Brooke DiPalma

    Senior Reporter

    Brooke DiPalma is a Senior Reporter for Yahoo Finance based in New York covering fast food, consumer packaged goods, restaurants and more. DiPalma graduated from Marist College where she studied journalism and political science. DiPalma is also interested in mental health. She is the founder and director of P.S. I Love You Day, Inc., a non-profit organization focused on mental health awareness and suicide prevention.

  • Saying no ‘with great humility and self-respect’: Omsom CEO

    Vanessa Pham was just 24 years old when she started the packaged Asian food start-up Omsom with her sister, Kim. The brand is now available in major retailers, including Whole Foods (AMZN, Target (TGT), and Sprouts (SFM). The young CEO met with Yahoo Finance Senior Reporter Brooke DiPalma to discuss the lessons she’s learned from leading the brand, including how to say no. “I think with great humility and self-respect is how you show up when you say no,” says Pham. Lead This Way is an interview series that features frank conversations with today’s leaders. The series will give consumers and investors an inside look into the innovative thinking and diverse life experiences of some of the biggest players in business to find out how they lead through change, and how they define success for themselves and their organizations. For more of our conversation with Pham, click here. For more of our Lead This Way series, click here, and tune in to Yahoo Finance Live for more expert insight and the latest market action, Monday through Friday. Editor's note: This article was written by Luke Brooks.

  • Three tips for entrepreneurs from a successful startup CEO

    If you have been to a grocery store recently, including Whole Foods (AMZN), Target (TGT), and Sprouts (SFM), you may have seen the packaged Asian food startup brand, Omsom, on the shelves. The company, created by daughters of Vietnamese refugees, launched during the pandemic in May of 2020. The younger daughter, and current CEO of the brand, Vanessa Pham, was only 24 years old when the pair began the business. Yahoo Finance Senior Reporter Brooke DiPalma sat down with Pham for a deeper dive into what it takes to lead a new company at such a young age. The CEO offers three tips for new entrepreneurs. “The first one is to lean into your strengths instead of focusing on your gaps,” says Pham. Lead This Way is an interview series that features frank conversations with today’s leaders. The series gives consumers and investors an inside look into the innovative thinking and diverse life experiences of some of the biggest players in business to find out how they lead through change, and how they define success for themselves and their organizations. For more of our conversation with Pham, click here. For more of our Lead This Way series, click here, and tune in to Yahoo Finance Live for more expert insight and the latest market action, Monday through Friday. Editor's note: This article was written by Luke Brooks.

  • More progress in Macy's buyout battle as Arkhouse negotiates to gain access to its financials

    Macy's is expressing some willingness to see what Arkhouse can offer.

  • Dollar General, other discount retailers stand to gain from Dollar Tree's troubles

    While other discount retailers may pick up some additional sales, it's the shoppers who will lose in the Family Dollar closures.

  • Omsom is taking Asian food mainstream as demand grows for ethnic packaged food

    How two sisters are leaning in and making noise in the burgeoning ethnic food market.

  • How one startup is shaking up the ethnic food aisle

    Vanessa Pham might not be a household name on Wall Street yet, but she has plenty of time to make that happen. The 29-year-old co-founded Asian food startup Omsom with her sister, Kim. The company sells chef-crafted packaged noodles and sauces. So far, Omsom has managed to sell more than 4 million products and is available in more than 2,000 stores, including Whole Foods (AMZN), Target (TGT), and Sprouts (SFM). Pham and her sister, the daughters of Vietnamese refugees, were able to secure investors such as Away Co-founder and CEO Jen Rubio, Zola Co-founder and CEO Shan-Lyn Ma, and food-focused VC firm New Fare Partners Founder Elly Truesdell. At Omsom’s office in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Pham gives Yahoo Finance Senior Reporter Brooke DiPalma a literal taste of how she leads her small team to shake up ethnic aisles and change the way consumers eat and think about Asian cuisine. “Omsom is all about being proud and loud, especially when the stereotype of Asian Americans in America's kind of like submissive, or docile,” Pham says. “Omsom is our true kind of energy and ethos and spirit.” Pham details not only how she and her sister have managed to build the brand at such a young age, but also how they were able to launch during the pandemic and endure the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, which held the business’s capital. Lead This Way is an interview series that features frank conversations with today’s leaders. The series gives consumers and investors an inside look into the innovative thinking and diverse life experiences of some of the biggest players in business to find out how they lead through change, and how they define success for themselves and their organizations. For more on our Lead This Way series, click here, and tune in to Yahoo Finance Live for more expert insight and the latest market action, Monday through Friday. Editor's note: This article was written by Luke Brooks.

  • Dollar Tree's 1,000 store closure tells the perils of poor acquisitions

    Dollar Tree is scaling back its presence after its acquisition of Family Dollar didn't go as planned.

  • Breakfast wars: McDonald's, Wendy's, and other fast food giants are vying for diners' morning dollars

    Wendy's, Taco Bell, Burger King, and McDonald's all hope to become a part of consumers' morning routines.

  • Inflation: Grocery prices are plateauing, while the cost to dine out is rising at a lower rate

    The cost of most grocery items continues to decelerate, though pricing for restaurant meals continues to edge higher.

  • Lessons learned from Silicon Valley Bank's collapse, from Asian food startup Omsom

    Two founders share how they navigated SVB's demise and what they learned about safeguarding their business's funds.

  • SVB collapse on year later: Lessons one startup learned

    The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank left many companies, mostly startups, scrambling for cash. One such company was Asian food startup Omsom. The company told customers at the time that it had all of its capital in an account at SVB. In the premier episode of the second season of Lead This Way, Omsom co-founder Vanessa Pham tells Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma the lessons she learned from the crisis. Click here for the full Lead This Way episode featuring Omsom co-founder Vanessa Pham. Editor's note: This article was written by Stephanie Mikulich.

  • Costco earnings beat big on the back of sales of gold bars and silver

    The wholesale retailer reported higher earnings, revenue, and digital sales.

  • Macy's 'is melting away': Activist investor brings $6.6 billion bid to buyout battle

    Macy's is trying to push forward with a new growth strategy while dealing with a growing buyout battle.

  • Abercrombie & Fitch history: Beyond the Ticker

    The more than 120-year-old retail chain Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) has seen its share of ups and downs over the years. With over 750 international stores and a revenue of roughly $3.7 billion in 2023, the brand known for the iconic moose is moving beyond that – it appears to be on the rise once again. But what are some of the achievements that led to its success? Beyond the Ticker takes a deep dive into the company's history. 1892 Abercrombie Co. was founded by David Abercrombie in June 1892 in New York as an outdoor specialty retailer. 1904 Ezra Fitch then joined as a partner in 1904 – hence the name, Abercrombie & Fitch. 1976-1977 After rising as a go-to store for middle and upper-income audiences, financial difficulties hit the company, forcing it to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 1976, and then shuttered its doors in November 1977. 1978 Oshman's Sporting Goods purchased the brand for $1.5 million. 1988 Limited Brands (BBWI) acquired Abercrombie & Fitch for $47 million and relocated its headquarters to Columbus, Ohio. Limited Brands had previous success with Express (EXPR) and Victoria's Secret (VSCO) and refocused Abercrombie & Fitch back to apparel. 1996 Limited Brands took Abercrombie & Fitch public in September 1996, listing on the New York Stock Exchange for $16 per share – making up 14 percent of the company. 1998 Abercrombie & Fitch spun off from the Limited parent company entirely two years later – growth was in focus after that. 2000 Enter Hollister in July 2000 - the laidback California clothing store. 2007 Abercrombie's first European flagship opened years later in London in March 2007, which is still one of the company's most profitable locations. 2014 Mike Jeffries retired from his role as CEO, and in came a major overhaul for its appearance. 2014-2015 Those greeters at the front – some even shirtless – were no more, and the dimly lit and loud music was replaced with brighter, quieter stores. Phase two – the launch of a new line focused on older customers. Think older Gen Z and millennials – as opposed to its previous key demo of young teens. 2017 In February 2017, Fran Horowitz took over as CEO to drive momentum for the retailer and take it into the future. Shares have been on a tear since – up nearly 1000 percent since she took the helm. The company closed unprofitable locations and instead focused on smaller spaces and its digital presence. 2018 Abercrombie & Fitch surpassed $1 billion in annual digital sales for the first time in its history. 2023 Now, Abercrombie & Fitch aims to come out on top with its five key brands – Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie Kids, Hollister, Gilly Hicks Active, and influencers Dixie & Charli D'Amelio's clothing brand, Social Tourist. You don’t normally associate fashion brand Abercrombie & Fitch with members of the Magnificent 7, but 2023 was a strange year. One that saw Abercrombie shares soar 285 percent, beating not just the S&P 500 (^GSPC), up 24%, but the top 5 performers in the S&P 500, including Nvidia (NVDA), Meta (META), and more. From tech giants to retail titans, Beyond the Ticker is a historical series that takes a deep dive into some of Wall Street's trending companies and how they transformed into the financial icons they are today. Check out more of our Beyond the Ticker series, and be sure to tune in to Yahoo Finance. Editor's note: This video was produced by Zach Faulds.

  • Cava has more white space ahead after its stock sailed past all-time high: CEO

    The growth potential for Cava's Mediterranean cuisine has investors craving more.

  • Bud Light parent Anheuser-Busch InBev turns profit as it reaches tentative agreement with union

    The beleaguered beer giant is looking to move past its troubles as it reaches a new contract with its US brewery workers.

  • Macy's is closing 150 stores — but its CEO isn't giving up on this location

    Macy's aims to rightsize its real estate portfolio, but it doesn't plan to give up its flagship.

  • Macy's earnings beat the Street’s low expectations, retailer plans to close 150 stores by 2026

    Macy's is attempting a turnaround after rejecting a buyout offer earlier this year.

  • Food companies detail 3 big trends in packaged goods right now

    At the Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) conference in Boca Raton, Fla., major food companies highlighted value, innovation, and M&A as potential levers of growth.

  • Here’s what Walmart’s 3-for-1 stock split means for investors

    Walmart is conducting a stock split for the first time in nearly 25 years. Here's what investors should know before they trade shares.