A Timeline of What Led up to Grüns Being Acquired by Unilever
Unilever announced it will acquire fast‑growing supplement startup Grüns, best known for its green gummy‑bear vitamins. The startup, founded in 2022, hit a $300 million annualized run rate within two years and secured a $500 million valuation after raising roughly $50 million. Grüns has expanded from a direct‑to‑consumer launch in August 2023 to shelf space at Walmart, Target, Sprouts, Sam’s Club and Costco, adding lines for kids, mushrooms, immunity and pre‑workout. The deal, expected to close later this year, positions Unilever to deepen its Wellbeing portfolio.
What Amazon CEO Andy Jassy’s Annual Letter to Shareholders Didn’t Say
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy’s 2025 shareholder letter spotlighted artificial‑intelligence spending and fulfillment upgrades while completely omitting any reference to the third‑party sellers who power the marketplace. The letter highlighted a $200 billion capex plan and a $15 billion AI run rate in...
Marketplace Briefing: Amazon Sellers Face Cash Crunch as Fees, Policy Changes Spur Order Delays, Price Hikes and Supplier Renegotiations
Amazon announced it will begin deducting advertising costs directly from seller earnings starting April 15, ending the practice of allowing merchants to finance ads with credit cards. The shift is expected to tie up as much as $800,000 in working capital...
Michaels Partners with Jonathan Adler to Give Its Home Decor Section an Upgrade
Michaels is debuting a co‑branded home‑decor line with designer Jonathan Adler, hitting stores on April 17. The collection blends ready‑to‑display pieces with DIY‑friendly items such as paint‑your‑own ceramic vases, priced between $2.99 and $299.99. The launch follows Michaels’ broader push into...
Kroger Brings Its Near-Expired Food to Flashfood App in 100-Plus Stores
Kroger is expanding its partnership with the Flashfood app to more than 100 stores across the Mid‑Atlantic, turning near‑expiration groceries into discounted items for shoppers. The pilot in Richmond, Virginia diverted over 320,000 pounds of food that would have been...
Ergobaby Is Revamping Its Website and Packaging to Better Resonate with Young Parents
Ergobaby is rolling out a brand refresh aimed at Gen Z and millennial parents, debuting a new website on April 8 that features lifestyle imagery, CGI fit explainers, a product‑finder quiz and 360‑degree videos. The company is widening its retail footprint with...
Brands Briefing: Canadian Furniture Brand Cozey Is Opening More U.S. Stores While ‘Going After IKEA’
Canadian furniture startup Cozey, founded in Montreal in 2020, is accelerating its U.S. expansion with a 5,000‑sq‑ft pop‑up store on Abbott Kinney Boulevard in Los Angeles opening April 8 and running through December. The brand previously tested the market with two New York...
Retailers Are Bringing AI Into Stores in More Ways
Retailers are experimenting with AI‑driven tools inside brick‑and‑mortar locations, from Vitamin Shoppe's interactive touchscreen advisor to Guitar Center's QR‑based Rig Advisor. Smart fitting rooms equipped with AI screens have rolled out at brands like Victoria’s Secret, while Walmart is testing...
The RealReal CMO Samantha McCandless on Resale Math, Vintage Bulgari and Her Go-To Sneakers
The RealReal is riding a wave of record growth in online resale as consumers stretch budgets and seek sustainable fashion options. Chief merchandising officer Samantha McCandless funds each new purchase by consigning roughly two items, turning shopping into a low‑guilt, value‑driven...
The Unilever-McCormick Deal Ushers in a New Era for Condiments
The U.S. condiment and spice market has expanded over 50% since 2019, driven by social‑media trends, pandemic‑era home cooking, and a surge in global flavor interest. On March 31, McCormick announced a merger with Unilever’s food division, forming a $44.8 billion entity...
Modern Retail Podcast: Why Shoppers Can’t Get Enough of Limited-Edition Scents and Flavors
The Modern Retail Podcast highlighted the accelerating role of limited‑time offers (LTOs) in consumer packaged goods, especially seasonal scents and flavors. Brands like Peeps are rolling out unconventional variants such as Rita’s‑Italian‑Ice‑ and Pop‑Tarts‑marshmallows, while Dude Wipes leveraged fall and winter...
Marketplace Briefing: Amazon Picks up Speed in Rural America with $4 Billion Delivery Push
Amazon is accelerating its delivery network in rural America, boosting same‑day or next‑day service to 16% of remote customers—a rise from 8% in mid‑2024. The company’s $4 billion logistics push helped it ship more than 13 billion items on same‑day or next‑day...
FedEx Goes After DoorDash, Amazon, UPS with Same-Day Delivery
FedEx launched FedEx SameDay Local in partnership with last‑mile platform OneRail, offering two‑hour or end‑of‑day delivery for retailers. The service taps OneRail’s network of 12 million drivers across more than 1,000 carriers, positioning FedEx against Amazon, DoorDash, Walmart and UPS. FedEx...
April Fools’ Day Gets Real: Why some Brands Are Choosing to Release Actual Products on April 1
On April 1, several brands are swapping traditional pranks for genuine product launches and giveaways, using the holiday’s high‑visibility to cut through cluttered media feeds. Examples include Crumbl’s one‑day‑only “Almost Everything Bagel Sandwich Cookie,” Bocce’s corn‑chip‑scented dog candle, and a pickle‑flavored...
Brands Briefing: How Oral-Care Brand Boka Made the Jump From Erewhon to Walmart
Oral‑care startup Boka, known for its premium $10‑$12 toothpaste, has secured shelf space at Walmart after building a foothold at upscale retailer Erewhon. The move marks the brand’s first foray into mass‑market distribution, aiming to capture shoppers willing to pay...
Coach Won over Gen Z in North America. Now It’s Stepping up Its Focus Abroad
Coach has leveraged deep Gen‑Z consumer research to revitalize its brand, first in North America and now across Asia and Europe. Tailored partnerships with streetwear labels like Clot and Matin Kim, plus localized ambassador programs, have driven double‑digit revenue growth—22% in...
Malibu Taps Creator Sabrina Brier for ‘Get Ready With Me’ Campaign to Promote New Pink Spirit
Malibu has introduced Malibu Pink, a rum‑based spirit flavored with guava, coconut and pineapple, and is launching it through a "Get Ready With Malibu Pink" campaign. The brand partnered with comedian‑creator Sabrina Brier to produce #GRWM videos and a stop‑motion...
Home Brands Target Renters as Ownership Remains Out of Reach for Many
Homeownership is slipping out of reach for many Americans, with the average age of first‑time buyers climbing to a record 40 and median home prices soaring 30% to about $405,000. Elevated mortgage rates around 6% keep borrowing costs high, prompting...
Class-Action Lawsuits over Nutritional Claims on the Rise in MAHA Era
Class‑action lawsuits over nutritional claims are accelerating, with filings up 58 % between 2023 and 2024 and reaching a decade high in 2021. The latest case targets David protein‑bar, alleging nearly double the advertised calories and fat, while Poppi settled an...
Anthropologie Says It Marries Data and Intuition in Merchandising as It Looks for ‘Calculated Risks’
Anthropologie is blending quantitative sales data with qualitative customer insights to drive fast‑moving merchandising decisions. The retailer launched a dedicated 90s minimalist section within a week after spotting TikTok and Hulu‑driven trend signals. It also expanded in‑store footwear from eight...
Poshmark Unveils Its First Major App Redesign in 15 Years Amid Online Thrifting Boom
Poshmark has launched its first major app redesign in 15 years, revamping the experience for its 165 million buyers and sellers. The update introduces an AI‑driven “For You” home feed, larger portrait‑style product images, and a consolidated seller hub with analytics...
Brands Briefing: Beyond Yoga Looks to Stretch Its Men’s Business
Beyond Yoga, traditionally known for women’s activewear, is intensifying its focus on the men’s market. Since launching a men’s line in 2020, the brand has added core fabrics like Spacedye and LuxeFleece and introduced a dedicated men’s landing page. It...
Lowe’s Is Fighting to Prevent AI Agent Overload
Lowe’s is scaling its AI portfolio while battling what it calls “AI sprawl,” the uncontrolled proliferation of narrow, siloed agents. The retailer has instituted an AI Transformation Office, a taxonomy‑based governance model, and a human‑in‑the‑loop framework to vet new agents....
Retailers Are Rethinking Prom with Social-First Marketing and Faster Trend Turnarounds
Teen‑focused retailer Windsor abandoned traditional models in favor of six influencers for its “Prom House” campaign, generating roughly 15 million projected reach and 3.2 million video views. The initiative helped drive 20% year‑over‑year sales growth across both e‑commerce and its 350 stores....
Amazon Pressures Walmart, Other Retailers with One-Hour Delivery
Amazon has launched a $9.99 one‑hour delivery service in hundreds of U.S. cities, adding a three‑hour option in more than 2,000 markets. The offering focuses on pantry, cleaning, health‑beauty items and OTC meds, leveraging Amazon’s existing same‑day hubs and AI‑driven...
Babylist’s Newest Arrival Is a New York Showroom
Babylist is launching a 20,000‑square‑foot showroom in Manhattan’s Soho this summer, eclipsing its 18,000‑square‑foot Beverly Hills flagship. The space will blend retail with education, offering product demos, barcode‑based registry additions, and regular community programming tailored to New York’s compact living and...
Pawn Shops See More Business Amid Consumer Cost Pressures
Pawn shops are experiencing heightened demand as inflation and economic uncertainty tighten household budgets. EZCorp, operating about 1,500 stores, reported a 9% year‑over‑year rise in outstanding pawn loans and a 16% revenue increase to $270 million in the latest quarter. The...
Modern Retail Podcast: AI-Generated Review Summaries Could Upend Online Shopping
Generative AI is now creating condensed summaries of customer reviews that appear in AI‑powered search results such as Gemini, ChatGPT and Rufus. The Modern Retail Podcast discusses how these bot‑written snippets reshape product discovery and can strip essential context from...
Marketplace Briefing: Amazon Says Customers Make Three Times More Purchases Using Alexa+ on Devices than the Original Version
Amazon announced that its generative‑AI‑enhanced Alexa+ is prompting customers to make three times as many purchases as the original Alexa voice assistant. The upgraded assistant can handle complex, conversational requests, build shopping lists, place orders, and book reservations, moving beyond...
Why Parker Thatch Transformed Its Strip-Mall Storefront Into a Livestreaming Studio
Parker Thatch, an eight‑figure luxury handbag DTC brand, has turned its Orinda strip‑mall store into a hybrid retail‑studio space for weekly livestreams. The Friday broadcasts reach 179,000 Instagram followers and 101,000 YouTube subscribers, driving sales spikes of up to 50%...
The Real Winners of March Madness? Brands that Move Fast on NIL Deals
Brands are racing to sign college athletes for NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals as March Madness draws record viewership, turning the tournament into a high‑impact marketing platform. Companies from footwear to fast‑food chains have partnered with stars like Azzi Fudd,...
As Retail Media Enters Its Second Act, Savvy Brands Diversify Networks and Tactics
Retail media is evolving from a bottom‑funnel, search‑only model to a full‑funnel ecosystem that includes video, display, and off‑site formats. Amazon’s share of retail media spend dropped from 56% to 46% as marketers allocate more budget to Walmart and mid‑size...
Brands Briefing: Inside Cotopaxi’s Plans to Double Its Store Count by 2029
Cotopaxi, the outdoor‑gear brand known for its socially‑driven products, announced a plan to double its North American store footprint from 20 to 40 locations within the next three years. CEO Lindsay Shumlas said the expansion will push physical‑store sales—currently under...
Retailers Turn to Digital Rebates as Alcohol Sales Slump
Retail grocers and convenience stores are rolling out digital alcohol cashback programs through Swiftly to counter a 5% year‑over‑year decline in liquor sales. Swiftly’s platform grew from about 11,000 to over 33,000 stores in 44 states after acquiring BYBE, enabling...
Fifth Avenue’s Next Chapter: Inside the Push to Evolve the Iconic Shopping Corridor
Upper Fifth Avenue, the world’s most expensive retail corridor, is undergoing a $402 million redesign to widen sidewalks, add trees, and prioritize pedestrians. Rents remain sky‑high at over $2,000 per square foot, while the Fifth Avenue Association, a century‑old nonprofit, coordinates...
Cymbiotika Lands in Ulta Just Months After Launching in Target
Cymbiotika, the liposomal supplement startup, is launching on Ulta’s website on March 15 and in more than 1,000 Ulta stores on March 29, expanding its retail footprint after a Target debut last fall. The rollout introduces four products, including an NAD formula...
Chicken Is Having a Moment as the High-Protein Craze Continues
The high‑protein trend is pushing chicken into the snack category, highlighted at Expo West where brands like Chomps and Juicybite launched chicken‑based sticks and heat‑and‑serve bites. Chomps’ new chicken sticks provide 12 g protein per 80‑calorie serving, outperforming its beef line,...
Brands Briefing: Wellness Brands Take over Expo West to Woo Retail Buyers
The 2026 Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim saw a pronounced influx of wellness brands, with startups showcasing collagen, hormonal supplements and other health‑focused products alongside traditional functional sodas and better‑for‑you snacks. Historically a food‑and‑beverage‑centric event, Expo West is now...
Every Man Jack Plots a 2026 Refresh as Men’s Personal Care Category Becomes More Saturated
Every Man Jack is positioning 2026 as a breakout year by launching a brand refresh that targets two distinct consumer personas—“Jack,” the seasoned grooming enthusiast, and “Jake,” the sustainability‑focused newcomer. The overhaul includes PET packaging for better recyclability, a sub‑$10...
How Camp Snap, Tin Can and More Are Capitalizing on the Desire for ‘Screen-Free’ Tech
Camp Snap, a screen‑free digital camera launched in 2023, has sold over one million units and repeatedly sold out its flagship model, driven largely by word‑of‑mouth and influencer buzz. The brand’s growth mirrors a broader anti‑tech wave that includes Tin Can...
Bulletproof Sheds Biohack Coffee Image for a Simpler Wellness Rebrand
Bulletproof, the functional coffee brand founded by Dave Asprey, is shedding its decade‑old biohacker image in favor of a streamlined wellness positioning. Under new CEO Harry Lewis and following Bia Food’s acquisition, the company is trimming its portfolio to focus...
Modern Retail Podcast: The New Rules of Product Pricing
In a Modern Retail Podcast episode, Newell Brands’ learning and development chief Kris Malkoski explains how Graco is reshaping its pricing playbook amid AI‑driven insights, tariff volatility, and price‑sensitive shoppers. The discussion reveals Graco’s use of artificial intelligence to fine‑tune...
Target CEO Says ‘Busy Families’ Will Be Company’s Focus as It Seeks Growth
Target’s CEO Michael Fiddelke announced a renewed focus on “busy families,” positioning them as the engine of the retailer’s turnaround. The strategy includes expanding baby‑care assortments with a premium boutique, boosting food and beverage space, and scaling same‑day delivery, which...
Marketplace Briefing: TikTok Shop Recruits U.S. Sellers for Cross-Border Push Into Mexico
TikTok Shop announced a new US‑Mexico cross‑border program that lets U.S. merchants sell to Mexican consumers without establishing a local legal entity. The initiative, called the TikTok Shop US‑MX Program, allows sellers to use their existing U.S. shop credentials while...
Brands Briefing: Caraway Makes Its First Big OOH Push as It Seeks to Make the Brand ‘Impossible to Ignore’
Caraway, a six‑year‑old cookware startup, has launched its first major out‑of‑home (OOH) advertising campaign to become “impossible to ignore.” The eye‑catching mural at Columbus Circle subway targets high‑traffic commuters. After growing from a pure DTC model, the brand now sells...
Maternity Brand Ingrid & Isabel Launches First Walmart Line After 20 Years in Business
Ingrid & Isabel, a leading U.S. maternity brand, is debuting its first line at Walmart, entering 3,800 stores and Walmart.com. The new “For Every Belly” collection offers essentials such as leggings, tees and denim priced between $10 and $30, roughly...
From Lollipops to Lobsters, Whatnot Pushes Further Into Selling Food via Livestream Shopping
Whatnot, the livestream shopping platform, has expanded its food category from shelf‑stable snacks to fresh seafood and meat, achieving a 30% month‑over‑month growth and a 2.5× rise in transactions between July 2025 and January 2026. Sales of iconic brands like...
2026 Modern Retail Index: How Retailers Are Tackling Financial Challenges, AI, Marketplaces and Supply Chain
Retailers faced a turbulent 2025, grappling with tariffs, supply-chain disruptions and a cooling consumer market. While some brands posted gains, drugstore chains such as Walgreens, Rite Aid and CVS shuttered hundreds of locations, and big‑box retailers struggled with shifting demand...
From Boll & Branch to Bogg, Brands Are Battling a Surge of AI-Driven Return Fraud
Retailers are confronting a new wave of return fraud powered by AI‑generated images. Executives at Boll & Branch and Bogg Bag discovered counterfeit photos used to claim damaged goods, prompting tighter verification. Experts say AI tools have accelerated fraud, contributing to an estimated...
Modern Retail Podcast: Marketing Is Experiencing an AI Reckoning
In the latest Modern Retail Podcast, co‑hosts Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels, joined by executive editor Anna Hensel, examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping retail marketing. They note that rising customer‑acquisition costs and a more discerning shopper base are driving...
