US alt-dairy business Ripple Foods has secured $17m in its latest funding round and appointed a new CEO. New investors in the round include Material Impact and Rich Products Ventures, the corporate-venture arm of Rich Products Corporation. Becky O’Grady, who has been a member of Ripple’s board for the past five years, has been named CEO. Existing backers S2G Ventures, Prelude Ventures, Fall Line Capital, Euclidean Capital, Tao Capital Partners and Tim Koogle also participated. The latest round follows ...

STAN HONDA/AFP via Getty Images This post originally appeared in the First Trade newsletter. You can sign up for Business Insider's daily markets newsletter here. In this morning's First Trade newsletter, we highlighted five things investors have had to be thankful for in 2025. Sticking with the Thanksgiving and Black Friday theme, we thought we'd highlight a few food and toy-related stocks for you to chew on. On Monday, I spoke with Megan Clapp, a food and leisure analyst at Morgan Stanley, who sha ...

Core Insights - BJ's Wholesale Club reported a 9.8% increase in membership-fee income, reaching $126.3 million, indicating strong member engagement despite economic pressures [1] - The company experienced a 5% rise in third-quarter revenue to $5.35 billion, driven by higher membership fees and stable purchasing habits among consumers [6] - Comparable-club sales increased by 1.1%, with a 1.8% rise in same-store sales excluding gasoline, although this fell short of the expected 2.4% growth [5] Consumer Behavior - Shoppers across all income levels are cautious about rising prices and are actively seeking deals, with a notable shift towards private-brand products [1] - Medium- and high-income consumers are performing better than low-income shoppers, who reduced spending due to macroeconomic uncertainty and disruptions from the SNAP pause [2] Product Strategy - BJ's plans to expand its private-brand offerings, which are priced approximately 30% lower than comparable name-brand products, enhancing profit margins [4] - The company is launching a range of in-house products, including snacks and beverages, to align with current consumer trends [4] Financial Performance - The company's profit decreased to $152.1 million from $155.7 million year-over-year, but adjusted earnings of $1.16 per share exceeded Wall Street expectations of $1.09 [6] - Initial stock gains of about 4% following the earnings report were later reduced, with shares trading around $90.42 [3]

BJ’s Wholesale Club (NYSE:BJ) Q3 2026 Earnings Call November 21, 2025 08:30 AM ET Company ParticipantsLaura Felice - CFOAng Singh - VP FP&ASteven Zaccone - Director of Equity ResearchNone - Unknown Speaker 2Bill Werner - Executive VPNone - Unknown Speaker 1Bob Eddy - Chairman and CEOConference Call ParticipantsRobbie Owens - AnalystMike Baker - Managing Director and Senior Research AnalystKate McShane - AnalystRupesh Parikh - AnalystPeter Benedict - AnalystPedro Gale - AnalystChuck Grom - AnalystOperatorHel ...

BJ’s Wholesale Club (NYSE:BJ) Q3 2026 Earnings Call November 21, 2025 08:30 AM ET Company ParticipantsLaura Felice - CFOAng Singh - VP FP&ASteven Zaccone - Director of Equity ResearchNone - Unknown Speaker 2Bill Werner - Executive VPNone - Unknown Speaker 1Bob Eddy - Chairman and CEOConference Call ParticipantsRobbie Owens - AnalystMike Baker - Managing Director and Senior Research AnalystKate McShane - AnalystRupesh Parikh - AnalystPeter Benedict - AnalystPedro Gale - AnalystChuck Grom - AnalystOperatorHel ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales for Q3 were approximately $5.2 billion, growing 4.8% year over year [15] - Total comparable club sales increased 1.1% year over year, with merchandise comp sales growing by 1.8% [15][19] - Adjusted earnings per share were $1.16, a decrease of approximately 2% year over year due to a legal settlement [20] - Adjusted EBITDA was down about 2% year over year to $301.4 million, but grew approximately 5% when adjusting for the settlement [19][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Perishables, grocery, and sundries division grew comp sales by 1.8%, with a two-year stack of 6% [5][16] - General merchandise and services division also increased by 1.8% in Q3, with a two-year stack of about 2% [16] - Digital sales grew by 30% year over year and 61% on a two-year stack, now approaching 17% of total sales [10][17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Membership fee income grew by nearly 10% to approximately $126.3 million, driven by strong member counts and a recent fee increase [8][17] - Comp gallons in the gas business grew 2% year over year, significantly outpacing the industry [19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on enhancing member value through improved merchandising, digital convenience, and expansion of physical footprint [25] - A new club opened in Warner Robins, Georgia, and another in Smyrna, Tennessee, both performing above expectations [10][11] - The company plans to open 14 new clubs this year, the most in many years, and aims for 25-30 new clubs in the next two years [11][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to deliver value despite a challenging macroeconomic environment [13][24] - The company is narrowing its full-year merchandise comp sales guidance to a range of 2%-3% and increasing expected adjusted earnings per share to $4.30-$4.40 [23][24] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining a focus on member value and long-term growth strategies [25] Other Important Information - The company has launched new own-brand products aimed at providing high quality at lower prices, enhancing member loyalty [9] - A 10% discount for team members was introduced to support them during the holiday season [61] - The company is leveraging AI for improved shopping experiences and operational efficiencies [72][74] Q&A Session Summary Question: Exposure to SNAP program and member behavior across income demographics - Management noted that low-income consumers showed resilience in purchasing habits despite inflation pressures, with stable performance observed [28][30] Question: Long-term sales growth expectations - Management expressed confidence in achieving long-term growth through improved membership, merchandising, and convenience [35][36] Question: Competitive response in new markets - Management indicated strong performance in new clubs and confidence in competing effectively in markets like Dallas [39][40] Question: Inventory positioning for Q4 - Management acknowledged a conservative inventory position that may limit sales upside but supports overall value for members [44][45] Question: Fourth quarter same-store sales assumptions - Management is cautiously optimistic about Q4 performance, with preparations in place for the holiday season [53][54] Question: General merchandise inventory planning for next year - Management indicated that inventory decisions are made based on ongoing clarity regarding tariffs and consumer response [56][57] Question: Sustainability of SG&A per square foot levels - Management emphasized the importance of maintaining efficiency in operations while planning for future investments [83][84]

This is my favorite protein smoothie. There's no denying the passion for protein powders and shakes. And this is like my protein shake that I drink after the gym.An estimated 10 billion dollar market in the US. But Consumer Report says several popular powders and shakes commonly sold by big retailers may be giving you something else. Lead.Of 23 powders and shakes Consumer Reports tested, it found in a single survey more than 2/3 of the products had more lead than what its experts say is safe to consume in a ...

Core Viewpoint - Starbucks announced a $1 billion restructuring plan, which includes the closure of approximately 500 stores and the loss of around 900 jobs, reflecting ongoing challenges in improving sales performance and operational efficiency [1][3]. Group 1: Restructuring Plan - The restructuring plan aims to address underperforming stores and improve financial performance, with a focus on enhancing same-store sales and margins for 2026 [9]. - The company will close stores that do not align with its ongoing strategy, including the Starbucks Go concept designed solely for pickup, as well as other financial underperformers [8][9]. Group 2: Operational Challenges - Starbucks faces multiple medium-sized issues related to company culture and operational improvements, which are critical for the ongoing turnaround under the leadership of Brian Niccol [5]. - The company is transitioning from a focus on internal operations to a more offensive strategy aimed at driving sales performance [5][6]. Group 3: Product Strategy - Beverage sales are crucial for Starbucks, as they represent a habitual purchase for consumers, while food contributes about 20% of total sales but at a lower margin [11][13]. - The company plans to innovate its beverage offerings and improve food sales to enhance customer attachment, as approximately 40% of customers purchase food alongside beverages [12][13].