David Li

Talk about a sweet (and salty) deal! 👆Continues the trend of focusing on strengths for growth in CPG M&A. It's official: Mars will be acquiring Kellanova for $35.9B per the statement on Mars.com. The combined brand portfolios will give Mars substantially greater presence in snacking and confectionary as well as granola/cereal bars. They are building on a solid foundation with equally strong addition: This is less than a year after Kellogg Co. split and only a few months since Kellanova ramped up their commercial activities from merchandising to pack size to a feature movies to forecast an organic 3% lift in sales this year. Brands have been optimizing their portfolios, adding brands to their focus categories while ditching those that aren't delivering: The J.M. Smucker Co. sold Crisco (B&G Foods) and several pet brands to Post Consumer Brands along with other sales while acquiring Hostess Brands. B&G Foods Inc. picked up Crisco from is considering divesting Green Giant after sales dropped 16.9% Post has also acquired some cereal brands, combined with their pet purchases contributed a 23% sales lift in Q2. Having a greater presence in their target categories helps brands hold and/or gain their share, especially private label. The consolidated power and budgets make it more difficult for emerging brands to compete. Makes it especially important that: 1) use social & in-store to build brand/community and inspire/add value 2) ensure packaging both pops on shelf AND is easy for consumers to read 3) leverage retailer programs for increased discovery & trial via secondary locations, flyers, loyalty program points etc 4) use discounts and rebates to drive sales ------------------------------------------------------------- Get more product off shelves and into baskets with the latest in CPG, retail & consumer trends at 10:30am M, T, H & Sat by following Jared Kligerman! Launch new products with confidence & gain market share with Caddle - DM me to learn more. Sources: Food Business News, Food Dive, Mars, Refrigerated & Frozen Foods Magazine, Strategy Online #CPG #foodandbeverage #confectionary #petfood #snacks #acquisition

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Great time with Elanie and Kay from the Renegade Nutrition Podcast! Their content is always so timely related to changes in the science of nutrition, it's impact on our wellness, and how we can all be better at 'biohacking'. We discussed the importance of polyphenols in the diet for longevity, data from blue zones, and Goode Health. Give it a listen (if you have an hour or listen at 1.75x speed) and follow Renegade!

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While standardization and transparency practices around retail media measurement are steadily improving, there's still a long way to go to unlock the full potential of retail media. Tune into this special Mars United Commerce webinar on Nov 12 for a great conversation with Mars United's Gabrielle Williamson, MBA, the IAB's Jeffrey Bustos, and CVS Media Exchange (CMX)'s Gretchen Reisner. They'll dive into the current state of retail media measurement and the future goals the industry needs to achieve. RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/eUx4cYSJ #retailmedia #standardization #bestpractices #webinar #measurement

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"Thanks Kaleigh Theriault, great play by play on the first half, let’s take a look at what’s going to be needed to win the year." 🏈 Halftime Report: Preparing for the second half in the Beverage Alcohol Industry! 🏆 As we take a breather at the halfway point of 2024, it's clear that the beverage alcohol industry has seen some major plays and strategic moves. Let's huddle up and look at the game plan for the rest of the year: 🍺 Beer: The price increases in 2023 are putting pressure on consumers, with long-term inflation effects and multiple drivers pointing to lower volumetrics. To stay in the game, deeper price subsidization for core Beer categories is essential. However, Imports show potential for a positive finish. Maintaining consumer loyalty will be our MVP move here. 🍷 Wine: The $15-$25 range continues to be the sweet spot, driving consumer interest. But to achieve positive trends by year-end, we need to capitalize on Q4 gifting. A big comparable period is coming up, so some price adjustments might be necessary, especially for infrequent Wine shoppers. 🥃 Spirits: We're seeing a continued shakeout as consumers transition from traditional products to RTDs. Flavor and turn-key cocktails are the winning plays, making Q4 critical for gifting and entertaining. Price discounting is already in motion to boost revenue. 🍹 RTD (Ready-to-Drink): RTDs remain a game-changer this year. With their share of total Alcohol growing, we expect more stability in growth rates as the shift from Seltzers slows. Building consumer brand loyalty for Spirits RTDs is crucial, and we need to watch out for potential flavor fatigue in the second half. Let's get ready to tackle the challenges and seize the opportunities ahead! Here's to a successful second half of 2024! 🥂 "Why did the football team go to the bank at halftime? To get their quarterback!" 🏆 #BeverageIndustry #AlcoholTrends #Beer #Wine #Spirits #RTD #MarketInsights #SecondHalf #HalftimeReport Note: This report looks at the 26 week ending period thru July 6th, 2024

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Don't forget to mark your calendar! If you want to gain the strategic insights needed to hit the ground running in 2025, find out where Mars United Commerce is headed so you can connect with us to jumpstart your commerce marketing in the new year. Stay up to date on where we'll be here: https://lnkd.in/e9YwBN63 #events #CES #NRF #IAB #FMI #commercemarketing

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Today’s modern consumers – especially women – are more multifaceted than ever before. How can brands break through? According to Cristina Wells, SVP Marketing, Subway, it's about delivering content and engaging guests in a much more meaningful way. "Consumer needs must be at the center of everything we do." For more insights check out the full webinar, Women Leaders Redefining Restaurant Marketing: https://okt.to/htPMeG #restaurantmarketing #subway #womeninleadership

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Agree with Samuel Knights and Threefold perspective, especially around primacy and value of well managed, scalable 1st party data. To reach full value realization, strategies must be revisited.

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The marketplace will look a lot different in five years. Mars United's Michele Roney offers 8 trends every hopeful network needs to consider in this new report. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gj7Y4HFY

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Only retailers that truly deliver value to both shoppers and advertisers will be able to maintain sustainable growth. Mars United Commerce's Michele Roney offers eight changes we see taking place over the next five years that every hopeful network needs to consider going forward: https://lnkd.in/gDXpss9W #retailmedia #trends #retailmedianetworks

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🎁 How’s your holiday shopping—or buying—coming along? As Kevin Dunn highlights in the latest episode of Here’s the Deal… every interaction we have with brands and retailers during the holiday season is an opportunity for valuable insights. What companies do with that consented data can make all the difference—turning those insights into better experiences for customers and stronger results for businesses. Highly recommend taking 3 minutes to watch! And share it with the retail marketers in your network!

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Alcohol trends have changed substantially over the last few years. Join the webinar to know more about how today's consumer is different.

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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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Have tipping screens led to consumer tipping angst? I argue that several factors are affecting consumer tipping behavior -- as well as their opinions toward tipping -- in this article by Andy Medici. What do you think? #tipping #consumerbehavior #consumerpsychology https://lnkd.in/e_JGW3Q6

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Exploring new horizons in the consumer goods industry is key to revitalizing its remarkable growth from the 2000s. In the 3rd edition of our State of CPG report, Jessica Moulton, @pavlosExarchos, and @WarrenTeichner dive into the four megatrends shaping topline growth and how companies can enhance their value creation models for the future. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/epKZjrAY

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There was a moment in last week's Roundtable when Emily Flannery declared, "that's right: beverages are officially a snack, too." The way we see category lines blurring, overlapping and/or completely falling away is fascinating, and a huge opportunity for food & bev brands with the nerve to keep up. Did you see it yet? Give the convo a watch right here: https://okt.to/XpGrUZ And if this glimpse into the future inspires you, let's chat! #futurefluent #futureofsnacking #cpgtrends

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I am thrilled to be a mentor for SKU's Fall '24 Track! This cohort is a diverse group of 8 innovative brands and dynamic founders in the food, beverage and wellness categories. SKU, the nation's first and leading consumer products accelerator, is an ecosystem unlike any other. We connect, empower and champion the household brands of tomorrow, serving as a catalyst for lasting change and innovation in CPG. Amia, founded by Jon Katz, is the first functional, better-for-you food brand offering trigger-free food options for the 40 million Americans suffering from migraines. Amia’s first product is a soft-baked oat and seed snack bar, with a larger vision to create the trigger-free category, akin to gluten-free or allergen-free, where every grocery store nationwide offers a variety of trigger-free food options. Bala Enzyme, founded by husband-and-wife team Dr. Arash Aftabi & Dr. Farnoush Fadavi, retired dental surgeons who researched plant-based alternative therapies to help patients recover from post-operative swelling, bruising and inflammation. Bala, which promotes recovery and rehydration, is the world’s first & only nutrition powder mix that is made with a patent-pending blend of plant-based enzymes, turmeric, electrolytes & amino acids. Foraged & Found, founded by former marketing-executive-turned chef Jenn Brown, revolutionizes pantry staples by infusing everyday foods with sustainably harvested kelp. It offers innovative products like Kelp Pickles, Pasta Sauces & Salsas that make it easy and delicious to enjoy the benefits of this nutrient-dense superfood. Kif & co, founded by Caroline Brain, is a probiotic beverage company that crafts kefir water, which is a low-sugar, less vinegar-y alternative to kombucha. The brand was inspired by Caroline’s own personal gut health journey & her search for a probiotic solution that offered a low sugar content and was free from caffeine, gluten, and dairy. Long Table is next gen pancakes from heirloom grains, powered by love. Founded by Samuel Taylor, Long Table makes nutrient-dense, regeneratively grown, heirloom whole-grain pancake + waffle mixes that are light enough to float but filling enough to power you through your day. Modica, created by professional mixologist Eric Wentworth & business partner JD Mitchell, is a line of award-winning cocktail and mocktail mixers developed using better ingredients. Peace Love Hormones is an herbal-based supplement brand dedicated to women's health. Founder Maddie M. launched PLH following her personal journey to overcome long-term health challenges, ultimately finding relief through herbal medicine. The Bloody Buddy is a perfectly handcrafted chili-pepper infused vodka and bloody mary mix together in one bottle. It was created behind the bar by former bartenders Buddy Jordan and Joey Kindred, made at their distillery in Dripping Springs, Texas. Please join me in congratulating these founders - can't wait to see what we can accomplish together!

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If you missed the Retail Media Report Card Deep Dive webinar, it's now available to watch on-demand! Watch The Mars Agency's commerce media team discuss how retail media can be leveraged to drive incremental growth for your brand and what capabilities leading retailers are bringing to the table: https://lnkd.in/gxGRYzvQ #retailmedia #webinar #retailmediareportcard

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