Henry Fovargue

Since my talk at IFT, I've been seeing ashwaganda EVERYWHERE, even more so than what I did before. Could it be the next ingredient in our longevity toolkit? This article says yes! Review reveals benefits of ashwagandha on 'inflammaging' https://buff.ly/4c8V97E

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Consumers want food labels that are easy to read and clear. At the Center for Food Integrity Transparency Summit, a panel of consumers shared several specific requests, including: - Clear and honest information about ingredients - Straightforward facts - Simple explanations for why some products have such long shelf lives - QR codes for easy access to more product information The panel’s findings also showed that transparent brands and labels tend to build stronger consumer loyalty, with 73% of respondents saying they would switch to a brand that offers more transparency. As a consumer, what do you look for—or avoid—when reading food labels? #FoodLabels #CleanFood #IngredientTransparency

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The Costco Wholesale phenomenon is a masterclass in #retail excellence, blending strategic product placement, bulk-buy bargains, and an engaging treasure-hunt experience to convert first-time shoppers into lifelong members.     By meticulously curating a chaotic yet efficient environment, Costco has achieved what many retailers aspire to – a deeply loyal customer base. And from the depths of the aisles, a key takeaway emerges: retail success lies in creating compelling, value-driven experiences that resonate with #shoppers on a personal level. Read more great insights on Costco’s successful #customer retention model from Phil W.: 

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Biologicodemographics (Multiclusivity or Skinclusivity part 2). OK. I just made up this term. As an analogy to sociodemographics, biologicodemographics refers to biology and demographic characteristics of a specific group of individuals, such as skin types, age, gender, environment, etc, which are crucial for decision-making processes when purchasing and using products. It allows both brands and consumers to enter into an intimate dialogue on products and ingredients solutions vs. personal biological needs/wants. Not just individual products, but combinations of products, and combinations of ingredients based on biological probabilities. There is so much about our skin biology and the science of healthy skin, that we know. Melanin. Barrier. Repair. Sensitivity. Moisture. Aging. And more. But I had to admit this. The beauty sector however still generally formulates products for the median consumer, average skin biology, a one size fits no one very well approach. We've made tremendous progress on oily/dry/sensitive, but other biology types are a bit of an after thought. Consumers just don't have the resources, time, or luxury to experiment with their skincare that just don't work for them. Adding complexity, societies and people are blending. We're going to need to define new, more relevant ways to describe multiclusive skin biology types. And genetic testing is changing the way we speak about ourselves. Aren't we all more or less multicultural, and isn't all of our skin somewhere along a continuous spectrum? Biologicodemographics doesn't exist. But it should.

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The last two years have been a golden time to innovate in #cpg with #emergingbrands. The next year looks like more of the same. Golden because consumers and retailers want it, and very few brands & companies are actually doing it. Lowest levels of Mintel tracked innovation since 1996. There's a million reasons why, but seriously it's a huge opportunity. Zigging while everyone else is zagging works. It's easier to get attention, distribution, and the lack of competition lets you run farther, faster, & more efficiently. I suspect that innovation pipelines are starting to fill up again, but it takes 18-24 months to really get chugging. There's still a big window in many categories. Retailers were voracious for innovation at #expowest2024 and they remain so. The window is there, but the challenges to get through it in some ways have never been harder. https://lnkd.in/gPdvTcqa

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Thrilled to share West Monroe's latest insights in "The State of Manufacturing: From Resilience to Resurgence," co-authored with Jeremy Tancredi and Randal Kenworthy. In a climate of rising costs and geopolitical tensions, manufacturers are rethinking strategies. With M&A activity on the rise, now is the time to plan for future success. 2-Minute Takedown: Key Trends 1) Resilient Supply Chains: Focus on diversifying suppliers, boosting inventory management, and tackling labor shortages. 2) M&A Growth: 90% of executives expect a rise in M&A for technological and product enhancements. 3) Tech Transformation: AI (32%) and sustainability (19%) are key drivers of change. 4) Labor Strategy: Prioritize automation (54%) and alternative workforce options (49%) to address shortages. Dive into our report for deeper insights into supply chain resilience, M&A, and AI. Let’s discuss how these trends can elevate your business! See link below to "The State of Manufacturing: From Resilience to Resurgence | West Monroe" #Manufacturing #SupplyChain #Innovation #MandA #AI #Sustainability #Research

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In this episode of The Natural List, co-hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith are joined by nutrition experts Jessie Shafer, RD and Debra Eschmeyer. According to Eschmeyer, two out of three children on average drink a sugary beverage every day. Moreover, children consume approximately fifty-three pounds of added #sugar per year. To combat this acclimation to extremely sweet products, many #CPG brands are starting to reduce added sugar and natural sweeteners in children’s products and increasing nutrients like fiber and protein. Bottom line: when it comes to sweetness, less is more. Listen here: https://utm.io/ugPXr #naturalproducts #brands #lowsugar #childrensnutrition

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This Earth Day I'm proud to be part of the Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition team! Over the last three years since I joined the team, we've experienced tremendous growth in our reach (from 200 participating supplier organizations to 850+) and impact (hundreds of these companies have developed a GHG footprint since joining and are on the path to set SBTs and achieve reductions by 2030). Learn more about the most recent partners who have joined the collaborative https://lnkd.in/gZ5dPnyp and how we're accelerating climate action https://lnkd.in/gVXc7hB9.

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An interesting and useful take on what consumers are seeking when it comes to their food purchases. 1. Flavor 2. Sustainability 3. Health We believe that improved #nutrientdensity that results from #agroecological practices is the connector to all three!

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Check out this McKinsey podcast that captures trends in consumer wellness. In the interview, Anna Pione discusses key insights from recent research on the consumer wellness market, highlighting the global shift in consumer priorities toward health and wellness. The research, involved a survey of consumers in the US, UK, and China, and revealed that a significant majority view wellness as a crucial aspect of their lives, with increasing investment in categories like health, fitness, and nutrition. Interestingly, consumers are showing a preference for clinically effective products over merely "clean and natural" options, driven by a desire for proven results. The interview also touched on the importance of healthy aging and the rising interest in weight management and gut health, underscoring the opportunities for innovation in these areas. Lastly, Anna noted the pandemic's impact on consumer behavior, accelerating the focus on proactive health management and the potential of gen AI to personalize wellness interventions. LIsten to or read the script below. Happy learning! What’s new in consumer wellness trends? | McKinsey https://mck.co/4bhGGGZ

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Understanding how consumers perceive taste by examining brain responses marks a significant evolution in moving beyond stated opinions and focusing more on scientific facts. Curious to see how this impacts NPD and consumer engagement in the future. One to watch… #Consumerindustries

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It is always exciting when retailers create new categories and Walmart does it right with their newest category called Modern Soda category featuring innovative and better for you brands. Walmart's decision to modernize its soda shelves to prioritize functional beverages marks a pivotal moment in retail innovation. As this article from BeverageDaily highlights, the shift reflects evolving consumer demands for products that not only quench thirst but also enhance health and wellness. This trend resonates with what Pathformance is seeing across the industry: the integration of purpose-driven products with data-driven strategies. OLIPOP PBC Zevia poppi #CPG #Retail #media #measurement

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The orange 🍊 crisis continues unabated as climate-driven extreme weather, citrus greening disease and political instability in key orange-growing regions have severely disrupted supply chains and driven up prices to unprecedented levels. In an exclusive interview with Food Ingredients First, Kerry's Erlon Pereira dives into the perfect storm of challenges facing the orange 🍊 (and wider juice ) industries, as well as difficulties in the citrus 🍋 🍊 flavors sector. Supply chain constraints due to heatwaves, drought and citrus greening disease — an incurable bacterial infection that causes bitter, stunted fruit and kills trees within a few years — have led to soaring prices 💵 💲, up by more than 20% in a year. This price increase continues to create significant challenges for companies in the F&B industry while harvests are at a low. Meanwhile, the surge in prices 💰is forcing manufacturers and consumers to adapt, considering alternative fruit juices like pear, apple 🍎 🍏 and grape 🍇 to mitigate costs and supply chain disruptions. How can the team at Kerry help? The Kerry team has been working with beverage manufacturers for quite some time to help address the challenges they are facing with the citrus commodity market. Depending on the product application, whether it be a juice, soft drink or an alcoholic drink, Kerry has a comprehensive toolkit available that our applications teams can use to help our customers reduce their reliance on citrus commodities or truly reinvent their product with innovative consumer-focused concepts. Please do read the full article on the link below to find put more, and please do get in touch with the beverages team at Kerry, we are here to help. #beverages #orangejuice #taste #cirtus #orangejuicecrisis #Kerry #orange Thomas Hahlin Ahlinder John Savage Leigh-Anne Vaughan Sheelagh Pentony Samantha Fagundes de Toledo Marc LEJEUNE Farrah Gilsenan Breda Kelly Tiphaine BEAU Carol Dunne Gwyneth Kelly Michelle Osagie Gilles Halotel Michel Aubanel Sergio Saavedra Rodríguez Ian Chesworth Birgit Schaaf Aoife Mc Donald Elaine Druhan Erika Minaguchi Magdalena Edyta Przewoźnik Barbara Lezzer John Craven Mark Gallo Francois Sonneville Stephen Rannekleiv Bourcard Nesin Jim Watson Ton Mesters Sean Ging Sinéad Smith David Deeley Brian Short Kerry: Reducing reliance on citrus commodities as orange crisis continues to bite (foodingredientsfirst.com)

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Circana's newest report reveals that Hispanic consumers are driving 16% of total U.S. CPG growth! With 20% of the U.S. population identifying as Hispanic and 71% of national growth between 2022 and 2023 attributed to this group, it’s clear that brands and retailers need to align with their preferences and values to capture future growth opportunities. Explore the significant impact of the Hispanic population on CPG growth: https://bit.ly/4hsdvEv

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"For years, industry stakeholders like the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) have warned of a “price crisis” in #coffee. Since 2019, the SCA’s Price Crisis Response Initiative has sought to address the disparity between producer costs and market #prices. Now that that prices finally are up, it remains to be seen how the industry –and long-term advocates for higher prices – will react when faced with challenging supply chain-wide realities. " - Coffee Intelligence Sarah Charles speaks with Albert Scalla, Senir Vice President of Trading at StoneX Group Inc., and Thiago Marques Cazarini, Owner of Cazarini Trading Company who share key industry insights on the recent coffee prices surge and the impacts these will have across the value chain from producers to consumers. https://lnkd.in/eSTYdsE4

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I think food & beverage companies might be doing a poor job of navigating the narrative around gross margins with our retailer partners. The pressure is intense on the manufacturer community, but... Gross margin indexed to 2019 is expected to be at 87 (from the FCC Food and Bev report published in Grocery Biz Mag). That's a 13 point drop in 5 years. Even if well managed and well absorbed by businesses through cuts in expenses, leading to income improvement, that is an unhealthy business. Price inflation at stores has decelerated significantly, although consumers are still paying well north of 20% more than they did very few years ago for similar baskets. So, even with the price increases in the last few years, and even as consumers have absorbed that cost, the businesses in our industry are struggling to continue building the same way they were in prior years. Commercial teams need more talent, financial discipline & understanding, greater partnership skills, and just quite simply, the capacity to deal with a more difficult environment. And from an execution perspective - new game plans are a must. Running the same plan will lead to the same results; which currently looks like a deterioration of business. Test. Try. Execute well. ****************************************************************************** Maverick Sales. We are builders. FMCG. OTC. Beauty. Bricks & Mortar. Digital Commerce. Field Sales. Canada Experts. Contact us to learn more.

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Snack Trends Alert! Protein power, sustainability strides, and flavor fusions are reshaping snacking in 2024! Key takeaways from a recent article in Food Business News by Brooke Just: Protein Reigns Supreme: General Mills, Kodiak Cakes, and @Wilde Brands are leading the charge with protein-packed snacks, responding to consumer demand for healthier options. From bars to chips, protein is the star of the show, offering guilt-free indulgence with a health halo. Sugar Reduction: Consumers are seeking sweet treats without the added sugar, driving brands to explore natural alternatives like dates. With Date Better Snacks leading the way, snacks sweetened with dates offer nostalgia without the naughty, appealing to health-conscious snackers. Sustainability: Upcycled foods are making waves in the snack industry, with brands like Mosh and Balanced Tiger leading the charge. By repurposing overlooked ingredients, these brands are not only reducing food waste but also creating sustainable snack options for a greener planet. Super Mushrooms: Mushrooms are emerging as a powerhouse ingredient in snacks, offering health benefits and unique flavor profiles. From bars to chips, lion's mane and other super mushrooms are becoming mainstream, blurring the lines between functional foods and indulgent treats. Evolving Flavors: Bold new flavors like jalapeño and dill pickle are shaking up the snack scene, appealing to adventurous taste buds. With brands like Sister Schubert's and Good Foods Group, LLC leading the way, savory snacks are getting a spicy makeover. Looking to tap into these trends and take your snacks to the next level? Upcycled Foods, Inc. (UP, Inc.) has the solution! Our ReGrained SuperGrain+ is a B2B ingredient that can enhance protein, fiber, and flavor in snack foods, all while addressing sustainability. By repurposing nutritious grains that would otherwise go to waste, Upcycled Foods helps snack food manufacturers create delicious, nutritious, and planet-friendly snacks that consumers will love. Join us in revolutionizing snacking for a healthier, more sustainable future! #SnackRevolution #alternativeproteins #upcycledfoods #foodwaste #snacktrends #SustainableSnacking #Regrained Daniel Kurzrock Upcycled Food Association

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