Retail Brew // Morning Brew // Update

June 24, 2026

Hey hey. International tourists to the US for the World Cup have been warned by TSA they can’t pack bottles of ranch dressing in their carry-ons, and Kraft and Hidden Valley Ranch have been getting in on the craze by marketing travel-size options. It’s the biggest sports-related ranch moment since Taylor Swift was spotted eating “seemingly ranch” at a Kansas City Chiefs game in 2023.

In today’s edition:

—Andrew Adam Newman, Alyssa Meyers, Erin Cabrey

STORES

Red, white, and shoe

Thorogood

You’d expect any brand that manufactures products in the US to highlight that fact in their stores, but it’s hard to imagine one doing so more emphatically than Thorogood is.

Thorogood, which has been making work boots since 1892, recently completed a $14.5 million factory in Marshfield, Wisconsin. It reserved a section of the building for its first flagship store and, in a decidedly literal twist on supply chain transparency, the store has four large windows that look directly into the factory.

For Thorogood, which has increased the portion of work boots it makes in the US from about 50% a decade ago to nearly 80% today, the factory-viewing store is meant to highlight the brand’s commitment to domestic production.

Keep reading here.—AAN

Sponsored By Toast

Can’t spell retail without AI

Look, the phrasing is a little corny, but in 2026, AI is undoubtedly ingrained in the retail landscape. The problem for retailers is that they don’t always see the value of it.

That’s why Toast’s (the POS company, not the delicious crunchy bread) latest article outlines five AI trends shaping how retailers operate and engage with customers.

It’s meant to help retailers see how integrated AI tools like Toast IQ can automate tedious tasks. That allows them more time to connect with customers.

The article gets into trends like:

AI in customer-facing retail experiences
how AI drives measurable gains
organizational and integration challenges driving AI adoption
how shoppers discover and evaluate products with AI
how brands can stay competitive when it comes to visibility in AI search

To better understand what these trends mean for marketers, shoppers, and retailers, read the full article.

MARKETING

Run and games

Morning Brew Inc., Photos: @chief_preeth, @justinehuang_, @okkgyun/Instagram

There’s nothing better than an ice cream cone or an ice-cold beer after a long run. But at the finish line, many runners are rewarded with snacks of the healthier variety: granola bars, fruit, and water bottles.

Given the physical demands of distance running, healthy snacks may make sense—but sometimes, runners just want a little treat. And they want the brands to know it.

“Food and running comes hand in hand, but a lot of people think you need to be very specific in what types of things you eat and how much you eat,” Justine Huang, a content creator and marathon runner known for her food-centric videos, told Marketing Brew. “Make it fun. After a run, I always want ice cream.”

Brian Kim, a content creator and marathoner who emphasizes good eats in his posts, has worked with fitness-oriented brands like Brooks, Skechers, and Therabody, but if you ask him about his dream sponsorship, he’ll say it’s a chocolate-chip-cookie brand.

Keep reading here on Marketing Brew.—AM

COMMUNITY

Coworking with Summer Weisberg

Summer Weisberg

On Wednesdays, we ~~wear pink~~ spotlight Retail Brew’s readers. Want to be featured in an upcoming edition? Click here to introduce yourself.

Summer Weisberg is CEO at crowdsourced testing platform Testlio.

How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in retail? I make sure retail actually works. Think about the last time you tried to buy something online and the checkout button didn’t function, your payment wouldn’t go through, or you simply found website navigation confusing. It’s frustrating, right? My company, Testlio, helps brands prevent that. We test their apps and websites for bugs and usability issues so that when you’re ready to buy, the experience is delightful and effortless.

One thing we can’t guess about your job from your LinkedIn profile? That my path to CEO ran through operations, not a traditional executive track. I joined Testlio in 2020 as COO, became interim CEO, and was recently appointed CEO. What LinkedIn can’t capture is how much of leadership is just showing up consistently—building trust, staying close to customers, and being clear about priorities—long before anyone puts a title on it.

What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on? Helping Testlio grow from a scrappy testing provider into a true digital quality partner has been the project I’m most proud of.

Keep reading here.—EC

Sponsored By Bazaarvoice

How’s your GEO strategy? Generative Engine Optimization is new, rapidly evolving territory for brands. To help you adapt, GEO expert Jon Howells gives a breakdown in a recent article. As machine learning manager on the Bazaarvoice engineering team, Howells knows a thing or two about generative AI and product discovery. Start building your strategy.

SWAPPING SKUS

Today’s top retail reads.

Smell of success: Bath & Body Works announced it will sell its products at 600 Ulta Beauty stores starting in July. (WWD)

Freshly brewed: Heineken named Rafael Oliveira, former head of Peet’s Coffee parent JDE Peet’s, as its next CEO. (Reuters)

Ad-ing up: Walmart is acquiring advertising tech company Vibe.co for $1.4 billion as the retailer continues to boost its ad business. (the Wall Street Journal)

The k-beauty wave

Amorepacific

Amorepacific, home to brands like Laneige and COSRX, is introducing its wide beauty portfolio overseas in partnership with Amazon and Sephora. Learn more about the increase in demand for this k-beauty brand.

Check it out

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☕ These boots were made for gawking