Retail & Consumer Goods Industry

San Antonio – September 24, 2026 -- Sixty-three percent of in-market vehicle shoppers say they will definitely or probably use AI during their next vehicle purchase, while only 29% of dealers report actively adjusting for AI-powered search, according to Cox Automotive's Q2 2026 AI in Auto Retail Tracker. The survey, fielded in May 2026, polled 483 franchise and independent dealership decision-makers and 1,502 consumers planning a vehicle purchase within 12 months.

AI tools now rival automotive websites as a research channel

Cox Automotive found 36% of shoppers now use AI tools for vehicle research, nearly matching the 38% who rely on automotive-specific websites. Among AI users, 26% ask AI to generate questions for dealers and 24% say it makes them feel more prepared for dealership visits, while only 17% cite avoiding dealership staff as a benefit -- indicating AI use is largely preparatory rather than a replacement for dealer interaction.

Los Angeles – September 24, 2026 -- NO CAP! Soda Pop has become the No. 1 modern soda brand by both dollar sales and units sold at a national convenience retailer operating more than 2,000 stores, according to the retailer's latest 12-week SPINS data.

Brand overtakes Poppi and Olipop within six months of shelf entry

The ranking arrives less than six months after NO CAP! entered the chain, placing it ahead of modern soda rivals Poppi and Olipop at the retailer. NO CAP! also ranked No. 8 among all carbonated soft drink brands across the same network.

Co-founder cites capital disadvantage against larger rivals

"To become the No. 1 modern soda with this retail partner less than six months after hitting shelves is a huge moment for us," said Vinny Wilson, co-founder of NO CAP! Soda Pop. He noted the brand competed against companies with significantly more capital, distribution and years in the market.

New York – September 24, 2026 -- The Italian Trade Agency will roll out Italian Wine Week across the New York Metropolitan Area from October 12 to October 25, 2026, enlisting more than 100 wine retailers in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Jersey City to drive consumer traffic ahead of Vinitaly USA's New York debut.

Retail activation precedes trade-only exhibition at Pier 36

The two-week citywide campaign functions as the consumer-facing lead-in to Vinitaly USA, the industry-only exhibition set for October 26-27 at Pier 36. That trade show will draw more than 300 Italian wine producers and over 400 qualified trade professionals for tastings, networking, and business meetings, according to the Italian Trade Agency.

San Diego – September 24, 2026 -- SOCi Inc. secured three separate industry recognitions in the third quarter of 2026, ranking #1 in Marketing Products & Services on Entrepreneur's 9th Annual Top Franchise Suppliers list, landing on the Inc. 5000 for a ninth consecutive year, and reaching finalist status in five categories at The 2026 A.I. Awards.

Franchisors rate SOCi highest in its category for a second straight year

Entrepreneur's ranking draws from an annual survey of franchisors that generated more than 1,000 responses this year, scoring over 180 suppliers across 13 categories on quality, cost, and value. More than 75 franchise brands reported using SOCi, giving it an average rating of 4.57 out of 5 and the top spot in Marketing Products & Services -- SOCi's second consecutive year at #1 and seventh straight year in the top three. The list appears in Entrepreneur's September/October 2026 double issue.

Los Angeles – September 24, 2026 -- Thirteen Lune has launched Studio 13, a bi-annual accelerator program developed with strategic investment firm Helios & Partners, offering selected beauty brands up to $100,000 in seed funding per $1 million in annual revenue.

Program targets brands generating $1.5 million or more in annual revenue

Helios & Partners and Thirteen Lune will jointly evaluate applicants, selecting 13 high-potential beauty brands per 13-week cohort. Cohorts run twice yearly, in January and June, with participants receiving direct seed capital, retail integration across Thirteen Lune's digital platform and Los Angeles flagship store, and enterprise commerce support.

Irvine, Calif. – September 24, 2026 -- TCL has become a "Proud Partner of the Green Bay Packers" under a new multi-year agreement granting the consumer electronics brand in-stadium signage, video board sponsorships, and digital activations at Lambeau Field.

TCL secures branding rights across Lambeau Field and Packers digital channels

The deal gives TCL rights to use Packers trademarks in advertising and promotional materials, subject to team approval, alongside video board replay sponsorships and in-stadium signage at Lambeau Field. The partnership also extends to digital advertising and social media activations across Packers-owned channels for the duration of the NFL season.

Austin, Texas – September 24, 2026 -- Scale Computing announced that a growing roster of major convenience and fuel retail chains has standardized on its edge computing and network platform, with deployments delivering measurable operational gains across thousands of locations ahead of the NACS Show in Las Vegas, October 6-9, 2026.

Casey's General Stores rolled out edge computing to 2,600 stores in ten months

Casey's General Stores, the third-largest U.S. convenience chain with nearly 2,900 locations, partnered with Intel to deploy SC//Reliant Manager Edge Computing as a Service across more than 2,600 stores. The cloud-to-edge platform let Casey's virtualize legacy point-of-sale and fuel systems, extend the life of existing hardware, and run containerized applications alongside virtualized workloads to support mobile ordering and loyalty programs.

Malmö – September 24, 2026 -- The EU's Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (EmpCo) takes effect September 27, 2026, requiring companies to substantiate any environmental claims made to consumers with clear, specific and credible evidence, a rule change welcomed by Duni Group.

Directive bans vague labels like "eco-friendly" without proof

EmpCo strengthens existing EU consumer protection law by targeting misleading environmental claims, unreliable sustainability labels and generic terms such as "green" or "eco-friendly" when unsupported by recognized environmental performance data. Companies will no longer be able to rely on broad or generic claims unless properly explained and substantiated; claims must instead be tied to specific products, packaging, materials or verified improvements.

Princeton, N.J. – September 24, 2026 -- Young adults aged 18-24 have overtaken teens as the primary drivers of brand discovery on TikTok and Instagram, according to Refuel Agency's newly redesigned 2026 Youth, College & Young Adult Explorer study of 1,545 respondents.

Social media engagement now peaks in young adulthood, not the teen years

Young adults lead brand discovery on TikTok at 30% versus 28% for teens, and on Instagram at 29% versus 23%. Adults log nearly double the weekly social media hours of teens -- 40 hours versus 24 -- with college students matching adults at 40 hours weekly. Liz Carmo, EVP Audience & Brand at Refuel Agency, said brand media plans still treating the teen years as the social-media high-water mark are reaching audiences at the wrong intensity.

Luxembourg – September 24, 2026 -- Verneek, the New York-based enterprise AI company, plans to establish its first European office in Luxembourg, marking its formal entry into the region's retail and luxury sector five years after the company's founding.

Verneek picks Luxembourg as regional launchpad over other EU hubs

The deep-tech firm selected Luxembourg for its central location, multilingual business community, market connectivity, and role in shaping EU-wide policy, according to the company. The move, subject to final agreements, positions Luxembourg as Verneek's base for deepening ties with global retailers, luxury houses, and consumer brands operating across fragmented European markets and languages.