
Gillette announces return of Gaming Alliance
Procter & Gamble-owned Gillette has announced the return of the Gillette Gaming Alliance, which introduces 11 stars, including Formula 1 star Lando Norris, as streamers.

Loop and Ulta launch sustainable beauty platform
U.S. beauty retailer Ulta has expanded its partnership with Loop through the launch of a new website, www.loopbyulta.com, which allows consumers to shop for beauty and personal care products in durable, sustainable packaging, which will be refilled and reused.

L’Oréal shakes up leadership team with new executive appointments
L’Oréal has announced two new executive appointments, with Omar Hajeri becoming President of the Professional Products division and Ersi Pirishi having been named President of the company’s Latin America zone, according to a report by WWD.com.

The Estee Lauder Companies creates Equity and Engagement Center of Excellence
The Estee Lauder Companies has announced that it has established a new Equity and Engagement Center of Excellence. The new capability is designed to help the US prestige beauty firm deliver on its commitment to build greater equity and representation throughout its business.

Johnson & Johnson, L’Occitane and Amazon scoop EcoVadis Procurement Leadership awards
EcoVadis has announced the winners of its fifth annual Sustainable Procurement Leadership Awards Program. Johnson & Johnson and L’Occitane scooped the Best Value Chain Engagement title, while Amazon EU’s Gemma Tyndall shared the Outstanding Program Leadership prize with L’Occitane’s Katia Michieletto.

P&G launches shampoo refills in UK
Procter & Gamble has launched its hotly anticipated refill system across the UK, according to a report published by Edie.net. The initiative, announced last October, will be rolled out across all its European markets by the year’s close.

Coty partners with LanzaTech on sustainable fragrance production
Coty has announced that it has signed a letter of intent to partner with LanzaTech to produce sustainable ethanol made from captured-carbon emissions, which will be incorporated into its fragrance products.

Nina Dobrev to front Dior perfume campaign
Dior has expanded its relationship with Nina Dobrev, according to a report published by WWD. The Canadian model, who is already an ambassador for the LVMH-owned brand’s beauty unit will also be an ambassador for the Maison’s fragrance arm in the US.

L’Oréal Paris doubles prize pot for 2021 Women of Worth awards
L’Oréal Paris has announced the call for its 2021 Women of Worth nominations. The applications deadline has been set for April 30, with consumers invited to put forward women who have selflessly given back to their community through non-profit leadership.

Target profits from pandemic with sales rising 20 percent in 2020
U.S. retailer Target has profited from the COVID-19 virus outbreak with FY revenues rising 20 percent, reaching $93.6 billion, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

The Estée Lauder Companies issues $600 million of Senior Notes
The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) has announced the offering and pricing of $600 million of 1.950 percent Senior Notes, due 2031.

Instagram calls on fashion, beauty and Black businesses to promote launch of Live Rooms
Instagram has announced the launch of Live Rooms, which allows up to four users to live stream. The Facebook-owned social media site is using both fashion and Black businesses to promote the launch, according to a report by WWD.com.

Kiehl’s partners with Gyrl Wonder
L’Oréal-owned Kiehl’s has announced that it has teamed up with Gyrl Wonder, a cross-cultural mentorship program that helps shape young women of color through social impact and career exploration.

Estee Lauder names Ana de Armas Global Brand Ambassador
Estee Lauder has signed Ana de Armas as its new Global Brand Ambassador. The Golden Globe Award-nominated actor will feature in campaigns across digital, TV, in-store and print starting by fronting ads for a new fragrance set to make its debut this month.

TikTok to pay out US$92 million over facial recognition tech
TikTok will pay out some US$92 million to settle a class action suit which claims that the Chinese social media site has breached privacy laws through its use of facial recognition tech to identify a user’s gender, age and ethnicity, according to a report published by BBC News.

Sephora’s US store count to increase by 260 in 2021
In a clear sign that bricks and mortar has plenty of life in it yet, LVMH-owned Sephora is planning its largest US footprint expansion to date, according to a report published by Forbes. The beauty retailer will add some 260 stores to its total this year.

Johnson & Johnson allows US$3.9 billion to settle talc suits
Johnson & Johnson has created a pot of US$3.9 million to settle numerous talc suits, according to a report published by Asbestos.

Lauder calls time on Becca Cosmetics
The Estee Lauder Companies-owned Becca Cosmetics has announced that it will cease to trade from September this year.

Citigroup seeks court order to freeze Revlon funds
Citigroup’s next step in its ongoing battle to recover funds mistakenly paid to Revlon creditors last summer is to seek an extension to the freezing order currently in place on the US$500 million sum, according to a report published by Bloomberg.

Ardagh to merge business with Gores Holdings
Ardagh Group has announced that it is set to spin off its metal packaging unit, which will then be combined with Gores Holdings to create an independent public company.

Estée Lauder Companies acquires majority stake in No Ordinary parent Deciem in $1bn deal
The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) has acquired a majority stake in The Ordinary parent company Deciem in a $1 billion deal, which values the company at $2.2 billion.

MAC names former Revlon executive SVP Global Marketing
Lauder-owned MAC has named Aida Moudachirou Rebois as Senior Vice President, Global Marketing, effective immediately.

Kohl’s battles to keep activist investors at bay
Kohl’s has issued a statement in response to an open letter published by an activist investor group comprising Macellum Advisors, Legion Partners Holdings, Ancora Advisors and 4010 Capital.

The Avon Company launches vegan clean skin care line
The Avon Company has debuted a vegan clean skin care brand, Farm Rx, according to a report published by Direct Selling News.

Kris Jenner to launch skin care line?
Kris Jenner could be poised to launch her own skin care line, according to a report published by The Cut, quoting E! News.

Glossier and ELF CEOs join Allbirds Board
Californian sneaker brand, Allbirds has announced two high-profile appointments to its board, according to a report published by WWD. Emily Weiss, CEO of Glossier and Mandy Fields, CFO at Elf Beauty will join the sustainable footwear brand’s Board, bringing the total number of Board Members to eight.

Walmart reports record Q4 and FY21 revenue
Walmart has reported its results for the final quarter of fiscal 2021. The US retailer saw revenue reach record levels, rising 7.3 percent yoy to US$152.1 billion.

IFF to sell off microbial controls business?
IFF is set to auction off its microbial controls business and food preparation unit, according to a report published by Bloomberg quoting sources ‘familiar with the matter’.

Secret unveils fruits of a decade of research, Derma+ deodorant
P&G-owned Secret has unveiled its first clinical-level sweat and odor protection with skin conditioners and soft-touch applicator, DERMA+ Antiperspirant. The skin-care adjacent antiperspirant is said to help promote visibly even skin tone, a key concern for women of color.

P&G’s Old Spice opens first barbershop; doubles as content studio
Procter & Gamble-owned Old Spice has opened its first barbershop and retail location in Ohio, U.S., with the space also acting as a content studio.

LVMH Chief Bernard Arnault teams up with ex-UniCredit CEO Jean Pierre Mustier to form SPAC for financial deals
LVMH head Bernard Arnault is teaming up with former UniCredit CEO Jean Pierre Mustier to launch a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) in order to invest in European financial companies.

Citibank loses bid to recoup US$900 million mistaken payment of Revlon loan
A federal judge has ruled against Citibank recouping the accidental re-payment of a loan to a group of lenders of Revlon, which was mistakenly wired in August, 2020.

Poshmark expands into Australia following IPO
U.S. fashion and beauty e-tailer Poshmark is expanding its presence into Australia, a move that follows its January IPO, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Gillette launches new sustainable shaving brand Planet Kind
P&G-owned Gillette has launched a new shaving and skin care brand, which as its name – Planet Kind – suggests, promises to be kind to skin and the planet.

Garnier names Drew Barrymore as first celebrity Creative Director
L’Oréal-owned Garnier has announced that it has signed Drew Barrymore as its first celebrity Creative Director as well as the face of new clean beauty line, Whole Blends Sulfate-Free Remedy Collection.

Conde Nast caught up in rent dispute as publisher seeks to scale back office space
Conde Nast has declined to pay some US$2.4 million in rent for its One World Trade Center space due to a dispute with its landlords, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal, quoting a bond document filing.

P&G appoints B Marc Allen to Board of Directors
Procter & Gamble has announced the appointment of B. Marc Allen, Chief Strategy Officer and SVP of Strategy and Corporate Development at The Boeing Company, to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.

L’Oréal FY2020: Record online sales accounts for more than a quarter of 2020 total as recovery continues
L’Oréal has announced its results for the final quarter and full year of 2020. The French beauty giant saw sales rise 4.9 percent yoy (like-for-like) in the final three months of the year for an overall drop of 4.1 percent for 2020 versus 2019.

Microsoft eyes up potential Pinterest deal
Microsoft has approached Pinterest with a view to acquiring the US$51 billion social media site, according to a report published by the Financial Times.

Walgreens Boots Alliance launches corporate social responsibility report
Walgreens Boots Alliance has announced the launch of its At the Heart of Health 2020 Corporate Social Responsibility Report. The document outlines the impact of the drugstore operator’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, sustainability and improving access to healthcare.

Inolex expands leadership team to focus on manufacturing excellence
Inolex has announced a series of new appointments to its leadership team. The cosmetics ingredients supplier has welcomed Kevin Hrebenar as VP Operations; Alanna Smith has been promoted to Site Lead Charlotte, USA; and Ted Laarkamp will become VP, Global Supply Chain.

Sephora relaunches Accelerator Incubator program with focus on BIPOC founders
Sephora has announced the re-launch of its Accelerator Incubator program, which will this year focus exclusively on BIPOC founders.

Old Spice and Secret launch refillable antiperspirant packaging
Procter & Gamble’s Old Spice and Secret brands are launching refillable antiperspirant cases, with both brands expanding their offering of aluminum free deodorants in recyclable paper tube packaging, made of 90 percent recycled paperboard and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

LVMH and Rihanna put ready-to-wear operations on hold as pandemic hits demand
LVMH and Rihanna have announced that they are to put the singer’s ready-to-wear operations on hold due to falling demand as a result of the pandemic.

L Brands announces retirement of CFO Stuart Burgdoerfer
L Brands has announced the retirement of Stuart Burgdoerfer, Chief Financial Officer and interim CEO of Victoria’s Secret, effective August 2021.

Walmart acquires Thunder ad tech ahead of self-serve tool launch
Walmart has acquired the technology and IP behind ad-tech company Thunder, which will play a key part in the rollout of its new self-serve display advertising platform set to roll out later this year.

Instagram goes vertical; social media app confirms new Stories layout
Instagram has confirmed it is developing a new Vertical Instagram Stories feature, similar to the vertical navigation format adopted by TikTok.

TikTok unveils e-commerce drive to challenge Facebook et al
TikTok is said to be gearing up for a huge e-commerce push throughout the U.S. according to the Financial Times, with sources stating they have viewed new features set to be introduced this year.

U.S. congress re-introduces bill to legalize CBD supplements
The U.S. congress has introduced a new bill that will approve CBD for use in dietary supplements, a move that aims to push the FDA into approving the ingredient, according to Natural Products Insider.

Coty Q2 2021: Sales plunge 16 percent over holiday season
Coty has reported its results for the second quarter of the current financial year. The US beauty behemoth saw sales drop 16 percent (18 percent LFL) in the three months to December 31, 2020 versus the same period last year. This was, however, 1 percentage point ahead of its Q1 performance, leading Coty to hail its performance as ‘continued improvement’.
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