With Halloween less than two weeks away, Mars is releasing a new crispy, crunchy twist on Skittles. The launch comes as higher cacao prices are pushing brands and consumers away from chocolate and toward gummies. We’ll have to see if trick-or-treaters take kindly to the change.
In earnings: Q3 earnings season is here with some heavy-hitters reporting their results this week. Coca Cola is reporting on Wednesday, as the company faces scrutiny from lawmakers for allegedly engaging in “shrinkflation,” or shrinking package sizes without lowering the price. Some CPG companies are also reporting this week, including Archer Daniels Midland, a food conglomerate, and Colgate-Palmolive, a household product brand.
Amazon will also report on Thursday, and the results could provide a high-level view of consumer demand during the back-to-school period, which could also provide some signals about the holiday season ahead. The e-commerce giant just played its part in kick starting that season with a two-day Prime Day event earlier this month.
In webinars: The National Retail Federation (NRF) is hosting a webinar on Thursday in honor of Fight Retail Crime Day. The one-hour event will feature a range of experts, including American Eagle Chief Security Officer Scott McBride and NRF VP of Asset Protection and Retail Operations David Johnston, who will provide guidance for retailers on how to advocate for government solutions. NRF recently announced that it would not be releasing its annual shrink report this year, as the industry group reevaluates its approach to tracking the measure following a high-profile error.
Retail Brew is also hosting a virtual event on Tuesday titled “Checkout Checkmate: Mastering E-Commerce Conversion.” Scott Lux, EVP of global e-commerce and technology at Esprit, will lead a discussion around how to create a frictionless digital shopping experience.
In celebrations: It’s PetSmart Charities National Adoption Week, and the organization is celebrating its 11 millionth pet adoption, just in time for its 30th anniversary of offering in-store adoptions in partnership with animal welfare groups.