News about Retail & HoReCa
American Kontoor Brands has started the process of selling the Lee jeans brand. The bidding procedure started in the first quarter of 2026 and has already attracted the interest of a number of potential buyers. The deal is expected to close before the end of the year.
In Moldova, the System of Deposit for Packaging (SDA) is not yet operational, but there is already a conflict between major market operators and state authorities. At issue is the choice of the administrator of the SDA system, a mechanism that should ensure the collection of used containers and increase their recycling rate. The idea itself is not disputed. What is disputed is how the future administrator was selected, how transparent the procedure was and why some of the major market players were left out.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup (2026 World Cup), which will take place from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Mexico and Canada, is projected to be a powerful driver of the global economy, capable of bringing significant GDP growth and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. By expanding the format to 48 teams and hosting matches in 16 cities, the scale of the event promises an unprecedented economic impact.
The products of the Chisinau-based factory Viorica Cosmetic entered the Turkish retail market and started to be sold in the BIM chain of stores. This was reported by the Moldovan Embassy in Turkey.
Brazil and Vietnam lead the world ranking of coffee producers by a large margin from their competitors. And in different categories: Brazil is the champion in Arabica, Vietnam in Robusta. Ethiopia, the historical homeland of the product, is only a close second among the global top five coffee producers.
The beauty industry has found a new audience where no one has looked before – in the Formula 1 paddock. While motorsport has been associated for decades with oil giants, watch brands and energy companies, Sephora, Charlotte Tilbury and LVMH have all hit the tracks in 2026. The reason is simple: women have become one of the fastest growing segments of the championship’s audience.
Customers in Moldova this spring are increasingly choosing not specialized sports equipment, but universal clothing and footwear that are suitable for city, travel, office and training at the same time. Against this background, Adidas is strengthening its position in the lifestyle-fashion segment, where demand is growing faster than in the classic performance sport segment.
Shares of European luxury brands rose sharply amid forecasts of a possible settlement of the conflict in the Middle East. Investors are betting on the recovery of tourism and the return of demand from wealthy buyers.
American cosmetics concern Estée Lauder is expanding its personnel optimization program: the company plans to cut about 3 thousand additional jobs. Together with the previously announced layoffs, the total number of reductions will reach approximately 10 thousand employees.
In an interview with our portal, entrepreneur Mircea Baciu spoke about a real opportunity that would allow Moldova to significantly increase its exports – through the use of international online trading platforms.
On May 6, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Moldova organized, on the platform of the Sectoral Entrepreneurship Committee, a public-private dialogue on the regulation of sugar production and import and the search for balanced solutions for the entire value chain in this sector.
The first cherries have appeared in Romanian retailers. The price per kilogram is 80-100 RON/kg.
Danish jewelry brand Pandora reported first quarter results that exceeded analysts’ expectations despite weakening demand in its key market, North America.
French luxury conglomerate LVMH is exploring the sale of a number of fashion houses, cosmetics brands and alcohol assets amid slowing demand for luxury goods.
Italian fashion house Prada ended the first quarter of 2026 with revenue growth of 3% in comparable exchange rates, despite mixed performance in key markets. Total group revenue amounted to 1.4 billion euros (about $1.64 billion), which was in line with Visible Alpha analysts’ expectations.
The counterfeiting market continues to expand and is becoming faster and more flexible. This is the conclusion reached by Entrupy, a company specializing in AI-authenticated goods, in its annual State of the Fake 2026 report. According to the study, in 2025, 8.1% of all verified products were found to be counterfeit.
Limited trade markups have not been applied to a line of goods (13 commodity items) included in the List of socially important goods (or essential goods) since April 30. The reason is that the Regulation on the order of formation of retail prices for essential goods has become invalid.
In 2026, interest in flat nectarines is noticeably increasing both on the part of buyers and growers. According to breeding companies, the flat nectarine is rapidly moving out of the niche segment: in European market players, it already accounts for about 10% of sales of planting material. The growing interest is not only due to the unusual shape of the fruit, but also due to the improved taste, productivity and commercial attractiveness of new varieties.
EuroCucina – Technology For the Kitchen, one of the world’s main platforms for kitchen design and home appliances, was held in Milan. The Moldovan team of the Bomba chain was invited to the exhibition by Beko, with which the chain works as an official partner. Maxim Ghilca, Commercial Director of Bomba, spoke about where the market is heading and what retailers can expect in the coming years.
Sphera Franchise Group opened the first Taco Bell restaurant in the Republic of Moldova.
