U.S. private ⁠equity ⁠firm KKR has signed a deal to acquire the bakery chain Nothing Bundt Cakes for over $2 billion, Reuters reported Wednesday. Nothing Bundt Cakes is currently owned by Roark Capital. The fast-growing, Dallas-based chain — made up of mostly franchises — was founded by Dena Tripp and Debbie Schetz in 1997, and…

When most people think about data companies, they think about Big Tech: companies like Meta and Google, which made their billions by acquiring and deploying user information. But the fact is, in 2026, virtually every sufficiently large business is a data company, no matter what its ostensible function is. And some of these data companies,…

In the brick-and-mortar retail landscape, businesses often operate with a significant blind spot: they don't truly know their customers. While digital loyalty programs can yield match rates of up to 30 percent, in-store rates tell a different story. In-person retail identification often lingers in the single digits, leaving the vast majority of in-store shoppers categorized…

Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is no longer theoretical. It’s rolling out, starting with textiles. And the message is simple: if you put product into the market, you’re responsible for where it ends up. That’s not a sustainability slogan. That’s an operating shift. EPR means accountability for collection, reuse, recycling, reporting, and proof. Not estimates. Not…

TikTok uninstall rates spiking nearly 150 percent following renewed U.S. uncertainty isn’t just a social media headline. For retail marketers planning back-to-school and holiday campaigns, it raises a more practical question: Where will our customers actually spend their time this season, and which channels will reliably drive traffic and sales? Retailers planning peak season don’t have…