News Briefs

The popular shapewear and apparel brand co-founded by reality TV superstar and business entrepreneur Kim Kardashian has become even more valuable.

Skims has added $225 million in new funding in a round led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives, with participation from BDT & MSD Partners. The latest funding brings the valuation of the six-year-old brand to $5 billion. 

Skims plans to use the new capital to accelerate brick-and-mortar and international expansion, as well as product innovation and category diversification, according to a report by CNBC. Skims said it is laying the groundwork to become a “predominantly physical business” in the coming years, the report said. 

Skims, which is set to generate more than $1 billion in revenues this year, currently operates 18 stores in cities including New York, Los Angeles and Austin, Texas. In October, the company opened its largest store yet, an 8,000-sq.-ft. space at Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn. Skims opened its first store in June 2024, in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C.

Earlier this year, the brand launched a partnership with Nike. The deal marked the first time the athletic giant has teamed up with an outside company to develop and launch a new brand.

Skims was founded online as a shapewear brand, emphasizing body positivity and inclusive sizing. It has since expanded into loungewear, swimwear and menswear.

A fast-growing donut chain is launching a new AI-powered tool to make ordering easier for guests.

Shipley Donuts is rolling out its refreshed website featuring a “first-of-its-kind” AI-powered assistant that creates personalized order recommendations based on individual or group preferences. The ordering assistant provides individualized suggestions and intelligent add-on recommendations with the goal of improving guest experience.

Shipley Donuts says that unlike chatbot interfaces, the ordering assistant creates custom recommendations based on multiple customer factors, including order size, individual flavor preferences and budget parameters. It continues to learn what to offer based on all guest orders, suggesting the most popular donut flavors and other menu items to add to the order.

"The integration of the AI ordering assistant into our refreshed website represents a significant leap forward in how restaurant brands can leverage technology to enhance the customer experience," said Kerry Leo, Shipley Donuts’ VP of technology. "We're not just adding AI for the sake of innovation – we're solving real customer pain points by making ordering more intuitive, personalized and efficient."

Recently, Shipley Donuts, which was acquired by a private equity firm earlier this year, said it had opened 25 new shops so far this year, including eight in the third quarter alone. The company says it is on track to open a record-setting number of new shops in the fourth quarter, including in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Texas. 

[READ MORE: Shipley Donuts on track for 'record-setting' store expansion in 2025]

Founded in 1936, Shipley Donuts, known for handmade fresh daily donuts and kolaches, currently operates more than 385 locations across 14 states. 

A mobile app that streamlines finding and purchasing groceries at the best prices is giving users access to a major online delivery platform.

Initially rolled out in summer 2025, Grocery Dealz uses artificial intelligence technology to provide real-time price comparisons and automate the digital checkout process, linking consumers to their preferred retailer websites to complete their purchases.

[READ MORE: Grocery Dealz app automates real-time price comparisons]

Now, Grocery Dealz is integrating with the Instacart Developer Platform, a publicly available API program enabling third parties to integrate the functionality of Instacart inside their websites and apps, to provide users access to Instacart's same-day delivery service directly from the Grocery Dealz app, with delivery in as fast as one hour.

"Utilizing Instacart's broad reach will provide rapid expansion for Grocery Dealz and help integrate our app into the purchase habits of online grocery shoppers." said Matt Goynes, co-founder & co-CEO of Grocery Dealz.

Through the integration, Grocery Dealz users browsing deals in the app can seamlessly select delivery via Instacart. The integration also expands reach for participating retailers to customers on the Grocery Dealz app.

"Shoppers today expect savings and convenience to go hand in hand," said Goynes. "By integrating with Instacart's Developer Platform, we're giving our users the best of both worlds — access to incredible deals plus the ability to have groceries delivered right to their door."

Grocery Dealz says it will have more announcements of new services and solutions in the near future.

A German brand best known for its premium strollers and car seats has planted its retail flag in the United States.

Cybex has opened a flagship in New York City, in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood. The 2,3000-sq.-ft. store is designed to reflect the brand's philosophy of merging luxurious functionality with contemporary design.

The space features Cybex’s complete product assortment, including strollers, car seats, baby carriers, home and living solutions, and accessories. Each product embodies the brand's unique “D.S.F. Innovation Principle,” the company said, which stands for “Design,’ the highest “Safety” standards, and smart “Functionality.”  (Cybex products are sold in a variety of U.S. stores including Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, Pottery Barn Kids and others.)

The store, which has an exclusive VIP area for one-to-one appointments, has a sleek, modern aesthetic.  Upon entering, visitors are immersed in an atmosphere that pays homage to New York's architectural and cultural heritage. Structural steel columns serve as a modern accent, subtly recalling the building's cast-iron façade that define the historic neighborhood. 

A refined monochromatic palette of warm beige materials forms the backdrop, accented by elegant gold racks that add a touch of sophistication. The space is designed to foster an intimate and inspiring shopping experience.

"After our flagships in Prague, Tokyo, Amsterdam and Paris, New York was a natural next step,” stated Cybex founder Martin Pos. “The city is a global epicenter of culture, fashion, and design, making it the perfect home for Cybex. Parents and families in New York are deeply attuned to style, quality, and innovation — values that define our brand.”

Cybex was founded in 2005, in Germany. In  2014, the company merged with Goodbaby International Holdings Limited, a leading global durable juvenile products company based in China.

JLL has promoted a company veteran to a new role.

The real estate services giant has named Paul Chase as the president of its lifestyle property management division. JLL says the move aligns its “comprehensive expertise and resources” to provide value to the rapidly expanding mixed-use sector.

Prior to Chase’s new role, he was a managing director for JLL’s retail property management’s national agency leasing team for more than two and a half years. He first joined JLL in March 2018 after spending nearly two and a half years as the general manager of Simon Property Group.

"We are pleased to announce Paul's appointment to lead our newly focused U.S. lifestyle property management business," said Mark Zettl, president of property management at JLL. "Paul is a proven innovator and industry visionary who brings forward-thinking leadership to our organization. We are certain that his ability to anticipate market trends and drive transformational change will reshape our U.S. retail property management operations, positioning us ahead of the curve as the industry evolves."

[READ MORE: JLL to take over management at 10 open-air Sunbelt centers]

Previously, Chase spent more than two decades in various positions at General Growth Properties.

“The future of property management lies in understanding that real estate is fundamentally about human connection and community building,” said Chase. “My focus is leading our team to anticipate what tenants and consumers will need next – not just managing what exists today. We’re creating a new standard where every touchpoint delivers meaningful experiences that keep people coming back. This means thinking like hospitality professionals, acting like community curators, and operating with the precision our institutional clients expect.”

Sweetgreen is debuting a new type of format that prioritizes convenience.

The health-focused fast-casual chain will open its first-ever "Infinite Kitchen Sweetlane" location in Costa Mesa, Calif. on Tuesday, Nov. 18. Sweetgreen says the new restaurant marks an evolution in the chain’s “reimagining of fast food” by blending in-store hospitality with the efficiency of its automated Infinite Kitchen technology and the added convenience of a drive-up lane for digital customers.

First introduced as a pilot concept in 2022, the “Sweetlane” was designed to offer a seamless pickup experience for digital orders.  Customers can place orders in advance through the Sweetgreen app or website and pick the orders up directly through the drive-thru.

The restaurant will also feature dine-in seating and in-store pickup for guests who prefer to order inside. The 2,295-sq.-ft. restaurant features seating for 32 guests.

“We launched Sweetlane to meet our digital customers where they are: busy, mobile, and looking for better access to real food,” said Chris Tarrant, chief development officer at Sweetgreen. “As we expand the format across new markets, Costa Mesa represents an exciting next step in our journey to make healthy eating more convenient and accessible, without compromising on quality or experience.”

[READ MORE: Sweetgreen makes Arizona debut]

Founded in 2007, Sweetgreen now operates more than 260 locations across the United States. The chain serves salads and bowls that prioritize organic, regenerative and locally-sourced produce.