The Carlyle Group has acquired a majority stake in Beautycounter, in a deal that values the clean beauty brand at $1 billion. Beautycounter has three branded stores and a direct-to-consumer sales effort, and it derives a significant portion of its sales through a network of about 65,000 independent sellers.

Kroger is adopting a straightforward strategy as it looks toward growing its share of the grocery market, adding new focus to its fresh food offerings and bolstering its digital footprint across all of its operational areas, CEO Rodney McMullen said. "[O]ur strategy of leading with fresh and accelerating with digital is designed to convert our industry's near-term tailwinds into long-term competitive advantages," he said.

By the end of 2023, Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen says, the grocer will have doubled its digital sales and made its online operations more profitable. McMullen, speaking at a virtual investor event, said Kroger also will focus on growing its fresh food categories, expanding its Kroger Precision Marketing advertising business and emphasizing efficiency through its partnership with Ocado.

A significant investment in e-commerce infrastructure three years ago, along with its ongoing partnership with tech giant Ocado, have given Kroger the agility to adapt to pandemic-fueled demand and shifts in shopping behavior, Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen said. In this Q&A, McMullen discusses learning tough lessons from the outbreak and looks ahead to a grocery landscape that includes new ways to engage with in-person and digital customers.

Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen said Tuesday Amazon's acquisition of Whole Foods is a "good fit" for the online retailer's focus on physical assets. Meanwhile, Kroger's focus remains on customer care, and the retailer is confident in its long-term strategy over the next three to five years, McMullen said.