The US beer industry is experiencing a rare downturn after years of steady growth, with overall sales down 1.2% and craft beer slipping 3.9% year over year. Constellation Brands has been hit particularly hard as inflation and immigration pressures strain Hispanic consumers, a key market for its Mexican beer portfolio. Sales of Modelo, Corona, Pacifico, and Victoria have all fallen, but new products like Corona Sunbrew and Corona Non-Alcoholic are gaining momentum. To stay competitive, breweries are learning that agility, innovation, and responsiveness to shifting tastes are now essential for long-term growth.
Starbucks and Target tapped into the buzz around the release of Taylor Swift’s latest album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” to help fuel their turnaround. The stakes are high for both companies as they struggle to get customers excited about their offerings. At the same time, the question for both Starbucks and Target is whether they can turn the short-term bump into lasting growth.
Drone delivery is finally taking flight in the US, with major quick-service chains launching pilot programs to test airborne burrito and chicken deliveries. Uber Eats and Flytrex plan drone pilots by late 2025, while Dave’s Hot Chicken, Chipotle, and GoTo Foods are running tests across California and Texas with partners like Matternet, Zipline, and Wing. Looser regulations and better tech are driving momentum, though most efforts remain small-scale. Still, even if drone delivery doesn’t revolutionize logistics, the buzz positions these brands as forward-thinking innovators gaining valuable PR lift.
Walmart will remove artificial dyes and 30 other food additives from its private-label products by the beginning of 2027. Its changes follow similar pledges by other manufacturers including Kraft and General Mills. Walmart shoppers prioritize price above all’ top priority is price, but that doesn’t mean they’re not concerned about health and wellness—they just may not be able to afford premium-priced health foods.. Walmart’s decision to remove certain food additives from its private-label changes is an opportunity to bridge that gap and deliver healthier food at budget-friendly prices.
Beauty brands are expanding their fragrance offerings to serve younger consumers who are flocking to premium and mass-market scents even as they cut back on other purchases. The fragrance market is also expanding into new product categories and looking to drive eco-friendly innovation. Companies that win on this crowded battlefield will be those willing to innovate boldly for Gen Z consumers, who crave novelty and personalization. Beauty retailers can respond to this opportunity by hosting in-store or virtual workshops on scent layering—or offering AI tools to help build their fragrance collections.
Conagra beat Q1 earnings and sales expectations, but ongoing headwinds from tariffs, inflation, and shifting consumer behavior weighed on results. Net sales fell 5.8% year-over-year to $2.63 billion, while adjusted EPS dropped 26.4% to 39 cents, still ahead of forecasts. Snack sales showed mixed performance, with Slim Jim and David sunflower seeds gaining but Boomchickapop and Duncan Hines slipping due to promotion timing and higher cocoa costs. With consumers trading down to store brands, Conagra faces pressure to balance price hikes with value-driven strategies that reinforce loyalty and protect market share.
Whole Foods has cut prices on more than a quarter of its products in the past year, including over 1,000 private-label items, its chief merchandising and marketing officer said at Groceryshop, per Modern Retail. Weekly promotions and deals tied to specific days reinforce the value push. The retailer needs to prove that “premium” and “value” aren’t mutually exclusive. By doubling down on price investments, amplifying Prime-member discounts, and leaning into convenient, high-quality prepared foods, the grocer can reframe itself as both aspirational and accessible.
DoorDash unveiled a host of features designed to make its services stickier for both businesses and customers. DoorDash’s fulfillment updates position the platform as a stronger partner for the many retailers trying to keep pace with Amazon and Walmart on delivery speed. At the same time, the company’s latest features show the pressures of competing with Uber and Instacart, both of which are adding more retailers to their platforms while courting customers with broader perks.
Uber Eats will offer customers weekly discounts on fresh groceries in markets worldwide as it looks to become a top destination for grocery shopping. Fierce competition between Uber and other delivery platforms, as well as Amazon and Walmart, is making grocery delivery more affordable, which is in turn driving online grocery adoption. By offering weekly discounts, Uber is hoping to turn occasional shoppers into regulars—and grow its small share of grocery spending into a much larger one.
Starbucks said it would lay off about 900 workers and close 1% of its US and Canada stores—including its flagship Seattle Roastery—as part of a $1 billion restructuring plan. Turning Starbucks around was always going to take time, due to its sheer size as well as the magnitude of its problems. Niccol’s strategy banks on restoring the chain’s reputation for stellar customer service—an advantage that could help it stand out in a space increasingly oriented toward convenience. But the company remains vulnerable to upstarts like 7 Brew and Dutch Bros that are more tuned into beverage trends.
Aldi will put its name on every private label product it stocks—over 90% of its assortment—as part of the largest packaging refresh in company history. Aldi’s decision to stamp its name across nearly every product it sells reflects a fundamental shift in how shoppers perceive private labels. Once primarily chosen for their price point, private labels are now drawing consumers with quality, variety, and attractive packaging.
Amazon will sell products from its Whole Foods private labels in Singapore, a country where it has no physical stores, per Bloomberg. That experiment could be repeated in other markets, giving the retailer an opening to grow its grocery business without investing in brick-and-mortar retail.
Molson Coors has named 24-year veteran Rahul Goyal as its next CEO, tapping a leader with deep experience across IT, finance, and strategy, as well as a track record of diversifying beyond beer through partnerships with Coca-Cola and acquisitions in the non-alcohol space. Goyal takes the helm at a turbulent time, with alcohol consumption in the U.S. at historic lows and health concerns driving more consumers away from drinking. Political and economic pressures further complicate the outlook, leaving Molson Coors with seasoned leadership but an uncertain path forward in a challenging market.
Netflix has struck a global marketing deal with AB InBev spanning programming sponsorships, live events like NFL Christmas Day games and the Women’s World Cup, and even beer packaging featuring Netflix IP. For AB InBev, aligning beer with Netflix viewing occasions connects drinking culture to shared entertainment rituals. More than a sponsorship, the deal positions both brands as co-authors of cultural moments across sports, shows, and global viewing events.
Industry KPI data from Placer.ai reveals a clear divide in retail foot traffic trends. Essentials-focused merchants and dollar stores are maintaining growth while discretionary-heavy sectors like department stores and housing-related chains fall behind. Understanding foot traffic trends is critical for brands and retailers to understand where growth—and risk—will lie in the coming months. Necessities will keep grocers and discounters in demand, while discretionary-focused chains must offer value, cut prices, and explore adjacent business lines—such as off-price formats or supply services—to keep sales coming.
Gap, Reformation, Balenciaga, and Alo Yoga are expanding into new categories to futureproof their businesses amid uncertainty. As spending trends shift, fashion companies are trying to shift with them. Pushing into resilient categories like beauty and jewelry may look promising on paper, but success is not assured. Brands face considerable competition from companies with more experience, and convincing customers that new offerings deliver quality and value can be a challenge.
Nearly 9 in 10 US adults (88%) are stressed about grocery prices—including 53% who say food costs are a major source of stress—according to a July AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey. This news comes as food prices continue to go up. The US Consumer Price Index for food increased 0.5% in August MoM. Grocery prices, as measured by the food-at-home index, rose 0.6% from July and were up 2.7% YoY. Grocery stores may be the most visible flashpoint for consumers’ financial stress, but the ripple effects extend far beyond food. The financial strain is prompting fundamental shifts in how people shop, which all retailers will need to watch closely in the back half of the year.
Beauty companies are rapidly diversifying beyond traditional sales channels to adapt to changing consumer behaviors and seize opportunities made possible by ecommerce, social platforms, and digital tools. This push is designed to forge closer, more direct connections with shoppers. Selling through multiple channels is no longer a choice in beauty. Consumers now shop across apps, websites, social media and stores, and brands that don’t meet them where they are will lose out. Still, distribution alone won’t set brands apart. Beauty companies that win will offer technology like AR try-ons, use their physical stores as hubs where people can gather for makeup classes and to sample products, and sell through external retailers while also beefing up their own direct channels.
A real-world study on Novo Nordisk’s obesity drug showed patients had significantly reduced “food noise,” which are persistent, unwanted thoughts about eating. Novo surveyed 550 US adults taking Wegovy for weight loss for at least four months. Food brands are already adapting to the weight-loss trend by adding new products tailored to GLP-1 users and right-sizing portions. We detail this in our “Impact of Weight Loss Drugs 2025” report. But there are more opportunities for GLP-1 drugmakers and food companies to partner. We could see GLP-1 friendly grocery lists curated by nutrition experts and integrated into platforms like Instacart or Uber Eats, for example. Or collaborations with ready-made meal companies like Factor or Daily Harvest, which already offer GLP-1 options.