August 25, 2025

  • Keurig Dr Pepper will acquire Dutch coffee company JDE Peets in an all-cash deal valued at approximately $18 billion. Keurig Dr Pepper CEO Tim Cofer called the deal a “transformational moment in the beverage industry”(via FOX Business).
  • Temu parent PDD Holdings saw stock prices move upward slightly on news that the company outperformed on sales and saw less softening on earnings than analysts had expected in Q2 2025 (via IBD).
  • Coca-Cola is reviewing options related to the potential sale of British coffee chain Costa. The beverage company is working with investment bank Lazard to determine the feasibility of the sale (via Reuters).
  • Foot Locker shareholders voted nearly unanimously to endorse the potential buyout of the company by Dick’s Sporting Goods. A preliminary vote count indicates ~99% of those who voted endorsed the deal (via Chain Store Age).
  • U.S. consumers are likely to scan QR codes during Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year, per Uniqode survey data. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of respondents said as much (via PR Newswire).
  • Procter & Gamble has pivoted to sell luxury aloe-infused bumbum brand diapers made in China, via Target. Its staples Pampers and Luvs diapers have been losing traction in the U.S. market as of late (via Reuters).
  • Elon Musk’s xAI sued Apple and OpenAI on Aug. 25, alleging that the two companies were illegally conspiring to stymie competition in the AI business space. The companies “locked up markets to maintain their monopolies and prevent innovators like X and xAI from competing,” according to the lawsuit (via CNN Business)
  • Cracker Barrel continued to be embroiled in a significant debate over its logo rebranding. The friction over the rebrand drove nearly a ~$94 million loss in value in one day, following the reveal of the new logo (via Campaign).
  • Applebee’s has added two new names to its c-suite. Michelle Chin will assume the post of chief marketing officer, and Jay Wong will take over as COO, both beginning work in early to mid-September (via Chain Store Age).