing treatments. So they’re calling the drugmaker for advice. Bloomberg

Walmart Hits $100 Billion In E-commerce Sales for 2023

The company topped off the year with a strong fourth quarter, but sees revenue growth moderating in 2024. WWD

Google's Gemini Mired in Controversy Over AI Chatbot Push

Search company is betting on AI for its next big business, but the tech’s pitfalls are playing out in real time. WSJ

Why ‘restaurant CPG’ will grow in the US but won’t disrupt the status quo

Restaurant CPG is fast becoming a legitimate competitor to big and emerging brands in the battle for shelf space. Just Food

The future of luxury e-commerce is trending toward DTC

The most likely scenario is that luxury brands will continue to build out their own e-commerce stores while partnering with software-as-a-service companies like Shopify and Commerce Layer to handle the operations behind-the-scenes. Glossy

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