MMR: Mass Market Retailers, July 13, 2020

SUPPLY SIDE Shoppers Are Widening Spending PORT WASHINGTON N Y U S consumers are expanding their spending considerations as restrictions ease across much of the country reports the NPD Group The importance of enhancing a homebound lifestyle remains but consumers are increasingly showing interest in products with a more personal focus Weekover week dollar gains that began early for such categories as small appliances and toys began to expand into more discretionary categories such as apparel and beauty in April and May which pulled even more of consumer spending in the first half of June Right now retail is reflecting the consumers need for normalcy in a sea of change said Marshal Cohen NPDs chief industry advisor for retail Purchases are becoming less about making our extended time at home more pleasant and more about finding ways to enjoy getting out and once again expressing yourself as an individual in public In May more than two thirds of consumers said they would be comfortable with shopping in a store once stay at home requests related to the pandemic were relaxed Retail is reflecting the consumers need for normalcy in a sea of change and nearly one in 10 said going shopping in a store was the first thing they planned to do While sales of apparel footwear beauty and fashion accessories are still down compared to last year year over year losses have been softening since mid April The consumers ability to go back into stores is a contributing factor as in store sales declines improved across most industries in May Despite facing a very different retail landscape conventional needs and seasonality still play a role in consumer behavior Kids apparel underwear sleepwear and shorts all achieved yearover year dollar growth in May and swimwear built momentum with week over week gains in early June Seasonal impact is also evident in such categories as mens fragrance and fashion watches where there were weekover week gains in advance of Fathers Day Even if the shopping experience is different consumers still want the real life experience of picking out a gift seeing the color of shoes up close feeling clothing fabric or testing out a skin care solution added Cohen Thayers potfolio includes witch hazel astringents and facial toners LOréal Acquires Thayers Natural Remedies Brand CLICHY France LOréal has signed an agreement to acquire Thayers Natural Remedies a U S based natural skin care brand from Henry Thayer Co The brand will be integrated into LOréals Consumer Products Division Headquartered in Easton Conn Thayers Natural Remedies has a skin care reputation and offers a portfolio of highquality products including toners and astringents Founded in 1847 by Dr Henry Thayer the brand is known for its Witch Hazel Aloe Vera Formula Facial Toner a product popular among a diverse group of consumers The brand has expanded its distribution from natural grocery stores to a multichannel strategy that includes mass and beauty retailers drug stores and e commerce Thayers Natural Remedies recorded sales of 44 million in 2019 Stéphane Rinderknech president and chief executive officer of LOréal USA and executive vice president for North America said With a more than 170 year heritage Thayers Natural Remedies is a beloved American brand that has stayed true to its roots as it has evolved its product offerings and forged a strong connection with consumers Built on a foundation of top rated skin care products the brand is more relevant today than ever before We believe in its growth potential and unique positioning in the mass skin care market John Gehr owner and CEO of Henry Thayer said As custodian of the Thayers Natural Remedies brand for the last 17 years it has been a rewarding experience seeing the connection weve been able to make with our wellinformed consumers I couldnt imagine a better organization than LOréal to take Thayers to new heights while maintaining its core values of social and environmental responsibility A brand that has stayed true to its roots Alexis Perakis Valat president of the consumer products division of LOréal said We are thrilled to welcome Thayers Natural Remedies a true love brand at the intersection of two major skin care trends nature and health This acquisition is part of our strategy to develop our skin care business all around the world and complements perfectly our North American skin care brand portfolio Revlons New Sofia Carson Collection NEW YORK Revlon has introduced the Revlon x Sofia Carson Collection created with and for actress musician and brand ambassador Sofia Carson The limited edition collection has 14 products from Revlon lip and nail formulas that embody what the company describes as Sofias unmistakably bold style and attitude The collection has lip and nail color pairings from Sofias shades or consumers can choose from one of her two curated kits Each product features custom packaging designed by Sofia with her signature embossed in gold The Revlon x Sofia Carson Super Lustrous Luscious Matte lipsticks sell for a suggested 849 each Microfine velvet pigments provide full coverage color The botanical complex of agave moringa oil and cupuacu butter provides a creamy feel Two limitededition shades are Sofia Red and Obsessed Two existing shades are On Fire and Untold Stories The Revlon x Sofia Carson Ultra HD Matte Lip Color sells for a suggested 999 They include a 100 wax free high definition gel formula that provides full coverage in one coat Four limited edition shades are Sofia Red Forever Yours Wish and Obsessed Revlon x Sofia Carson Super Lustrous Nail Enamel sells for a suggested 599 The glossy color has a chip resistant finish The enamel comes in four limitededition shades Sofia Reds In The Woods Black Cherry and Bare That Hostess Debuts Flavors Packaging KANSAS CITY Hostess Brands LLC has added new flavors to its Donettes and coffee cakes lines with the launch of Strawberry Cheesecake flavored Donettes and Cream Cheese Coffee Cakes Additionally the brands Chocolate Frosted Donettes and Powdered Donettes are now available in on the go packaging The Strawberry Cheesecake flavored Donettes feature a pink strawberry flavored cake donut with a thick creamy icing The company said that the Cream Cheese Coffee Cakes are made with real cream cheese in the batter and topped with a sugar crumb streusel The Donettes Hostess on the go packaging option is designed to allow consumers the ability to buy an individually wrapped pack of three Donettes The new format first launched at select locations last year and is now receiving a wider distribution Multipacks of Donettes On the Go come with eight packs containing three donuts each We are delighted to offer our consumers new flavors and ways to indulge in small moments of happiness throughout their day said Adam Lisook brand director of Hostess Breakfast Hostess always strives to be a beacon of fun and joy in an otherwise hectic life We hope these innovative new ways to enjoy some of our most beloved breakfast items help our consumers begin their day on a sweet note Hostess said the new products and pack sizes are part of a steady stream of food and flavor innovation The brand said it continues to meet consumer taste needs with new ideas and offerings including the recent introductions of Iced Lemon CupCakes and Mermaid CupCakes Strawberry Cheesecake flavored Donettes and Cream Cheese Coffee Cake are available now in grocery stores nationwide Hostess is one of the largest packaged food companies focused on developing manufacturing marketing selling and distributing fresh baked sweet goods in the United States Cremo Introduces Two New Fragrances for Men LAGUNA BEACH Calif Cremo Co s mens grooming brand has launched two new fragrances Bourbon Vanilla and Iced Citron Driftwood that are available at selected Walmart locations The company said the Cremo cologne collection is also including its most popular scents of Blue Cedar Cypress and Spice Black Vanilla Each Cremo cologne has a luxurious scent that youd expect to find at a high end boutique said Matthew Biggins president and chief executive officer of Cremo We work together with the finest fragrance houses in the world to develop the best smelling longlasting scents that men would want to wear Cremo said its fragrance research indicates that men prefer more refined fresh scents that are distinctive but not overpowering Designed by its team of professional scent experts Cremo said its fragrances are layered and complex and last throughout the day Each cologne is made with a blend of quality ingredients not a premixed formula and designed for the modern man Our mission is to make mens grooming products that are best in class but also accessible said Biggins Cremo believes everyone deserves high performance at an affordable price point and now were able to bring our cologne to more men across the country thanks to Walmart Bourbon Vanilla is described by the company as a clean but distinctive blend of distiller spices aged oak and vanilla bourbon while Iced Citron Driftwood has a cooling fresh scent blend of citron mint cedar and moss The Cremo original Blue Cedar Cypress scent offers a refreshing woodsy fragrance and the Spice Black Vanilla features a bold vibrant spice fragrance The company said that 775 Walmart locations nationwide will be offering Cremo fragrances in four spray colognes with each bottle of eau de toilette at 34 fluid ounces selling for a suggested 20 The company said that it offers a full line of shave beard hair and body products made by an experienced team of chemists and curators who are experts in skin care 24 MMR July 13 2020