Thematic Reads: Week of December 16, 2019
Each week Team Tematica consumes a voracious amount of content as we look to stay on top of the latest data and mine it for tailwind and headwind signals for our 10 investment themes.
Aging of the Population
The global demographic shift towards a more senior population
- Majority of savers in the world’s fastest-growing economies set to miss their retirement goals by 50% (CNBC)
- How can Israel create an economy fit for an aging population? (The Jerusalem Post)
- Vermont’s aging population spells trouble for tax coffers (VT Digger)
- The Aging Population Has Specific Needs; Servicing Those Needs Can Be Profitable (PaymentsJournal)
Cleaner Living
Growing demand for items that claim to be better for you and the planet:
- These new Coke and Bud packages ditch plastic six-pack rings for cardboard carriers (Fast Company)
- Fake Meat vs. Real Meat (The New York Times)
- Taco Bell has developed a meat substitute that looks and tastes like ground beef (Nation’s Restaurant News)
- China Opens Wider Path for Cruelty-Free Beauty (WWD)
- Cadillac has big changes ahead for its lineup and manufacturing (Detroit Free Press)
Digital Infrastructure
The Buildout and upgrading of our Networks, Data Storage Facilities, and Equipment
- Where the 5G Data Storm Will Hit First (Wired)
- The FCC Approves $89.2 Million For Rural Broadband in 21 States (Cord Cutters News)
- Who ate one-third of the $38bn data center pie in Q3? (The Register)
Disruptive Innovators
Business models designed to transform an entire industry and leap-frog over incumbents.
- JBL’s new solar-powered headphones promise ‘virtually unlimited’ battery life (The Verge)
- Nokia testing an automated rail operation using 5G connectivity (Electronics360)
- Walmart streamlines grocery delivery – by removing the driver (Chain Store Age)
- Lyft Debuts Car Rentals Starting At $35 Per Day (PYMNTS)
Digital Lifestyle
The increasingly digital landscape that now underpins the entire consumer experience.
- Grubhub, Uber Eats and DoorDash made online food delivery a $10 billion business. Restaurants aren’t happy about it (CNBC)
- More Video Streaming Services Could Come to Tesla’s In-Car Entertainment (Digital Trends)
- NJ Launches First Mobile App For Lottery Tickets (PYMNTS)
- Condé Nast Launches Vogue Business in China on WeChat (Jing Daily)
The products and services people will consume no matter the economic environment.
- Dunkin’ Is Bringing Back Its Thin Mint And Coconut Caramel Cookie Coffee Flavors (Delish)
- Congress poised to raise the minimum age to buy tobacco to 21 as spending bill passes House (CNBC)
- NJ Launches First Mobile App For Lottery Tickets (PYMNTS)
Those things that bridge the gap between want and ability at every socioeconomic level.
- Japan eyes high-end hotels to counter possible post-Olympics slump (South China Morning Post)
- Condé Nast Launches Vogue Business in China on WeChat (Jing Daily)
Consumers trading down when and where possible or looking to stretch the disposable dollars they do have.
- Majority of savers in the world’s fastest-growing economies set to miss their retirement goals by 50% (CNBC)
- Many Renters Who Face Eviction Owe Less Than $600 (The New York Times)
Areas around the world where rising disposable incomes are driving demand for a host of products and services.
- Premiumisation of products and the rising middle-class (BusinessDay)
- Growing middle class dining out more (Business Mirror)
- In 2100, Five of the Ten Biggest Countries in the World Will Be in Africa (Statista)
Reflecting the evolving needs across individual, cyber, corporate and homeland security.
- Hackers Could Use Smart Displays to Spy on Meetings (Wired)
- Thycotic’s Cyber Security Predictions and Trends for 2020 (Security Boulevard)
- Visa warns that hackers are scraping card details from gas pumps (Engadget)
- Fingerprint unlocking isn’t just for your phone (cnet)
- Study: Online fraud grows sophisticated (Chain Store Age)
What Else We Are Loving
Other reads, experiences, products, services and the like that we enjoyed so much this past week we just had to share
