Beef tallow products are making their way onto mass grocery shelves, as brands like Masa, Prima, and Jesse and Ben’s expand nationally. Now, the rise in retail and consumer demand is causing higher production costs.

Tariffs

Why Dame is refunding $10,000 in tariff surcharges to customers

March 03, 2026

Dame is refunding customers who paid its “Trump Tariff Surcharge” last year, becoming one of the first brands to proactively return money tied to President Donald Trump’s now-invalidated tariffs.

Marketplace Briefing: Online merchants aren’t lowering prices despite Supreme Court ruling

February 26, 2026

Many Amazon sellers and online brands say they won’t cut prices despite the Supreme Court ruling that struck down Trump’s tariffs.

Other news to know

Top Stories Mar 19

Some creators don’t see immediate value in Instagram’s controversial ‘Shop the Look’ AI test

March 19, 2026

Instagram's controversial Shop the Look rollout didn't ask for creators' consent, nor did it tag products they've endorsed. What did they learn from it?

The real winners of March Madness? Brands that move fast on NIL deals

March 18, 2026

March Madness is becoming a more integral part of the brand marketing playbook, as NIL deals make it easier for startups to find a way into the cultural conversation around the NCAA tournament. Here's what the Madness campaigns of brands like Every Man Jack and NYX entail this year.

Why Parker Thatch transformed its strip-mall storefront into a livestreaming studio

March 18, 2026

Handbag and accessories brand Parker Thatch recently remodeled its store to serve as both a sales channel and a broadcast studio, as the brand sees more success from livestreaming across Instagram and YouTube.

Brands Briefing: Inside Cotopaxi’s plans to double its store count by 2029

March 17, 2026

Travel bag and backpack brand Cotopaxi plans to double its North American store count from 20 locations to 40 locations in the next three years, its CEO told Modern Retail.

Tariffs

Why Dame is refunding $10,000 in tariff surcharges to customers

March 03, 2026

Dame is refunding customers who paid its “Trump Tariff Surcharge” last year, becoming one of the first brands to proactively return money tied to President Donald Trump’s now-invalidated tariffs.

Marketplace Briefing: Online merchants aren’t lowering prices despite Supreme Court ruling

February 26, 2026

Many Amazon sellers and online brands say they won’t cut prices despite the Supreme Court ruling that struck down Trump’s tariffs.

Red and black sneaker on a black hightop on an orange background

Footwear brands navigate uncertainty after latest tariffs flip-flop

February 25, 2026

Shoe brands, which are out billions of dollars from U.S.-imposed duties, are trying to find their footing after recent tariffs whiplash.

Podcasts

Technology

Marketplace Briefing: Amazon says customers make three times more purchases on Alexa+ than its predecessor

March 19, 2026

Amazon says customers are making three times more purchases through Alexa+ than the classic version, as the company bets its generative AI assistant will drive shopping engagement and deeper Prime ecosystem usage.

Retailers turn to digital rebates as alcohol sales slump

March 16, 2026

Grocers and C-stores are turning to digital alcohol rebates to try to boost alcohol sales and digital engagement.

The next retail advantage is hiding in merchants’ payments systems

January 16, 2026

Cori Voorhees, partner marketing manager, Adobe The start of a new year often brings a shift in focus for merchants. As the urgency of peak shopping season fades, teams turn their attention to how their systems and technology performed. It’s a moment to look beyond seasonal results and examine the infrastructure that supported them. Payments […]

Marketing

What’s in your cart? Poppi founder Allison Ellsworth shares favorite food, beauty and wellness finds

March 17, 2026

Poppi founder Allison Ellsworth spoke with Modern Retail about her go-to grocery items and what she splurged on after selling her company to PepsiCo.

Fifth Avenue’s next chapter: Inside the push to evolve the iconic shopping corridor

March 16, 2026

Fifth Avenue is a retail powerhouse, known for glitzy flagships like Tiffany and Gucci. But it’s also a time of change for the more than 200-year-old avenue and the nonprofit that keeps it moving.

Brands Briefing: Wellness brands take over Expo West to woo retail buyers

March 10, 2026

Historically focused on natural food and beverage, Expo West is quickly becoming a go-to show for supplement startups and other wellness brands vying for retailers’ attention.

Operations

Little Spoon launches baby formula in bid to expand feeding portfolio

March 17, 2026

Little Spoon is launching infant formula as part of its strategy to become an end-to-end baby and kid food company.

Cymbiotika lands in Ulta just months after launching in Target

March 13, 2026

Supplement startup Cymbiotika has landed in Ulta as its year of retail expansion continues, fueled by a sizable seed round and increased consumer interest in wellness.

As retail media enters its second act, savvy brands diversify networks and tactics

March 17, 2026

Justin Jefferson, vp of strategy and insights, Keen Decision Systems The honeymoon phase of retail media is over. After years of explosive, low-hanging-fruit growth, the channel has reached a high-stakes maturity. With retail media now commanding 22% of total media budgets, the pressure to deliver more than a decent ROAS has reached a breaking point. […]