Latest news with #Rinaldi
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How the rise of dupes and store brands could change the way you shop
Adrianna Rinaldi has enough high-quality leggings to last a week of remote work in New York without having to do laundry - and it didn't cost her a small fortune. Instead of continuing to spend up to $118 for one pair from Lululemon, she now buys a version that is a third of the price. CRZ Yoga has built a cult following for its near-perfect dupe - short for duplicate - of Lululemon leggings. 'The quality is just the same,' said Rinaldi, 34. 'There's more acceptance around not going for the brand name.' Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. From copycat brands to store-label groceries, budget alternatives to everyday essentials and indulgences are having a moment. Rather than the cheap knockoffs of old, they often come close to their brand equivalent in quality. More Americans are prioritizing price and value in lieu of national brand loyalty, according to spending data and company earnings calls - while influencers are also embracing the change. 'The dupe feels like you've cheated or one-upped the system … especially in a time of economic uncertainty,' said Lauren Beitelspacher, a professor of marketing at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Brands and retailers are hustling to meet the moment as persistently high grocery prices, increasing personal debt levels and tariff uncertainty weigh heavily on consumers, creating a sense of urgency to save. Albertsons CEO Susan Morris told investors last week in its first quarter earnings call that the grocery retailer is 'leaning heavily into own brands,' looking to meet customer demand for more options at lower prices. This expansion could also be a 'great solution for our customer' when tariffs push up grocery prices, she said. Even mid- to high-income consumers are changing how they spend, despite 'still doing pretty well' on paper, said Chedly Louis, a retail analyst and vice president at Moody's. They are trading down to retailers such as Walmart, Dollar General and Dollar Tree, which historically serve low- to mid-income consumers. And the increasing popularity of store brands signals 'higher caution from the consumer,' she said. The same is true in some discretionary categories, where there are more options for quality products at attainable prices. 'People may not feel so beholden to a single brand - rather it's more about an overall aesthetic or niche that they want to express,' Jenna Drenten, a marketing professor specializing in digital consumer culture at Loyola University Chicago, wrote in an email. 'For every single one of the brand name 'must-haves', there are suggestions for the cheaper (but still good) version to buy instead.' - - - The private-label boom The trend is most evident in the grocery aisles, said Sally Lyons Wyatt, of the market research firm Circana. Large supermarket chains, big-box stores and value retailers have been leaning into private labels, which have higher margins than name brands, for decades. But they doubled down in 2022 as prices surged, noted Lyon Wyatt, the company's senior adviser on global packaged goods and the food service industry. By 2024, sales on private-label food and nonfood grocery products hit an all-time high of $270.6 billion, a 4 percent increase over 2023, according to a report from Circana and the Private Label Manufacturers Association. That is about a fifth of total sales last year. National brands climbed 1 percent. 'The investments have certainly been worth it for grocers,' said Neil Saunders, a managing director at retail analytics firm GlobalData. 'They'll probably push on it even harder.' Canned food company Del Monte, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this month, and General Mills, the maker of Cheerios and Cinnamon Toast Crunch, have pointed to private labels as being increasingly tough competition. In a 2024 Ipsos poll, a third of respondents said most or all of their groceries within the previous week were store brands, while only 24 percent said the same of national brands. (Forty-one percent responded that the share was half and half.) These products often look strikingly similar to their national-brand equivalent, Beitelspacher said, 'to signal to the customer that they're the same quality.' Customers are also more clued in, with a better understanding that store brand products are sometimes manufactured in the same facility as the national brand, according to Saunders. Stephanie Olson, 31, said it wasn't until she lost her job during the coronavirus pandemic that she started planning her grocery lists around sales and coupons. Olson said she shops at Kroger in part because she lives in its hometown of Cincinnati, and because the store brands often have the best discounts and coupons, making the price gap against national brands even wider. 'They definitely make it enticing to buy their brand,' said Olson, who works in talent acquisition. In the past few years, retailers not only announced new private-label lines, but also improved branding, quality and selection, Saunders said. Target invested in its organic line Good and Gather and its indulgent offerings from Favorite Day. Albertsons' line of sweets - Overjoyed - is reminiscent of Target's, using brightly colored packaging and whimsical font. Meanwhile, Walmart has seen success with Bettergoods, which features organic and 'healthier' products that have been a draw for higher-income customers. Amazon turned to the other end of the spectrum, announcing Amazon Saver, a no-frills line of grocery staples. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.) Then there are the wholesale chains, most notably Costco and its Kirkland Signature brand, which have long dominated in the space, Lyons Wyatt said. The brand, which includes apparel, alcohol and groceries, accounted for 23 percent of Costco's revenue last year, generating $56 billion, according to the PLMA report. Those sales alone exceed those of Best Buy, Coca-Cola and Dollar General. Newer competitors are the Germany-based value retailers Aldi and Lidl, which have been rapidly expanding in the U.S. Aldi opened 120 new U.S. stores last year and its U.S. sales grew 14 percent over 2023, reaching $54 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. One quarter of U.S. households now shop at Aldi, Dave Rinaldo, then the president of Aldi USA, said at a PLMA conference. Jack Salzman, 29, doesn't mind walking a bit farther outside his neighborhood in Chicago to go to Aldi because his money 'goes a lot further,' the freelance TV and film production assistant said. 'I can spend under $100 and have enough stuff for a full week, and then some, at Aldi.' Plus, he often can't taste the difference between the store brand versus the national brand. Sydney Patterson, 30, feels similarly about over-the-counter medication. Growing up, she was used to seeing Tylenol, Advil and Aleve in her medicine cabinet. Now she thinks twice before reaching for those familiar brands, looking instead to the 'Target version that's $5 cheaper,' the fundraising consultant in Dallas said. - - - Discretionary dupes While it's true that aspirational brands still hold weight in the fashion and beauty space, consumers are more open minded about trying cheaper alternatives, said Drenten, of Loyola University Chicago. Influencers were the catalyst, she added, because by speaking openly and enthusiastically about a dupe, it gives permission to followers to do the same - and even brag about it. Brands like Quince, E.L.F. Beauty, Few Moda and Dossier have built their customer base by explicitly duping expensive, popular products. Dossier, which went viral on TikTok for its 'impression perfumes' of designer brands, recently opened its first store in New York City. Instead of spending $335 on Maison Francis Kurkdjian's Baccarat Rouge 540, Dossier has its own version called Amber Saffron for $49. Sales of fragrance dupe brands surged 103 percent in mid-June compared to the same period last year, according to NielsenIQ. Cosmetic dupe sales increased almost 10 percent and facial skin dupe brands were up about 27 percent. Consumers are also allocating more of their spending to cheaper goods over expensive ones, according to Adobe Analytics, which tracked sales from June 2024 to June 2025. In apparel, the share of the cheapest goods increased about 9 percent, while the share of most expensive goods decreased by 5.7 percent. Quince, which sells apparel, accessories, suitcases, homeware and kitchenware, is more reminiscent of a private label model, in which its products are made and sold by the factories making them. While its website doesn't advertise the brand it's copying, Quince has made the comparison in marketing texts: 'Our answer to the $5K Bottega bag is here,' one text read. 'Same luxe craftsmanship. Same premium handwoven Italian leather.' Quince's version costs $130. Few Moda, a membership-model fashion website, asserts that its products are 'made by the same manufacturers as the leading brands you know and love, at cost' and that it bypasses 'the middlemen and the markups.' Most items on the website note which pricey brand's manufacturer it shares, such as that of Staud, Theory and Ted Baker. Then there is Amazon, where many fashion and accessory sellers dupe trends - as CRZ Yoga does. Rinaldi, who works in ad tech in New York, said she and her friends are often sharing and showing off their finds. 'I just complimented my friend's outfit and … 50 percent of what she was wearing was from Amazon,' she said. 'Now, it's socially acceptable.' Related Content 'Buckingham Nicks,' the missing link of the Fleetwood Mac saga, is back Family adopts a shelter dog — then learns he's the father of their late dog Can the Fed stay independent? Trump-era adviser may put it to the test.
Fox Sports
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Mauricio Pochettino Sets Bar for USA in 2026: 'Win The World Cup'
The 2026 World Cup is less than one year away and, as one of the co-hosts, the United States men's national team will face some big expectations. So, what would success look like for USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino at next year's 48-team tournament held across Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., making it the largest edition in history? He believes this team can win it all. "I'm not selling nothing that cannot be possible," Pochettino told FOX Sports' Tom Rinaldi. "Anything is possible in football, in soccer." Pochettino has previously coached at notable European clubs like Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea. He's led top international players like Harry Kane, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe. It was therefore a seismic move when U.S. Soccer hired him in 2023 to lead the men's team following a disappointing showing at the Copa América, also hosted in the United States. "I see this as an exciting challenge," Pochettino explained to Rinaldi about why he took this job. "It's an important opportunity to build together a legacy and make history." But it hasn't been easy for Pochettino since his arrival. Two losses in March to Panama and Canada. Two more last week ahead of the Gold Cup, which kicks off Saturday and will be the last competitive tournament before next year's big event. The Argentinian manager is trying to instill a culture into a squad that has often fallen short of expectations against top teams from around the world. "The problem here in the USA is that soccer is seen as a nice game to play," Pochettino said. "But in different countries, it's a game to compete, it's a fight … it's a sport war." Pochettino spoke with Rinaldi ahead of the USMNT's two most recent friendlies -- losses to Turkey and Switzerland. Pochettino's roster that heads into the Gold Cup is missing star players such as Christian Pulisic, who opted to miss the tournament following a long season at AC Milan. "We need to understand that soccer is a collective team, the USMNT is bigger than any name," Pochettino explained. Pulisic said earlier this week that he offered to play the two friendlies but was denied by the coaching staff. For Pochettino, he's keeping his focus on the roster he has this summer as the countdown to the World Cup truly gets underway. "I'm excited, I cannot wait," he said. "I hope tomorrow it would start." It will come soon enough, and the eyes of the U.S. – and the world – will be on him. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from FIFA Men's World Cup Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Premium brand pet food plant opens in Rockingham County
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) — A premium brand pet food plant is coming to the Triad all the way from Italy. Farmina Pet Foods will be opening its first-ever U.S. manufacturing plant in Rockingham County. It's a major investment for the region. FPF's owner and CEO, Dr. Angelo Russo, said that it was North Carolina's hospitality, good conditions for economic growth and an abundance of qualified workers that stood out to them. For Rockingham County, it will bring up to 300 more jobs and technologies from around the world. North Carolina Senator Phil Berger said now is a fascinating time for the pet industry. 'Fewer people are having kids, but … more getting dogs … and cats. I don't want to forget about our feline friends, but it's something people care a great deal about,' Berger said. Berger described FPF as one of the most reputable pet food brands that will bring a lot of growth to the local economy. 'Good, high-paying manufacturing jobs. Great for Rockingham County,' he said. In Reidsville, FPF will be opening its first U.S. manufacturing facility, and they have ambitious plans to deliver the best quality pet foods. FPF's North America CEO, Loris Rinaldi, said it was a $115 million investment. He is confident that it will be worth it for both the company and the county. 'This facility is designed to expand and have three times the production capacity we have today, and that additional investment is for the 300 people that will run this facility 24/7,' Rinaldi said. The facility will run with some cutting-edge technology. 'All of our bags are packed with nitrogen, which keeps everything fresh until you open the bag,' Rinaldi said. After having facilities in Italy and South America, this would be FPF's fifth facility, and they could not have found a better place to start off their North American venture. 'Your kind welcome … Economically speaking, the good conditions you give to us and a lot of qualified workers,' Russo said. Russo said this is just the beginning of the journey. According to Rinaldi, they will import machines from Japan, Italy and France for their technology. FPF's production will begin in July. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Market Online
29-04-2025
- Business
- The Market Online
Cipher Pharmaceuticals' Natroba granted Medicaid preferred status in Illinois
Cipher Pharmaceuticals (TSX:CPH), a profitable specialty pharma company, reports that its Natroba treatment for scabies and head lice has been upgraded to preferred status by the state of Illinois Concurrently, the state has downgraded Natroba's main competitor, Permethrin 5%, to non-preferred status Cipher is a specialty pharmaceutical company with a diversified portfolio of commercial and early to late-stage products, mainly in dermatology Cipher Pharmaceuticals stock has added 50.23 per cent year-over-year and 1,322.22 per cent since 2020 Cipher Pharmaceuticals (TSX:CPH), a profitable specialty pharma company, reports that its Natroba treatment for scabies and head lice has been upgraded to preferred status by the state of Illinois. Concurrently, the state has downgraded Natroba's main competitor, Permethrin 5%, to non-preferred status. According to Tuesday's news release, the changes mean that 'all Medicaid treatments for scabies and Permethrin 5% prescriptions in the state must first step through Natroba being the preferred treatment in Illinois.' The company believes that recent studies showing parasitic resistance to Permethrin played a determining factor in the updated preferred drug listing. See work by Rinaldi and Simonart for further reference. Cipher has delivered positive net income over the past five fiscal years, with a high of US$26.64 million in 2022, and grew revenue by 58 per cent in 2024 thanks to increasing market share and the acquisition of Natroba. Investors have collected an over 1,300 per cent return since 2020. Leadership insights 'The medical decision made by the state of Illinois is just another example of the effectiveness of Natroba (Spinosad) and what clear growth potential for the product remains ahead of us,' Craig Mull, Cipher Pharmaceuticals' interim chief executive officer, said in a statement. 'We believe it is only a matter of time until more state pharmacy directors require step-through of Natroba representing the standard of care in the treatment of scabies and head lice. We are in active discussions with other U.S. states to build upon this recent success, and we continue to believe there is significant potential outside the U.S. to out-license Natroba whereby lice resistance to Permethrin-based products is a pervasive worldwide issue and whereby Natroba fills an unmet need.' About Cipher Pharmaceuticals Cipher is a specialty pharmaceutical company with a diversified portfolio of commercial and early to late-stage products, mainly in dermatology. The company markets its products in Canada, South America and the United States. Cipher Pharmaceuticals stock (TSX:CPH) is up by 3.31 per cent on the news trading at C$12.80 as of 10:01 am. The stock has added 50.23 per cent year-over-year and 1,322.22 per cent since 2020. Join the discussion: Find out what everybody's saying about this pharmaceuticals stock on the Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc. Bullboard and check out Stockhouse's stock forums and message boards. The material provided in this article is for information only and should not be treated as investment advice. For full disclaimer information, please click here. (Top photo: Cipher Pharmaceuticals)
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Yahoo
Police across US warn about new, high-tech key fob thefts
Police have a warning for car drivers: criminals reportedly have a new, high-tech way to steal your vehicle – without ever touching a key. It's called a ProPad, which ABC News reports is a tool typically used by locksmiths. Now, it's being abused to clone key fobs and program new ones. ALSO READ: Suspects accused of stealing hundreds of cars with key fob devices in Charlotte One woman told ABC's Detroit affiliate WXYZ that she watched her own car being stolen from her driveway in the middle of the night. 'I watched somebody drive off with my car,' Kristina Rinaldi said. WXYZ reports Rinaldi's vehicle was ultimately recovered after a police chase, but was totaled. And now across the country, police are tracking thieves who've used ProPad-like devices. The thefts reportedly only take minutes. In the video above, ABC's Alison Kosik explains how. WATCH BELOW: Morganton man accused of stealing from firefighters, church
