Huw Carter

SwiftCloud x The Drink Sector 🍷 🥤 🍻 Increasing customer basket spend and saving valuable time, here's how we're changing the game for B2B drinks companies.

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According to a report by Toluna (2019) 1/3 of people tuck into a "Meal Deal" at least once per week in the UK. I imagine those numbers are likely still the same in 2024, if not higher. The most popular Meal Deal items in Tesco are: Tesco Sausage Bacon & Egg Triple - 554Kcal McCoy's Ridge Cut Flame Grilled Steak Crisps 45g - 236 Kcal Coca-Cola Original Taste 500ml - 210 Kcal This comes in at a whopping 1000Kcal exactly! With the average recommended calorie intake for an adult being 2000, that's a very quick way to achieve that. This is why Meal Prepping is so important. Let's take my Tea last night/ Lunch today for an example. Throwback to my PizzaExpress days. Pollo Pesto Pasta - 597 Kcal (1/5 portion size of Picture below) Garlic Bread - 120 Kcal Water - 0 Kcal A grand total of 717 Kcal from a much more filling and nutritional meal. Active cooking time - 15 minutes, tops! Oven cooking time - 30 Minutes So I saved 300 Calories on my lunch as opposed to those that indulged in Britain's favourite Meal Deal today, and this is one of my higher caloric meals I make. Meal Prepping is also a huge money-saver. The Pollo Pesto below made 5 portions and cost me Approximately £11. That's £2.20 a meal. Let's compare that with Tesco's meal deal - Club card price £3.60 Regular Price £4 That's nearly twice the price for a less-filling, higher-calorie and (IMO) a much less-tasty meal. Make a smarter choice next week for both your wallet and waste line. Fitness Friday - Ep 3 #mealdeal #lunch #mealprep #tesco #pizzaexpress #health #fitness #calories #cocacola

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Which Supermarket will take the lead? 🤔 Sainsbury's 💚 Asda 💙 Marks and Spencer 💚 Waitrose & Partners 💙 Tesco 💚 Morrisons 💙 Lidl GB 💚 Aldi UK 💙 Ocado Retail 💚 Really Good Culture ask this question in their recent Gut-Health report; granted, it is around technological-based health monitoring systems. I'd like to ask who is leading the way on the biggest macro trend in the last decade - spoiler, I am talking about Gut-Health! 🌱 In July 2021 ‘gut health’ surpassed the Google search volumes of 'vegan diet' and 'plant-based diet’. In July 2024 searches for ‘gut health’ even edged ahead of  ‘weight loss diet’.   The rise of gut health in mainstream consciousness isn't just a passing phase; it's a clear sign of how we're evolving in our understanding of what it means to live healthily. My vote? 💁‍♀️ I genuinely hope its a draw...because, the more we talk about Gut-Health and provide solutions that support it, the better! 💥 #guthealth

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Well it’s been a while so I thought I’d send you into the weekend with some insight in to category performance up to the end of June from CGA. LAD’s category has seen marginal value gains completely driven by stout as all other categories perform behind last year. The appeal of stout is growing not just to younger consumers but also 20% of drinkers are now female. Other winners in sub categories are Draught premium lager (World lager and Premium Cider) low and no continues to grow in importance to meet the demands of the health conscious consumer. 71% of Draught beer and cider stockists now have a Draught world lager on the bar. Sprits have been negatively affected by the shifting dayparts of consumer visits to the on premise. Gin has lost the most share (-13.3%) whilst vodka reaffirms position as leader but still in decline at (-2.3%) but virtually double the value of gin at £2143m versus £1239m. Cream liqueurs are seeing a positive growth as is rum and whiskey. Sparkling wine is the only style in growth, white wine performs ahead in of the wider category whilst red wine experiences the sharpest decline. The overall category is (-2.7%) in value share versus last year. With regard to the major grape varietals, it’s Sauvignon Blanc from NZ still capturing consumer interest whilst Pinot Grigio is just up, Merlot and Shiraz are struggling.finally the Softs category is being driven by cola and syrups with mixers struggling due to the declining spirit category, overall the category is up slightly on last year at £4598m in value. LWC Drinks #ontrade#hospitality#pubs#bars#hotels#

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**You must apply & have a ticket to pitch** 🚨SPILL THE BEANS VOL4 🚨 Want to get your products in front of Selfridges, ,Waitrose & Partners Ocado Retail etc? Spill the Beans, UK’s only event for Black/ethnic minority FMCG producers to get their products in front of supermarket buyers Mike Williams helped grow London's largest producer of handmade Jamaican patties supplying 20,000 patties weekly. FLAKE BAKE won Aldi's next big thing 2024, selling 100,000 patties in 10 days. Charmaine Trotman Free from Ocado Retail buyer,  on the free from department. over 10 + years buying experience with clothing, beauty and food. one of a few buying managers within the food industry from a minority background. Claire Roper is a seasoned food marketer with 20+ years in the industry, from ready meals to leading Glorious soup and Quorn. She excels in preparing brands for retail and foodservice. Patrick Wright, CEO LUMINA CONSULTANTS, 35+ years in brand design, packaging, marketing, and retail for food, beverage, and hospitality, Patrick helped build brands for giants like Sainsbury’s and M&S.. Reshma Sheikh, MSDUK,  Managing Director , champions supplier diversity and supports ethnic minority businesses in accessing corporate supply chains. Award-winning business leader recognised among the 'top 100 asian stars in uk tech,’ advocating for diversity and inclusion globally. Nisha Ramisetty , co-founder of Naksha , an award-winning recipe kit brand that helps people cook adventurous and diverse food at home through chef-designed recipes, Whole Foods Market Harrods, Selfridges, Waitrose & Partners, Spinneys Harvey Nichols, John Lewis & Partners, Adrian Boswell, a seasoned retail professional with 20+ years in premium food and hospitality, has driven success at a world-renowned department store. from fishmonger to senior buyer. Manon GALIZZI, MIFST, founder, EPICSI, 10+ years in the industry. Epicsi specialises in F&B product development, flavour expertise, and start-up support. Stefano Cuomo CEO. Macknade is the 6th generation of his family business at macknade. For 13 years, he has been leading this award-winning food & drink brand, taking it from a partnership to a limited company back in 2014. Grab your Early Bird tickets ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ekcQVfPe 🎥 Jeffrey Oyinlola, Toyin Said, Natalie Rogers, 🥘 Dawn Burton & Natasha Orumbie 📌P.S. Pitching applications open {Link in comments} **You must apply & have a ticket to pitch** ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 👋I’m Colin,-the food scene’s Kanya King  a London-based food and drink Content Creator🧙‍ 📚Helping foodie brands promote themselves via storytelling. 🎤 Founder, Spill the Beans- UK’s only event series for Black/ethnic minority food producers 💻Connecting foodie brands with their target audiences via social media 🗣 Wanna chat? 📲Connect with me, and we can talk about your projects😁

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Could you find your future in food & drink? There is a BRAND NEW guide, outlining all the great reasons to think about working in the Scottish food & drink industry. Find out more here >> https://lnkd.in/eBCyNf_d #AFutureInFood #NaturallyScottish #ScottishFoodDrinkSeptember

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Could you find your future in food & drink? There is a BRAND NEW guide, outlining all the great reasons to think about working in the Scottish food & drink industry. Find out more here >> https://lnkd.in/eBCyNf_d #AFutureInFood #NaturallyScottish #ScottishFoodDrinkSeptember

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Could you find your future in food & drink? There is a BRAND NEW guide, outlining all the great reasons to think about working in the Scottish food & drink industry. Find out more here >> https://lnkd.in/eBCyNf_d #AFutureInFood #NaturallyScottish #ScottishFoodDrinkSeptember

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I’ve never seen a MrBeast YouTube video, and I’ve never tried his chocolate. Today I’ve ticked one of these off. Here’s my review of the Mr Beast YouTube channel. Only joking, chocolate wins all day. Thoughts: Each bar is 60g. Today I learnt an average mouse weighs 20g. So a Mr Beast chocolate bar weighs the same as three mice. I have no idea if that helps you determine the size, but basically, it’s pretty small. Each bar costs £2. Punchy. Does Mr Beast, not realise there’s a cost-of-living crisis going on? Surely they can squeeze a few more cow udders and make the bar a bit bigger for £2? 5 ingredients – interesting, now we’re talking. Made using grass fed milk. Explains the £2. I love anything with grass fed milk or butter. Big tick. Summary: It tastes okay. I’ve hard worse, I’ve had better. Actual Summary: Mr Beast YouTube subscribers: 257 million. Monthly income: £3m Tim Johnson YouTube Subscribers: 0. Monthly income. Less than £3m What do I know? 🍫

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SMEs, be ready! 👀 Circana is launching a new insights solution tailored to your ambitions. 📈 Get on the waiting list to be the first to learn about it!

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Six years on from the Government's 25 Year Environment Plan, there has been very little progress from DEFRA on their proposals to improve packaging recyclability and drive up collection for recycling rates. Read my thoughts below on the impact of repeated delays to key packaging and waste reforms, and how the FMCG sector can achieve cut through in this policy space amid the noise of an election.

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What is the future of convenience? Sainsburys recently announced a partnership with Gousto, launching their meal kit (£9 for 2 people) offerings in 60 stores. They have also doubled their offerings under their collaboration with Simply Cook (£7 for 2 people). Both are attempts to capture spend from consumers that are trading down from restaurants. Whilst the kits are designed to appeal to more adventurous consumers with a range of interesting recipes, both options also place greater emphasis on convenience of preparation addressing consumer concerns around Ultra Processed Foods. I recently tried out Gymkhana’s (London based Michelin Star Restaurant) Rogan Josh cooking sauce and as an experiment compared it to Patak’s (Major Retail Brand). Whilst the Gymkhana product clearly won on flavour, priced at £8 a jar (for a cooking sauce), its appeal might be limited to a select few. While convenience remains in demand, consumer perceptions of quality may evolve over time. Nevertheless, relative value for money will always be crucial.

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Unlocking the power of TGI: A classic case study The Target Group Index (TGI) has long been a cornerstone in strategic marketing, providing invaluable insights that drive remarkable results. This classic case study from 2008 highlights the transformative impact TGI can have on brand performance. “We have used it to increase the sale of beer by 29% per annum, to find a new point of retail distribution for a brand that now cannot keep up with demand in the retail outlet, and to isolate the affinity a target group had with a particular medium and therefore increase the brand's sales by a whopping 28%.” – Aubrey Malden, *Things The Brand Gurus Don’t Want You To Know*, 2008, p185 The results speak for themselves. TGI’s data-driven approach not only boosts sales but also helps brands discover new opportunities and effectively target their audience. #MarketResearch #TGI #BrandStrategy #SalesGrowth #MarketingInsights #AskAfrika

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Waitrose & Partners Latest Moves: What You Need to Know 🛒✨ Before it’s too late⏰, I wanted to share some key updates about Waitrose & Partners. They’ve been making some bold moves lately, so I thought I’d bring you up to speed. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about posh food!🍽️ Here are their three key strategic developments: 🟩 New Brand Platform: Waitrose launched "BrandsNew at Waitrose," investing £2 million to bring innovative products to their shelves. Led by Oliver Chadwyck-Healey’s team, this initiative will feature unique FMCG brands. 🟩 Expansion: Waitrose is opening 100 new convenience stores, making quick shops more convenient! 🟩 Cheaper Premium Products: Waitrose is investing £10 million to lower the price of 250 products. I’m personally excited about the innovative products being added to their shelves and seeing more people try these premium offerings. It’s great to see how Waitrose is evolving and expanding! Which of these updates excites you the most? I came across these updates from the John Lewis Partnership website and The Grocer, and thought you’d find them interesting too.

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Want to get your products in front of Ocado Retail Macknade ,Sainsbury's? Come to  Spill the Beans, UK’s only event for Black/ethnic FMCG producers to get in front of supermarket buyers We more than “smashed it out the park” WHAT TO EXPECT? ✅ Exclusive opportunity for foodie startups ✅Direct access to real-time insights in the food and drink space from foodie professionals and supermarket buyers. ✅ Networking with supermarket  buyers and decision-makers Grab your Early Bird ticket ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ekcQVfPe 🎯 USE DISCOUNT CODE:STBMATES {Limited tickets available} 🎤 Stefano Cuomo, Manon GALIZZI, MIFST, Claire Roper, Patrick Wright, Mike Williams, + Loads more...... 👀 📸 Jeffrey Oyinlola, Toyin Said, Natalie Rogers 🥘 Dawn Burton/Natasha Orumbie 👊 See you soon Nikki Garg - KWERKY 📌P.S. What are you waiting for? Start your food business today ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 👋I’m Colin- the food scene’s Kanya King, London-based food and drink Content Creator🧙‍ 📚Helping foodie brands promote themselves via storytelling. 🎤Founder, Spill the Beans - UK's only event for Black/ethnic minority food producers to get in front of supermarket buyers 💻Connecting foodie brands with their target audiences via social media 🗣 Wanna chat? 📲Connect with me, and we can talk about your projects😁

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Will you pay more? For sustainable products and services? Big question and one we’re all being asked... 🤔 To fly and off set, organic versus non-organic, fairly traded and ethical .. sustainable or not? Most carry a premium and, according to data released by Clear Channel UK, it shows that some British consumers are putting the sustainability of food and drink higher up their selection criteria when they shop. Gen Z and Millennial shoppers are making that call. And interesting, is how much they’re willing to pay? 💰 Well, some up to 50% more for sustainable produce 😶 I’m neither Gen Z or Millennial .. I’m an old fart (Gen Antique) 😮 but do relate to the “yoof” and their sentiment in making a conscious choice – however small - that we need to do our bit shopping or elsewhere ! Here at the Alexir Partnership we’ve taken an industry leading position understanding our own sustainability and talking to customers and the wider market about how we can help them meet their (and our) sustainable obligations.    Scope 1 and Scope 2 allowed us to understand where we are. Next step; reduce gross emissions and work towards mitigating wherever possible. 😊 Engagement is key and listening to customers, paramount. If you’d like to know more about where we’re heading, let me know. We’d be pleased to talk .. and listen 😊 Partnership by Name; Partnership by Nature! #comanufacturing #retail #grocery

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The deposit return scheme (DRS) is currently set to go live in the UK from October 2025, which means drink brands will have to adapt to this new system. This poses a huge opportunity for brands to explore post mix as a cost-effective alternative, which when used with refillable bottles, removes the requirement for single use plastics thereby streamlining processes and reducing expenses in alignment with the Deposit Return Scheme's goals. Post mix drinks continue to revolutionise the way in which drinks are served, did you know the advantages of serving them are huge? Read more about the benefits of post mix: https://hubs.li/Q02CNcQy0 #BeverageIndustry #Innovation #Sustainability #DepositReturnScheme #WeBringFlavourToLife

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The deposit return scheme (DRS) is currently set to go live in the UK from October 2025, which means drink brands will have to adapt to this new system. This poses a huge opportunity for brands to explore post mix as a cost-effective alternative, which when used with refillable bottles, removes the requirement for single use plastics thereby streamlining processes and reducing expenses in alignment with the Deposit Return Scheme's goals. Post mix drinks continue to revolutionise the way in which drinks are served, did you know the advantages of serving them are huge? Read more about the benefits of post mix: https://hubs.li/Q02F0WZM0 #BeverageIndustry #Innovation #Sustainability #DepositReturnScheme #WeBringFlavourToLife

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The deposit return scheme (DRS) is currently set to go live in the UK from October 2025, which means drink brands will have to adapt to this new system. This poses a huge opportunity for brands to explore post mix as a cost-effective alternative, which when used with refillable bottles, removes the requirement for single use plastics thereby streamlining processes and reducing expenses in alignment with the Deposit Return Scheme's goals. Post mix drinks continue to revolutionise the way in which drinks are served, did you know the advantages of serving them are huge? Read more about the benefits of post mix: https://hubs.li/Q02G9fCR0 #BeverageIndustry #Innovation #Sustainability #DepositReturnScheme #WeBringFlavourToLife

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