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		<title>Major ice cream brand seeks Chapter 11 bankruptcy after lawsuit</title>
		<link>https://respectinvestment.com/economy/major-ice-cream-brand-seeks-chapter-11-bankruptcy-after-lawsuit/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:54:30 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://respectinvestment.com/economy/major-ice-cream-brand-seeks-chapter-11-bankruptcy-after-lawsuit/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Enjoying a serving of frozen dessert on a hot summer day, or any time, for that matter, has grown in popularity, as ice cream store industry growth rose by 5.8% to $7.4 billion in the five years through 2025, according to IBISWorld. The industry grew by 0.9% in 2025 alone. Ice cream company competition has led [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Enjoying a serving of frozen dessert on a hot summer day, or any time, for that matter, has grown in popularity, as ice cream store industry growth rose by 5.8% to $7.4 billion in the five years through 2025, according to <a href="https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/industry/ice-cream-shops/4317/">IBISWorld</a>. The industry grew by 0.9% in 2025 alone.</p>
<p>Ice cream company competition has led to court battles in some cases, with one company filing for bankruptcy protection as it faces a lawsuit. </p>
<p>Popular ice cream manufacturer <a href="https://ch11.ai/filing-detail/26_25006_rebel_creamery_llc">Rebel Creamery LLC</a>, which sells its Rebel Ice Cream at major retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Kroger supermarkets, filed for <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/dictionary/b/chapter-11-bankruptcy" rel="nofollow">Chapter 11 bankruptcy</a> protection to restructure its debts after losing a trademark infringement lawsuit judgment.</p>
<h2>Rebel Creamery files for bankruptcy</h2>
<p>The Midway, Utah-based debtor filed its petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Utah on Aug. 14, listing $10 million to $50 million in assets and liabilities, according to court documents.</p>
<p>All litigation against <a href="https://rebelcreamery.com/">Rebel Creamery</a> is subject to an automatic stay while the debtor&#8217;s bankruptcy case proceeds in court.</p>
<p>The debtor filed its petition after Judge Eric Komitee of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on July 16 awarded plaintiff ice cream company <a href="https://vanleeuwenicecream.com/">Van Leeuwen</a> $23.8 million in disgorged profits from Rebel Creamery for violating its trademark rights based on the defendant&#8217;s use of similar product packaging.</p>
<figure><figcaption>Rebel Creamery files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after losing a trademark infringement lawsuit.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/1423182756">Liliya Krueger &amp;sol; Getty Images</a></p>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Rebel Creamery trademark rights violation ruling</h2>
<p>In his order, Komitee ruled that Rebel Creamery intentionally copied Van Leeuwen&#8217;s branding and ordered the defendant to redesign its ice cream packaging, which consists of cardboard monochromatic pints with matching monochromatic lids, use of a pastel color palette, black script typeface lettering with an exaggerated capital letter, and an overall minimalistic design aesthetic, according to <a href="https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/new-york/nyedce/1:2021cv02356/463399/125">court documents on Justia</a>.</p>
<p>The court found that there was evidence of actual confusion in the marketplace between Van Leeuwen and Rebel, according to the order.</p>
<p>&#8220;The evidence at trial left no doubt that Rebel infringed and diluted Van Leeuwen&#8217;s trade dress and did so intentionally,&#8221; Komitee wrote in his order. &#8220;As a result, Rebel will be enjoined from selling the infringing products and required to redesign its packaging to avoid any further infringement.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Rebel will also be required to disgorge its profits from selling infringing pints,&#8221; Komitee wrote.</p>
<h2>Judge awards plaintiff $23.8 million</h2>
<p>&#8220;Van Leeuwen is entitled to $23.785 million of Rebel&#8217;s profits from selling infringing ice cream pints,&#8221; according to the order. &#8220;The Clerk of the Court is respectfully directed to enter judgment for plaintiff and to close the case.&#8221; </p>
<p>Van Leeuwen was founded in 2008 and redesigned its packaging in 2014 and again to its current design in August 2016, according to Komitee&#8217;s order. Van Leeuwen&#8217;s annual growth rate more than doubled from 35.8% between 2014 and 2016 to 91.6% between 2017 and 2018.</p>
<p>Rebel Creamery was founded in September 2017, more than a year after Van Leeuwen&#8217;s latest redesign of its packaging. Rebel&#8217;s packaging began appearing in grocery stores in August 2018 and was discovered by a Van Leeuwen employee in late 2018 or early 2019, according to court papers.</p>
<p>Rebel Creamery sells low carb, high fat, no sugar added keto ice cream in 20 flavors at grocery stores.</p>
<h2>Van Leeuwen filed lawsuit in 2021</h2>
<p>Van Leeuwen filed its lawsuit against Rebel Creamery in April 2021, seeking injunctive relief requiring Rebel to repackage its products and account for and pay for the profits from its infringement, to which Komitee ruled in favor of Van Leeuwen.</p>
<p>Rebel Creamery filed a notice of appeal of Komitte&#8217;s order with the U.S. Court of Appeals on Aug. 12, according to <a href="https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/40019156/Van_Leeuwen_Ice_Cream_LLC_v_Rebel_Creamery_LLC">PacerMonitor</a>.</p>
<p>A spokesperson for Rebel Creamery was not immediately available for comment.</p>
<p align="center"><strong><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/casino-operator-imperial-pacific-liquidated-as-chapter-11-bankruptcy-ends">Related: Casino operator liquidated as Chapter 11 bankruptcy ends</a></strong></p>
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		<title>Innovative men&#8217;s and women&#8217;s jeans brand files Chapter 11</title>
		<link>https://respectinvestment.com/economy/innovative-mens-and-womens-jeans-brand-files-chapter-11/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:54:29 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://respectinvestment.com/economy/innovative-mens-and-womens-jeans-brand-files-chapter-11/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Sustainability might make for good marketing, but it doesn&#8217;t guarantee financial success. Surveys and spending data alike indicate that many consumers do value sustainability—and, in some categories, are willing to pay a premium. However, that willingness is highly variable, depending on the product, price point, and the type of benefit offered. Many executives, especially in [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Sustainability might make for good marketing, but it doesn&#8217;t guarantee financial success.</p>
<p>Surveys and spending data alike indicate that many consumers do value sustainability—and, in some categories, are willing to pay a premium. However, that willingness is highly variable, depending on the product, price point, and the type of benefit offered. Many executives, especially in the consumer-packaged-goods (CPG) sector, find that sustainable products still struggle to capture meaningful <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/dictionary/m/market-share" rel="nofollow">market share</a>,&#8221; according to an <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/sustainability/our-insights/sustainability-blog/why-sustainability-alone-doesnt-scale">April report from McKinsey</a>.</p>
<p>Consumers may say they want sustainable products, but their actions show that comes with serious caveats. The gap between what consumers say about sustainability and what they actually buy is typically described as an &#8220;intent versus action&#8221; gap.</p>
<p>Anna Granskog, who leads the European Green Business Building work as part of McKinsey Sustainability, thinks that framing oversimplifies the problem. </p>
<p>&#8220;As I see it, sustainability on its own is rarely a strong enough driver of purchase behavior to overcome entrenched habits, price sensitivity, and performance expectations. In other words, sustainability is competing against a broader set of decision criteria, and most of the time it’s losing,&#8221; she wrote.</p>
<p>Now, MUD Jeans, a brand built around sustainability, has filed for <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/dictionary/b/chapter-11-bankruptcy" rel="nofollow">Chapter 11 bankruptcy</a> protection.</p>
<h2>MUD Jeans makes sustainable jeans</h2>
<p>A noble mission alone does not pay the bills, which is something the jeans company has learned. The brand explained its mission on its <a href="https://mudjeans.com/pages/sustainability-mud-jeans?_su_rec=stQL5_pr2WVzIDwEsNUYoA1XRoyzFeA5eUkAdM1tZhmpR-jSw1ubLghC-N0TrQwqpbhbDeixa57wob24jB8ri5gsXTxF6ZfotrrjG06QotSYv1rsawFOrOUXtCsxGtvHfn2yMZMMJu7PKlt5YXALbmD0N0btwP4b2Af_mj5jCUY1jfMXRVZp9sqgYmzEGUDUv8wthj_AvTJPVAOP6fxec3qHRR4y8bnSB13qOEktFsDEuqhGPINsKt7ciHohmO1TFA&amp;_su_rec_id=e0ca9cd0-444b-45a2-bb89-246be1fc8319-1786897116">website</a>.</p>
<p>&#8220;MUD Jeans exists to eliminate textile waste by keeping denim in circulation indefinitely through repair, resell and fibre-to-fibre recycling. By making circularity the foundation of our business model rather than an afterthought, we aim to demonstrate that fashion can be both commercially viable and genuinely restorative,&#8221; the company shared. </p>
<p>As a consumer who has <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/author/daniel-kline">covered retail for over 30 years</a>, those words just scream &#8220;expensive&#8221; to me. Prices on the company&#8217;s website back that up.</p>
<p>The cheapest <a href="https://mudjeans.com/collections/men-buy-jeans">men&#8217;s jeans</a> cost $82.13 as part of a half-off sale, while the priciest pairs come in at $234.78, with many pairs priced between $164.33 and $176.07. For women, the low-end sale prices start at $76.22, while the highest-priced pairs cost $176.07.</p>
<p>Living in Florida, I actually haven&#8217;t bought jeans in years, but a visit to the <a href="https://www.kohls.com/catalog/mens-jeans-bottoms-clothing.jsp?CN=Gender:Mens+Product:Jeans+Category:Bottoms+Department:Clothing&amp;icid=sl-nav-men-clothing-bottoms-jeans">Kohl&#8217;s website</a> shows a variety of Levi&#8217;s options from $44 to the mid-$50s (although there are some pricier pairs). </p>
<p><strong>More Bankruptcy:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/west-marine-closing-91-stores-chapter-11-bankruptcy"><strong>Outdoors retailer closing 91 stores in Chapter 11 bankruptcy</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/travel/magellan-aerospace-middletown-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy"><strong>97-year-old aerospace manufacturer files Chapter 11 bankruptcy</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/restaurants/subway-sandwich-franchisee-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy"><strong>60-year-old dining chain franchisee files Chapter 11 bankruptcy</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p>Consumers, data shows, are generally not driven to pay more simply because an item is made sustainably, according to <a href="https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/working-papers/sustainability-strategic-differentiation-unregulated-consumer-goods">a study</a> of sustainable health and beauty care products conducted by Yewon Kim, an assistant professor of marketing at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and Kristina Brecko, an assistant professor of marketing at the University of Rochester.</p>
<p>“It turns out that package size, ingredients, and brand name are much bigger drivers of purchases than sustainability,” Brecko said. </p>
<figure><figcaption>
<p>Shutterstock</p>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>MUD Jeans files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy</h2>
<p>MUD Jeans founder Dion Vijgeboom shared the news in a <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dionvijgeboom_today-is-one-of-the-hardest-days-in-the-history-activity-7490657205340483584-_jnt/">LinkedIn post</a>. </p>
<p>&#8220;With great sadness, we have to share that MUD Jeans has been declared bankrupt, following the bankruptcy filing we submitted ourselves,&#8221; he shared.</p>
<p>&#8220;This is not the ending we fought for. Over the past months, our team worked tirelessly to build a sustainable future for this company. We believed there was a way forward. But despite all our efforts, the financial burden of historic debt ultimately proved too great to overcome,&#8221; he added.</p>
<p>The MUD Jeans website remains up, but is no longer taking orders. </p>
<p>In addition, the company does not know what will happen to its existing orders.</p>
<p>&#8220;We understand this raises questions, including about orders, ReLoved and our repair and take-back service. We’ll inform you as soon as we know more. Updates will be shared through our channels and at <a href="https://mudjeans.com/?fbclid=IwcGRvZgVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFQWjJCdENJVDV0SXg4RXFCc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHoh_uEkn2IP2s4J4MpOIg_zYQcBaxaSReowf594xyYfqQifoCK2d8_XKo0EA_aem_df-0-5ffPC8wPDFsP6_yJw">mudjeans.com</a>,&#8221; it shared on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MudJeansNL/?_sp=bb8707e8-cc6b-4144-98d7-b0d304c5aa23.1786898444755">Facebook</a>.</p>
<h2>Building sustainable retail brands proves challenging</h2>
<p>Creating a successful business that’s also giving back or improving the planet has been notoriously difficult. TOMS, the shoe brand that famously gave away one pair of shoes for every pair it sold, ended up being <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/restaurants/innovative-food-brand-enters-chapter-7-bankruptcy-liquidation">taken over by its creditors in 2020</a> after the company could not pay back a $300 million loan.</p>
<p>TOMS still exists, so that’s a victory, but doing good as a marketing strategy (even one the company’s founders believe in) goes only so far. </p>
<p>That’s been made clear over the past few years as companies like Beyond Meat — a brand marketed around the good plant-based meat will do for the planet — have struggled to survive.</p>
<p>In a similar situation, offering healthy vegetarian food might be good for people and the planet, but low sales led vegetarian <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/restaurants/">fast-food restaurant</a> chain Clover Food Lab to file for <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/dictionary/b/chapter-11-bankruptcy">Chapter 11 bankruptcy</a> on Nov. 3. That chain closed all its locations before a buyer stepped in and <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/restaurants/another-vegetarian-">reopened some</a>. </p>
<p>Another food-based company, KDC, which operates the Do Good Foods brand, however, has moved from Chapter 11 bankruptcy to a Chapter 7 liquidation.</p>
<p>Sustainability in fashion costs more money, according to Vogue.</p>
<p>&#8220;Sustainable manufacturing leads to higher prices, but brands have been reluctant to absorb the cost or pass it on to customers,&#8221; according to the <a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/can-sustainable-fashion-solve-its-pricing-problem">magazine</a>. </p>
<p>Vijgeboom still believes in the model and hopes the company gets a &#8220;second chapter.&#8221; He does not mention the pricing problem in his post.</p>
<p>&#8220;MUD Jeans became far more than a denim brand. We proved that circular fashion could be modern and desirable. We never believed people should have to choose between looking good and doing good. That&#8217;s why we refused to compromise on quality, fit or sustainability. Every pair of jeans we made reflected that belief,&#8221; he wrote.</p>
<p align="center"><strong><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/casino-operator-imperial-pacific-liquidated-as-chapter-11-bankruptcy-ends">Related: Casino operator liquidated as Chapter 11 bankruptcy ends</a></strong></p>
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		<title>Casino operator liquidated as Chapter 11 bankruptcy ends</title>
		<link>https://respectinvestment.com/economy/casino-operator-liquidated-as-chapter-11-bankruptcy-ends/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:54:29 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://respectinvestment.com/economy/casino-operator-liquidated-as-chapter-11-bankruptcy-ends/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Gambling keeps growing in the United States, but that does not tell the full story as to why some casinos still fail. The U.S. commercial gaming industry reached a record high in 2025, generating $78.72 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR), a 9.2% increase over the previous year, according to the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker. Despite those increases, a number of [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Gambling keeps growing in the United States, but that does not tell the full story as to why some casinos still fail.</p>
<p>The U.S. commercial gaming industry reached a record high in 2025, generating <strong>$78.72 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR)</strong>, a <strong>9.2% increase</strong> over the previous year, according to the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) <a href="https://www.americangaming.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CY-2025_CGRT.pdf">Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker</a>.</p>
<p>Despite those increases, a number of casino operators have closed locations or even filed for <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/gambling-company-papaya-gaming-files-bankruptcy-after-719-million-verdict">Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection</a>. That&#8217;s at least partly because increased competition has made the operating environment more challenging.</p>
<p>In the early 1980s, for example, my parents took free charter flights to Atlantic City from Boston, where they got a comped room, maybe a buffet voucher, and a little freeplay. Then, in 1986, Foxwoods opened in Connecticut, and you could gamble without a plane flight.</p>
<p>Now, the Boston area has multiple casinos, so it makes less sense to bother with going to Atlantic City. </p>
<p>As gamblers, we now have choices. I can drive down the road toward Miami and be in one of a handful of casinos in under an hour. That means the casino operators don&#8217;t have the same built-in clientele they did when only Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and Reno had legal gambling.</p>
<p>Competition isn&#8217;t necessarily what brought down casino operator Imperial Pacific International (IPI), but its bankruptcy illustrates the risks when a property can&#8217;t attract enough customers to support its costs.</p>
<h2>Imperial Pacific International nears end of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy</h2>
<p>Imperial Pacific International operated one of the farthest-flung U.S. casinos. The company ran the now-closed <a href="https://igamingbusiness.com/casino/integrated-resorts/will-ipi-finally-unload-saipan-casino/">Imperial Pacific Palace</a>, a casino resort in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Saipan is the largest island in the CNMI, an unincorporated U.S. territory.</p>
<p>&#8220;IPI, which never completed full construction of its Saipan casino resort Imperial Palace, filed for <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/dictionary/b/chapter-11-bankruptcy" rel="nofollow">Chapter 11 bankruptcy</a> protection in April 2024 owing $141.6 million to multiple creditors, including the Commonwealth Casino Commission (CCC), CNMI Treasury, main contractor MCC International, plus former employees and multiple contractors and suppliers,&#8221; according to <a href="https://asgam.com/2026/07/28/ipis-six-year-saipan-saga-on-verge-of-final-act-as-creditor-group-calls-for-structured-dismissal-of-chapter-11-bankruptcy/">Inside Asian Gaming</a>.</p>
<p>That case has finally been resolved after a federal judge approved a structured dismissal of the Chapter 11 case, clearing the way for distributions to creditors.</p>
<p>&#8220;U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert J. Faris granted the joint motion filed by IPI and the Official Committee of General Unsecured Creditors, authorizing the debtor to distribute remaining estate funds and dismiss the case once all payments are completed. The order also rejects IPI’s casino license, terminates the retention of all professionals, and preserves all prior rulings — including the casino sale order — for purposes of finality,&#8221; according to <a href="https://www.islapublic.org/news/2026-08-16/ipi-chapter-11-case-closed">Isla Public Media KPRG</a>.</p>
<p>The ruling came with a number of conditions:</p>
<ul>
<li>Under the dismissal procedures, IPI must first pay outstanding quarterly U.S. trustee fees and administrative expenses, followed by the Internal Revenue Service, and then general unsecured creditors. </li>
<li>The judge also approved a clause shielding the debtor, the committee, and their professionals from lawsuits over actions taken during the Chapter 11 process, excluding willful misconduct, gross negligence, fraud, or criminal acts.</li>
</ul>
<p>&#8220;With the dismissal granted, the case now moves into its final administrative phase, marking the end of one of the largest insolvencies in CNMI history,&#8221; KPRG added.</p>
<figure><figcaption>Gamblers have more casinos to play in. </p>
<p>Shutterstock</p>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>More casinos does not mean more revenue</h2>
<p>While IPI was not operating in a traditional market for a casino, its success required attracting people to its property. That&#8217;s becoming harder as more casinos have been built around the country.</p>
<p>&#8220;A Study of the Systematic Risks of New Jersey’s Casinos,&#8221; a paper from <a href="https://scholarship.libraries.rutgers.edu/esploro/outputs/report/A-study-of-the-systematic-risks/991031550010104646">Rutgers University</a> by Will Irving, Michael L. Lahr, and Chen Zhang, showed the impact of adding casinos in Atlantic City as well as in surrounding markets.</p>
<p>&#8220;The addition of new casinos in Atlantic City will <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/dictionary/y/yield" rel="nofollow">yield</a> diminishing returns to gross gaming revenues within the city, particularly as new competitors come online in neighboring states. Gross gaming revenue of new casinos in Atlantic City would come largely at the expense of existing venues,&#8221; the authors wrote. </p>
<p><strong>More Bankruptcy:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/west-marine-closing-91-stores-chapter-11-bankruptcy"><strong>Outdoors retailer closing 91 stores in Chapter 11 bankruptcy</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/travel/magellan-aerospace-middletown-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy"><strong>97-year-old aerospace manufacturer files Chapter 11 bankruptcy</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/restaurants/subway-sandwich-franchisee-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy"><strong>60-year-old dining chain franchisee files Chapter 11 bankruptcy</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p>Revenue also fell dramatically in other markets when new players opened casinos.</p>
<p>&#8220;Indiana casinos have also been impacted in recent years by new casinos opening in<br />the Cincinnati area&#8230;Since these openings, the three nearby casinos in southeast Indiana have seen their AGR levels drop from a combined $557 million in FY 2013 to their FY 2019 combined level of only $314 million — a decline of $243 million or nearly -44%,&#8221; according to a report issued by the State of Illinois.</p>
<h2>IPI is not the only casino operator in Chapter 11 </h2>
<p>Maverick Gaming, under its corporate name, RunItOneTime LLC, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on July 14, 2025, according to court documents found on <a href="https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/59001915/RunItOneTime_LLC_and_Official_Committee_Of_Unsecured_Creditors">PacerMonitor</a>.</p>
<p>“The decision to initiate this court-supervised process follows a strategic review of Maverick’s capital structure and operations,” Maverick shared in a <a href="https://www.maverickgaming.com/initiates-voluntary-chapter-11/">press release</a>.</p>
<p>Maverick’s filing came after a <a href="https://www.covers.com/industry/casino-operator-maverick-gaming-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy-july-2025">report from S&amp;P Global Ratings</a> that cast serious doubt on its finances.</p>
<p>“The ratings agency stated that the company’s capital structure was ‘unsustainable’ because high fixed charges, including interest, rent, capital expenditures, and lease costs, outpaced forecasted earnings.”</p>
<p>That was followed by an even stronger action by S&amp;P.</p>
<p>In June 2025, S&amp;P Global Ratings withdrew all ratings on Maverick Gaming, including its ‘CCC’ issuer credit rating, citing a lack of sufficient information to maintain coverage. At the time of withdrawal, the agency maintained a negative outlook on the company.</p>
<p>The action was later summarized by <a href="https://sccgmanagement.com/sccg-news/2025/07/15/maverick-gaming-files-for-bankruptcy-after-its-credit-rating-was-revoked/">SCCG Management,</a> a gaming industry advisory firm.</p>
<p>The filing followed an agreement between Maverick and its creditors.</p>
<p>Maverick, a majority of its secured lenders, and its majority shareholder entered into a transaction support agreement on June 25, “pursuant to which certain secured lenders will provide new money financing, and the company intends to pursue a restructuring or sale process under the supervision of the Bankruptcy Court,” the company shared.</p>
<p>Since the Chapter 11 filing and that agreement, the company closed its Silver Dollar Casino in Seattle.</p>
<p align="center"><strong><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/53-year-old-lawn-and-garden-giant-bfg-supply-faces-chapter-11-liquidation">Related: 53-year-old lawn and garden giant faces Chapter 11, liquidation</a></strong></p>
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		<title>53-year-old lawn and garden giant faces Chapter 11, liquidation</title>
		<link>https://respectinvestment.com/economy/53-year-old-lawn-and-garden-giant-faces-chapter-11-liquidation/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 11:55:25 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://respectinvestment.com/economy/53-year-old-lawn-and-garden-giant-faces-chapter-11-liquidation/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Americans spend a lot of money to keep their lawns looking good, but new data reveal some headwinds facing the lawn and garden industry. &#8220;For the first time since 2019, the U.S. gardening audience contracted — and yet total spending hit an all-time high,&#8221; according to Garden Research&#8217;s 2026 National Gardening Report. Some key data [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Americans spend a lot of money to keep their lawns looking good, but new data reveal some headwinds facing the lawn and garden industry.</p>
<p>&#8220;For the first time since 2019, the U.S. gardening audience contracted — and yet total spending hit an all-time high,&#8221; according to Garden Research&#8217;s <a href="https://gardenresearch.com/">2026 National Gardening Report</a>.</p>
<p>Some key data points from the study showed:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Total market spending in 2025: </strong>$79.0B (All-time high, +13.5% YoY)</li>
<li><strong>Spending per household:</strong> $740 (Record, +18.3% YoY)</li>
<li><strong>Households left gardening:</strong> -4.5 million</li>
</ul>
<p>&#8220;Per-participant spending surged across nearly every major category in 2025. Several categories hit all-time highs, including lawn care, which grew by 26%,&#8221; according to the data.</p>
<p>Despite these generally positive numbers, one of the leading wholesale brands in the lawn and gardening space, BFG Supply, is preparing to file for <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/dictionary/b/chapter-11-bankruptcy" rel="nofollow">Chapter 11 bankruptcy</a> filing and a possible liquidation.</p>
<h2>BFG Supply considers a Chapter 11 bankruptcy</h2>
<p>While BFG Supply may not be a household name, since it sells to businesses, not consumers, it&#8217;s one of the leading players in the lawn and garden space.</p>
<p>&#8220;Our robust national distribution network, including 15 warehouses along with our own fleet, supports customers in all 50 states and regions of Canada. Our extensive partnerships with over 1,000 leading manufacturers allow us to offer 100,000+ SKUs to meet every customer’s needs,&#8221; the 53-year-old company shared on its <a href="https://www.bfgsupply.com/about-bfg/">website</a>. </p>
<p>The brand, however, is facing an uncertain future.</p>
<p>BFG Supply is preparing to file for Chapter 11 in the coming weeks, according to sources in <a href="https://octus.com/resources/articles/update-1-bfg-supply-prepares-chapter-11-filing/">a report from Octus.com</a>, which delivers credit news and updates. </p>
<p>&#8220;The company is expected to conduct a sales process in court with proceeds used to pay creditors, including lender Ares Management,&#8221; the sources said.</p>
<p>The restructuring comes as the company faces mounting financial pressure.</p>
<p>“BFG Supply is working with Goodwin as legal advisor on a restructuring, including a potential liquidation, according to sources,” the Octus report states. “The aforementioned liquidation may be implemented on an out-of-court basis or through a bankruptcy filing,&#8221; the sources said. </p>
<p>The situation has not been settled, according to <a href="https://www.greenhousegrower.com/management/bfg-supply-preps-for-chapter-11-cancels-fall-marketplace-expos/">GreenHouse Grower</a>.</p>
<p>&#8220;Plans are not final and could change, the sources cautioned. The company is said to be laying off employees and declining new orders amid severe financial difficulties,&#8221; sources said.</p>
<figure><figcaption>BFG has canceled its annual trade shows.</p>
<p>Shutterstock</p>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>BFG has canceled all events</h2>
<p>BFG normally runs multiple annual trade shows, but has canceled all scheduled events, according to <a href="https://gpnmag.com/news/bfg-cancels-2026-expos/">Greenhouse Product News</a>.</p>
<p>An email obtained by the trade organization acknowledges the closures as well as the company&#8217;s financial struggles.</p>
<p>“As BFG continues working towards resolutions to our current challenges in conjunction with our Restructuring partners at Reflect Advisors, we have reached the difficult decision to cancel our 2026 Marketplace Expo East and West. If you were planning on attending either event, we recommend cancelling your travel plans as soon as possible,&#8221; the email said.</p>
<p>The company&#8217;s Events page on its website shows <a href="https://www.bfgsupply.com/bfg-events/">no upcoming events</a>. </p>
<p>In addition, people who have already paid for the events have not been refunded.</p>
<p><strong>More Bankruptcy:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/west-marine-closing-91-stores-chapter-11-bankruptcy"><strong>Outdoors retailer closing 91 stores in Chapter 11 bankruptcy</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/travel/magellan-aerospace-middletown-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy"><strong>97-year-old aerospace manufacturer files Chapter 11 bankruptcy</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/restaurants/subway-sandwich-franchisee-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy"><strong>60-year-old dining chain franchisee files Chapter 11 bankruptcy</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p>“There are currently no details on if or when any refunds will be issued for payments made to BFG for Expos. The Reflect Advisors team is working through details and will advise when possible. More details will follow as they become available,” the email said.</p>
<p>In a Chapter 11 filing, people who paid for event tickets would be behind secured creditors, such as the company&#8217;s lenders, in line for any payments from an asset sale or liquidation.</p>
<h2>BFG does not sell direct to consumers</h2>
<p>As a wholesaler, BFG sells to retailers serving the lawn and garden industry. That makes its business dependent upon demand from those customers. </p>
<p>While BFG has not commented on what&#8217;s causing its financial woes, and did not immediately answer a request for comment from TheStreet, two of the biggest players in the lawn and garden space, Home Depot and Lowe&#8217;s, saw mixed traffic in the second quarter, according to <a href="https://www.placer.ai/anchor/articles/steady-hands-home-improvement-traffic-holds-in-q2-2026">data from Placer.AI</a>.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Home Depot:</strong> Year-over-year foot traffic fell 0.3% in Q2, and average visits per location were down 0.6%. </li>
<li><strong>Lowe&#8217;s: </strong>Year-over-year foot traffic was up 0.4% in Q2, while average visits per location fell 0.4%.</li>
</ul>
<p>&#8220;Lowe’s saw a similar trajectory in traffic growth as The Home Depot, with March showing a significant slowdown. While May and June also saw a decline, the report notes that an &#8216;accumulation of deferred maintenance, or an easing in prices&#8217; could lead to growth later this year,&#8221; according to Placer.<a href="https://www.thestreet.com/tag/artificial-intelligence" rel="nofollow">AI</a>.</p>
<p>Those aren&#8217;t dire numbers, and both Home Depot and Lowe&#8217;s sell much more than lawn and gardening supplies, so the data provide only a limited indication of broader consumer demand.</p>
<p><a href="https://retailtechmedianexus.com/">RTM Nexus</a> CEO Dominick Miserandino explained to TheStreet how BFG Supply is having financial problems, despite the overall lawn and garden industry being generally healthy.</p>
<p>&#8220;Look, people see gardening spending up and wonder how a company like BFG Supply ends up heading toward Chapter 11. But this isn&#8217;t about whether people are buying plants— it&#8217;s about where they&#8217;re buying them and how BFG got caught in the middle,&#8221; he wrote.</p>
<p>&#8220;Right now, everyday consumers are being cost-conscious and driving straight to big-box stores like Home Depot and Walmart for their lawn and garden stuff. Those big boxes have massive leverage, so they squeeze the commercial growers on price. When those growers get squeezed, they squeeze BFG,&#8221; he added.</p>
<p align="center"><strong><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/restaurants/tiffani-faison-closes-restaurants-shares-troubling-reason-why">Related: Food Network chef shuts down restaurants, for a troubling reason</a></strong></p>
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		<title>Major ice cream brand files Chapter 11 bankruptcy after lawsuit</title>
		<link>https://respectinvestment.com/economy/major-ice-cream-brand-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy-after-lawsuit/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 11:55:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://respectinvestment.com/economy/major-ice-cream-brand-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy-after-lawsuit/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Enjoying a serving of frozen dessert on a hot summer day, or at any time for that matter, has grown in popularity as ice cream store industry growth rose by 5.8% to $7.4 billion in the five years through 2025, according to IBISWorld. The industry grew by 0.9% in 2025 alone. Ice cream company competition has [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Enjoying a serving of frozen dessert on a hot summer day, or at any time for that matter, has grown in popularity as ice cream store industry growth rose by 5.8% to $7.4 billion in the five years through 2025, according to <a href="https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/industry/ice-cream-shops/4317/">IBISWorld</a>. The industry grew by 0.9% in 2025 alone.</p>
<p>Ice cream company competition has led to court battles in some cases, with one company filing for bankruptcy protection as it faces a lawsuit. </p>
<p>Popular ice cream manufacturer <a href="https://ch11.ai/filing-detail/26_25006_rebel_creamery_llc">Rebel Creamery LLC</a>, which sells its Rebel Ice Cream at major retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Kroger supermarkets, filed for <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/dictionary/b/chapter-11-bankruptcy" rel="nofollow">Chapter 11 bankruptcy</a> protection to restructure its debts after losing a trademark infringement lawsuit judgment.</p>
<figure><figcaption>Rebel Creamery files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after losing a trademark infringement lawsuit.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/1485085339">TorriPhoto &amp;sol; Getty Images</a></p>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Rebel Creamery files for bankruptcy</h2>
<p>The Midway, Utah-based debtor filed its petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Utah on Aug. 14, listing $10 million to $50 million in assets and liabilities, according to court documents.</p>
<p>All litigation against <a href="https://rebelcreamery.com/">Rebel Creamery</a> is subject to an automatic stay while the debtor&#8217;s bankruptcy case proceeds in court.</p>
<p>The debtor filed its petition after Judge Eric Komitee of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on July 16 awarded plaintiff ice cream company <a href="https://vanleeuwenicecream.com/">Van Leeuwen</a> $23.8 million in disgorged profits from Rebel Creamery for violating its trademark rights based on the defendant&#8217;s use of similar product packaging.</p>
<h2>Trademark rights violation ruling</h2>
<p>In his order, Komitee ruled that that Rebel Creamery intentionally copied Van Leeuwen&#8217;s branding and ordered the defendant to redesign its ice cream packaging, which consists of cardboard monochromatic pints with matching monochromatic lids, use of a pastel color palette, black script typeface lettering with an exaggerated capital letter, and an overall minimalistic design aesthetic, according to <a href="https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/new-york/nyedce/1:2021cv02356/463399/125">court documents on Justia</a>.</p>
<p>The court found that there was evidence of actual confusion in the marketplace between Van Leeuwen and Rebel, according to the order.</p>
<p>&#8220;The evidence at trial left no doubt that Rebel infringed and diluted Van Leeuwen&#8217;s trade dress and did so intentionally,&#8221; Komitee wrote in his order. &#8220;As a result, Rebel will be enjoined from selling the infringing products and required to redesign its packaging to avoid any further infringement.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Rebel will also be required to disgorge its profits from selling infringing pints,&#8221; Komitee wrote.</p>
<h2>Judge awards plaintiff $23.8 million</h2>
<p>&#8220;Van Leeuwen is entitled to $23.785 million of Rebel&#8217;s profits from selling infringing ice cream pints,&#8221; according to the order. &#8220;The Clerk of the Court is respectfully directed to enter judgment for plaintiff and to close the case.&#8221; </p>
<p>Van Leeuwen was founded in 2008 and redesigned its packaging in 2014 and again to its current design in August 2016, according to Komitee&#8217;s order. Van Leeuwen&#8217;s annual growth rate more than doubled from 35.8% between 2014 and 2016 to 91.6% between 2017 and 2018.</p>
<p>Rebel Creamery was founded in September 2017, over a year after Van Leeuwen&#8217;s latest redesign of its packaging. Rebel&#8217;s packaging began appearing in grocery stores in August 2018 and was discovered by a Van Leeuwen employee in late 2018 or early 2019, according to court papers.</p>
<h2>Van Leeuwen filed lawsuit in 2021</h2>
<p>Van Leeuwen filed its lawsuit against Rebel Creamery in April 2021, seeking injunctive relief requiring Rebel to repackage its products and account for and pay for the profits from its infringement, to which Komitee ruled in favor of Van Leeuwen.</p>
<p>Rebel Creamery filed a notice of appeal of Komitte&#8217;s order with the U.S. Court of Appeals on Aug. 12, according to <a href="https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/40019156/Van_Leeuwen_Ice_Cream_LLC_v_Rebel_Creamery_LLC">PacerMonitor</a>.</p>
<p>A spokesperson for Rebel Creamery was not immediately available for comment.</p>
<p align="center"><strong><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/53-year-old-lawn-and-garden-giant-bfg-supply-faces-chapter-11-liquidation">Related: 53-year-old lawn and garden giant faces Chapter 11, liquidation</a></strong></p>
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		<title>205-year-old beauty retailer closes 31 stores, warns of more</title>
		<link>https://respectinvestment.com/economy/205-year-old-beauty-retailer-closes-31-stores-warns-of-more/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 11:55:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://respectinvestment.com/economy/205-year-old-beauty-retailer-closes-31-stores-warns-of-more/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A major beauty retailer is pulling back on its physical expansion after years of growing its store network. Weaker sales and fierce price competition are forcing the company to reconsider how many locations it needs. The shift comes as online shopping continues to reshape the beauty retail market and consumers remain highly sensitive to prices. [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A major beauty retailer is pulling back on its physical expansion after years of growing its store network. Weaker sales and fierce price competition are forcing the company to reconsider how many locations it needs.</p>
<p>The shift comes as online shopping continues to reshape the beauty retail market and consumers remain highly sensitive to prices. The retailer has already closed dozens of stores this fiscal year, and management says it will continue scrutinizing locations based on profitability and customer traffic.</p>
<p>Founded in 1821, Douglas Group is a German-based international beauty retailer that operates about 1,970 stores across Europe, as well as several e-commerce platforms, spanning multiple brands, including Douglas, Nocibé, Parfumdreams, and Niche Beauty.</p>
<h2>Douglas closes 31 stores</h2>
<p>Douglas Group <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/glossier-after-closing-nearly-all-locations-gets-funding">closed</a> 31 stores in the first nine months of fiscal 2026, significantly more than the 12 locations it shuttered during the same period a year earlier.</p>
<p>The company has been moderating the pace of its store expansion while shifting more <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/122-year-old-beauty-giant-sued-by-investors-over-fraud-claims-coty">investment</a> toward e-commerce and technology. It is also evaluating its existing store network based on profitability and customer traffic.</p>
<p>Douglas has not announced a specific number of additional stores that will close. However, CEO Sander van der Laan said the company will continue reviewing locations as it adjusts its <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/ulta-pacsun-partnership-after-target-split">physical footprint</a> to changing customer behavior.</p>
<p>&#8220;We are making adjustments to align our business even more closely with the development at both customer and market level, with an increased focus on e-com and a stricter assessment of the profitability of our store network, and that will lead to a number of conclusions and decisions,&#8221; said van der Laan during the company&#8217;s latest <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/DOU.F/earnings/DOU.F-Q3-2026-earnings_call-556960.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABYlmNtCoX1IWSLxWyZ_sX9IXPHEFdsGBT3gqRK8bh3N8TgVdetq7-42FUFMz0ppan-Lwj6QyITlkV2i_IDhgfQAcoyRT2Ge3nkfRAt3BBq_HtGwyaGB-8aOrd_LstiiyHLFfS3CwpdBXdNAuIi9wkwYuHduVJV7018mM5ggOgFD">earnings call</a>.</p>
<p>The company said it will continue opening stores selectively, particularly in Eastern Europe, while modernizing locations in Western Europe. But it expects the balance between physical stores and <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/this-latin-american-e-commerce-giant-is-beating-amazon-mercadolibre">e-commerce</a> to shift further as customers increasingly shop online.</p>
<h2>Why Douglas is closing locations</h2>
<p>Douglas&#8217; store strategy comes after a period of significant expansion as the <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/kering-exits-beauty-business-ends-gucci-partnership-coty">beauty retailer</a> faces a more challenging environment in some of its largest markets.</p>
<p>Germany, France, and the Netherlands account for about 60% of Douglas&#8217; business, but the company said consumer demand for premium <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/why-fashion-retailers-are-banking-on-beauty-to-boost-growth">beauty</a> was lower year over year in Germany and the Netherlands and flat in France during the latest quarter. Meanwhile, Central Eastern Europe continued to perform more strongly.</p>
<p>Price competition is also weighing on the business. Douglas said consumers remain highly price-sensitive, particularly in its mature markets, while <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/sephora-makes-a-surprising-move-with-a-major-beauty-rival-olive-young">competition</a> has become increasingly aggressive.</p>
<p>&#8220;The competition for share of wallet is fierce,&#8221; said van der Laan in the company&#8217;s third quarter of fiscal 2026 <a href="https://douglas.group/en/investors#modal">earnings report</a>.</p>
<p>In response, Douglas is reviewing its pricing strategy and shifting investment toward its digital offering and broader omnichannel <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/lord-and-taylor-revives-heritage-collection">shopping experience</a>.</p>
<p>The company also expects e-commerce to play a larger role in its business. E-commerce sales accounted for 32.7% of total group sales during the nine months of fiscal 2025/26, compared with 33.1% a year earlier, while <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/ahold-delhaize-usa-cuts-expansion-plans-store-closures">e-commerce</a> sales increased 2.3%.</p>
<p>That shift does not mean Douglas is abandoning <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/claires-piercing-experience-overhaul">physical stores</a>. Instead, the company is becoming more selective about where it invests.</p>
<p>Douglas said it will continue opening locations in markets with stronger growth potential while refurbishing existing <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/capri-holdings-closes-41-stores-michael-kors-jimmy-choo">stores</a> where the investment makes sense. In Western Europe, however, it expects to further adjust the balance between physical and digital sales to reflect changing consumer traffic.</p>
<figure><figcaption>Douglas closes 31 stores and eyes more shutdowns amid declines.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/2244207938">Bjoern Wylezich &amp;sol; Getty Images</a></p>
</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Douglas faces declines</h2>
<p>The <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/munich-closing-15-stores-retail-restructuring">store closures</a> come as Douglas&#8217; latest financial results show pressure across much of the business.</p>
<p>During the <a href="https://douglas.group/en/investors#modal">third quarter of fiscal 2026</a>, Douglas reported:</p>
<ul>
<li>Group sales declined 2% year over year to €987.8 million</li>
<li>Like-for-like group sales fell 4.5% </li>
<li>Like-for-like store sales decreased 6.5%</li>
<li>Like-for-like e-commerce sales dropped 1%</li>
<li>Adjusted EBITDA was down 19.4%</li>
</ul>
<p>The weakness was concentrated in several of Douglas&#8217; largest markets. Sales in the company&#8217;s DACHNL segment, which includes Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, declined 2.8% during the quarter, while France fell 2.1%. Central Eastern Europe, by comparison, posted 4.4% growth.</p>
<p>The results reflect a broader challenge for Douglas, where online shopping is becoming increasingly important, but simply moving sales online has not eliminated <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/prada-group-versace-store-closures-2026-2027">competitive pressure</a>. E-commerce sales decreased slightly during the quarter, although the company said digital sales excluding Parfumdreams and Niche Beauty increased 0.6%. </p>
<p>At the same time, some parts of Douglas&#8217; omnichannel strategy are performing well. Cross-channel services such as Click &amp; Collect Express grew 18.2% during the quarter, while the company&#8217;s exclusive brands posted double-digit sales growth.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s some of <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/author/fernanda-tronco">my previous coverage</a> on beauty retail closures:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/11-year-old-cosmetics-brand-puts-business-up-for-sale-amid-slump-pat-mcgrath-labs">11-year-old cosmetics brand puts business up for sale amid slump</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/12-year-old-beauty-brand-closing-nearly-all-stores-glossier">12-year-old beauty brand closing nearly all stores</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/two-beloved-beauty-brands-shut-down-in-2026-cover-fx-mally-beauty">Two beloved beauty brands shut down in 2026</a></strong></li>
</ul>
<p>Douglas is therefore attempting to reshape its business rather than simply shrink it.</p>
<p>The company said it will focus on e-commerce, exclusive products and omnichannel services while keeping a close eye on the profitability of its <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/gormans-home-furnishings-store-closures">physical locations</a>.</p>
<p>For now, Douglas has confirmed its full-year fiscal 2025/26 guidance, but the latest results show why its store network is under greater scrutiny. With store <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/calida-group-sells-cosabella-lingerie">sales falling</a> faster than e-commerce and consumer demand remaining uneven across Europe, the retailer is positioning itself for a business increasingly built around digital shopping and a more selective physical footprint.</p>
<p align="center"><strong><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/retail/hm-79-year-old-fast-fashion-retailer-closes-128-stores">Related: 79-year-old fast-fashion retailer closes 128 stores</a></strong></p>
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