Dan Abel

Craft breweries bloomed, and boomed, by providing drinkers with unique tastes and senses of place. Upstart breweries filled warehouses and former factories with gleaming brew kettles, proof that beer was made right here, by friendly neighborhood folks, not like those commodity lagers made elsewhere anonymously. As demand for craft beer spiked throughout the 2010s, breweries expanded to slake drinkers’ seemingly endless thirst for IPAs. “We all just ramped up production and bought tanks,” says Kieran Farrell, an owner and director of operations of Gun Hill Brewing, which opened in New York City in 2014. “In hindsight it was a mistake.” As demand for craft beer ebbs while the costs of doing business increase, breweries are overhauling their business models by offloading production equipment, closing locations, and sharing production equipment, ingredient orders, and even sales and marketing duties with fellow breweries. For VinePair, I take a deep look at how breweries are banding together to better safeguard their futures. #craftbeer #beerindustry #beer

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A simple quote from Mike Tyson and one of my favorites of all time: "Everybody has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth." It rings true in the day to day battles of business, especially in CPG. Here are some examples many CPG founders go through or ones I've personally battled: 🥴 You launch a product, did all the research for R&D, focus group testing, and reviewed the packaging thousands of times before launching, but still something went wrong either with shelf life, negative consumer/retailer feedback, or weak sales on shelf 💰 You had cash flow projections in place and expected that with X amount raised, it would last you for Y Months, but ran short of runway and were scrambling to raise more cash to keep the company going in difficult times 🤝 Formed partnerships, only disappointed to find out the partner backed out, or it wasn't the partnership you envisioned and now you are doing damage control and it's causing emotional pain to be with this person 🚛 Brought on a distributor thinking they would push the brand and it would be an estimated cost, but they didn't do their job, and the costs ended up sky-rocketing from chargebacks, thus losing money on every unit 😲You release a great product, and then a competitor comes up with a version of yours that is a lower price point and they have all the marketing dollars in the world to out-compete you. I can go on and on, but in this business, like any business, you have intentions when you go into it, and many times, it doesn't turn out the way you envisioned. What's your story of getting punched in the mouth?

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-- Podcast Teaser Alert -- "If you want to lead the consumer, you need to be the consumer." - Eric Ryan At one point, Eric Ryan and I were "frienemies". Friends personally, competitors professionally. He was the co-founder and CEO of Method Products PBC, while I led Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day. ................ But in the real world, we were always on the same team. Our collective efforts, along with the team at 7th Generation, were revolutionizing the cleaning category. At Mrs. Meyer's, our mission was clear: 'Together, we dream of a world where the better way becomes THE way.' ................ Eric Ryan shares his insights on creating method products pbc, OLLY PBC, and Welly Bandages, along with his go-to-market approach. Stay tuned for the next drop of the CEO podcast. 🎙 You won't regret it. #cultureFIRSTleadership #ceoPodcast #ChiefEternalOptimist

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Join the conversation! We've got two exciting days planned for Future Food Tech Chicago (June 17-18) where we'll be diving deep into the world of alternative proteins. Early bird offer ends tomorrow! (May 9th) Don't miss out on securing your spot at a reduced rate (link below). Expect a mix of insightful discussions on ingredients, technology and applications, plus the chance to connect with fellow innovators in person (think: thought-provoking chats and friendly faces!). I'll also be leading a discussion with alt. seafood industry leaders Lou Cooperhouse (BlueNalu) and Mihir Pershad (Umami Bioworks) on how alternative seafood can help strengthen and expand our food system. We'll delve into: ◽ Diversifying protein sources for a healthier future ◽ Fostering a more responsible and resilient food supply chain ◽ Improving consumer acceptance around food tech like cultivated seafood Grab your early bird ticket by May 9th at the link below: https://lnkd.in/eGftnaVw #alternativeprotein #alternativeseafood

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"What truly excites me at Clif Family is creating unforgettable wine and food experiences that connect people to each other and to our planet." Did you catch our interview with Clif Family President Linzi Gay? We are excited to feature Clif Family's delicious mixed nuts in our new Subscription "Coffee Break" Boxes, designed to help remote and hybrid teams connect through the power of food. When you work with Narrative Food and our community of small-batch makers, it shows just how much you care about people and the planet. https://lnkd.in/eqCGwHJT #supportsmallbusinesses #shopsmall #smallbusinessmatters,#bcorp #b1 #climateneutral #1percentfortheplanet #wethechange,#employeeappreciation #employeeengagement #employeeretention #teamappreciation,#giftsthatgiveback #giftwithpurpose #impactfulgiving,#sustainablefood #eatkind,#corporatewellness #workplacewellness,#remoteworkers,#corporategifting,#businessasaforceforgood #consciouscapitalism

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Building a brand in retail is hard. Very hard. Even after becoming a top 10 canned RTD brand at Total Wine FL, we still do the samplings ourselves. In this case Dani Pinzon (some of us still refuse to be on camera). We crave that 1:1 connection with our customer. It's the only way to know what they actually think. Why do the love Casalú? What do they not like? What should we change? What flavor should be next? In-store demos are an amazing way to get the truth straight from the source. Salú

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With M&A transactions getting louder, it can only mean one thing…protein bar brands are starting to party like it’s 2019 again! While the Vitamin Well Group (i.e. Barebells) investment was much larger...1440 Foods acquiring Pervine Foods, LLC (i.e. FITCRUNCH) makes perfect logical sense. And that’s because while the protein bar market (like the entire supplement industry) has mostly a “sea of sameness” composition...differentiation can be derived from having a unique form factor. Furthermore, if that unique form factor proves popular…a competitive advantage can be created through defensibility if you own (or created) that manufacturing process. This is the story of FITCRUNCH…because the brand was co-founded by the contract manufacturer Bakery Barn, LLC. And after Union Capital Associates, LP more directly connected the companies in 2019...not only did 1440 Foods acquire FITCRUNCH, but also super helpful vertical integration assets. But beyond extracting value from the product complexity/uniqueness and Bakery Barn vertical integration aspect, 1440 Foods acquired FITCRUNCH because its highly complementary to the existing brand portfolio of Pure Protein, MET-Rx, and Body Fortress. Additionally, this deepens the 1440 Foods concentration into the active nutrition sub-segment of convenient nutrition bars that has shown strong growth of late compared to the general grocery category. So, my latest first principles thinking content will examine the near-term outlook of 1440 Foods…and if Bain Capital (and 4x4 Capital) is still steering the convenient nutrition brand portfolio towards an eventual IPO. #strategy #trends #markets #fmcg #cpg #food #beverages #protein #snacking #sportsnutrition #supplements #wellness #nutrition #innovation #finance #mergersandacqusitions #marketing #branding #productdevelopment #retailing #merchandising #retail #grocery #business #businessintelligence #entrepreneurship Patrick Cornacchiulo https://lnkd.in/gXjksTpS

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As any CPG founder will tell you, even the smallest sign of consumer validation can provide enough motivation to fuel years worth of 100+ hour weeks. While selling 28 bags of Low and Slow Snacks in a week from this display at a Kansas City Price Chopper grocery store doesn’t signal salty snack world domination, it’s a start. 🪵🔥💨 Eventually the small wins turn into bigger wins, don’t underestimate them. #cpg #entrepreneurship #startup #lowandslow #bbq #retail

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SAFE NOTES ARE NOW UNSAFE... OK so what is going to happen to the money that was poured into CPG Brands via these supposed SAFE Notes? Issue is that no priced round took place and now it is likely if it did happen it would be at a fraction of the valuation that was contemplated leading to massive dilution for the founder. Many have a cap...few have a floor. and unless they are converted it will be impossible to raise new money at any valuation. #cpg #safenotes #fundraising

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The non-alcoholic drinks market continues to grow and grow (and mature). Check out recent insights + stats from our friends at Grüvi: March Off Premise Retail Sales: → $48.6M > Identical to February, up 23% YoY → You can see subcategory performance in the chart below. Gruvi predicts: → 30-35% of YoY NA category growth. → 25%+ in off-prem and 50%+ in on-prem. → Premium, high quality craft or import NA beers will capture most of the growth of the NA beer market. → Big bet on NA RTDs to surpass NA wines by end of year. Gruvi has some more great stats in their blog post (link in comments). I’m hearing this same type of growth from members of the Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association (ANBA). There's been some questioning about the growth of the category because of the recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy by non-alc beverage retailer Boisson and the closing of their retail locations. I was going to share some thoughts on this but the Gruvi team summed it up well: “Having served as a supply partner for Boisson, and being intimately familiar with their retail locations, it became apparent that they faced challenges across their retail and e-commerce channels. Boisson positioned itself as the upscale destination for NA beverages, boasting premium locations and a curated assortment. However, despite the overall growth in the NA market, it remains predominantly composed of NA beer (80%) and NA wines/RTDs under $12 (10%). As larger retailers expanded their NA offerings to target the mainstream consumer—the 90% of the market as seen above - Boisson was left with a small addressable market. Unfortunately, the demand proved insufficient for Boisson to sustain its operations.” Andrea Hernández also has a great take on it in her most recent Snaxshot (link in the comments). The adult NA category is maturing. Brands that do not have good business models, have bad product-market, or average quality products will need to adapt or close their doors. And this is not a bad thing. Because what rises out of this are business and products that better serve the consumer. I’m always impressed by the continued release of higher and higher quality NA products, with each raising the bar for the category. And this is great for people looking to moderate or not drink alcohol for whatever reason, and in whatever situation that best suits them. The adult NA category is getting bigger and better each day. And ANBA, our members, and I are here to continue to create a world where everyone has access to great tasting adult non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy in every social situation. And that is something we can all celebrate! 🍾 🥂 🍻 You can join us in growing the category and this movement by visiting ANBA's website and signing up for a soon to launch newsletter (link in comments). And you can follow me, Marcos Salazar 🍺🍷🥃, (& click the bell under my profile banner) to get regular insights and news about NA drinks. ♻️ #Repost if you like this post :-)

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Disclaimer: I’m not VC, but I do have a PE background. VC is not a monolith, so I’ll speak exclusively to the concept. No, it does not inherebtly corrupt brands. However, only in select circumstances does it work well in CPG and there are many very good VCs who can navigate this. It comes down to how VC funds are structured. To provide attractive returns to their investors (called LPs) they have to achieve at least one, if not a few massive outcomes (multiplying capital by the 10s and even hundreds) to make up for the inevitable failure of the others (small businesses fail a lot). Resultantly, they only invest on emerging brands that provide possible exposure to those outcomes. Furthermore, VC is really the only institutional capital available in large enough chunks to fund emerging brands, so emerging brands adopt high risk, high growth (hopefully) models to attract this capital. CPG, however, is not tech, and these businesses have all sorts of emergent constraints throughout the scaling journey, especially (but not only) manufacturing capacity and existing retail demand at emerging brand price points beyond what early adopters drive (aka crossing the chasm). The result? Bad outcomes (sometimes).

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From Pop to Powerhouse: Olipop Creates New Prebiotic Drink Category In an era when health-consciousness is reshaping consumer preferences, OliPop has emerged as a disruptive force in the $38 billion U.S. carbonated soft drink market and $200 billion beverage market. OliPop, this prebiotic soda brand, has skyrocketed a staggering $500 million in sales, carving out a significant niche in the “better-for-you” beverage category. What are some valuable insights for industry leaders and start-up entrepreneurs? OliPop’s story begins with its co-founder, Ben Goodwin, whose challenging childhood marked by abuse and health issues became the catalyst for a lifelong interest in wellness. Goodwin’s struggles with gut health and his subsequent deep dive into microbiome research laid the foundation for what would become a revolutionary product in the beverage industry. His simple idea was to make a healthy soda with some functional benefits. This brand will stay strong and hit $1B in revenue in the next few years. Read more about Ben Goodwin’s story and OliPop’s story. https://lnkd.in/eN8v25Z9 Courtney O'Brien Amy Hoopes Lisa Ehrlich Stephen Beck Doug Radi Paul Mabray Don J Huffman Ericka Karner Jess Baum JP Mackey Eddy Cola Nate Celek Zeyad M. Tom Aslin Spike Mendelsohn Mike Schall Robert Joseph Katie Myers Taylor Eason Caroline Shaw Seth Kaufman Seth Goldman Ben Goodwin David Lester Mitch Slater #olipop #marketing #branding #beveragebranding #beveragemarketing

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I love the protein bar category. We've seen significant consolidation over the past few years, but it's still as competitive as ever (see the timeline below). While we often talk about the challenges of going up against the big players, the data tells a different story. Shout out to the privately-owned protein bar brands, Robert Irvine, Barebells, IQBAR, Clio Snacks, Power Crunch, GoMacro who continue to grow the category and drive innovation. Also kudos to the financial wizards Bain Capital and 1440 Foods Lets go! 🔥 It's been a challenging time for Mondelēz International , Mars and Kellogg Company Below is a quick timeline for the sake of posterity. Also I took the liberty to add Mars as the owner of RXBAR and Special K due to the Mars purchase of Kellenova (please be easy on me on in the comments) October 2017: RxBar acquired by Kellogg’s for $600 million. July 2019: Perfect Bar acquired by Mondelez International for $340 million. August 2019: Quest Nutrition acquired by Simply Good Foods Co. for $1 billion. November 2020: Kind Bar fully acquired by Mars, Inc. for an estimated $5 billion. August 2022: Clif Bar acquired by Mondelez International for $2.9 billion. August 2024: Kellanova (Kellogg's Snack Division) acquired by Mars, Inc. for an estimated $36 billion. #SnackWars #ProteinPowerPlays #BarFight #SnackAttack #BigSnackEnergy

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2023 saw, non-alcoholic beer, wine, and spirits sales over $565M. That’s a 35% boost in dollar sales vs. the year before—but who’s buying these options? Gen Z is leading the trend in the sense that they are opting out of drinking alcohol. However, they are not the demographic purchasing off your NA menus. So, who is buying? Mostly women ages 34-55. They are looking for products that provide inclusivity. They want to participate in celebrations and feel included in social gatherings with their friends and loved ones. According to NIQ’s 2023 Consumer Outlook, 46% of consumers identified physical or mental wellness as one of their top priorities. And, with 47% of Americans having at least one of three risk factors that contribute to heart disease, it’s no surprise that consumers are increasingly seeking beverages that do more than just quench thirst. Healthy, low sugar options are being requested. Sober October is coming. My community and I want at least 15 solid locations to send our following/customers to for low sugar, crafted non-alcoholic beverage menus. Who's in? Email me to get your menu set, products in and offerings promoted. Andrew Schools Brian Neubauer Zaneta "Zee" Peragine William Harrison George Beattie Buddy Edwards George Beattie Tish Atkins Oatis Smith Priscilla Eich

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The Beans (Bean Crunchy), a Korean foodtech company, secured seed funding from Newkids Investment, leveraging 300% sales growth and export plans to Southeast Asia and China for further expansion.

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If you've been grocery shopping at Whole Foods, Erewhon or Central Market lately, you might see a newcomer in the jarred sauce aisle. What a treat to speak with Troy Bonde and Winston Alfieri about their journey starting Sauz, which is on course to be in 3K stores by the end of this calendar year. Read more Modern Retail how they lucked out on finding a co-manufacturer willing to take on a start-up and how they're using Gen Z marketing know-how to capture attention: https://lnkd.in/gZFwDjWm

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300+ Years in the Game and Still Leveling Up 🥃 E&A Scheer the rum sourcing OG with over three centuries of expertise, is doubling down—literally. They’re investing to double their capacity as they gear up for major growth in premium rum. If this isn’t a sign of where the biggest players in the category are heading, I’m not sure what is. At Coconut Cartel, we’re right there with them. Premium rum is on the rise, and we’re pumped to be part of the movement. https://lnkd.in/ecBjMMrU

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“Growing a CPG company, especially in the food and beverage space, ‘is astronomically harder today,’. ” Paul Voge you said it, man. So many truth bombs dropped in this article about the challenges and difficulties growing and scaling a CPG brand in today’s world. The cruel reality is that it takes a whole lot of money or a whole lot of time (and most times both) along with a fair amount of luck to have a chance at making it. If you dont have a ton of money then you better have a ton of time, some good fortune, and a product that can withstand many changes of the seasons (and "trends"). For most emerging brands today its all about survival and just finding a way.  There are lots of traps out there– lots of shiny objects– lots of vanity metrics hoping to be noticed and cared about–but at the end of the day sometimes its just about living to see another one. Here’s to all you day-to-dayers and week-to-weekers out there that are all just finding a way. Keep finding it.

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The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola zero sugar...after a stronger-than-expected second quarter 2024 performance that was announced today, which saw net sales revenue increase 3% to $12.4 billion, the Coca-Cola Company has raised its full-year outlook. Coca-Cola’s latest earnings success comes at a time when the soda business as a whole is in decline. Between 2004 and 2023, the volume of carbonated soft drinks bought and sold in America decreased by -27%, according to trade publication Beverage Digest. Still, amid the category’s downward trajectory one brand has continued to rise, capturing more market share in the past 20 years than all the others. That brand: Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. Coca-Cola Zero Sugar is an ongoing example of how superior taste drives consumer demand, with Coca Cola Zero seeing a +20% global volumes increase. The strong performance of Coca-Cola's Zero sugar variants, is reflective of an overall beverages category move to Zero sugar offerings as consumers look for healthier beverages choices, with zero calories and sugar. For any beverages brand owner or manufacturer looking to create great tasting 😋 beverages innovations 💡 with reduced or zero sugar, please reach out to the beverages team at Kerry, we are here to help. #cocacola #cocacolazero #zerosugar #sugar #softdrinks #taste #zerocalories #refreshingbeverages #tastsesense Erlon Pereira Marc LEJEUNE Breda Kelly Tiphaine BEAU Farrah Gilsenan Thomas Hahlin Ahlinder Sheelagh Pentony Carol Dunne Gwyneth Kelly Michelle Osagie Mark Allen Leigh-Anne Vaughan Massimo Barbeni Romel Doshi, MBA Sam Choucha Nina Riggins Sergio Saavedra Rodríguez Birgit Schaaf Ian Chesworth Erika Minaguchi Magdalena Edyta Przewoźnik Barbara Lezzer David Deeley Brian Short Aoife Mc Donald Elaine Druhan Juan Soto Daniel S. Xavier Herrera

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