Retail & Consumer Goods Industry

Englewood, Colo. – – September 29, 2026 -- Footprints Floors founder and CEO Bryan Park has been named one of the Denver Business Journal's Most Admired CEOs of 2026, marking a milestone for the flooring franchise he built from a single Colorado operation into a national network of more than 150 territories.

Air Force veteran built franchise from 2008 financial crisis into 150-territory network

Park founded Footprints Floors in 2008 during the financial crisis, spotting a gap for greater transparency and reliability in flooring installation. He structured the business around a lower-overhead model in which customers buy materials directly from vendors of their choice while the company manages professional installation, avoiding traditional showroom and inventory costs.

Nashville – September 29, 2026 -- Innocan Pharma Corporation (CSE: INNO) (OTCQB: INNPF) will showcase its VALITIC skincare brand at Shoptalk Fall 2026, a retail industry event running September 29 through October 1 at Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

Shoptalk Fall draws more than 3,500 retail executives to Nashville

The 2026 edition brings together over 3,500 industry leaders, including 1,300-plus retailer and consumer brand executives, under the theme "Retail Unplugged." Sessions center on strategies, technologies and consumer trends shaping the retail sector heading into 2027, spanning verticals from beauty and apparel to electronics and automotive.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – September 29, 2026 -- Uniform Advantage and HYPOTHESIS have donated a combined $25,000 to National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.® (NBF) to fund early detection, education, and patient support services ahead of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Donation targets NBCF patient navigation and mammography programs

The contribution supports NBCF's mission of providing early detection, education, and support services to patients and their families. Susan Masimore, CEO of Uniform Advantage, said the company is proud to partner with NBCF again this year, contributing to ensure patients do not face breast cancer alone.

Miami – September 29, 2026 -- KNOX Hydration has secured a five-year partnership to become the Official Functional Sports Beverage of the Miami HEAT, marking the brand's formal entry into the United States market.

KNOX enters the US market through an NBA franchise platform

The multi-year agreement gives KNOX access to one of the NBA's most recognized franchises as it launches its no-sugar, no-caffeine electrolyte beverage to American consumers. The beverage is formulated with electrolytes, amino acids, vitamins and minerals targeting hydration, replenishment and recovery.

Hartland, Wis. – September 29, 2026 -- Batteries Plus has signed a four-store development agreement with franchise owners Clint and Jolene Coates to expand into Lake County, Florida, with the first location opening in The Villages within the next year.

Franchisees plan four stores across Central Florida within six years

The agreement calls for four Batteries Plus locations to open across The Villages and surrounding communities north of Orlando over the next six years, according to the company. The Coates family is structuring the venture as a multi-generational business, with son Cayden Coates and son-in-law Paul Clement taking on day-to-day retail and commercial management while Clint and Jolene Coates focus on sales and development as additional stores launch.

Irvine, Calif. – – September 29, 2026 -- Performance Brokerage Services has brokered the sale of Genesis of Glenview, Illinois, to Joe Ghaben, adding a fifth franchise point to the Chicago-area Ghaben Auto Group.

Ghaben Auto Group expands Chicago footprint with Genesis acquisition

Ghaben Auto Group, founded in 2004, already operates Volkswagen of Oak Lawn, Volkswagen of Orland Park, and the two-location Ultimo Motors luxury pre-owned brand in Northbrook and Westmont. The Genesis acquisition marks the group's entry into the Genesis franchise network.

Dealership will relocate to a new facility on Patriot Boulevard

Genesis of Glenview will retain its name but move operations to a newly built facility at 2929 Patriot Boulevard in Glenview, Illinois.

Cannes – September 29, 2026 -- KT&G's ultra-slim cigarette brand ESSE surpassed KRW 1 trillion (approximately USD 700 million) in global sales in 2025, the South Korean tobacco maker announced at TFWA World 2026 in Cannes, France, running September 27 to October 1.

KT&G products now reach 179 duty-free stores across roughly 110 airports worldwide

The company entered the duty-free channel in 1995 with the launch of 88 Light in China. Three decades later, its flagship brands -- ESSE, RAISON, and BOHEM -- hold shelf space at 179 duty-free outlets spanning approximately 110 airports, including facilities in South Korea.

Pune, India – September 28, 2026 -- The global glycolic acid market is projected to grow from USD 723.75 billion in 2025 to USD 1,267.06 billion by 2034, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 6.42%, according to a new report from Maximize Market Research.

North America dominates demand as dermatology and pharmaceutical use expand

North America leads the global market, driven by strong uptake of glycolic acid in skincare, cosmetics, dermatology, and pharmaceutical formulations. The U.S. remains the largest consumer market as chemical peels, anti-aging creams, exfoliating serums, and acne treatments built on alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) chemistry gain wider adoption. The U.S. FDA identifies glycolic acid as one of the most common AHAs used in cosmetic products for exfoliation and pH adjustment.

New York – September 28, 2026 -- Rodan + Fields, the skincare brand founded by dermatologists Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields, has committed $350,000 to Girls Inc. to fund scholarships and career-readiness programming for young women pursuing STEM entrepreneurship.

The investment splits into a $100,000 Rodan + Fields Futures Scholarship and a $250,000 contribution to Girls Inc.'s Project Accelerate, a college and career readiness program. The commitment marks the start of a year-long partnership running through 2026, with scholarship announcements and mentorship milestones to follow.

Hanover, Pa. – September 28, 2026 -- L2 Brands, a premium custom-decorated apparel and headwear maker, appointed John Fryer as Chief Executive Officer effective September 28, 2026, tasking him with leading the company's fully integrated commercial, product, supply chain and manufacturing operations.

Fryer arrives from Unrivaled Teamwear's Hanesbrands carve-out

Fryer most recently served as President of Unrivaled Teamwear, a carve-out from Hanesbrands that operates the Champion Teamwear, Gear for Sports and Knights Apparel brands. His background spans activewear, teamwear and collegiate-channel businesses.