Retail & Consumer Goods

Cannes – September 29, 2026 -- KT&G's ultra-slim cigarette brand ESSE surpassed KRW 1 trillion (approximately USD 700 million) in global sales in 2025, the South Korean tobacco maker announced at TFWA World 2026 in Cannes, France, running September 27 to October 1.

KT&G products now reach 179 duty-free stores across roughly 110 airports worldwide

The company entered the duty-free channel in 1995 with the launch of 88 Light in China. Three decades later, its flagship brands -- ESSE, RAISON, and BOHEM -- hold shelf space at 179 duty-free outlets spanning approximately 110 airports, including facilities in South Korea.

Pune, India – September 29, 2026 -- The global glycolic acid market is projected to grow from USD 723.75 billion in 2025 to USD 1,267.06 billion by 2034, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 6.42%, according to a new report from Maximize Market Research.

North America dominates demand as dermatology and pharmaceutical use expand

North America leads the global market, driven by strong uptake of glycolic acid in skincare, cosmetics, dermatology, and pharmaceutical formulations. The U.S. remains the largest consumer market as chemical peels, anti-aging creams, exfoliating serums, and acne treatments built on alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) chemistry gain wider adoption. The U.S. FDA identifies glycolic acid as one of the most common AHAs used in cosmetic products for exfoliation and pH adjustment.

New York – September 29, 2026 -- Rodan + Fields, the skincare brand founded by dermatologists Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields, has committed $350,000 to Girls Inc. to fund scholarships and career-readiness programming for young women pursuing STEM entrepreneurship.

The investment splits into a $100,000 Rodan + Fields Futures Scholarship and a $250,000 contribution to Girls Inc.'s Project Accelerate, a college and career readiness program. The commitment marks the start of a year-long partnership running through 2026, with scholarship announcements and mentorship milestones to follow.

Hanover, Pa. – September 29, 2026 -- L2 Brands, a premium custom-decorated apparel and headwear maker, appointed John Fryer as Chief Executive Officer effective September 29, 2026, tasking him with leading the company's fully integrated commercial, product, supply chain and manufacturing operations.

Fryer arrives from Unrivaled Teamwear's Hanesbrands carve-out

Fryer most recently served as President of Unrivaled Teamwear, a carve-out from Hanesbrands that operates the Champion Teamwear, Gear for Sports and Knights Apparel brands. His background spans activewear, teamwear and collegiate-channel businesses.

Ottawa, ON -- Claigan Environmental will run two webinars on September 29, 2026, to brief manufacturers on incoming 2028 Proposition 65 warning rules that eliminate generic labels and require exact chemical identification.

Generic Prop 65 warnings lose legal validity starting in 2028

Under the new requirements, short-form warnings must name a specific substance rather than relying on the current blanket language many companies have used for years. Claigan states that identifying the correct chemical will no longer be a routine formality.

Listing the wrong substance voids safe harbor protection entirely

If a product warning cites a substance that is not actually present, or one that poses no exposure risk to the user, the safe harbor defense is nullified. This exposes companies to liability even when a warning label is present on the product.

Sydney – September 29, 2026 -- Metcash, Australia's leading wholesale distributor to independent grocery, hardware and liquor retailers, has expanded its partnership with Coveo (TSX: CVO) to embed AI-powered conversational search into its B2B customer communications platform, AskROSS.

Metcash adds generative AI to AskROSS to speed retailer self-service

The deployment replaces traditional keyword-based search with conversational search that interprets query intent, allowing independent retailers using the AskROSS portal to resolve routine issues without contacting support staff. Coveo will also surface the same guidance within the agent-facing experience, aiming to help Metcash support teams assist customers more efficiently.

Nashville, Tennessee – September 28, 2026 -- My Home Delivery has launched on-demand white-glove delivery services in Nashville, Tennessee, giving local retailers and consumers a new logistics option for transporting furniture, appliances, mattresses, and large electronics.

App-based platform offers full-service delivery including assembly and item removal

Through the My Home Delivery app, customers can schedule transportation, in-home placement, assembly, and old-item removal for Big and Bulky purchases made from retailers or local marketplaces. The service is available via download on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for Nashville-area customers.

Pittsburgh – September 28, 2026 -- An InventHelp client from Mound, Minnesota has developed SHANTY CHEF, a portable cooking accessory concept designed to expand the functionality of existing heat sources used in outdoor and emergency settings.

Inventor targets single-purpose heating equipment gap in outdoor markets

The inventor said the goal was to let consumers get more value from equipment they already own, adding convenience when a heat source is needed for both warmth and cooking. The concept is aimed at outdoor recreation, ice fishing, camping and emergency-preparedness users, where portable heaters typically serve only one function.

Design aims to support safer food preparation in cold-weather conditions

SHANTY CHEF is positioned as an accessory that would attach to or work alongside portable heating equipment, enabling more stable food preparation in cold environments without requiring a separate cooking appliance.

New York – – September 28, 2026 -- PSignite's CPGvision platform secured six Best-in-Class Category Distinctions in the Promotion Optimization Institute's (POI) 2026 Consumer Goods Enterprise Planning and Retail Execution Vendor Panorama, covering the full trade and revenue management cycle for consumer packaged goods companies.

CPGvision sweeps six categories spanning planning to deductions

The distinctions cover Annual Operating Plan (AOP), Headquarter Planning, Internal Collaboration, TPMx Analytics, Dashboarding & Reporting, TPMx Deductions Management, and TPMx for Tier 2 & 3/International accounts. The recognitions track the entire commercial planning workflow, from setting headquarter strategy through account execution, deductions resolution, and post-event analysis.

Miami – September 28, 2026 -- Boats Group, operator of YachtWorld and Boat Trader, has appointed marine journalist Jack Haines to expand its original video, editorial and social media content across its marketplaces.

Haines brings 15 years of sea trial and editorial experience to Boats Group

Haines joins after serving as Reviews Director at YachtBuyer and previously as Deputy Editor at Motor Boat & Yachting. Over his career he has evaluated hundreds of vessels, building a reputation for detailed, real-world assessments of performance, design and on-water usability.