Astrid Hermann

How PepsiCo’s Acquisition of Siete Foods Signals More M&A Activity 🌮🥤 PepsiCo’s recent acquisition of Siete Foods for $1.2 billion highlights a growing trend in the food and beverage industry—larger companies expanding their portfolios through strategic acquisitions of niche, culturally-driven brands. This move by PepsiCo brings an authentic Mexican-American brand into its lineup while expanding its focus on better-for-you products, a rapidly growing segment as consumers continue to seek healthier, innovative food options. This deal highlights several key points that signal further M&A activity, particularly in the public and private markets: Cultural & Health-Conscious Brands are in Demand: As consumer preferences shift, larger companies are looking for opportunities to diversify their product offerings by acquiring smaller, health-conscious brands with strong cultural resonance. We’ll likely see more acquisitions targeting brands that align with wellness trends and multicultural consumer bases. Growth through Acquisition vs. Organic Expansion: Companies are increasingly opting for acquisitions over organic growth to stay competitive. Buying an established brand like Siete allows PepsiCo to tap into new consumer segments and rapidly expand its presence in the health-food space without starting from scratch. Premium Valuations for Niche Brands: The $1.2 billion price tag reflects the premium that larger corporations are willing to pay for established brands with loyal customer bases. Expect to see higher valuations for private companies that have carved out niche markets with strong growth potential. Fueling the M&A Pipeline: This acquisition is likely just the beginning of a wave of deals across the industry. With large corporates holding significant cash reserves and favorable market conditions, we can expect heightened M&A activity in both the public and private sectors as companies look to accelerate growth and innovation through acquisitions. For example, LVMH also recently made a major move by investing in French Bloom, a $100 non-alcoholic “champagne,” signaling a shift in the beverage industry towards alcohol-free alternatives. Read more about PepsiCo's recent acquisition: https://prn.to/3XYrskz If your company is evaluating its strategic growth opportunities, including potential acquisitions or positioning for acquisition, now is the time to explore the landscape. #MergersAndAcquisitions #CFOInsights #BusinessStrategy #GrowthThroughAcquisition #FractionalCFO

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Beverage brands—learn what top acquirers like Coca Cola are buying through their corporate transcripts   Coca Cola executive management openly share 3 key themes in how they're thinking about the brand portfolio at the CAGNY consumer conference in February '24:   1. There's still ammo to acquire 💲   --- Coca Cola plans to increase investments into its brand portfolio in 2024 up to $2.2 billion.   --- The company still sits well below its net debt leverage target of 2.5x (1.7x in 2023) => access and appetite to acquire more brands.   --- It's clear from their concurrent divesture of bottling plants that they want to double down on the asset-lite approach with brands. 2. Focus on buying fewer, more scalable brands 📈   --- The company is turning away from buying smaller brands to only fit 1 or 2 markets.   --- Management is making sure "inorganic plays have got a higher probability for a scalable impact" so that its cost base is more efficient. 3. Keep betting on sparkling beverages 🥤   --- The CEO, James Quincy, continues to stay excited about sparkling beverages and has bets across all the subcategories like caffeinated, zero sugar, and all forms of flavors.   --- He sees strong growth continuing without much in the way to stop it. Comment about a beverage category you're particularly excited about!

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Here’s the full scoop!

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CEO Global Group Wellable's findings underscore the critical link between employee engagement and organizational success. When employees are highly engaged, they are 87% less likely to leave their employer, highlighting the strong retention benefits. This engagement fosters loyalty and reduces turnover costs, contributing to a more stable and experienced workforce. Moreover, companies with the highest employee engagement rates see a 21% increase in profitability. Engaged employees are more productive, motivated, and committed to their work, leading to higher efficiency, better customer service, and ultimately, improved financial performance. In essence, fostering a culture of engagement not only boosts employee satisfaction but also drives substantial business growth. #CAROHITUPADHYAYA

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Circana’s Mid-Year 2024 Food & Beverage Market Outlook is here, and it confirms our earlier predictions—2024 is seeing modest growth, with a strong 2025 on the horizon! Check out the full scoop below.

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Are we becoming more informed or overwhelmed by so much data? Embracing the idea that quality over quantity matters, it's crucial to frame data in a way to make decisions, Instead of aiming for absolute certainty, what if we strive to be less wrong over time? Food for thought on navigating uncertainty in leadership. #DecisionMaking #DataDriven #StrategicThinking

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“Swicy” sweet and spicy. Consumers are no longer intrigued the way they once were by strictly sweet or over the top heat. Their pallets have grown up, and they want complexity. Consumers now seek balanced profiles with depth and interesting flavors. #flavors #swicy #sweetandspicy #sweetheat #productdevelopment #innovation #stem

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This time of the year is always particularly special for Pampers, as we’ve recently launched our global campaign to support premature babies and their families. This initiative started over 20 years ago when our Pampers researchers, in collaboration with more than 800 neonatal nurses and pediatricians, developed our smallest diapers, tailored to meet the unique needs of those little ones born before they’re strong enough to leave the hospital. It’s incredible to see how tiny these diapers are, and I truly admire the resilience of these little fighters. Every year, I am so proud to see the impact of our actions across Europe and beyond. We partner closely with NGOs and healthcare professionals to make sure we provide the right support to the families navigating the journey of prematurity. Through product donations, awareness initiatives and collaboration with hospitals and experts, our teams in Europe are making a meaningful difference with incredible passion and dedication. This year, they’ve gone above and beyond, launching impactful initiatives such as a powerful solidarity chain in France, an emotional partnership with a mom of a preemie in the UK or a donation marathon in Germany. These efforts show how relevant and important this initiative remains still today to support the 13 million babies who are born premature each year worldwide. Our commitment to preemie babies extends year-round, but I wanted to take a moment to shine a special light on this initiative that is so close to my heart. This is what makes Pampers so much more than a diaper. Most importantly, this is really how together, we keep making EVERY baby’s world better 🩵 #WorldPrematurityDay #PampersforPreemies #Prematurity 

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As the #CPG and #FMCG sectors evolve, leaders must navigate shifting consumer behaviors, increased competition, and a push for sustainability. IQ addresses the top five disruptive forces shaping the next five years, featuring insights from Frank Iannella, SVP & CIO, Digital and Technology at The HEINEKEN Company USA. Key highlights include:  - Shifting consumer expectations and how to stay ahead - Navigating market dynamics in the face of inflation and interest rate shifts - The role of innovation and sustainability in securing long-term growth Read the full article to uncover actionable insights that will help you lead through disruption and position your organization for success: https://lnkd.in/eMtjdwzG

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I was first introduced the concept of focusing on your strengths many years ago from the book "Now Discover Your Strengths" referenced in the article. I was drawn to the concept that excellences comes from focusing on strengths not correcting weaknesses. This HBR continues that discussion and at the end suggests that we "do the most radical thing you can: Work to identify and develop your innate strengths, and then use them with intention." #excellencecomesfromstrengths #innatestrengths #stopfocusingonweaknesses #leadership #leadershipdevelopment

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Sourabh Joshi 🥊 Mike Tyson: A Champion Beyond the Ring 🥊 Mike Tyson’s journey isn’t just about boxing—it’s a masterclass in resilience, transformation, and relentless pursuit of greatness. 🌟 Here’s what we can learn from the life of “Iron Mike”: 1️⃣ Your Past Doesn’t Define You: Tyson rose above a challenging youth to become the youngest heavyweight champion, proving that your future is shaped by your determination, not your history. 2️⃣ Discipline Fuels Talent: Tyson’s unmatched work ethic reminds us that raw talent alone isn’t enough—it’s consistency and effort that lead to greatness. 3️⃣ Mind Over Matter: Mental toughness was Tyson’s secret weapon. A strong mindset is key to overcoming life’s toughest battles. 4️⃣ Adapt and Evolve: Tyson embraced change, reinventing himself both in and out of the ring, showing that evolution is the essence of longevity. 5️⃣ Inspire Beyond Yourself: Legends don’t stop at personal success—they uplift others. Tyson’s ventures and philanthropy are a testament to creating a lasting impact. True greatness isn’t about never falling—it’s about rising every single time. 🏆💪 Let Tyson’s story remind us to fight harder, dream bigger, and leave a legacy worth remembering. #MikeTyson #Resilience #MentalToughness #PursuitOfGreatness #WorkEthic #Inspiration #LegacyBuilding #CAROHITUPADHYAYA

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🚀 Brand Solutions Insights from Frank Carpenito, President of Gemline 🚀 Meet Frank C., President of Gemline, and a seasoned leader with experience at P&G, PepsiCo, and United Natural Foods. Frank shares his insights on the critical role of branded solutions. 🌐 Key Conversations in Branded Solutions: "In today's environment, our discussions focus on logistics, inventory management, sustainable sourcing, and risk management. Branded solutions have moved from 'behind the scenes' to 'front and center' in executive conversations." 📈 Branded Solutions' Role in Marketing: "The [brand solution partner] is vital for our growth. It ensures that we meet timelines, budgets, and customer expectations, especially with the rise of digital marketing where speed and agility are crucial." 🔍 Ensuring Brand Integrity: "We build checks and gates to validate suppliers, products, and quality. Quick remediation of disruptions and formal reviews with stakeholders maintain long-term integrity and stability." Frank's insights highlight the evolving importance of branded solutions in driving business success. 🌟 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gVJWu4Ga #BrandSolutions #Marketing #B2B #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #Gemline #DigitalMarketing #Efficiency #QualityControl #SustainableSourcing #RiskManagement

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At the @Steward Leadership Summit 2024 last month, I joined Pamela Chng, and Sunil Puri In a fireside chat moderated by Suling Lin as we discussed the practices in the area of ethical leadership in the FMCG industry. It is little known that Amway is a pioneer in sustainable farming. As farmers, entrepreneurs and creators of one of the world’s first biodegradable multipurpose household cleaner, we have developed rigorous sustainability processes in our production, manufacturing and supply chain over the last 65 years, that contributed in part to Amway’s Nutrilite becoming the world’s #1 selling vitamins and dietary supplements brand. Our 3 core practices governing and enforcing sustainability standards at Amway are: 1. At Amway, we believe consumers deserve to understand where products come from, how they are made, and how the company treats people and planet along the way. We call this Traceability. On November 2, we launched a new platform called the Amway Tracing Tool found at NutriliteTraceability.com to provide transparency into Nutrilite and Artistry products and a level of traceability access that is exceptional in the supplement and skincare industries, certainly among our direct competitors. The tracing tool is validated by Respect Code – a global transparency solutions company that is also used by WWF. 2. Amway prioritizes vertical integration with our own organically-certified farms and Amway-owned manufacturing. However, we have a worldwide supply chain that helps meets our production demands efficiently. Amway Supplier Qualification Program ensures every raw material and component used in Amway products, even for packaging, meets our standards for manufacturing excellence, safety testing, effective nutrient levels, cleanliness, storage and handling. 3. We work alongside our farm ingredient partners to help further mature their practices through Amway’s NutriCert™ certification program. This program is for partner farms that supply plant ingredients we can’t grow on our own farms. Farms must pass a third-party audit verifying that they meet our requirements for sustainable farming and traceability practices before they can become a partner farm. As we continue our sustainability journey, we actively look for ways to refine and prioritize sustainability standards for Amway, and the partners we work with, and we aim to pioneer and lead the way in ethical business.

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VUCA, Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity Decision-Making Doesn’t Always Improve with More Data -Don’t rely on active listening. Do use the new science of active questioning. -Don’t optimize the plan. Do optimize the planner. -Don’t dissociate from fear and anger. Do use emotion reset https://lnkd.in/dmA8knPE

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The key to climbing the corporate ladder lies in cultivating an innovator's mindset. Employees who question the status quo and propose fresh ideas stand out from the pack. Embrace curiosity, continuous learning, and collaboration to unlock your innovative potential. How can companies foster a culture that encourages and rewards innovative thinking? What are some of the biggest challenges you see your employees face in developing an innovator's mindset within their organizations? Beyond promotions and immediate fiscal incentives, what are the benefits of approaching your work from an innovator's perspective? #Leadership #Innovation #Inspiration #Mindset

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Consumers need for convenience continues to grow and at Pernod Ricard developing consumer centric propositions is at the core of what we do such as bringing two powerhouse brands together to make the product intuitive and credible.

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As is often the case for consumer and retail businesses it is a rollercoaster of positives and challenges. We remain optimistic on consumer spending, certainly on food and certain non-food categories, as we run into Black Friday and Christmas spending. Retailers will need this though to face the cost headwinds coming in April 2025.

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