Traub Weekly News Roundup // August 8, 2023

Here's our weekly roundup of recent consumer and retail news. This week, Nike plans boutique fitness studios, Beyoncé, Barbie and Taylor Swift capture the female consumer, and more. 

WORDS FOR THE WEEK

M&A and INVESTMENTS

• Campbell Soup to buy Rao’s maker Sovos Brands for $2.7B Food Dive
• Paramount Agrees to Sell Simon & Schuster to KKR for $1.62 Billion NYT
• Advent Buys Zimmermann in $1 Billion Deal BoF
• Hasbro to sell eOne film and TV studio to Lionsgate Entertainment for $500 million Reuters
• Livekindly Collective expands with acquisition of Alpha Foods Food Dive
• Anheuser-Busch to sell 8 beer and beverage brands to pot company Tilray Food Dive
• Garmin to Acquire JL Audio SGB Media 

INDUSTRY NEWS

CPG

Flavored water brands are riding the popularity of ‘watertok’

With the rise of do-it-yourself flavor blends on "watertok" and a heightened awareness around artificial sweeteners, beverage brands large and small are pushing new products that are marketed to be healthy alternatives. Modern Retail

Amazon Unveils Biggest Grocery Overhaul Since Buying Whole Foods

It’s revamping stores, unifying online shopping carts and offering fresh-food delivery to customers who aren’t Prime subscribers. Bloomberg

Lunchables is heading to the produce aisle with a fresh fruit snack tray

Lunchables is launching snack packs with fresh fruit (such as grapes and apples) in limited locations. It’s planning for a nationwide rollout by 2024. CNN

Boxed wine startups are trying to build viable DTC businesses

Founders of new boxed wine brands like Juliet, Boxt and Gratsi say their startups are outpacing anticipated demand. Modern Retail

Nike plans ‘network’ of boutique fitness studios

The first location is set to open in Los Angeles later this year. Nike running and training studios will offer live classes and social fitness events. Retail Dive

Back-to-school shopping hit by inflation, higher prices

Higher prices and demand for electronics are taking a bigger bite out of consumer budgets — and driving record spending — according to the National Retail Federation's annual survey. Axios

No more freebies: Companies crack down on customer perks and rewards

From airport lounges to free shipping and birthday treats, consumers are seeing fewer freebies as businesses rethink how they want to inspire loyalty. CNBC

Beyond Meat, the poster child of plant-based meat, saw sales tank as cash-strapped shoppers turn away from expensive alternative proteins

Consumers are financially squeezed and they're skeptical of the health benefits of plant-based meat, Beyond Meat execs said. Business Insider

Beauty category proves to be one of the strongest for retailers, survey

While some retailers such as Kohl’s and Target report struggling in apparel and home goods, beauty is not only holding its own, but also holding up these companies’ financial outlooks. Retail Brew

Beyoncé, ‘Barbie,’ and Taylor Swift have put a spotlight on the rising power of the ‘female dollar.’

Three female icons are driving the cultural conversation this summer and shining a spotlight on a rising star of the U.S. economy: the female consumer. MarketWatch

RETAIL

Minted launches wedding marketplace

The platform is entering the wedding market as David’s Bridal undergoes its post-bankruptcy turnaround. Retail Dive

L.L. Bean Broadens Wholesale Business, Plans Four Store Openings

The retailer is building out wholesale, opening four new standalone stores and launching a French-language e-commerce site. WWD

The Loss Of Buy Buy Baby Suggests Gains For Indie Retailers And Majors

Beyond the majors that do a healthy baby business, there are a slew of independent, locally based retail chains that will vie for the “baby pie.” Forbes

Solo Brands Expands Wholesale, Leveling Seasonality And Creating New DTC Customers

Solo Brands is riding tailwinds provided by its omnichannel strategy, yielding short-term benefits and promising long-term ones as well. Forbes

TECH

TikTok is building an e-commerce team to go after pre-owned luxury bag buyers and sneakerheads

TikTok is hiring a team to help sell pre-owned luxury items like bags, and collectibles like sneakers, as its e-commerce and social shopping ambitions come into focus. Business Insider

'Call Her Daddy’ Host Alex Cooper is starting her own podcast network

Spotify's leading female podcaster is branching out. Alex Cooper has launched a new Gen Z-focused podcast network called The Unwell Network, which will cater to the Gen Z demographic. The Verge

RESTAURANTS & HOSPITALITY

U.S. fast-food chains add automation to boost speed

From robotic grills to faster blenders with custom ice and milk dispensers, major U.S. restaurant chains including Starbucks , Domino's, and Chipotle are touting new technologies to automate production, cut labor costs and potentially boost profit margins. Reuters

Shake Shack is adding more tech to its stores — and it could mean a big boost to its bottom line

Kiosks are the chain's most profitable ordering channel. For one thing, people buy premium drinks. Business Insider

Fast-Food Customers Are Giving Up on Dining In

McDonald’s, Burger King want big investments in eating areas, prompting pushback from franchisees. WSJ

COMINGS & GOINGS

• Debra Perelman Out as CEO of Revlon WWD
  
• Miyoko’s Creamery picks former Coca-Cola executive as its next CEO Food Dive
• COO Michael Rempell Stepping Down at American Eagle Outfitters WWD
• Salvatore Ferragamo CFO Alessandro Corsi to Join MinervaHub as CEO WWD
• Tesla names insider Taneja CFO as Kirkhorn steps down Reuters
• Angela Ahrendts to be Senior Operating Adviser at SKKY Partners WSJ
• Goldman Sachs’ John Rogers steps down as chief of staff Financial Times
• Adrienne Lazarus Named Madewell President WWD

GOOD READS

• How Sports Partnerships Are Making Fashion’s Waste Problem Worse BoF
• Has e-commerce peaked? The Economist