Germany-based discount grocer Aldi announced earlier this year that it would spend $5B on US expansion, adding over 900 new stores and renovating 1,300 existing stores.
If Aldi fulfills its aggressive brick-and-mortar expansion plans, it would become the United States’ third-largest grocery chain, following Walmart and Kroger.
Moley Robotics has created a fully automated, intelligent cooking robot capable of precisely creating meals. The system — which takes the form of an end-to-end, capsule robotic kitchen — is trained via artificial intelligence to “know” recipes, and to execute them using the same movements as a master chef.
To brand or not to brand?
Liza Landsman, president of Jet.com, says her company (acquired by Walmart for $3.3B) is the secret weapon for reaching young, affluent consumers with brands like Bonobos (acquired by Walmart for $310M).
Tina Sharkey, founder of e-commerce startup for household and food items Brandless, believes socially-conscious consumers care less about brands versus value and sustainability. Brandless products are $3 each and conform to a strict set of rules for ingredients. And all items are (do I need to say it?) — brandless.
Liza and Tina will be at the A-ha! Conference December 12 -13 in San Francisco. Looking forward to hearing perspectives on this core issue at the center of retail disruption.
What’s your view? Use discount codebrands or brandless to cast your vote and save $500.
Attacking cancer
As deals to the cancer therapeutics space hold steady, investors are betting on startups leveraging immunotherapies, stem cell research, and biotechnology to shape the future of cancer treatment.
P.P.S. Instagram does not have an elite data influencer program, but if it did, we’d definitely be part of it. Follow @cbinsights on Instagram to see why.
There is the Paypal Mafia, X-oogler Mafia, Facebook Mafia, etc.
