🕔 Retail Daily Minute | McCormick's $45B Unilever Food Deal, Macy's Launches Ask Macy's AI Shopping Assistant & Allbirds Sells for $39M

Hello Omni Talk Fans! Who knew that a brand built on the strength of one wool shoe silhouette would fall from its one-time valuation of $4 billion?

Sadly, everybody but its investors.

In today’s Retail Daily Minute:

McCormick acquires Unilever’s food business in a nearly $45 billion deal, as Unilever sharpens its focus on faster-growing personal care.
Macy’s formally launches Ask Macy’s, an AI conversational shopping assistant powered by Google Gemini, with early beta data showing revenue per visit nearly 5x higher among users.
Allbirds agrees to sell its assets and IP to American Exchange Group for just $39 million, a fraction of the $4 billion-plus valuation it once commanded.

Plus, a quote from a film in which the main character famously pulled the wool over many people’s eyes for years.

👇 Listen now

Today’s Top Headlines

1. McCormick Acquires Unilever’s Food Business for $45 Billion

McCormick is acquiring Unilever’s food business — including Hellmann’s mayo, Knorr seasonings, and Marmite — in a deal valuing the unit at nearly $45 billion. McCormick will pay $15.7 billion in cash, with Unilever shareholders retaining a 55.1% stake in the combined company, pending mid-2027 regulatory approval. (Read More)

2. Macy’s Launches AI-Powered Chatbot to Drive Higher Revenue

Macy’s AI chatbot Ask Macy’s, powered by Google Gemini, drove 4.75 times higher revenue per visit during beta testing. Formally launched March 23, the conversational shopping tool offers personalised product recommendations and a virtual try-on feature, focusing on curated discovery rather than traditional product search. (Read More)

3. Allbirds Sells Assets to American Exchange Group for $39M

Allbirds has agreed to sell its assets and intellectual property to American Exchange Group for $39 million — just a fraction of its $4 billion peak valuation — after aggressive post-IPO expansion into physical retail and new product categories ultimately eroded its core brand identity and piled up heavy losses. (Read More)

4. Sprouts Refocuses on Value for Price-Conscious Shoppers

Sprouts Farmers Market is refocusing on value after weaker-than-expected comparable-store sales in fiscal 2025. Rather than cutting prices, the grocer plans to highlight product relevancy, health-forward offerings, and convenience, while leveraging its new loyalty program to better engage price-conscious shoppers. (Read More)

5. CVS Health Opens Its First Pharmacy-Only Store in Chicago

CVS Health has opened its first pharmacy-only store of the year in Chicago, with plans for nearly 20 such locations by year-end. Averaging 3,000 square feet, the smaller format offers full pharmacy services and over-the-counter products, targeting underserved communities while addressing pressure from declining general merchandise sales. (Read More)

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