Weekly Round Off With HTE ✨

September 24, 2023 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

🌟 Hey there, dear readers! It's that time of the week again when we gather around to catch up on the latest and greatest in the Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) world. 🚀

So, let's get this party started! 🎉

Welcome back to another exciting edition of our DTC (Direct-to-Consumer) Insider newsletter. 📰 Our mission is to serve you the freshest news and insights from the heart of the DTC universe. 💡 With every update, we're arming you with the knowledge to be the smartest one in the room. 🤓

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Unilever launches new bid to sell Q Tips and other brands 💼

UK gin and whisky exports drop in H1 🍸🥃

Avalon Spirits Announces Acquisition Of Tss Brands, The Owners Of Whiskey Row Bourbon 🥃

Next raises the profit outlook again and says prices could fall in the spring 🛍️💰

Shein hits £1bn UK sales as it becomes top 10 fashion firm 🛒👗💰

Unilever launches new bid to sell Q Tips and other brands

Source: 21 September 2023, Reuters

  • Unilever Plc has enlisted the help of investment banks Morgan Stanley and Evercore to relaunch the sale of non-core beauty and personal care brands, including Q-Tips and Impulse.

  • This move represents one of the first significant actions taken by Unilever's new CEO, Hein Schumacher, as he seeks to streamline the company amid inflation challenges.

UK gin and whisky exports drop in H1

Source: 19 September 2023, The Spirits Business

  • UK gin and whisky exports faced substantial declines in H1 2023, as reported by the Food & Drink Federation.

  • Whisky exports dropped by 19.7% in volume and 2.7% in value to £2.7 billion, while gin exports fell by 12.4% in volume and 9.6% in value to £305.3 million.

  • Despite gin's strong performance in 2022, exceeding pre-pandemic levels, the industry has seen a downturn.

  • Food and drink exports from the UK increased by 7.6% to £11.9 billion in H1 2023, mainly led by the EU.

Avalon Spirits Announces Acquisition Of Tss Brands, The Owners Of Whiskey Row Bourbon

Source: 21 September 2023, PR Newswire

  • Avalon Spirits Corp., a new spirits marketing and sales firm, has acquired TSS Brands, including Whiskey Row Bourbon.

  • Whiskey Row, their inaugural brand, is inspired by the historic bourbon district in Louisville.

  • With strong backing from investors and industry expertise, including former Castle Brands CEO Richard Lampen, Avalon plans to launch Whiskey Row in select US and international markets.

Next raises the profit outlook again and says prices could fall in the spring

Source: 21 September 2023, The Guardian 

  • Next has increased its full-year profit expectations by £30 million to £875 million, marking the third upward revision in four months.

  • The company reported a 3.2% increase in full-price sales in the first six months of the year, surpassing expectations of a 3% sales drop.

  • Next anticipates that cost inflation is easing and hinted at possible price reductions starting next spring, the first time in three years.

Shein hits £1bn UK sales as it becomes top 10 fashion firm

Source: 19 September 2023, The Guardian 

  • Shein's UK business achieved over £1 billion in sales in the past year and is projected to enter the top 10 apparel firms in the country by market share in 2023. 

  • The fast-fashion retailer reported a pre-tax profit of £12.2 million for the 16 months ending December 2022, with revenue surpassing £1.1 billion.

  • In 2022, Shein ranked as the 14th largest clothing retailer in the UK, boasting a 1.7% market share, and is expected to increase its market share to 2.2% in 2023. 

Stay Ahead of the Curve with HTC!

As we wrap up this edition of our newsletter, we hope you found the blend of news and insights as invigorating as we did. The world of DTC and beyond continues to evolve, and staying informed is the key to success. Keep those entrepreneurial spirits high, and remember, we're here to keep you ahead of the game. 

Until next time, stay sharp, stay savvy, and keep conquering the DTC frontier! 🚀🌟📰