The MULO Dozen: July Brands in Review
Given the M&A activity that’s been going on in the MULO (multi-location) world these days, we’ve added a new section to our monthly dozen — DEALS. The reality of MULO is that unless brands listen to consumer voices, have strong leaders, and do the right deals, they may go BUST.
The keys to BOOMING in the multi-location space include thinking into the future and listening to the wisdom of thriving brands. Join us at Street Fight LIVE in November so you can do just that!
In the interim, here’s a glimpse into some big July MULO developments.
- The COO is out at Saks. This was part of a restructuring following HBC’s takeover of Neiman Marcus and the formation of Saks Global. (LEADERS)
- Also, part of that restructuring was a massive layoff within Saks. (BUST)
- The electronics industry has long faced challenges and competition from online-only retailers. Best Buy’s small format store is a potential way to compete while reducing rent expenses. (INNOVATIONS)
- What’s new in restaurant acquisitions? Darden acquired Chuys. Darden operates Olive Garden, Eddie V’s, and many other brands. Chuys has more than 100 locations in 19 states. (DEALS)
- Eatertainment is thriving as a category. To ensure growth, Puttshack appointed a new CEO (LEADERS)
- One Table Restaurant Brands declared bankruptcy. They are the parent company of the 24-unit chain Tender Greens and the 15-unit chain Tocaya (BUST)
- Red Lobster was sold to Fortress Investment Group. The 600+ unit MULO seafood brand had been close to drowning in debt. (DEALS)
- As we’ve covered in past editions, the C-store (convenience store) industry is filled with growth and creativity. Here’s the latest on new C-store formats (INNOVATION)
- Prime Day 2024 resulted in $14B in total purchases within and outside Amazon. Here’s what people bought. (CONSUMER VOICES)
- Casey’s made a $1B acquisition of Fikes Wholesale, the owner of CEFCO convenience stores, adding close to 150 locations to its portfolio. (DEALS)
- The Paris Olympics attracted significant brand sponsor involvement, an 18 percent increase over 2021. Here are some other ways the games had an impact on MULO behaviors. (BOOM)
- Will the upcoming elections have an impact on retail spending? The experts haven’t found any correlation. But the “Chucks and pearls” trend is making a comeback. (CONSUMER VOICES)
Want to stay on the cutting edge of the people, technology, real estate, marketing, and media trends that impact MULO? Join us as Street Fight comes to life on November 7th with some of the greatest minds in the business.
