Fresh (company)
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cosmetics |
| Founded | 1 January 1991[1] |
| Founders | Lev Glazman Alina Roytberg[2] |
| Headquarters | New York City, New York, US |
Number of locations | 164 stores (2024)[3] |
| Products | Skin care |
Number of employees | 251-500 |
| Parent | LVMH |
| Website | www |
Fresh Beauty (stylized as fresh) is an American cosmetics retailer which is headquartered in New York City, New York, United States of America. It was founded in 1991 by Alina Roytberg and Lev Glazman. Fresh has 2,771 locations, 225 products, 48 "Fresh" stores.[4]
History
In 1991, the first "fresh" was opened at a small apothecary store in Boston. Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg, Russian immigrants residing in Boston, recognized the demand for beauty products that were not only effective but also luxurious and natural. Envisioning a store that would offer these natural products sourced globally, with a warm and inviting atmosphere reminiscent of European food bazaars, they laid the foundation for what would become "fresh." Faced with the challenge of not finding products that matched their standards in terms of appearance, scent, and efficacy, Lev and Alina decided to create their own. Serving as the pioneering proprietors, they established a skincare brand. Initially featuring a modest selection of personal care items, fresh has since evolved into a comprehensive lifestyle range encompassing skincare, lip care, body care, and fragrance.
In 1998, inspired by their grandmothers' use of sugar as a gentle healing remedy, Alina and Lev launched the groundbreaking Sugar Collection, the first of its kind in the beauty world.[2]
In 2000, Fresh became the first company to utilize sake in skincare with their Sake Bath range. Also, the company introduced Umbrian Clay, now a bestselling ingredient, was originally discovered to help a friend with blemishes.[2]
In 1999, LVMH bought a majority stake in Fresh for an undisclosed sum, which allowed the company to “go to the next level with ingredients” and expand internationally.[2] The acquisition also allowed the brand to move into Sephora (also owned by LVMH) and other outlets.
Lawsuits
In 2013, Angela Ebner filed a lawsuit against Fresh.[5] The suit alleges that Fresh engaged in false advertising with the packaging of their Sugar Lip Treatment product being deceptive and misleading. She claimed that the "vastly oversized tubes and boxes" created the impression that each unit contained more lip balm than it actually did. The district court granted Fresh Inc.'s motion to dismiss the case, finding that Ebner's claims failed to state a plausible claim for relief under the FAL or UCL. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's decision. Ebner's lawsuit was dismissed.
On 14 December 2018, Kharisma McNeil filed a lawsuit against her employer, Fresh Inc. and several individuals alleging she faced discrimination and retaliation throughout her employment. McNeil claimed she was passed over for promotions and salary increases granted to non-Black and non-disabled employees and experienced various discriminatory incidents. The defendants, including LVMH and Fresh, sought to compel arbitration based on an arbitration clause in McNeil's employment agreement. The court granted their motion, effectively staying the lawsuit and requiring McNeil to pursue her claims through arbitration.[6]
References
- ^ "Crunchbase". Crunchbase. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d Sams, Lauren (24 February 2021). "Original 'self-care' skincare company's 30-year journey to success". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ "Fresh Stores". fresh.
- ^ "Fresh LVMH". LVMH.
- ^ Ebner v. Fresh Inc., 838 F.3d 958, 968 (9th Cir. 2016).
- ^ McNeil v. LVMH Inc., No. 18 Civ. 11751 (PAE) (S.D. New York 2019).
External links
