General Merchandise

Unilever has announced an agreement to acquire Schmidt’s Naturals. The Portland, Ore.-based personal care line, founded in 2010 by Jamie Schmidt, began as a deodorant line, which has expanded its offerings to include bar soap and toothpaste.

Quallis Brands, the parent company of men’s grooming brand Scotch Porter is diving into a new territory with their latest product launch. The company has announced their entry into the men’s personal care category with the launch of Fresh Meat Masculine Wipes.

Designed to freshen one of the most sensitive areas, the wipes are gentle on skin, infused with aloe, vitamins B, E and free of parabens, phthalates, chlorine, formaldehyde, and alcohol, the company said.

Minneapolis-based Target has announced it has come to an agreement to acquire Shipt, a digital same-day delivery platform for $550 million in cash. The retailer will leverage its network of store’s and Shipt’s technological platform to quickly and efficiently bring same-day delivery to consumers across the country. 

NYX Professional Makeup is venturing into the world of virtual reality with the help of Samsung Electronics America. The two companies have announced their collaboration in bringing virtual reality makeup tutorials to consumers, through Samsung Gear VR.

A recent article published in the Whole Dog Journal included a number of therapeutic ways people can address their pets’ arthritis pain relief needs, including a lengthy discussion on laser and red light therapies. A few years ago, a similar article would have likely focused on prescription-based solutions, but now the conversation often centers on alternative methods for caring for our pets.

SinfulColors expands into makeup

SinfulColors has packed a punch in the nail lacquer category, with on-trend colors and collaborations with Kylie Jenner and Kandee Johnson. The Revlon-owned company is going beyond the nail category, rolling out a color cosmetics collection fronted by actress Vanessa Hudgens. 

Multipet’s Canine Clean line of dog chews are designed to assist with teething, help remove tartar and massage gums. The toys are infused with a choice of peppermint or spearmint, which helps freshen breath. Canine Clean products from the Moonachie, N.J.-based company also support many drug stores’ direction of promoting health and healthy choices for their customers.   

Kroger is teaming up with Chase Pay, the digital engagement wallet from JPMorgan Chase & Co., to offer mobile payments. The initiative will kick off in select retail markets and e-commerce programs in 2018.

Kroger’s payment solutions are a part of the company’s “Restock Kroger Plan.” One of the key strategic drivers is to expand partnerships to create customer value, which includes Kroger forming alliances to accelerate digital and e-commerce platforms.