EP 11 | Del Monte in the Can, Consumer Spending’s Tapped & The IP Is Out of Ideas

This week on The Octus Download, Jason and Kevin start with the bankruptcy of the week Del Monte (01:06) a 138-year-old brand now reduced to DIP fights Honorable Judge Michael B. Kaplan, and a TikTok-fueled wave of canned-fruit nostalgia. They unpack the LME-to-Chapter 11 pipeline and how the case became a referendum on DIP fees, minority lender fights, and the illusion of urgency in modern restructurings. Then Octus Head of Credit Research Mark Fischer joins to break down the latest consumer spending data (15:00) why people are buying one Labubo and nothing else, why couches and pet care are quietly collapsing, and how Amazon Prime Day became a showcase for dish soap over big-ticket goods. It’s a trade-down economy built on vibes and necessity and it’s showing up everywhere from cruise bookings to non-accrual rates in private credit. The episode closes with a look at Jurassic Park’s latest IP bloat (35:58), the emptiness of modern blockbusters, and why legacy franchises are just as tired as the consumers they’re trying to entertain.

Hosted by Jason Sanjana & Kevin Eckhardt

Guest: Mark Fischer (Head of Credit Research, Octus)

Produced and Edited by  Tanya Hubbard

A Production of The Octus Podcast Network