Jessica Ross

Street-level panels like these place your brand right on the consumer's path-to-purchase, giving you the last word in their buying journey! #OOH #miami #advertising

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Papa Johns $PZZA just released their Q2 2024 earnings report, and it's a slice of reality in a competitive market 🍕. Revenue dropped due to economic pressures, but Papa John's is implementing strategies to tackle those challenges head-on. The company is focused on international restructuring and investing heavily in digital technologies to meet evolving customer preferences. They're also emphasizing operational efficiency and customer-centric initiatives. Despite the headwinds, Papa Johns remains optimistic about their long-term growth strategy. Will they succeed in navigating the current climate? Read More ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gc9Q37bz #PapaJohns #PZZA #Q2Earnings #Pizza #RestaurantIndustry

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Guru takes its wings back from Pepsi La Presse features interesting reporting today on Guru’s decision to reclaim control of its sales and merchandising efforts. So many partnerships and product launches get media attention. Yet it’s the breakups and failures that often offer the most valuable lessons. There are no doubt two sides to this story. June 2021 press release highlights: “Partnering with PepsiCo Beverages Canada at this stage of our growth for the Canadian distribution of our better-for-you energy drinks is a game changer for Guru and has the potential to accelerate our sales and distribution plans. This agreement is also a strong endorsement of Guru’s growing brand profile, which is quickly setting the standard as the Canadian consumer’s organic plant-based energy drink of choice. This is thanks to our differentiated brand and clean list of ingredients that delivers good taste and good energy,” said Carl Goyette President and CEO of Guru. “Guru quickly made its mark as a disruptive energy drink brand with ingredients that are organic and plant-based,” said Mike Ruff, President of PepsiCo Beverages Canada. “As we continue to focus on being consumer-centric, this partnership will help us expand our energy drink portfolio and meet the rapid changes in consumer demand for more functional beverages.” The agreement was set for an initial term of 10 years, subject to 5-year renewal periods. November 2024 reporting in La Presse: “We had a story of growth and profitability before the partnership with Pepsi. Since then, our growth has slowed, and we’ve incurred significant losses.” — Carl Goyette, CEO of Guru Guru posted a net loss of $9.8 million in 2021, $17.5 million in 2022, and $12 million last year. Analyst Martin Landry noted that the termination of the agreement came soon after both companies were legally able to end the deal without cause. “This suggests the partnership did not deliver the expected benefits for either party,” he observed.

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The Mars Agency's Retail Media Report Card Deep Dive webinar is now available to watch on demand! Tune in to hear insights from Andy Howard, Katy Jordan, and Kayla Corridon on 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/gxbWQ7mC #retailmedia #webinar #retailmediareportcard

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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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I deeply respect Mark Ritson but his recent article criticizing Starbucks’ brand positioning misses a crucial point: scale and complexity. His dismissal of Starbucks’ mission as “esoteric” and his criticism of internal input show nothing but a lack of understanding of what it takes to align a corporation of 400,000 employees worldwide behind a cohesive brand vision. Starbucks is not just a coffee company; it’s a global cultural icon. Managing a brand at this scale isn’t as simple as crafting a cool, customer-centric tagline. It requires a delicate balance of unifying internal culture, maintaining global consistency, and ensuring customer resonance. And to do that, their new CEO has to bring the company back to revenue and profit first. Dismissing these aspects as fluff fails to grasp the holistic nature of business challenges and modern brand positioning. A brand like Starbucks must connect with customers AND employees to remain true to its purpose. Yes, simplicity is critical in brand strategy, but to “cut the crap” is not an actionable advice for a brand at this scale. And If Mark were to step into the shoes of a leader responsible for guiding 400,000 employees and millions of customers, he might find that simplicity isn’t so simple after all…

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Major League Baseball on Monday announced WM, a leading environmental services provider, as the Official Sustainability Partner of Major League Baseball. This is the first sustainability-focused partner in League history, which will aim to elevate MLB’s continued sustainability-related efforts in ballparks and throughout communities. WM will be the presenting sponsor of Major League Baseball’s official Earth Day and Green Week celebrations, which will include a variety of environmental-positive practices and messaging. Additionally, WM will offer sustainability advisory services to MLB Clubs, which includes end-to-end solutions intended to help customers achieve their sustainability goals in waste reduction and diversion, greenhouse gas emissions management, and more. WM also will support MLB Green Teams at MLB All-Star Week, the World Series and other MLB special events, as well as provide support to the League office and its facilities. “As with any event driven industry that prioritizes sustainability at our facilities and in our communities, it is critical that we partner with organizations that share similar values in that space,” said Noah Garden, Deputy Commissioner, Business & Media, Major League Baseball. “This new partnership with WM takes our sustainability efforts to new heights. We look forward to continuing this work with WM as we host best-in-class events that are sustainability-focused driven for years to come.” “WM has a more than 20-year history for its advisory services team, providing sustainability solutions for a variety of customers of all sizes and industries,” said Tara Hemmer, chief sustainability officer, WM. “Our expertise has helped us triple the number of customers in the sports space since 2021 – including leagues, events, teams and venues -- and we look forward to the incredible opportunity to build comprehensive and custom plans designed to improve sustainable operations for MLB and its Clubs.” https://lnkd.in/gEM-rYBF

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Ready to dust off your jack-o-lanterns? Liquid Death and Yeti team up on a "Casket Cooler"—a spooky, (literally) chilling addition to any holiday party. This adds to the list of bold statements released by Liquid Death this year, excited to see how the upcoming season introduces more themed collabs! #ConsumerTrends #BrandCollab #BrandStrategy

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📣 MERGE just ranked #20 on MM+M's Top 100 North American healthcare agencies of 2024. Just for fun, as part of the entry, we were tasked with designing a jersey to go along with MM+M's football theme this year. We may have a future in the NFL. 🏈 😂 "In an era where therapeutically transformative breakthroughs and tech-fueled disruption are the norm, the MM+M Agency 100 remains the definitive guide to the ever-evolving world of medical marketing agencies." DM me if you'd like to start a conversation with our MERGE Life Science team of experts. 💡 https://lnkd.in/efJ-Z6BT

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Data, data, data! With Atlanta being recognized as a sports epicenter, using data to target sports fans has never been more valuable combined with OOH. Like peas and carrots! #Advertising #outofhome #atlanta #data #mobilesolutions

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Oh, you want to talk about the fake food game? Let me tell ya, we're all about that weight, function and training for our replica food. We've got all the specs and functions down to a T. Our food props are so visually believable you'll wanna take a bite, but don't be fooled, it's 100% fake! #ReplicaFoodByRJ #ReflectingRealism #WeAreTheFoodFakers #Fakefood #VisualFoodMerchandising #ReplicaFood #RealismByDesign #Merchandising #foodmerchandising #foodprops #visualfoodeffects #for play #exhibits #visuallyfunctional #deliciouslooking #100%fake #customreplica

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Oh, you want to talk about the fake food game? Let me tell ya, we're all about that weight, function and training for our replica food. We've got all the specs and functions down to a T. Our food props are so visually believable you'll wanna take a bite, but don't be fooled, it's 100% fake! #ReplicaFoodByRJ #ReflectingRealism #WeAreTheFoodFakers #Fakefood #VisualFoodMerchandising #ReplicaFood #RealismByDesign #Merchandising #foodmerchandising #foodprops #visualfoodeffects #for play #exhibits #visuallyfunctional #deliciouslooking #100%fake #customreplica

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Oh, you want to talk about the fake food game? Let me tell ya, we're all about that weight, function and training for our replica food. We've got all the specs and functions down to a T. Our food props are so visually believable you'll wanna take a bite, but don't be fooled, it's 100% fake! #ReplicaFoodByRJ #ReflectingRealism #WeAreTheFoodFakers #Fakefood #VisualFoodMerchandising #ReplicaFood #RealismByDesign #Merchandising #foodmerchandising #foodprops #visualfoodeffects #for play #exhibits #visuallyfunctional #deliciouslooking #100%fake #customreplica

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Holograms impact consumer behavior by creating immersive and interactive experiences that captivate and engage consumers on a deeper level. Barfly Media's hologram units, for example, are revolutionizing how spirit brands engage with consumers in liquor stores and bars, making the brand experience more memorable and impactful. Are there specific campaigns or brands you think could benefit from this technology?

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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/dUXpPsT4 #retailmedia #webinar #retailmediareportcard

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Brands working with us can get CPM’s that are 30-40% lower than market rate when advertising on Connected TV, traditional linear TV, radio, display, or out of home. Media is very relationship based and of course, volume and purchase based. It’s like your local bakery. If you go there every single week for a year, the owner of the bakery is going to start giving you the freshest bread, the newest things that they're trying - they'll probably give it to you at cost every once in a while or say, “Hey, today's on me!” It's the same thing in paid media. If you go to the same media vendor and you're working with the same rep, and you're committing to spending 8 figures in a quarter - that rep is going to give a better deal than somebody that just goes to them for the one time. So that's really the way that we work with our buying commitments. We'll approach the broadcasters, whether it's on traditional TV, Connected TV, your display / online video suppliers, radio, out of home, all of them, and tell them we're going to commit to buying volume. Particularly in Canada, media buying is a very relationship driven business and an industry where everybody is very well connected and knows each other. Suppliers may typically charge a premium to work with a person they aren’t as familiar with. We've been working with some of the same reps for 20 years at the broadcast houses, so you can imagine the relationships that we've developed since then. We’re excited by this cost advantage because it lets our clients reserve that budget for a secondary campaign or invest into new creative that will improve conversion rates. If you want to get access to these efficient CPM’s for your next campaign, send our team a message!

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