News about Retail & HoReCa
US holding Authentic Brands Group has announced the purchase of the Lee denim brand from Kontoor Brands, the owner of Wrangler and Helly Hansen. The value of the deal could reach $1 billion, including an initial payment of $750 million and additional payments tied to the future financial performance of the brand. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2026.
European haute couture houses are increasing their presence in the United States, choosing American cities as venues for shows and cultural collaborations. From spectacular outings in Times Square to performances in the New York subway, Old World brands are increasingly choosing iconic urban spaces rather than traditional catwalks.
The establishment of a clear accommodation fee for hotels, as well as the need to revise the mechanism for calculating the market fee were discussed on the platform of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the RM.
In May on the fruit and berry market of Moldova, contrary to expectations, the prices for strawberries did not continue to decrease, but increased significantly – on average by 10-15%.
The launch of Swatch’s new limited edition watch, created in collaboration with Audemars Piguet, turned into a chaotic event around the world: from New York to Paris to London, the brand had to close dozens of stores and police had to intervene to disperse the crowds.
US coffee chain Starbucks announced on May 15 another round of layoffs among corporate staff and plans to close some regional support offices as part of its ongoing strategy to financially revitalize the business.
Retail turnover in Ukraine in the first quarter of 2026 increased by 11.2% compared to the same period of 2025. In March, the growth accelerated to 12.8 percent in annual terms, the State Statistics Service of Ukraine said.
French luxury holding LVMH has agreed to sell the Marc Jacobs brand to the American company WHP Global, which manages a number of fashion brands and actively buys fashion assets. G-III Apparel Group is also involved in the deal. According to Reuters and the Financial Times, the value of the brand could be about $1 billion.
Starbucks shares rose in pre-market trading after analysts at TD Cowen upgraded the stock to a “buy” rating and raised the price target to $120.
A heated discussion has erupted in the media about the reasons and consequences of the abolition of restrictions on trade markups on socially important goods from April 30 this year. Opposition politicians argue that this will lead to price increases and scare with the rise in the price of bread.
Russian travelers are actively reconsidering their preferences when planning foreign trips in the coming summer.
Due to the conflict over Iran, a Japanese snack food manufacturer is forced to abandon brightly colored packaging. Calbee Inc. announced that some of its products will temporarily switch to a black-and-white design due to disruptions in the supply of components for color ink.
Moldova’s e-commerce market reached 640,000 active shoppers in March 2025, and the number of active online stores reached around 2,800 in the first half of the year. The growth is structural – estimated at 7-9% p.a. in 2025-2026 – and comes exclusively from generational shifts and gradual adoption of digital habits. The EU accession process is gaining momentum. A major Romanian retailer has publicly stated that it is considering entry.
After two major global staff cuts, Swedish furniture store chain Ikea has announced that it is closing up store. This is the first time this has happened in 40 years.
Italian fashion house Giorgio Armani is preparing a possible sale of 15% of shares in the company, while the package may be distributed among three strategic investors – L’Oréal, LVMH and EssilorLuxottica. This was reported by the Italian newspaper La Repubblica.
Moldexpo exhibition center summed up the results of the auction for leasing six land plots. According to the company’s management, annual revenues from the new contracts will amount to 6.8 million lei.
eBay’s board of directors rejected GameStop’s $56 billion merger proposal, deeming it “neither credible nor attractive.”
Online fast fashion retailers Shein and Temu have entered a legal standoff in London, mutually accusing each other of copyright infringement and unfair competition. The case could set a precedent for the global e-commerce industry, where issues of copying designs, product images and marketing practices are becoming increasingly acute.
The Vatican has once again found itself at the center of fashion discussions. The new pope – Pope Leo XIV – has suddenly attracted attention not by preaching, but by wearing shoes. In the trailer of the documentary “Leone a Roma” published by Vatican News, the pontiff appeared in traditional white vestments… and vintage Nike sneakers.
Germany’s Puma is going through a difficult period, with the company recording a loss in 2025 and warning that 2026 could remain unprofitable due to weak demand and business restructuring.
