Podcasts about circana

The last couple of weeks for Bungie have been nothing short of catastrophic, calling into question whether their upcoming extraction shooter Marathon has any chance at all in finding market success. We've long discussed whether Sony should have bought Bungie at all (they shouldn't have), but now that they're so deeply invested, how do they get the team out of this mess? And what does all of this hullabaloo -- about stolen art, poorly-reviewed gameplay, and lackluster audience reaction -- say about the team's future, full stop? Meanwhile, things aren't much better north of the border, where Quebec-based Haven recently parted ways with founder and once-famous producer Jade Raymond, who has now left three different teams without any sort of release. Is Fairgame$ DOA? Maybe not, but we have lots of new information on the recent closed test of the game under the moniker Project Hearts, and... well... it's not sounding great. Also: MLB: The Show is seemingly getting a mobile release, PlayStation Stars is going away unceremoniously, Stellar Blade 2 is in active development, Xbox's Hellblade II is coming to PS5, Kojima's Physint is at least five more years away, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Keeping in mind Sony's typical naming conventions, what will PlayStation 6's controller be called? Do we also find delight in Darth Vader's AI voice in Fortnite? Is the PS5 Pro truly worth purchasing before prices likely go up? Has Chris ever seen a ghost?Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.Timestamps:  0:00:00 - Intro00:44:13 - Best man bromance00:46:03 - ghoul-ing01:04:41 - Haven/Jade Raymond reflections01:37:51 - Bungie art theft reflections02:33:15 - MLB: The Show mobile02:38:25 - PlayStation Stars is over02:51:24 - Stellar Blade sequel coming02:56:49 - Kojima's next game is far off03:01:41 - Hellblade 2 is coming to PS503:05:56 - Randy Pitchford on Borderlands 4 pricing03:26:21 - Circana data03:35:21 - New Naughty Dog logo03:37:18 - Doom: The Dark Ages surpasses three million players03:40:44 - What Are We Playing (Doom The Dark Ages, Stardew Valley, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Shovel Knight Dig)04:05:34 - Iconic PlayStation Games04:16:19 - ChatGPT game hints04:19:15 - DualSense 2?4:22:38 - AI Vader in Fortnite04:28:19 - "Editions" releases04:35:04 - Current thoughts on PS5 Pro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Want to win some MSI Swag along with an MSI MPG Z890 Carbon WiFi Motherboard? Here's how: Take a picture of your custom build using an MSI component, and include a handwritten note with your discord username along with “DLC Podcast” in the picture. Then, join the MSI Discord (https://discord.gg/msi) and submit your entry in the #podcast-channel. This week, Jeff and Christian welcome Mike Futter from the Virtual Economy podcast back to the show to discuss the state of the industry based on Circana's April sales report, Fortnite making its triumphant return to iOS, USB mice support for Switch 2, and more! The Playlist: Mike: Blue Prince, Power Rangers: Rita Rewind, TMNT: Tactical Takedown, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Christian: Blades of Fire demo, Star Wars Outlaws - A Pirate's Fortune DLC  Jeff: Demos: Cast n Chill, Artis Impact, Jump the Track, Oscuro Blossom's Glow, Rue Valley, Future Vibe Check Tabletop Time: Mike: Token Terrors Battlegrounds, Re;Act, Apropos of Movies, Overpower CCG Jeff: Dragonkeepers Parting Gifts!

The WNBA kicked off its new season last week with beauty brands lining up to gain access to the league's growing cohort of fans.  In a gold rush that started around 2020, some of the industry's top brands have entered into multi-year sponsorships with the league or its top players. The most recent, Fenty's sponsorship of the New York Liberty, was announced earlier this month and kicked off on Saturday's home game opener with several activations including a "Gloss Bomb glam cam" where fans show off their beauty look.  The NY Liberty, a top team in the league, has also received sponsorships from L'Oréal-owned brands Essie nail polish and NYX color cosmetics. Meanwhile, Amorepacific-owned Laneige became the Phoenix Mercury's official sponsor last year, mass hair-care brand Odele Beauty sponsors the Minnesota Lynx, and Glossier has been a league sponsor since 2020.  What's more, Youth To The People has partnered with the Seattle Storm, and L'Oréal-owned Urban Decay was the official L.A. Sparks sponsor for two seasons. Plus, the Chicago Sky has partnerships with Covergirl, Olay and hair-care band Jamaican Mango and Lime. But perhaps one of the biggest deals is Sephora's sponsorship of the league's newest team, San Francisco's Golden State Valkyries, who will now play at the newly-renamed "Sephora Performance Center" in Oakland. And this is just a snapshot of the WNBA deals Glossy is tracking.  “There was limited broadcast for women's sports [a few years ago], and now we have record-breaking viewership, which has been just absolutely amazing,” said Jacki Gemelos, a former WNBA player and coach turned sports agent. “Major brands rarely built campaigns around female athletes. And now athletes like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Alex Morgan and Simone Biles, just to name a few, are leading campaigns and not just being included.”  As previously reported by Glossy, attention from the beauty industry aligns with a sharp rise in WNBA audience attention. Viewership on ESPN was up 155% last season and, within this, viewership among people aged 18–34 rose by 164% and viewership among women increased by 165% year-over-year.  Glossy welcomed Gemelos to the podcast to discuss this change and provide context and advice for beauty execs looking to join in on the action. She provides context as to different types of deals, including the average costs and what makes a deal authentic. Gemelos is a lifelong basketball player who spent more than a decade playing professionally overseas and in the WNBA for the Chicago Sky and the Connecticut Sun. She was an assistant coach for the NY Liberty before joining Nike as an athlete community coordinator. Today, she's an agent at prestigious boutique firm Disrupt the Game, where she oversees deals for a roster of top talent.  In today's episode, Gemelos discusses everything beauty execs need to know about this cultural shift. But first, hosts Lexy Lebsack and Sara Spruch-Feiner discuss the top headlines of the week. This includes QVC's foray into 24/7 social commerce selling through TikTok Shop, plus a bird's eye view on how the beauty industry did in the first quarter of the year, according to a new report from Circana market research company. 

Jeff Grubb is joined by Jon Martin to chat about how Randy Pitchford feels about a prospective price of the next Borderlands game, the latest Circana reports, Senua's Saga II headed to PS5, DOOM: The Dark Ages reaching 3 million players, and even more!

Household spending has shifted due to high inflation and economic uncertainty. Consumers are prioritizing essential items like groceries while often forgoing discretionary purchases, including games, apparel, and prestige beauty. Circana's Sally Lyons Wyatt, global EVP and chief advisor for consumer goods and foodservice insights, and Adam Mellott, vice president of consumer and shopper insights, provide valuable insights into the current state of household spending, the role of retailers, and the resilience of consumers during challenging times. Highlights: Consumers are carefully weighing their options at the shelf, which doesn't necessarily mean the end of indulgent and premium purchases. Many retailers, notably within the dollar channel, are putting value – including convenience and affordability – front and center, which is proving attractive to a wider audience of shoppers. Urban and rural consumers are reacting to economic uncertainty in different ways, which will impact product assortments, oftentimes within the same retail chain.   While tariffs haven't impacted CPG prices yet, consumers will be tracking prices carefully. Innovation – from product development to assortment – can be critical to locking in consumer loyalty during challenging times.

Just when CELSIUS was beginning to drown…Alani Nu had the ring-shaped flotation device ready to save the energy drink brand. Celsius Holdings (NASDAQ: CELH) had quarterly revenue of $329.3 million, which was down 7% YoY. And while that activity now marks the third straight quarter of falling YoY revenue…the addition of Alani Nu next quarter will guarantee positive YoY growth restarted (albeit mostly from the non-comparable acquisition-related aspect). According to Circana last 13-week data, CELSIUS decreased by 3% YoY...but sustained place as the third-largest energy drink brand in the category with a dollar share of 10.9%. And I don't want gloss over this accomplishment…as CELSIUS became the first brand in over a decade not named Red Bull or Monster Energy that was able to capture more than a 10% share in the U.S. energy drinks market. Celsius energy drinks has seen massive growth in convenience stores, foodservice (e.g. fast food restaurants), mass retailers like Walmart, the club channel in retailers like Costco, and the Amazon marketplace. Additionally, the early international market development groundwork is starting to formalize with CELSIUS with performance continuing to exceed initial expectations in those recently expanded markets. It's my opinion that international expansion presents significant opportunity for incremental growth over the next three to five years. With Celsius at basically full distribution now…the TDP growth will have to come from increased items carried per store. Going forward, Celsius will increase items per store through a combination of product strategies like flavor, format, pack size, and variant expansion. Additionally, CELISUS will continue scaling up the new Essentials lineup that has exceeded the company's expectations. Moreover, they will seek more store placements like leveraging cold display activity in Celsius-branded coolers. If you missed the massive news from February, CELSIUS Holdings announced it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Alani Nu for a net purchase price of $1.65 billion. And the big news was that CELSIUS announced that, according to Circana last 52-week data for the period ending April 13, 2025…Alani Nu surpassed $1 billion in retail sales. But heading into next quarter, the combined brand platform of CELSIUS Holdings will have just over 16% category share (trailing only the Monster Energy combined brand platform and Red Bull). Also, because of the insane 70%+ YoY growth rate of Alani Nu, the combined brand platform of CELSIUS Holdings would be considered the fastest growing energy drink brand portfolio of the top 10 categorical competitors. But with the Alani Nu acquisition now closed…CELSIUS Holdings becomes an even more dynamically interesting company positioned favorably long-term. Lastly, with a great balance sheet...Celsius Holdings keeps strategic optionality available within (what I believe is) this market volatility fueled opportunistic period.

CPG sales and volumes are slipping among persistent inflation and tariff fears, but Circana uncovers how food and beverage manufacturers are maintaining – and gaining – share despite the shaky market

Microsoft is jacking prices on hardware, software, and peripherals. With costs going up while interest in Microsoft's offerings declining, we have to wonder if Microsoft is applying pressure to push Game Pass. Also: Circana report on U.S. Video Game Spending for March 2025, Apple scores an own-goal and pisses off the Court, the tabletop industry is in freefall, and EA lays off another 300 to 400 people. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:1:31] - GTA 6 Delay [00:12:06] - Circana for March 2025 [00:17:43] - Devolver Digital Investor Presentation  [00:24:36] - Microsoft Q3 FY25 [00:45:36] - Investment Interlude [00:56:59] - Quick Hits [01:06:42] - Labor Report [01:24:58] - FAFO SOURCES Earnings Release FY25 Q3 | Microsoft Investor Presentation - 2024 Results | Devolver Digital Devolver Digital lays off almost half of Reigns studio Nerial | Eurogamer A judge just blew up Apple's control of the App Store | The Verge New Epic Games Store Webshops and Revenue Share Update | Epic Games INVESTMENT INTERLUDE Blue Ocean Games Terms & Conditions | Blue Ocean Games LABOR REPORT Online board game seller Boardlandia shuts down after tariffs add “unsustainable burden” to company's existing challenges | BoardGameWire CMON announces layoffs, will stop ‘all future game development' and crowdfunding efforts | Polygon Report: Meta has laid off over 100 Reality Labs employees | Game Developer Mighty Yell Undergoes Layoffs | Mighty Yell on Bluesky Respawn Layoffs | Respawn on Twitter Electronic Arts Lays Off Hundreds, Cancels ‘Titanfall' Game | Bloomberg (Paywall)

Non accennano a ridimensionarsi le tensioni in casa Champagne, con il simbolo indiscusso delle bollicine francesi, orgoglio enoico nazionale, che si trova a dover fronteggiare una crisi senza precedenti. I dati di chiusura relativi al 2024 avevano già anticipato nel gennaio scorso il consolidarsi di un trend particolarmente negativo, con l'analisi condotta da FranceAgrimer su dati Circana e Kantar Worldpanel ad evidenziare la contrazione significativa delle vendite, crollate del 26% in volume rispetto al 2023 (ben oltre la media triennale del -10%) fermandosi a 26,7 milioni di bottiglie e del -6% a valore con un giro d'affari di 345 milioni di euro.

Dollar Tree's decade-long effort to fold the Family Dollar chain into its business is ending after agreeing to sell the bargain store chain to a pair of private equity firms for $1 billion. Dollar Tree Inc. bought Family Dollar with its over 7,000 stores ten years ago for more than $8 billion. Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, said that Dollar Tree struggled with supply chain issues, poor store locations and other operational difficulties ever since making the acquisition. Family Dollar carries a range of household staples, from food to laundry detergent. The stores are largely located in underserved, urban areas. Store closings that are underway, and those that may take place under new ownership, are likely to have an outsized impact on customers living in those areas. Access to affordable, essential goods may become more challenging for lower-income families as more Family Dollar stores close, said Marshal Cohen, chief industry advisor at Circana, a market research firm. “The lower-income consumer will be losing a critical place to be able to purchase value products," Cohen said. "They're losing the breadth of the assortment and the depth of the discount and the convenience.” The mom-and-pop stores found in such densely populated urban areas have less selection and prices are typically higher, Cohen said. Dollar Tree stores, whose customer base is about 50% middle-income shoppers, are found in many suburban locations. Its shelves are more likely to feature seasonal goods, party supplies, crafts and snacks. The sale will likely free Dollar Tree to focus on its core customers, Truist Securities analyst Scot Ciccarelli believes. “Family Dollar turnaround efforts had been consuming massive amounts of both management focus and financial resources and now the company can focus all of its efforts toward growing and optimizing Dollar Tree,” he wrote in a client note. Bargain chains like Dollar Tree, which have raised some of their prices in recent years, are finding that they have little room to maneuver. Americans have tightened their spending as consumer confidence in the economy slides. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Hey Strangers, #ubisoft #assassinscreed #review The incredibly successful launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows has continued well past its release date, with Ubisoft's latest remaining on top of the U.S. sales chart for the third straight week. For 2025, Shadows now only trails the year's biggest hit, Monster Hunter Wilds, which has been crushing sales records for Capcom since its release.According to Mat Piscatella (via Bluesky), an industry analyst at Circana, Assassin's Creed Shadows has ranked number one in dollar sales for each of the three weeks it has been available, through April 5, where available data ends. This notable run places Shadows as 2025's second highest-selling game behind Monster Hunter Wilds, which released nearly a month prior.=======================================I had to Make a playlist for this lolhttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPn9z2zi8y0ZDNRGzJtPin2V-Ad2K_3bl**************************************************My other podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKpvBEElSl1dD72Y5gtepkw**************************************************article links:https://www.ign.com/articles/assassins-creed-shadows-hits-2-million-players-2-days-after-release-ubisoft-says-its-now-surpassed-origins-and-odyssey-launcheshttps://www.metacritic.com/game/assassins-creed-shadows/https://store.steampowered.com/app/3159330/Assassins_Creed_Shadows/======================================Today is for push-ups and Programming and I am all done doing push-ups Discordhttps://discord.gg/MYvNgYYFxqTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@strangestcoderYoutubehttps://www.youtube.com/@codingwithstrangersTwitchhttps://www.twitch.tv/CodingWithStrangersTwitterhttps://twitter.com/strangestcoderBlueSkyhttps://bsky.app/profile/strangestcoder.bsky.socialmerchSupport CodingWithStrangers IRL by purchasing some merch. All merch purchases include an alert: https://streamlabs.com/codingwithstrangers/merchGithubFollow my works of chaos https://github.com/codingwithstrangersTipshttps://streamlabs.com/codingwithstrangers/tipPatreonpatreon.com/TheStrangersTimeline00:00 Cold Open02:06 Greeting04:00 What are we talking about 9:20 My Thoughts11:00 outro Anything else?Take CareSend in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coding-with-strangers/message

Pesquisa da Circana revelou que a licença Star Wars movimentou 13,5 milhões de reais no Brasil em 2024, registrando assim um crescimento de 4%.Gustavo Sleman destaca o mercado de brinquedos licenciados da saga Star Wars.

I don't need to explain to you how biologically imperative it is to stay hydrated, but despite that undeniable fact…us older generations somehow managed to not only survive but thrive without our beloved “emotional support water bottles.” But these reusable water bottles are more than a creature comfort…becoming a canvas for self-expression and personal statements of style among the newest generations. Though, like other status symbols…water bottles come with trends that fluctuate, with a new coveted “it” option rising above the rest every few years. But while I'm hardly a cultural expert on trendy water bottles, I can remember the first water bottle to be perhaps equated with a lifestyle was Nalgene. Next, everyone was carrying around a CamelBak water bottles. Then, a cluster of “trendy” insulated stainless steel bottles from brands like YETI, S'well, and Hydro Flask. As we passed into the current decade, Simple Modern really took control…along with the Stanley tumbler phenomenon . And then currently, I'd probably say the must-have water bottles are either Owala or Ello Cooper. Regardless, the constantly evolving landscape makes one thing clear…water bottle trends are firmly entrenched within our culture, reflecting a society that continually seeks to define itself. But has anyone considered how (beyond water bottle brand choice) further expressions of identity have been evolving from “what adorns the outside” to “what contents are inside”? In the age of TikTok, sharing creative use occasions of your wellness concoctions can be a vehicle to translate niche health trends and a reliable virality path. And in today's world, there are as many “powdered wellness supplements” as there are personalities, and your choices can say a lot about you. To go one step further…these (basically) aspirational mixtures have become (like water bottles) a symbol of status, representing flavor taste, lifestyle taste, and identity by association. But while the synergy between trendy water bottles and powdered hydration supplements might seem obvious, Simple Modern did something unusual when it recently launched TREVI hydration. But why are “stick pack electrolyte drinks” bringing all the boys to the yard? According to recent last 52-week retail data from Circana, dollar sales within the stick pack hydration drink mix category surpassed $1.5 billion (and grew around 20% YoY). And if you consider the various untracked sales channels like ecommerce, that total categorical market size would increase substantially…making it arguably one of the most intriguing functional beverage subcategories. But all this recent fragmented commercialization activity is possible because Liquid IV took one giant leap forward in democratizing the hydration category. In fact, without the “Liquid I.V. Effect” starting to take meaningful shape maybe 6-7 years ago, Simple Modern would not have a viable (let alone lucrative) marketplace to position TREVI hydration as a product for “everyday life.” Though, despite the strong effort by Simple Modern, I just don't believe we will see many more popular drinkware brands jumping into powdered wellness supplements (at least in the same manner of leveraging the drinkware brand equity). But when you understand that the entire supplement industry has mostly a “sea of sameness” composition…there's a chance that differentiation (and defensibility) could be derived from having a unique delivery system (and/or bottle form factor) like Cirkul or Gatorade Gx bottles.

En nuestro radar de hoy aparece una de las mayores cadenas de Estados Unidos que está en su peor momento: Dollar Tree. La compañía, después de unos muy malos resultados, ha tenido que vender su negocio Family Dollar a los fondos Brigade Capital Management y Macellum Capital Management por 1.007 millones de dólares. Puede parecer una cantidad cuantiosa, pero nada más lejos de la realidad. Y es que en 2015 la empresa se hizo con Family Dollar por 9.000 millones de dólares. 8 mil millones menos que terminan con la venta de un negocio por el que Family Dollar fue apostando cada vez menos en 2024. La compañía decidió clausurar 600 tiendas y apostar por la nueva apertura de 300 nuevos locales en 2025. ¿Cuáles fueron los resultados de su división el año pasado? Creedon, que indicó que las cuentas de Family Dollar se reportan como operaciones discontinuadas, reportó en la conferencia para analistas que las operaciones discontinuadas disminuyeron un 11,2% hasta los 3.300 millones de dólares. Aunque es verdad que el rendimiento de las operaciones continuadas fue un poco plano, con un ligero aumento del 0,7%, otros problemas han sacudido a Family Dollar. En febrero, la cadena de tiendas tuvo que pagar 41 millones de dólares después de que en un centro de distribución hubiera una infestación de ratas. Debido al peligro sanitario que supuso, el Departamento de Justicia indicó que el castigo fue “la sanción penal monetaria más grande jamás realizada en un caso de seguridad alimentaria”. ¿Qué camino le espera ahora a Dollar Tree? Para Mike Creedon, una de las claves para el futuro de la compañía es volver a los orígenes. ¿Pero qué hace especial a Dollar Tree? Para Associated Press, una de las claves es que “las tiendas se encuentran principalmente en zonas urbanas desatendidas. Los cierres de tiendas actuales, probablemente tendrán un impacto considerable en los clientes que viven en esas zonas”. Para Marshal Cohen, asesor principal de la industria en Circana, firma de investigación consultada por el medio, el acceso a bienes esenciales y asequibles puede volverse más difícil para las familias de bajos ingresos si cierran estas tiendas. Dollar Tree es una cadena de tiendas de descuento fundada en 1953, por el empresario KR Perry. En 1986 se llamó only one dollar y ya en 1993 pasó a nombrarse con la nomenclatura actual. Forma parte de la lista Fortune 500 y opera en más 15.000 tiendas en los 48 estados contiguos de EE. UU. y Canadá .

Inspired by their recent Top Trends in Fresh webinar, Jonna Parker, team lead, Circana's Fresh Foods group, and Kelly Krumholz, perimeter client insights consultant, provide a “refresh” on trends and opportunities impacting fresh grocery departments. While opportunities for growth continue to take root (GLP-1s, we're talking about you!), headwinds – including being out-marketed by center store – temper growth. Tune in to learn more.  Highlights: Well over half – 56% – of all trips to retail stores for food and beverage are quick trips, which usually involve only one or two departments.  Health-minded consumers account for about one-third of overall food and beverage spending. Fresh departments, especially produce and deli, are crucial for consumers who prioritize healthier eating and transparency in food sourcing. Fresh foods could benefit from suggestive selling and marketing – especially via social channels – based on consumer motivations and occasions. Fresh departments should capitalize on weekend dinners, which tend to include more scratch cooking.

In today's Daily Fix:The latest sales figures from Circana show the PlayStation 5 outpacing sales of the PS4. That's great news for Sony, as this current generation was slow to take off. On the Xbox side, there's not a lot of good news, as Series X and Series S sales are pacing behind last gen's Xbox One. In other news, a new Palworld update is available that finally enables crossplatform play. And finally, two gaming industry vets revealed plans to create an MCU-style interconnected universe for Marvel games, even before the MCU was even a thing.

Circana reports that Monster Hunter Wilds is the biggest game since Black Ops 6 launched in October in the US with the PC platform leading the pack. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is confirmed to be coming out on PS5 in April. BlizzCon is coming back..in 2026! Shohei Ohtani is going to be the first MLB player in Fortnite soon with two different skins releasing in the shop. Lastly, Xbox handheld in 2025...confirmed?? #monsterhunter #mhw #indianajones #blizzcon #fortnite #ohtani #xbox #videogames #allyoucangeek

Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/Analytic⁠ In this segment of Notorious Mass Effect, Analytic Dreamz dives into Donkey Kong Country Returns HD's January 2025 performance in the US. Debuting at #8 on Circana's sales charts and #1 among Switch titles, it sold over 500,000 physical units despite a lack of hype. With a Metacritic score of 85/100, the remaster faced pricing backlash ($59.99) and developer credit controversies. Analytic Dreamz explores its 1080p/60 FPS performance, industry trends like a 45% hardware sales drop, and what its success signals for Donkey Kong's future on the anticipated Switch 2.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Did we just experience the defining moment within the better-for-you, functional lifestyle products movement? Celsius Holdings (NASDAQ: CELH) had quarterly revenue of $332.2 million, which was down 4% YoY. And while that now marks the second straight quarter of YoY revenues losses…sequential QoQ revenue activity increased sharply at 25%. According to Circana last 52-week data, CELSIUS accounted for 30.3% of all energy drink category growth YoY. In addition, Celsius sustained its market share of 11.8% and is securely the third-largest energy drink brand in the category. And I don't want gloss over this accomplishment…as CELSIUS became the first brand in over a decade not named Red Bull or Monster Energy that was able to capture more than a 10% share in the U.S. energy drinks market. Celsius energy drinks has seen massive growth in convenience stores, foodservice (e.g. fast food restaurants), mass retailers like Walmart, the club channel in retailers like Costco, and the Amazon marketplace. Additionally, the early international market development groundwork starting to formalize with CELSIUS extending its relationship with Suntory Beverage & Food and also the first major international market expansion under the PepsiCo umbrella (i.e. Canada). It's my opinion that international expansion presents significant opportunity for incremental growth over the next three to five years. With Celsius at basically full distribution now…the TDP growth will have to come from increased items carried per store. Going forward, Celsius will increase items per store through a combination of product strategies like flavor, format, pack size, and variant expansion. Additionally, CELISUS will continue scaling up the new Essentials lineup that has exceeded the company's expectations. Moreover, they will seek more store placements like leveraging cold display activity in Celsius-branded coolers. But the huge breaking news that accompanied this earnings report was CELSIUS entering into a definitive agreement to acquire Alani Nutrition for a net purchase price of $1.65 billion, comprising a mix of cash and stock. In 2024, Alani Nu became the fourth-largest U.S. energy drink brand…reaching more than $800 million in retail sales across tracked channels…growing an astonishing 63% YoY. Moreover, the combined brand platform of CELSIUS and Alani Nu energy drinks would be considered the fastest growing energy drink brand portfolio of the top 10 categorical competitors...generating slightly below $2 billion in revenue and more than $3.5 billion in tracked channel retail sales over the full-year 2024 period, and would have 16% category share (trailing only the Monster Energy combined brand platform and Red Bull). But I'll also analyze a collection of questions that have huge energy drinks market implications like why did CELSIUS acquire Alani Nu, is there cannibalization risk, will PepsiCo distribute Alani Nu now, CELSIUS product category expansion, and will this set off more market consolidation and another game of independent DSD musical chairs.

In this episode of The Voice of Retail, I sit down with Cheryl Ong Seng, Vice President of Retail at Circana, to explore the latest trends shaping the Canadian retail landscape. From consumer confidence and value-seeking behaviours to the challenges of personalization and pricing strategies, they cover the key insights retailers need to know.Cheryl shares her journey from Mauritius and Australia to leading Circana's retail insights based in Canmore, Alberta, providing a unique perspective on the data and analytics that drive decision-making in the industry. She explains how Circana collects and interprets consumer trends across multiple sectors, helping retailers and brands stay ahead in an evolving market. One of the key themes of the conversation is how consumer behaviour continues to shift in response to economic pressures. Cheryl and Michael discuss how Canadian shoppers seek more value through private-label products, reward programs, or trading down to budget-friendly options. They explore the “little treat culture paradox,” where consumers splurge on premium items like coffee or gourmet groceries rather than traditional dining experiences.The episode also examines the role of AI and technology in retail, particularly in enabling better personalization and targeted marketing. Despite years of discussion around personalization, many retailers still struggle to deliver relevant promotions to their customers. Cheryl shares insights on how AI-driven data analytics can unlock new opportunities for more effective engagement.Pricing strategy is another hot topic, as retailers weigh the benefits of everyday low pricing (EDLP) versus high-low promotional models. Cheryl highlights the importance of understanding consumer psychology—while EDLP offers stability, shoppers often respond more enthusiastically to promotions and perceived discounts.Finally, the discussion touches on key industry trends, including the rise of buy-now-pay-later options, the growing consumer preference for Canadian-made products, and the balance between sustainability and affordability in purchasing decisions.Whether you're a retailer, brand leader, or industry analyst, this episode offers valuable insights into the future of retail in Canada. Tune in for expert perspectives on the data-driven decisions shaping the industry today. About CherylAs Vice President of Retail Canada, Cheryl Ong Seng is responsible for leading retail commercial teams in Canada. This includes retail client engagement, thought leadership and delivery of innovative solutions that enable accelerated decision making along with enhanced retailer-manufacturer joint business collaboration. Cheryl came to Canada from Sydney, Australia and was the first person to serve as Client Service Account Director for Aztec Canada, a startup business in 2010. She joined IRI as part of the IRI- Aztec merger in 2013 and has since held multiple roles as IRI merged with the NPD Group and rebranded to Circana, including Vice President of Client Service, Managing Director and more recently Vice President of Retail Canada. Leveraging her expertise in analytics, shopper marketing solutions and bespoke client services management, Cheryl has led the expansion of the company's leading-edge capabilities in Canada.Originally from Mauritius Island, Cheryl grew up in Australia where she graduated from the University of Sydney, where she earned a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics, majoring in Marketing and Economics. Beyond the world of Circana, she has a passion for the outdoors and resides in Canmore allowing her to take full advantage of the Canadian Rockies. In addition to this, she sites her proudest achievement as conquering Mt. Elbrus, Russia, one of the seven summits of the world and aspires to climb a second summit. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Shoot us a Text.On this Thursday, we're covering how EV/hydrogen truck maker Nikola is filing for bankruptcy, how West Herr Auto Group gifted Slick Rick from the Buffalo Bills mailroom a car, and how kids meals are becoming something everyone orders.Electric truck startup Nikola, once a Wall Street darling valued higher than Ford, has filed for bankruptcy, joining other EV-makers like Fisker, Lordstown Motors and Electric Last Mile Solutions.Founded in 2015, Nikola promised a hydrogen-fueled revolution for trucking, securing billions in investments from GM, Bosch, and others.In 2020, short-seller Hindenburg Research accused Nikola of faking its truck technology, revealing a promotional video showing a truck rolling downhill with no powertrain.Founder Trevor Milton resigned amid fraud allegations and was later convicted in 2022, receiving a four-year prison sentence.Despite shifting focus to hydrogen fuel cell trucks, Nikola produced only 235 vehicles, amidst supply chain issues, rising costs, and an underdeveloped hydrogen fueling network.CEO Steve Girsky blamed economic conditions, stating, “Our very best efforts have not been enough to overcome these significant challenges.”When quarterback Josh Allen gave his MVP acceptance speech last week, he made sure to shout out someone who rarely gets the spotlight—Roderick “Slick Rick” Morrow, a beloved mailroom employee at One Bills Drive.After Allen's speech, Buffalo fans quickly fell in love with Slick Rick. One detail caught everyone's attention: despite working for the Bills for over a decade, Rick had been taking the bus to work every day.West Herr Automotive Group knew they couldn't just stand by on the sidelines, and on Valentine's Day, they surprised Slick Rick with a Chevy Traverse—his very own set of wheels after years of relying on public transportation.“It feels like I'm living the dream, and I am!” Rick said, soaking in all the love from the Buffalo community.As fast-food prices continue to skyrocket, some savvy consumers have found a way to save money—by ordering kids' meals. The trend has surged in popularity, with many adults opting for smaller portions at lower prices, sometimes even enjoying the bonus of a toy.Data from Circana shows a 28% increase in adults ordering kids' meals in 2024 compared to 2019.Fast-food prices have surged by 39%-100% over the past decade, outpacing inflation (31%), with McDonald's, Popeyes, and Taco Bell leading the way.Social media influencers, such as TikTok's “kids' meal connoisseur” Ashley Garrett, have fueled the trend by reviewing and rating kids' meals.Restaurant investor Dan Rowe suggests the issue isn't adults ordering kids' meals but rather, “If people are ordering off of your kids' menu, you have other issues.”The rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, which reduce appetite, could also be contributing to the demand for smaller portion sizes.Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle MountsierGet the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/ Read our most recent email at: https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email

Join us for an engaging episode of The Late Night Restaurant Show, where Jay Ashton, Dominic Padula, and Michael Beck sit down with Vince Sgabellone, Canadian Food Service Industry Analyst at Circana. In this insightful discussion, we tackle the pressing issues facing the restaurant industry, from the impact of tariffs and inflation to consumer confidence and shifting dining trends. Vince shares his expertise on how restaurants can adapt, market effectively, and stay ahead in a rapidly changing landscape. Whether you're an operator, supplier, or industry enthusiast, this episode is packed with valuable insights and strategies you won't want to miss.

Join us for an engaging episode of The Late Night Restaurant Show, where Jay Ashton, Dominic Padula, and Michael Beck sit down with Vince Sgabellone, Canadian Food Service Industry Analyst at Circana. In this insightful discussion, we tackle the pressing issues facing the restaurant industry, from the impact of tariffs and inflation to consumer confidence and shifting dining trends. Vince shares his expertise on how restaurants can adapt, market effectively, and stay ahead in a rapidly changing landscape. Whether you're an operator, supplier, or industry enthusiast, this episode is packed with valuable insights and strategies you won't want to miss.

Jeff and Rebecca spend more time than they would like in legal-land before talking about how everybody hates blurbs, recent reading, and other book news. Then, Brenna Connor of Circana joins Jeff to talk about 2024 book sales highlights and lowlights before looking ahead to 2025. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky. Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter. A new year means a new Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons. Sign up at bookriot.com/readharder. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: The Book Riot Podcast Patreon First Edition Shout-out to Feedspot for featuring us as #5 in the top 100 book podcasts on the planet Scarlett Pavlovich sues Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer for rape & human trafficking and Netflix adaptation of Sandman to end after second season Man accused of attacking Salman Rushdie to go to trial Big 5 and Authors Guild sue Idaho over book banning law Simon & Schuster's flagship imprint won't require blurbs and Rebecca Makkai essay in the NYT Dystopian novels are on the rise again after the inauguration On the Hippie Trail The Loves of My Life Life in Three Dimensions Tilt Bibliophobia by Sarah Chihaya Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BRAVE COMMERCE Live, held in May 2024, brought together leading voices in commerce to explore the rapidly changing landscape of consumer behavior, technology, and retail strategies. Rachel Tipograph, Founder & CEO of MikMak hosted a dynamic panel discussion with Kate Hamill, Director, Head of Industry, Retail & eCommerce at Meta, Veeral Shah, President & Chief Customer Officer of Nestlé Health Science at Nestlé, and Sam Gagliardi, EVP - eCommerce, Global Solutions at Circana.This engaging conversation delves into how demographic shifts, such as Gen Z's fluidity and Gen Alpha's diversity, are redefining commerce. The panelists explore the role of AI in personalizing consumer experiences, optimizing creative production, and driving innovation in supply chains. From the rising importance of real-time data to evolving retail media strategies, the discussion highlights actionable ways brands can adapt to these changes while focusing on ROI and market share.Discover how leaders across the ecosystem are preparing for the next five years of commerce by integrating cutting-edge AI, breaking down silos for better collaboration, and embracing omnichannel approaches to meet consumers where they are.Key Takeaways:Generational Shifts in Consumer Behavior: Learn how changes in demographics and culture influence consumer expectations and brand loyaltyAI as a Driver of Innovation: Explore how companies like Nestlé and Meta are using generative AI for creative personalization, R&D efficiency, and media optimizationOmnichannel Collaboration: Understand the importance of integrating real-time data, retail media, and personalized strategies to create seamless consumer experiences Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are few things worse than yet another company laying people off… and EA has committed the sin of obfuscating job losses. Also: Earnings season is underway, the Circana report for December 2024 and the full year, a recap of the GDC State of the Industry report, and more. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:00:49] - EA Takes a Tumble [00:12:58] - Microsoft Q2 FY25 Earnings [00:19:38] - Capcom Q3 FY25 Earnings [00:25:39] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for December 2024 and Full Year 2024 [00:35:25] - Learnings from the GDC State of the Industry Report [01:05:38] - Investment Interlude [01:14:06] - Quick Hits [01:25:21] - Labor Report [01:38:15] - Listener Questions [01:50:18] - FAFO SOURCES Electronic Arts Pre-Announces Preliminary Q3 FY25 Results | EA Electronic Arts EVP Jacob Schatz sells shares worth $215,174 | MSN Earnings Release FY25 Q2 | Microsoft Consolidated financial results for the 3rd Quarter of FY2024 | Capcom Meta Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results | Meta The drone pilot who took out an LA firefighting plane pleads guilty to escape prison | The Verge INVESTMENT INTERLUDE Pocketpair launches publishing business [Pocketpair Publishing] and announces first publishing partnership with SURGENT STUDIOS. | Pocketpair Virtuos acquires three studios to 'significantly augment' development support capabilities | Game Developer Board game distribution major Alliance gets $39m buyout bid as owner Diamond Comics files for bankruptcy protection | BoardGameWire Closing of Easybrain divestment | Embracer Group LABOR REPORT BioWare Studio Update | BioWare Blog Reflector confirms more layoffs after Unknown 9 falls short of expectations | Game Developer Phoenix Labs Lays Off Most of Its Staff | Phoenix Labs on LinkedIn Ubisoft Layoffs and Closures | Ubisoft Leamington on LinkedIn Fast Travel Games Lays off 30 People | Fast Travel Games on LinkedIn Studio co-founded by Dr Disrespect closing after three years working on new FPS | PCGamesN

Data insights company Circana just released its year-end recap analysis (and outlook) for the global retail food and beverage industry. To save you time (and a few headaches) from all that reading, I've compiled my top takeaways from that dense presentation. The first is that consumers are adopting more selective buying habits in hopes of making more room for discretionary items. Moreover, that's manifesting itself in shifting shopping patterns…as consumers are making more trips but buying fewer items per trip. Another key takeaway is that consumers are driven by a demand for value…thus choosing to shop online for groceries isn't only because of convenience but also that it provides price transparency. And then finally, Circana expects another period of low single-digit YoY dollar sales growth in 2025…despite a predicted “modest slowdown” in economic conditions. FOLLOW ME ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LINKEDIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TWITTER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week Montrell and Justin discuss a new report claiming other companies are hoping Rockstar charges $100 for GTA VI, Bioware's latest studio update, and December 2024 Circana numbers!Twitter: @theplayerstakeMontrell: @itrap4thehokageJustin: @thundernut01Submit questions on Twitter or send an email to theplayerstake01@gmail.com to interact with us! Please like, subscribe, and review the show!Support the show

Dive into the latest health trends and shifting consumer preferences in the dairy industry with a dynamic panel featuring John Crawford, SVP of Client Insights for the Dairy Category at Circana; Donna Berry, Editor & Consultant at Dairy & Food Communications Inc.; Patrycja Kotowska, Category Strategy Manager at Sprouts Farmers Market; and Fred Schonenberg, Founder & CEO of VentureFuel. Recorded live at the Real California Milk Excelerator's Future of Dairy Expo in November 2024, this discussion covers everything from lactose-free products to sourcing transparency and the growing demand for products that align with consumer values.

Dive into the cutting-edge innovations and trends from CES 2025 with Circana's tech analysts Paul Gagnon, Ben Arnold, and Mike Crosby. This episode explores the transformative impact of artificial intelligence and more on consumer and B2B electronics, the evolution of smart home technology, and the future of wearable devices. Technology is reshaping not just consumer experiences, but also manufacturing, go-to-market strategies, and retail.  Key Highlights: AI is being incorporated into everyday products like smartphones, PCs, and TVs, enhancing the user experience through features like picture and sound quality optimization. But one watchout is that innovation needs to remain focused on tangible benefits for the end-user. Another pain point is managing consumer concerns with privacy.  Smart home devices, including smart doorbells and security cameras with AI capabilities, appliances and robotic vacuums are seeing enhanced functionality.  The next generation of smart glasses will drive new use cases and applications in personal health and augmented reality.  Retailers have a significant influence on the development and go-to-market strategies of tech products, particularly in the TV industry.

Dave's guest this week is one of the most sought-after leaders in the E-Commerce and Retail Media spaces: Sam Gagliardi.  Sam's 20-plus year career has included senior roles with both leading brands including Colgate-Palmolive, J&J and Barilla, as well as with SaaS enterprises Reckitt and, most recently, Circana - making him a veteran on both sides of the aisle.  Sam shares what originally got him excited about e-commerce (3:49), the power of having effective PDPs (10:00), why it's more important than ever to connect with shoppers as early as possible (16:20), how both brands and service providers should navigate the process of selecting new partners (28:32) and how coaching hockey bears a lot in common with doing business (35:52).Connect with Sam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samgagliardi/Learn more about ItsRapid: https://itsrapid.ai/ Theme music: "Happy" by Mixaud - https://mixaund.bandcamp.comProducer: Jake Musiker

Jeff Grubb is joined by special guest Mat Piscatella from Circana to chat about the Celeste devs cancelling their next game, EA blames "underperformance" of Dragon Age and EA FC25 as it lowers their forecast, Wolverine devs refusing to comment on a 2025 release date, and a bunch of other stories for Thursday!

Frédérique Tutt, consultante en consommation chez "Circana", était au micro des Grosses Têtes ce 16 janvier 2025 pour parler des jouets les plus vendus pendant les fêtes ! Retrouvez tous les jours le meilleur des Grosses Têtes en podcast sur RTL.fr et l'application RTL.

Jenny Zegler, director, Mintel Food & Drink, shares insights from the research firm's 2025 consumer trends forecast. Hilary Thesmar, chief science officer and senior vice president of food safety at FMI, The Food Industry Association, discusses the challenges to implement the FDA Traceability Final Rule. Circana's Sally Lyons Wyatt explains why legacy food and beverage … Continue reading EP 51: Talking Trends With Mintel's Jenny Zegler, Traceability Rule Challenges, Legacy Brands Product Innovation →

Quel est le point commun entre un produit lavant pour le sol, un déshumidificateur d'air et un aspirateur laveur ? Leurs ventes ont littéralement bondi en grande distribution en 2024, selon le cabinet Circana, du fait de la météo. Tour d'horizon de ces produits qui ont connu un succès surprenant.

Quel est le point commun entre un produit lavant pour le sol, un déshumidificateur d'air et un aspirateur laveur ? Leurs ventes ont littéralement bondi en grande distribution en 2024, selon le cabinet Circana, du fait de la météo. Tour d'horizon de ces produits qui ont connu un succès surprenant.

Quel est le point commun entre un produit lavant pour le sol, un déshumidificateur d'air et un aspirateur laveur ? Leurs ventes ont littéralement bondi en grande distribution en 2024, selon le cabinet Circana, du fait de la météo. Tour d'horizon de ces produits qui ont connu un succès surprenant avec Armelle Lévy, journaliste spécialiste de la consommation à RTL !

Darren Seifer, industry advisor for consumer goods and foodservice insights for Circana gives us a sneak peek of his GOPEX 2025 presentation, focusing on today's organic produce shopper and what drives their loyalty.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carbonated soft drinks and bottled water are the universally preferred beverages across generations. From there, nuances emerge that shed light on the life stage priorities of different cohorts. Similarly, differences in product choices are seen by household income level and even ethnicity. Tatiana Lopez Aranzazu, consumer and shopper insights consultant at Circana, discusses differences across demographic cohorts and uncovers opportunities for manufacturers and retailers.  Highlights:  Energy drinks are popular among most generations. But they are less relevant for boomers, who prioritize probiotic and low-sugar dairy drinks.  Functional beverages, particularly those delivering energy, weight control, and better-for-you attributes, are growing in popularity.  High-income households prefer beverages with protein and probiotic claims. Low-income households lean toward energy drinks.  Consumers are most likely to shop the grocery channel for most of the top beverage attributes. But mass and supercenters lead for immune defense claims, and club stores are the top channel for protein claims. 

While hydration is still key, consumers want more from their beverages. Sally Lyons Wyatt, Circana's global executive vice president and chief advisor, consumer goods and foodservice insights, shares extensive beverage research on out-of-home and in-home trends across tap water, morning beverages, cocktails, and satiety beverages.  Highlights Consumers seek more personalization than ever, from flavoring tap water to interesting portable beverage containers. Marketers can see what consumers are turning to by watching book sales. Hint: Books on body cleansing and detoxing are trending.  In-home and out-of-home beverage trends are shifting. Consumers purchase portable beverage containers for out-of-home convenience. But they're also purchasing specialty coffee makers, juicers, and smoothie makers to offset higher prices at foodservice.  Beverages deliver varying levels of nutrition, indulgence, satiety, and entertainment — with and without alcohol. The ripple effect of beverages goes well beyond what we're drinking to how we're consuming and where. Opportunities exist for marketers who consider new occasion moments, especially surrounding sports. 

Despite inflation, consumers are optimistic about their ability to spend a little more on gifts, foods, and beverages for upcoming holiday occasions. Sally Lyons Wyatt, Circana's global executive vice president and chief advisor, consumer goods and foodservice insights, and Marshal Cohen, Circana's chief retail officer, share their insights and observations for what's in store (literally!) this holiday season.  Highlights:  Inflation has eased, but consumers still anticipate paying a little more for holiday groceries. Similarly, consumers expect to spend an average of 2% more on holiday gifts this year versus 2023.  Optimism is wrapped in practicality this year, with consumers willing to pay for needed or practical items. But they'll also spend more to elevate experiences. Notably, consumers report they're more likely to make impulse purchases and self-gift this year.  Retailers are ready for a positive gifting season. Black Friday is back, complete with doorbusters and retailer exclusives. And shoppers can expect a better in-store experience with deals and gift inspiration.  Shoppers of CPG and gen merch are focused on value, and retailers of all stripes will work to frame their offerings in terms of quality, price, and relevance to the shopper. 

For more than 30 years, Circana has conducted extensive audits of the food items found in America's kitchens, from spice cabinets and pantries to refrigerators and freezers. Results from the 2024 audit reveal our kitchens have fewer items, pointing to our growing desire for convenience. Darren Seifer, industry advisor, consumer goods & foodservice insights at Circana, shares observations on changing behaviors and opportunities to meet consumer needs.  Highlights:  Consumers are keeping around 140 items in their kitchen, down from 160 in 2020.  There's been an uptick in heat-and-eat solutions. Kitchen appliances such as air fryers and pod coffee makers are responding to the need for speed.  Conversely, there's been a decline in food appliances like deep fryers or coffee grinders.  Manufacturers of CPG items and appliance makers have an opportunity to support the success of meals, with proper temperature cooking, simplified recipes, and products that deliver flavor and convenience. 

We now know that Microsoft wasn't kidding when they said they had no intention of pulling Call of Duty from PlayStation. Whether the Game Pass Gambit pays off or not, Black Ops 6 is selling great on Sony's console. Also: the rest of the Circana report on U.S. Video Game Spending for October, a pair of Mass Effect alums run into funding trouble, and more. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:] - Ubisoft Shutters Three Studios and Ends XDefiant Development [00:] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for October 2024 [00:] - Investment Interlude [00:] - Quick Hits [00:] - Labor Report SOURCES Ubisoft Discontinues Development on XDefiant | Ubisoft Thought Pennies cuts headcount as project loses funding | GamesIndustry Heart Machine is Undergoing Layoffs | Sol Brennan on LinkedIn A Message to the Reflector Community | Reflector Humanoid Origin, the Studio Co-Founded by Mass Effect Director Casey Hudson, is Shutting Down | Humanoid Origin on LinkedIn BioWare alum Mac Walters freezes indie studio Worlds Untold amid funding search | Game Developer Report: Kwalee lays off "at least 10" people | GamesIndustry Torn Banner is Undergoing a Restructure and Layoffs | Torn Banner on LinkedIn Report: Lilith Games cuts 40 staff as Project Party undergoes changes | PocketGamer 2K Games' motion capture studio votes to unionise | GamesIndustry INVESTMENT INTERLUDE Exclusive: Sony is in talks to buy media powerhouse behind 'Elden Ring' | Reuters FromSoftware parent Kadokawa confirms buyout interest from Sony | GamesIndustry Play Ventures raises $140m in third gaming fund | GamesIndustry Tencent acquires majority stake in Kuro Games | GamesIndustry Bandai Namco subsidiary Bandai Namco Online to be dissolved and merged with parent company | GamesIndustry My.Games sells hyper-casual game publisher Mamboo | GamesIndustry

Les ventes de jouets électroniques juniors progressent de 14% depuis le début de l'année, selon le panéliste Circana. Présentation de ceux qui cartonnent le plus. Ecoutez Le conseil conso avec Armelle Levy du 26 novembre 2024.

Les compagnons interactifs en plastique ou en peluche, dont il faut s'occuper comme un animal de compagnie, seront encore les stars de ce Noël. Leurs ventes ont déjà bondi de 26% depuis le début de l'année, selon le panéliste Circana, tirées par le Bitzee. Ecoutez Le conseil conso avec Armelle Levy du 25 novembre 2024.

U.S. consumers have a lot on their minds besides food, even as they're standing in front of the supermarket's display of meat or alt-meat packages. They're keeping an eye on their kids, putting together a menu in their heads and gasping at the cost of proteins. An alt-meat brand has between 7 and 17 seconds to sell itself to a typical U.S. shopper. Those aren't great odds, but Chris DuBois has some ideas about how to beat them as the alt-meat industry looks ahead to 2025. The executive vice president of fresh foods for research firm Circana counsels alt-meat brands to focus on frozen, on forms and flavors, and on the findable core group of heavy alt-meat consumers that already exists. Chris joined MeatingPod to elaborate on those ideas, and other trends in the U-S and global alt-meat consumer space.

Hold up, wait a minute! Isn't there a Newtonian law or something that says quarterly revenue can only go higher with Celsius energy drinks? Celsius Holdings (NASDAQ: CELH) had quarterly revenue of $265.7 million, which was down 31% YoY. Believe it or not…the last time Celsius Holdings had negative YoY revenue growth was in the first quarter of 2016 when the energy drink brand was generating around $4 million of quarterly revenue. According to Circana last 13-week data, CELSIUS accounted for 16% of all energy drink category growth YoY in the third quarter of 2024. In addition, Celsius grew market share slightly to 11.8% and is now securely the third-largest energy drink brand in the category. And I don't want gloss over this accomplishment…because it's the first time in over a decade that an energy drink not named Red Bull or Monster Energy has had a 10% share in the U.S. market. Celsius energy drinks has seen massive growth in convenience stores, foodservice (e.g. fast food restaurants), mass retailers like Walmart, the club channel in retailers like Costco, and the Amazon marketplace. Additionally, the early international market development groundwork starting to formalize with CELSIUS extending its relationship with Suntory Beverage & Food and also the first major international market expansion under the PepsiCo umbrella (i.e. Canada). It's my opinion that international expansion presents significant opportunity for incremental growth over the next three to five years. With Celsius at basically full distribution now…the TDP growth will have to come from increased items carried per store. Going forward, Celsius will increase items per store through a combination of product strategies like flavor, format, pack size, and variant expansion. Additionally, CELISUS will continue scaling up the new Essentials lineup that has exceeded the company's expectations. Moreover, they will seek more store placements like leveraging cold display activity in Celsius-branded coolers. While the U.S. energy drinks market has never been bigger than right now, competition within the category has never been greater (with C4 Energy, GHOST, and Alani Nu continuing to push market leaders). Then, you have categorical growth rates slowing and macroeconomic factors pressuring same-store sales of the largest convenience store chains. Finally, I'll breakdown a collection of categorical acquisitions that directly (and indirectly) impacted Celsius Holdings...which includes the recent news that Celsius acquired Big Beverages Contract Manufacturing, Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) acquiring GHOST, and Molson Coors acquiring ZOA Energy. FOLLOW ME ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LINKEDIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TWITTER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/joshua-schall/support

SUBSCRIBE NOW!!!! on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher & Audible. This week on the Press X to Start Gamer's Digest: DJ & Sean talk about the potential Switch 2 release date, Black Ops 6's controversial launch, BG3 exec blasting Ubisoft for Prince Of Persia studio's shut down and much more! Gaming News - Time code: 2:13 Leaks begin to narrow down the release date for the Switch 2; Black Ops 6 debuts to a mixed response on steam due to a number of performance issues and a bizarre audio decision; Xbox's PS5 ports rumored to slow down after Indiana Jones announcement; Bungie's creative team officially moves to PlayStation; BG3 exec calls out Ubisoft for Prince Of Persia's team shutting down; We take a look at the Circana report for September; Balatro drops new free card packs from acclaimed several big games; Like A Dragon: Pirate Yazuka in Hawaii boasts a longer runtime than the most recent Yakuza spinoff. What Have We Been Playing - Time code: 54:36 DJ talks about his time with Black Ops 6 If you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you're using. Every little bit helps!  Want to ask a question, ask us at PressX2start.com/Questions Join/Follow Us: Youtube: Press X To Start TV Twitch: pressxtostarttv Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pressx2start Twitter: @PressX2S  Instagram: @PressX2Start TikTok: @pressx2start You can find more info about the Press X and who we are at www.PressX2start.com. If you have any questions or just want to tell us how great (or just slightly okay) we're doing or how we can be better, be a friend and reach out and email us at pressxtostartpodcast@gmail.com End music by @MarcoMavy on IG & Twitter Be good to each other, Peace!

Dragon Age: The Veilguard reviews are out and it appears to be good! Can it turn around Bioware's misfortunes since the last game? Meanwhile Sony shuts down Firewalk Studios, makers of the recently shutdown title Concord. We cover Circana numbers for the month of September while Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers Rita's Rewind gets a release date and Nintendo announces a Switch port of Xenoblade Chronicles X next year. #dragonage #bioware #sony #concord #circana #mmpr #nintendo

In this episode, Dr. Laura Sicola interviews Misty Davis, the Chief Marketing Officer of Circana. They discuss the importance of authenticity in communication, the value of understanding different personality types, and the power of going to bat for others. Misty shares her experiences of taking risks, delivering hard news, and finding humor in everyday situations. The conversation highlights the significance of acknowledging and celebrating the achievements of others. In this episode you will learn: Authenticity is key in effective communication. Understanding different personality types can improve communication and collaboration. Taking risks can lead to personal and professional growth. Delivering hard news requires finesse and empathy. Finding humor in everyday situations can lighten the mood and humanize conversations. Acknowledging and celebrating the achievements of others is important for building a positive and supportive work environment. About Misty Davis As Chief Marketing Officer at Circana, Misty Davis drives multiple marketing and sales initiatives to align with the company's growth strategies, with the goal of accelerating demand, awareness, and ecosystem growth. She leads the continuous evolution of corporate messaging, positioning, and execution of the company's narrative in key marketing assets, including digital presentations, campaigns, events, demos, sales enablement, and strategic communications. Davis is laser-focused on pipeline generation, ensuring the company communicates the right message at the right time and in the right place to all target audiences. She supports the company's brand to employees and the community, as well as manages internal communications and industry relations efforts. Previously, Davis had a 16-plus year career at Google, where she held several positions, the most recent of which was Director, Global Client and Agency Solutions, Consumer Packaged Goods, Consumer Health, and Tech. She began her career at Google working across U.S. teams, then in various markets throughout APAC in 2011, which catapulted her into the previous decade of global leadership opportunities. She is a thought leader and trusted confidant to her colleagues and a well-respected consultant with expertise in her field with clients.   You can connect with Misty in the following ways: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mistymuscatel/ Circana website: https://www.circana.com/   You can connect with Dr. Laura Sicola in the following ways: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/laurasicola-inc YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LauraSicolainc Facebook: Dr. Laura Sicola Twitter: @LauraSicola Instagram: @drlaurasicola Website: https://laurasicola.com Laura's Online Course: virtualinfluence.today See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.