Consumer

Exclusive news, analysis, and commentary on consumer-facing sectors, like sellers of clothing, food, and electronics.

Consumer

McDonald’s Made It Official: Consumers Have Reached Their Limit

Photo by Erik Mclean via Unsplash

McDonald’s warned that customers might be getting sick of price hikes. It was right. Sales fell year-over-year for the first time since 2020.

1 min read
Technology

Online Education Provider 2U Files for Bankruptcy

Photo by Katerina Holmes via Pexels

Pioneering online education company 2U filed for bankruptcy, even as the public writ large has gradually embraced online learning.

2 min read
Consumer

Airlines Have Finally Hit a Ceiling on Fares

Photo by Nastya Dulhiier via Unsplash

Ryanair said it had seen its profits take a 46% nosedive, and would have to offer “materially lower” airfares for the busy summer period.

1 min read
Consumer

Starbucks Becomes the Target of Activist Campaign

(Photo by Ben White on Unsplash)

Activist investing firm Elliott Management has taken a significant stake in Starbucks, and has already begun pushing for strategic changes.

1 min read
Consumer

Diamonds Come Under Even More Pressure from Sluggish China Demand

Photo by Li Zhang via Unsplash

Anglo American is cutting back diamond production to try to hedge against China’s continued ambivalence toward the gemstones.

2 min read
Consumer

Pernod Ricard Dumps Most Wine Holdings as Grapes Sour

Photo by Eva Rinaldi via CC BY-SA 2.0

Paris-based Pernod Ricard announced Wednesday that it’s selling most of its wine portfolio to a consortium of Australian wine investors.

1 min read
Consumer

Italy Hits Dior and Armani with Antitrust Probe over Working Conditions

Photo by Osarugue Igbinoba via Unsplash

Italy’s antitrust agency has opened an investigation into Dior and Armani over allegations of worker exploitation.

2 min read
Consumer

Macy’s Says No to Private Equity Buyout. Now What?

Photo by Anthony Quintano via CC BY 2.0

The board of directors for Macy’s unanimously voted to end negotiations with Arkhouse and Brigade to take the company private.

1 min read
Consumer

Can Nike Regain its Legendary Standing?

Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside

Not only is sportswear and sneaker giant Nike faced with struggling financials, but it is also searching for its soul.

6 min read
Consumer

America’s Biggest Non-Alcoholic Beer Company Valued at $800 Million

Photo by Paloma A. via Unsplash

Athletic Brewing Company, valued at $800 million following a $50 million fundraising round, makes craft beer that won’t get you drunk.

1 min read
Patent Drop

Apple Patent Highlights Upcoming AI Integrations for Vision Pro

Photo via U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Apple Intelligence integrations are reportedly in the works for the company’s debut headset

2 min read
Patent Drop

Shopify Gaze-Tracking Tech May Signal Sights Set on an AR Future

Shopify wants to track your depth perception.

2 min read
Consumer

Reynolds American Launches a Nicotine-Free Vape Line

Photo by Vaping360 via CC BY 2.0

Reynolds American is launching a new line of nicotine-free flavored vapes. But can Big Tobacco really ditch nicotine?

1 min read
Consumer

Amazon Sets up a Rival to Shein and Temu

Photo by Andrew Stickelman via Unsplash

Amazon’s setting up a discounted shop that will fly products to consumers from China. It’s meant to copy Shein and Temu’s business models.

2 min read
Consumer

America’s Casual Dining Sector in Flux as Customers Want Value and Premium

Photo by Anthony22 via CC BY-SA 3.0

The casual dining industry has been on the brink of destruction for a long time. Now, many in the sector are starting to fall off the edge.

1 min read
Consumer

Forget Burgers, Chicken, and Coffee. Chipotle is in a League of Its Own.

Photo by Raysonho via CC0 1.0

Chipotle is the only food chain among the top 20 best-performing stocks on the S&P 500 this year. So what’s the secret to its success?

2 min read
Consumer

Honor Jumps into the Flip Phone Game to Top the Likes of Samsung and Apple

Photo by Raysonho via CC0 1.0

With top Chinese phone maker Honor releasing its first vertical flip phone this week, is the foldables market making a comeback?

2 min read
Industrials

The Natural Diamond Industry is Cracking Up

Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside, Photos via Freepik

The diamond industry is undergoing a major shake-up. But can just how far can the bottom fall for the industry?

5 min read
Consumer

FDA Reverses its Ban on Juul

Photo by Vaping360 via CC BY 2.0

The regulator had banned the company’s e-cigarettes in 2022, but they stayed on store shelves while an appeal process played out.

2 min read
Consumer

Irish Fast-Food Upstart Keeps Sticking it to McDonald’s

Image Credit: iStock, tofumax

The world’s largest fast food chain lost its “Big Mac” trademark for chicken sandwiches following a European Union court ruling.

1 min read