Coca-Cola takes on Olipop, Poppi: The company is getting in on the “better for you” trend with Simply Pop, a high-fiber, low-sugar prebiotic soda.

Nike partners with Skims to launch women’s activewear brand: NikeSKIMS combines the former’s performance expertise with the latter’s form-fitting style and emphasis on inclusivity.

Walmart and Kroger would be hit hard by SNAP benefit cuts: Democratic lawmakers warn Republicans could make steep cuts to food assistance, producing significant challenges for grocers.

TikTok Shop’s sales soared 153% in January: The video app’s social commerce arm is eating into Shein’s market share, adding to the hurdles facing the fast fashion company.

Amazon opens a “parapharmacy” in Milan: The store is part of a broader push into beauty and personal items and marks its latest attempt to crack the brick-and-mortar code.

Travel holds up amid headwinds: Consumers continue to prioritize trips, aiding hotel performance and expansion.

Amid real challenges, retailers get a glimmer of good news: Retail sales rose 4.2% YoY in January, and spending at restaurants and bars jumped 5.4% YoY.

Consumer tech spending expected to reach record $537 billion in 2025—unless tariffs get in the way: The need to replace pandemic-era purchases and interest in AI-powered features will spur demand, assuming prices stay steady.

More retailers open restaurants: Muji, Coach, and Louis Vuitton are among the companies relying on hospitality concepts to boost store visits and spending.

Retailers cut 6,419 jobs in January: That’s up 20% YoY, with more to come as chains like Joann plan to close hundreds of stores.

Beauty brands and retailers target Gen Alpha spending as growth slows: Their beauty obsession makes them a natural focus, but companies have to tread carefully.

Unilever’s 30 largest brands grew 5.3% YoY in Q4: That significantly outpaced the company’s overall 4% growth rate, which was just shy of analysts’ expectations.

DoorDash vows to invest more in expansion: Strong Q4 revenues and orders boost momentum, but inflation and tariffs pose risks.

Burger King gave consumers a reason to spend in Q4: Limited-time menu options, such as Addams Family-themed items, along with the Million Dollar Whopper campaign, boosted US same-store sales 1.5%.

Gen Z consumers rely heavily on online reviews to make purchase decisions: They’re also more likely to trust reviews than older generations.

Inflation accelerated in January: Rising prices of eggs, chocolate, and other goods keep costs in the spotlight, potentially squeezing discretionary spending and pressuring retailers.

Amazon’s latest test could transform how shoppers engage with the ecommerce platform: The retailer’s mobile search results will feature links to products not available on its site.

CPG companies need a new play: Relying too heavily on price hikes isn’t sustainable—companies need to focus on innovation to keep consumers buying.

Three-quarters of shoppers are open to genAI recommendations: Interest in AI-powered tools is growing as consumers look for ways to make better decisions.

Shopify’s Q4 sales accelerate 31%: The company expects Q1 sales to grow in the mid-20% range as it ramps up efforts to attract major brands like Goop and Reebok to its ecosystem.