Halima Tam

A big acquisition in the works. This will certainly broaden the reach of PFG in the southeast and continue to solidify itself as the 2nd largest foodservice distributor.

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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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Game Over for Game Day Vodka ! And now popular vodka distiller Never Forget Brands, which manufactures GameDay Vodka and Spiked canned vodka cocktails, on July 10 filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy facing judgment liens from the National Football League's Buffalo Bills, owed $560,000, and New England Patriots affiliate Kraft Sports and Entertainment, owed $450,000.   The debtor, which filed its petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina, also owes unsecured claims to other NFL teams, including the Denver Bronco's affiliate Stadium Management Co. ($500,000,) Baltimore Ravens ($150,000,) New Orleans Saints ($150,000) and Indianapolis Colts ($110,000.) Additionally, the company faces a judgment lien for $377,678 owed to Revel XP, a college hospitality, tailgating and ticket package provider.   All litigation involving Never Forget Brands is subject to an automatic stay while the bankruptcy case proceeds.   The Isle of Palms, S.C., debtor listed $14.8 million in total assets and $13.7 million in total liabilities in its petition. The debtor's largest unsecured creditors include glass bottle manufacturer Pavisa USA, owed $2.1 million; collegiate sports marketing company Learfield Communications, owed $2.1 million; and Acceleration Group, a specialty lender for the craft cocktail industry, owed over $1 million.   The debtor did not state a specific reason for filing bankruptcy in its petition.

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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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The chicken segment is one of the most dynamic and competitive among the large restaurant chains in the U.S. And while Chick-fil-A continues to dominate and Popeyes is taking over the 2nd in the rank, there has been significant movement in the rank among other mid-size leading chains over the last ten years. It goes to show that in the restaurant industry, you can never rest. Leaders are waking up to the realization that if they’re not growing fast they’re dying slowly.  Outgrowing and outsmarting your competitors requires using the power of long-term thinking. #restaurants #chicken #strategy #leadership

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Franchise group relaunches as Lehigh Valley Restaurant Brands. The 30-unit Pennsylvania Red Robin and Wingstop Restaurants Inc. operator undergoes rebranding http://ow.ly/oCsr105Pivg

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It’s time to restock Amrita Health Foods Protein Bars after a very strong Prime Day. We may run out of inventory 😔 later today .. live and learn We have a heat advisory today for Bridgeport, CT! The dehumidifiers are just not able to keep up 95+ degrees and close to 90% humidity. But we put a heads down and get the job done and take frequent icrecream breaks! Recent protein bar improvements and relaunch are paying big dividends. Being vertically integrated is a lot of work - staffing, etc .. but it’s keeping costs down which is allowing us to be profitable and scale. So much of success is operational efficiency- the boring stuff that’s drives profit.

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Beer Drinkers Have the Unhealthiest Diet A study presented at 'The Liver Meeting' and published in 'Nutrients' reveals that beer drinkers in the U.S. have the poorest diet quality among alcohol consumers. Based on a survey of over 1,900 adults, beer drinkers scored the lowest (49) on the Healthy Eating Index, compared to wine drinkers (55) and spirits/mixed-drink consumers (53). Beer drinkers were found to consume the highest daily calories, exercise the least, and were more likely to smoke and have low incomes. The research highlights that beer is often consumed with high-carb, processed, and low-fiber foods, unlike wine, typically paired with balanced meals. Lead author Dr. Madeline Novack emphasized the rising risks of alcohol-related illnesses, particularly cirrhosis and liver diseases like MASLD, linked to poor dietary and lifestyle habits. The study suggests that food choices and drinking environments significantly influence the type of alcohol consumed, with fried and salty foods increasing beer preference. However, it clarifies that no direct cause-effect relationship was established between beer and poor health outcomes. Subhash Arora https://lnkd.in/dFyBeMuJ

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Tequila!   Many large players such as White Claw, and The Boston Beer Company (maker of Truly) are expanding their offerings and releasing tequila-flavored ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails as consumers are increasingly turning to tequila offerings in the beverage alcohol sector.   I had the opportunity to share my insights and thoughts on this surging trend with The Food Institute. In the article, I emphasized how innovations in ready-to-drink (RTD) formats, including tequila-based seltzers and margaritas, are meeting consumer demand for novel flavors. Additionally, I pointed out that tequila production has remained stable despite global supply chain disruptions and highlighted the increasing consumer preference for high-quality artisanal spirits.   Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gB9f-3Ci   #Tequila #BeverageIndustry #MarketTrends #ConsumerInsights #RTDCocktails

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McDonald’s is cranking up the heat on the discount wars next week, as they roll out a $5 meal deal promotion aimed to draw in value-conscious customers. With economic anxiety on the rise, and our recent data showing a notable pullback in consumer spending across dining, entertainment, and retail, will the move be enough to pull customers away from competitors? Thanks again Nation's Restaurant News for featuring my article! Curious to see which chains might feel the heat and which ones are better positioned to weather the storm? Click the link below for the full insights! #restaurants #discounting #customerexperience #value #nrn

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Wondering what sets Del Taco apart from Taco Bell when it comes to franchising? Check out these five key distinctions! https://lnkd.in/eQJh7QDX #qsr #franchise #tacofranchise

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Working in the spirits industry for 24 years, I've had the pleasure of being the voice that amplifies many highly desired bourbon brands. This insightful piece from Food & Wine gives more background on allocated bourbons, and also contains one of my favorite quotes ever, "Buzz doesn’t hurt either. These days, listing the technical details of a great whiskey simply is not enough,...𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗥 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲. Of course, these whiskeys are going to be great, but if bourbon influencers start to go nuts over a new product, then true demand does tend to balloon much more." 𝗜 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝗘𝗘𝗡! #bourbon #publicrelations https://lnkd.in/eakiFrjY

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Great insight into CAVA as a brand and where leadership is planning to take this brand.

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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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Have you ever heard of Spruce syrup? Me neither. I attended the Food Producer Showcase, hosted by Maine Center for Entrepreneurs and FocusMaine last week. Although Food CPG is a tough place to be in right now for some, it’s certainly not short of great ideas. 🌲 Spruce Syrup was the breakout star of the event for me. Pen & Cob Farm produces this magical liquid by harvesting the tips of spruce trees and macerating them in brown sugar, creating a sweet and citrus tasting syrup to put on or in anything - ice cream, fruit, cocktails, meat, etc. Thanks to its founder Katherine Swann for sharing! Harvest Maine was one of my favorite stops for several reasons: ♻ Their products are upcycled - ⅔ of each product is made with imperfect veggie seconds, which provides a new revenue stream for local farmers. 🥦 The flavors were outstanding - my favorite was the Broccomole - no avocado to be found, but incredibly delicious 🤯 🍎 They’ve just launched sweet treats, “Pummies”, bite-size pieces made from apples and dates…and the packaging is compostable! Whole Foods Market does a terrific job of calling out local products on shelf. Support local brands when you can. You will be delightfully surprised at what you discover. And shout out to Naturally New England, so as a member, I could find out about this terrific event. #foodcpg #innovation #upcycling #supportlocal ___________________________________ 👋 I’m Karen Anderson. 🥨 Product Marketing Expert for CPG brands. ⬆ I help brands accelerate sales, profit, and distribution growth. 🔎 I’m looking for my next full-time role in Food, Bev, or Pet CPG. DM me if you or someone you know is looking for a strategic and compassionate marketing leader.

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The Menu affects everything in a restaurant; as our friend and FCSI consultant Bill Main says, “The Menu is your blueprint for profitability.” Let’s start with the segment. What will be your marketing and brand positioning? It depends on what menu items you serve. What type of cooking methods and equipment will you use? GUEST EXPERIENCE = FACILITY (Space) DESIGN + MENU + SERVPOINTS 408-784-7371 SSA Foodservice Design + Consulting #restaurant #foodservice #culinary #hotel #casino #resort #travel #club #design #consulting #speaking #kitchendesign #equipmentspecifications #ServPoints™️ #SequenceofService #TeamExperience #GuestExperience #conceptdevelopment #marketing #salesbuilding #standardsofoperation #profitability #coaching #training #operationsbestpractices #expertwitness #litigationsupport #myfcsi

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