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☆ Food startup Hungryroot uses AI to reduce waste, a major climate offender
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Food waste is so prolific in the U.S. that roughly one-third of the amount produced ends up in landfills rather than stomachs. A recent study published in the journal Science found food production accounts for 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Food delivery services like HelloFresh, Blue Apron and EveryPlate reduce that somewhat by sending consumers what they need for specific recipes. The company says its processes help lead to 80% less food waste at its facilities compared with a traditional supermarket. In addition to Lightspeed, Hungryroot is backed by L Catterton, Crosslink Capital, Karp Reilly and Lerer Hippeau.

Persons: Ben McKean, Hungryroot, Jeremy Liew, They've, L, Karp Reilly, Lerer, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: CNBC, Investors, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Crosslink Locations: U.S, York, Brussels

☆ Why this market has left behind direct-to-consumer companies like Warby Parker, AllBirds and Rent the Runway
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Direct-to-consumer brands – household names like HelloFresh, Peloton, Allbirds, Stitch Fix, Warby Parker and Rent the Runway, which cut out traditional retailers, wholesalers and other middlemen – have been falling. Investors shied away from high-growth stocks and retreated into companies with solid fundamentals and, most importantly, lots of profit. The problem is that none of these direct-to-consumer (DTC) companies have managed to make the transition to profitability themselves. Rent the Runway was down $114 million, and mattress company Purple lost about $121 million. Other companies, like SmileDirectClub, which went public in 2019, and Winc, a wine subscription company that went public in 2021, have declared bankruptcy.

Persons: Allbirds, Warby Parker, don’t, they’ll, ”, Ben Cogan, they’ve, Cogan, Casper, “, it’s, Sesame, Michael Botta, Tesla, Chris Isidore, Elon Organizations: New, New York CNN, Agora, CNN, Hubble, Venture, “, Companies, Wonder Group, Durational Capital Management, Costco, Western, Tesla Locations: New York

When it comes to newer consumer-social startups, the environment they're entering is turbulent — investor checks have dwindled, users are facing subscription burnout, and successful advertising models require massive scale. AdvertisementSo how are the emerging, buzzy social startups approaching monetization in 2024? "There's really only two monetization business models for consumer products," said Tiffany "TZ" Zhong, founder of new social platform NoSpace and early-stage VC firm Pineapple Capital. 3 ways new social-networking startups are approaching monetizationWhile some newer social startups are already monetizing their product, many are still pre-revenue and experimenting with different models to see which will make sense for their product and audience. And Verse CEO Bobby Pinckney told BI that the social platform, centered around music, plans to add a premium subscription that will unlock advanced AI tools, analytics, and templates.

Persons: —, there's, Eric Wittman, Tiffany, Zhong, VCs, Bianca Ambrosini, Ambrosini, Marlon Nichols, Nichols, Emma Bates, Andrew Kahn, Danial Hashemi, Alexandra Debow, Bobby Pinckney Organizations: Service, Meta, Business, Pineapple, Mac Venture Capital, Twitter, Crush Ventures, Crush, BI Locations: Berlin

☆ Panasonic’s auto deal deserves a speedy sequel
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHONG KONG, Nov 22 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Panasonic’s (6752.T)decision to sell part of its automotive unit suggests CEO Yuki Kusumi’s plans are taking a promising turn. The business, which pioneers technology like infotainment systems for the next generation of internet-connected cars, is a growing but capital-intensive opportunity. Selling a stake to Apollo Global Management (APO.N), with the possibility of a listing later, could help fund faster development without denting Panasonic’s balance sheet or returns. This was an obvious target for Kusumi, who previously led the auto unit. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Yuki Kusumi’s, Panasonic’s, it’s, Katrina Hamlin, Francesco Guerrera, Thomas Shum Organizations: Panasonic Corp, Advanced Technologies, Makuhari, REUTERS, Reuters, Apollo Global Management, Sony, Hitachi, Panasonic, X, Walmart, Thomson Locations: JAPAN, Chiba, Japan, HONG KONG, Asia, Rome

☆ Monte Paschi rebirth is vindication for Rome
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS / Jennifer Lorenzini Acquire Licensing RightsMILAN, Nov 21 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Italy’s privatisation of bailed-out lender Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS.MI) may finally be on the right track. The sale price was nearly 50% higher than last year’s high-stakes 2.5 billion euro capital increase, which cost taxpayers 1.6 billion euros. Rome took advantage of a near-30% rally in Monte Paschi’s shares during the month leading up to the sale. Granted, Rome will never recoup the around 5.4 billion euros it burnt to save Monte Paschi in 2017. Two years ago, interest rates were low and Monte Paschi's recovery seemed a distant prospect.

Persons: Jennifer Lorenzini, Siena, Monte Paschi, Andrea Orcel, Lisa Jucca, Banks, Liam Proud, Streisand Neto Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Banca Monte dei, Treasury, X, Walmart, Thomson Locations: Monte dei, Siena, Italy, Rome, Monte Paschi’s, Monte

☆ Banks may resist China’s push to help developers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Stringer Acquire Licensing RightsSINGAPORE, Nov 21 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Beijing is giving Chinese banks another nudge to persuade them to play the property white knight. Regulators including the People’s Bank of China are drafting a “whitelist” of 50 property developers, including state-backed China Vanke (000002.SZ) and fully private ones like Seazen (1030.HK) and Longfor (0960.HK), Bloomberg reported citing unnamed sources. More importantly, barring specific lending targets, banks are likely to remain in wait-and-see mode because they fear getting stuck with a mountain of bad loans. Last December, Chinese banks pledged new credit lines worth around 3 trillion yuan ($424 billion) to a dozen developers deemed worth saving, following a similar effort by Beijing. But at a time when China’s outstanding property loans are contracting, such vaguely worded guidance loses relevance.

Persons: Stringer, Yawen Chen, Francesco Guerrera, Thomas Shum Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Regulators, People’s Bank of China, HK, Bloomberg, X, Walmart, Thomson Locations: Dalian, Liaoning province, China, Rights SINGAPORE, Beijing

☆ Gap's closet cleanup begins to pay off
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Acquire Licensing RightsTORONTO, Nov 17 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Gap’s (GPS.N) new CEO is embarking on a closet cleanup. Shares in the U.S. apparel company leapt over 30% on Friday morning, a day after it unveiled third-quarter results. That reaction looks overdone, considering how overall net sales of $3.8 billion are still down 7% compared to last year, and earnings fell year-on-year. Same-store sales at sub-brand Old Navy for the quarter were up 1% year-on-year, the first quarterly increase in over two years. The company might even use that tailwind to revive its scrapped plans to separate Old Navy into a stand-alone company.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, That’s, Richard Dickson, Barbie, Sharon Lam, John Foley, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: REUTERS, Rights TORONTO, Reuters, Navy, Mattel, Banana Republic, X, Walmart, Thomson Locations: midtown Manhattan, New York, U.S, China

☆ Time to buy Siemens and HelloFresh after big share price moves? Here's what analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Morgan Stanley has a price target of 22 euros a share. The investment bank has an "underperform" rating – equivalent to "sell" at other banks – on the stock with a price target of 16 euros a share. Deutsche Bank has a "buy" rating on Siemens stock with a 185 euros 12-month price target, giving it a 26% upside from the current share price. They expect the results will be "well received" and see Siemens stock as "the most mispriced largecap equity in our coverage." Berenberg's Philip Buller and Philip Modu have a price target of 170 euros a share, which is 16% above the current share price.

Persons: HelloFresh, —, Jefferies Jefferies, Jefferies, Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley, Luke Holbrook, Morgan Stanley, Bernstein, William Woods, Supriya Subramanian, Berenberg, Berenberg's Philip Buller, Philip Modu, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Siemens, Wall Street Bank, Deutsche Bank, UBS UBS Locations: Arizona, Swiss

☆ Walmart can overcome its dulling inflationary edge
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The company’s top line grew 5.2% in the third quarter from a year earlier while the bottom line swung to a profit. Revenue growth may now slow while costs, including wages, could take longer to come down and squeeze profit margins. Operating expenses ticked up nearly a percentage point, to 21% of net sales, from the previous three quarters. Even if the price of eggs is getting cheaper, there’s no clear reason Walmart’s stock should do the same. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Walmart Doug McMillon, Donald Trump, Eisenhower, Joshua Roberts, Doug McMillon, McMillon isn’t, Jennifer Saba, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: Walmart, REUTERS, Reuters, X, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, China

☆ HelloFresh becomes buyout amuse-bouche
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Vegetable and chillies are seen at the vegetable market in Jakarta, Indonesia, June 2, 2017. REUTERS/Beawiharta Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 16 (Reuters Breakingviews) - HelloFresh (HFGG.DE) could be a guinea pig for food delivery buyouts. That’s mainly because one of its meal-prep sites faced water supply problems, and a slowdown in new customers in the United States. Assume a buyout group were to pay a 30% premium to the company’s market value, implying an enterprise value of 3.6 billion euros. For a buyout group, that’s food for thought.

Persons: Dominik Richter, Karen Kwok, Neil Unmack, Oliver Taslic Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, X, Alstom, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, United States, China

☆ Why Blue Apron and HelloFresh Can’t Keep Their Customers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

How Carhartt Survived a Changing Workforce When Carhartt launched its line of workwear over a century ago, 69% of America’s workforce was devoted to occupations like farming, mining and manufacturing. Today, the brand is spotted on models, rappers and even former presidents, despite never swaying from its core strategy. Photo illustration: MacKenzie Coffman

Persons: Carhartt, MacKenzie Coffman

☆ Citadel Securities is locked in a legal battle with 2 ex-staff who left to start a crypto firm and say they're victims of 'corporate bullying'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The venture has faced legal challenges by Citadel Securities, whose European arm filed a case in London in June 2022. Portofino said in its initial response that Citadel's legal action was "unmeritorious, anticompetitive and a classic example of corporate bullying." AdvertisementAdvertisementIn January 2022 Griffin sold a $1.2 billion stake in Citadel Securities to venture capital firms Sequoia and Paradigm. "Further, their attempt to improperly poach Vincent Prieur, a New York-based employee described as the 'aggregator of all things crypto' at Citadel Securities, is undisputed. Prieur, who later joined Portofino, had also been the subject of legal action by Citadel Securities that was settled out of court, Bloomberg reported.

Persons: Alex Casimo, Leonard Lancia, Ken Griffin, Griffin, Peter Thiel, Slack, Zalando, Portofino, Casimo, it's, Peng Zhao, Matt Huang, Lancia, poach Vincent Prieur, Prieur Organizations: Citadel Securities, Portofino Technologies, Citadel, New, Service, Ventures, Global Founders Capital, Global Founders, Lancia, London Court, Portofino, Court, Southern, of, Sequoia, Paradigm, Financial Times, Bloomberg Locations: New York, Wall, Silicon, Miami, Swiss, London, Europe, of New York, Portofino

☆ Deliveroo lacks tasty recipe for takeover call
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Sept 14 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Deliveroo’s (ROO.L) valuation makes it a plausible takeover target, but Chief Executive Will Shu has a weak hand in negotiating any deal. Activist investor Sachem Head Capital Management has built a stake in the London-listed food delivery company, Bloomberg reported late on Wednesday. Share prices of Deliveroo rose nearly 5% on Thursday morning. That’s below the 1.5 times average of rivals Delivery Hero (DHER.DE), Just Eat Takeaway.com (TKWY.AS), HelloFresh (HFGG.DE) and DoorDash (DASH.N). Lastly, Delivery Hero and Amazon’s 5% and 12.5% stakes could complicate any deal.

Persons: Will Shu, LSEG, Uber, Karen Kwok, BoE, Neil Unmack, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, Head Capital Management, Bloomberg, X, Treasury, Thomson Locations: London

☆ European markets climb on strong earnings ahead of key U.S. inflation print
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON — European markets were higher on Thursday as investors digested a fresh round of corporate earnings and looked ahead to a key U.S. inflation print that could provide hints about the Federal Reserve 's next monetary policy move. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index rose by 0.6% in early trade, with insurance adding 1.7% to lead gains while mining stocks fell 0.4% as the only sector in the red. The European blue chip index closed Wednesday's session up 0.4%, with oil and gas stocks adding 2.3% to lead gains as most sectors finished the day in positive territory. Stateside, stock futures were higher in early premarket trade after another negative session on Wall Street. Back in Europe, corporate earnings continue to roll in and influence individual share price action.

Persons: Dow Jones, Hong Organizations: Federal, Siemens, Zurich Insurance, Thyssenkrupp, Deutsche Telekom, HelloFresh Locations: U.S, London, Asia, Pacific, Europe

☆ European earnings add weight to economic bear case
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 20 (Reuters Breakingviews) - It’s only early in the financial-reporting season for European companies. But macro bears will already be able to find all the doom and gloom they could ever want. But pricey recipe kits and premium toilet paper are relatively easy ways for pinched consumers to save money. Before the results, all three companies were priced at a premium to the STOXX Europe 600 Index (.STOXX) using 12-month forward price to earnings multiples, suggesting possible shareholder complacency. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: napping, Liam Proud, whir, Neil Unmack, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Europe

☆ AI’s deflationary winds will blow away profits
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Francesco Guerrera | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

LONDON, June 27 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The prevailing expectation for artificial intelligence’s (AI’s) impact on humans is laden with doom. Yet the history of technological innovation suggests humans will see at least one tangible benefit from AI: lower prices for what they consume. One innovation that could give consumers an advantage over companies is AI agents. Streaming services like Netflix (NFLX.O) and Walt Disney’s (DIS.N) Disney+ could also suffer if AI agents take off. Junior lawyers, call centre operators and advertising copywriters, to name but a few, should probably be afraid, very afraid of AI’s looming threat.

Persons: ”, Geena Davis, David Cronenberg’s, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Morgan Stanley reckons, HelloFresh, Walt Disney’s, Peter Thal Larsen, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Goldman, McKinsey, Nvidia, May, Reuters Graphics Reuters, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Netflix, Deloitte, Thomson Locations: United States, Mallorca

☆ 26-year-old pays $1,157 a month for a 240-square-foot studio: 'I didn't even know they made apartments this tiny'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Jennifer Liu | In Jljenniferliu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Before Chi Baik moved into her 240-square-foot studio in Seattle last year, she tells CNBC Make It she"didn't even know they made apartments this tiny." Baik moved in September of 2022 and used to pay $1,550 for the place. John Paget | CNBC Make ItHer kitchen has modern finish with a two-burner stove but no oven. John Paget | CNBC Make ItChi Baik moved to Seattle from the Washington, D.C., area in the fall of 2022. Chi Baik is getting her Ph.D. at the University of Washington in special education Jon Paget | CNBC Make It

"It feels like I'm starting a new chapter in my life, and I'm really excited for it," she says. Chi Baik, 26, lives on $27,000 a year as a Ph.D. student in Seattle. Baik knows most people will think $27,000 is "so little money," but says "I feel very grateful that I'm making that much, that I have a home to live in, especially in Seattle. The unhoused population is really large, and that makes me even more grateful for the money that I am making." She decided to pursue her doctorate earlier than she planned as a sort of break from the demanding work of teaching special ed during the pandemic era.

☆ German regulator allows SVB to conduct lending business through local branch
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, March 20 (Reuters) - Silicon Valley Bridge Bank (SVB) (SIVBV.UL) has been granted permission to conduct its lending business through its SVB Germany branch, German financial regulator BaFin said on Monday. BaFin had imposed a moratorium on the German branch of SVB in the wake of the U.S. lender's demise and noted the branch had "no systemic relevance". SVB Germany worked with German companies such as HelloFresh (HFGG.DE) and Lilium (5KD.F). Its total assets stood at 789.2 million euros ($846.26 million) at the end of 2022, according to BaFin. SVB Financial filed for bankruptcy protection on Friday, about a week after Silicon Valley Bank was shut down in the largest U.S. bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis.

☆ HelloFresh stops buying coconut milk from Thailand after videos show monkeys being forced to harvest the crop
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

HelloFresh will stop buying coconut milk sourced in Thailand, Axios reported. It revealed that monkeys on HelloFresh suppliers' coconut farms were being kept in poor conditions. PETA accused Suree and Aroy-D, HelloFresh's former coconut milk suppliers, of keeping monkeys chained on dirt patches with no protection from the elements. Major retailers, including Walmart, Target, and Costco, have already stopped selling coconut milk from certain Thai suppliers, but HelloFresh's move goes one step further, banning all coconut milk exports from the country. It's now calling on Whole Foods and other retailers to stop sourcing coconut milk from Thailand, it said in a press release.

☆ Home Food Delivery’s Questionable Value, for Consumers and Investors
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Stephen Wilmot | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Serving food with a side of technology was the perfect pandemic business model. Now old doubts are back with a vengeance: Just how many people will pay what it costs to have grub delivered to their door? HelloFresh shares fell 9% Tuesday after the meal-kit company said it was targeting revenue growth of anywhere between 2% and 10% this year, stripping out currency movements—a wide bracket but below most analysts’ forecasts at the midpoint. Its profit guidance also came in below expectations.

☆ HelloFresh shares drop as profit outlook disappoints
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Linda Pasquini | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Germany's HelloFresh sees adjusted core profit (AEBITDA) of between 460 million and 540 million euros ($492 million and $577 million) in 2023, compared with analysts' estimate of 547 million euros. He said HelloFresh was not planning any lay-offs at the moment, and refrained from giving an update on the mid-term outlook. HelloFresh expects its revenue to grow 2% to 10% on a constant-currency basis this year, compared with growth of 18% in 2022. The company also forecast "relatively muted" order growth for 2023. HelloFresh reported annual AEBITDA of 477.4 million euros, above the 464.5 million euros expected by analysts.

☆ Scientists can spike startup bets in Planet A's new $172 million climate tech fund even if they have a good business case. Check out the 20-slide LP deck it used to raise the fresh cash.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

German VC Planet A has just closed its first 160 million euros (around $172 million) fund. Planet A, a European venture capital firm, has just closed its inaugural 160 million euros (around $172 million) fund to back startups doing just that. Founded in 2020, Planet A is looking for market-ready tech startups with significant impact potential in climate change mitigation, waste reduction, resource savings, and biodiversity protection. The early-stage investor will write checks of between 500,000 euros to 3 million euros to startups in Europe, the UK, and Israel. The Planet A team intended to raise 100 million euros, Detzner said, so the fund was oversubscribed.

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☆ 8 best meal delivery services of 2023, according to experts
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Mili Godio | Mili Godio Is An Associate Reporter For Select On Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +26 min

SKIP AHEAD The best meal kit delivery services | How to shop for a meal kit delivery serviceTo determine the best meal delivery service for you, we spoke to chefs, nutritionists and recipe developers about what to look for in a meal delivery service and highlighted their recommendations for the best ones to try this year. 8 best meal delivery services in 2023We talked to our experts about important features to consider when shopping for meal kit delivery services, including available options for certain dietary restrictions, how customizable the plans are and the quality of the ingredients. We separated them into two categories: meal kit services that send out individual ingredients and pre-made meal delivery services. Best meal kit delivery servicesThese expert-recommended meal delivery services all feature an option to send separate ingredients and allow shoppers to cook themselves. For those who don’t have as much time during the week, ready-to-eat meal delivery services are typically the best option.

☆ Michigan couple makes $9,000 a month teaching people to launch lucrative side hustles: Our No. 1 rule is 'anyone can do it'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The McCauleys say some of their furniture flips are as simple as staging and taking fresh photos of the product. But of all their income streams, Jamie says their YouTube and social media presence is the most stressful to manage. Unlike real estate, the gambles of buying and reselling furniture are minimal in both price and risk, the McCauleys say. The McCauleys say they staged and resold this $50 Facebook Marketplace dresser for $300. Costs and effectGoing a full year without making any money from YouTube was difficult, the McCauleys say.

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