Expensive Bottega bags, glamorous holidays on a Caribbean island, private jet trips: Gen Z seems to have it all—well, at least on TikTok, which is filled with young users showing off enviable lifestyles.

But how… do they afford it? Well, we don’t know about the jets and the luxury holidays, but we might have a clue as to where a lot of Gen Zers are acquiring their luxurious-looking handbags and accessories: Amazon, or probably a fast fashion brand. Some items favored by Gen Z influencers are very convincing dupes—products that appear to mimic the make and style of coveted luxury items.

• On TikTok the hashtag #dupe boasts almost 4.5 billion views. There are also independent hashtags for specific brands, like #PradaDupe which has ~17.4 million views.

“TikTok users tend to be really heavy Amazon and Walmart shoppers, and they are much more likely to make purchases through social media,” Claire Tassin, retail and e-commerce analyst at Morning Consult, told Retail Brew, adding that Gen Z on average were “high volume” shoppers. She said 60% of daily TikTok users are likely to make purchases through social media, compared to 36% of the general population.

Per research from Morning Consult Brand Intelligence, Gen Z spent an average of $104.50 per month on apparel, which is higher than any other generation. “They’re…in a life stage where there’s just a lot of pressure to kind of always have the cool next thing, and it’s maybe less about having the most authentic item and more about capturing that kind of aesthetic,” Tassin said.

Keep reading here.—JS

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In this food and beverage news roundup, frozen treats and alt-meats notched wins, and Bud Light faced a tough defeat.

Nipped in the Bud: Bud Light lost its spot as the top-selling beer in the US—a position it held for over two decades—to Modelo Especial. The changing of the guard comes as the Anheuser-Busch InBev brand continues to face a dip in sales after conservative backlash from its partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

Freezing over: CPG giant Unilever announced it will acquire frozen yogurt snack brand Yasso, which was founded in 2009, for an undisclosed amount. Yasso will join Unilever’s Ice Cream Business Group, which features Ben & Jerry’s, Talenti, and Magnum. Unilever said it anticipates the deal will close in the third quarter.

Alt-meat beat: The Department of Agriculture said two brands of chicken made from lab-grown animal cells will be labeled as “cell-cultivated chicken,” answering the long-asked question of what the emerging protein form would be called (alternatives included cell-based or cell-cultured meat). The USDA approved the label for Upside Foods and Eat Just’s Good Meat this month, and will now inspect their facilities before approving the alt-meats’ sale.

Keep reading here.—EC

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

Jill Tapia is CEO of Cornerstone Strategic Branding, a creative agency focused on packaging design that has worked with brands like Nestlé, Red Bull, and Ferrero.

How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in retail? I don’t actually work in retail, I work for retail. I am the CEO of a small New York City-based, woman-owned package design firm that designs food, beverage, candy, drugs, and household item packages.

One thing we can’t guess about your job from your LinkedIn profile? That I can dress super casual to work. Jeans, shorts, sweats—you name it.

What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on? I have many, but my recent favorite is a pro bono project for two young girls that started a business during the pandemic. They sell cheesecake-stuffed ice cream cones, cookies, and other treats.

Which emerging retail trend are you most excited about this year, and why? Seasonal and occasion packaging. More and more manufacturers are seeing that consumers are ready to celebrate everything! We’re starting to see more unique occasions pop up on packaged goods.

Keep reading here.—EC

Today’s top retail reads.

Book club: In an excerpt from Winner Sells All: Amazon, Walmart, and the Battle for Our Wallets, author Jason Del Rey takes a look at how Walmart fell behind Amazon in the e-commerce race in the ’90s. (Fast Company)

On the job: A look at the diminishing retail job market in New York City and its impact on young workers of color. (Gothamist)

Hit the bricks: Brands that once aimed to cut out the middleman and sell products through e-commerce are now changing their tune and returning to wholesale partnerships as customer acquisition costs rise. (the Wall Street Journal)

Charge up the chat: Ready to give your CX a boost? The Zendesk Suite on AWS helps you connect with your customers anywhere, anytime with conversational AI. Get the full scoop in their latest white paper.*

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