Jon Nelson

Recent Nielsen data reveals that additive-free tequila now represents 5% of the U.S. market. What does that 5% equate to? More than $425 million annually. Here's what we can anticipate: Additive-free tequila is poised to mirror the trajectory of craft beer. Much like craft beer chipped away at the dominance of large beer companies by appealing to discerning consumers, additive-free tequila will gradually capture more market share. Currently, craft beer accounts for 13% of the U.S. beer market. Additive-free tequila is on a similar path to success. Share this if you’re excited to join this movement.

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I talk a lot about bootstrapping CPG including building a production facility without any external funding. The biggest investment was the Reiser Vemag 500 just over a year ago. Huge props to Mark Vanco for being patient with me thru the months of back and forth. Anyone serious about dough extrusion should check this machine out. There are bigger faster versions of this. We are happy with 70 bars a minute right now :) I still believe that vertical integration is the long term strategy in CPG. Debate me … #reiser #cpg #sustainablebusiness

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It is finally Sweets & Snacks Expo week! Upland President Jacqueline Holliday and Principal Evan Millman are headed to Indy – reach out if you want to grab a coffee☕!   Our team will be on the lookout for brands that are challenging the norm and meeting a range of evolving consumer preferences like 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿-𝗙𝗼𝗿-𝗬𝗼𝘂 (BFY), 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻-𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱, and 𝗙𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁-𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰. Across a busy landscape, here are some brands already on the market that deliver on recent trends: ✅ Drumroll Snacks – protein-forward healthy indulgence donuts Drumroll challenges traditional protein formats with its range of glazed, plant-based donuts, each of which delivers 10 grams of protein per serving. They’re also gluten-free and low in sugar, catering to the needs of health-conscious consumers without compromising on flavor. ✅ OLOVES Olives – savory and convenient Oloves emerges as the ultimate solution for those craving a savory snack on the go. Oloves presents olives in convenient, portable pouches in enticing flavor combinations: basil and garlic, zesty lemon & rosemary, and fiery chili & oregano.   ✅ 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 (Cibo Vita) – a 2023 Sweets and Snack Expo Innovation Award finalist  This offering from Nature’s Garden hits on BFY, Fruit Centric, and Healthy Indulgence with its fusion of yogurt, real fruit pieces, and 2 billion live probiotic cultures.   ✅ 𝗙𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝗥𝗶𝗼𝘁! – nature’s candy at the center This brand puts the spotlight on fruit with frozen grapes coated in lemon juice and sour candy. Imagine the familiar tang of a Sour Patch Kid, but with the natural sweetness of grapes. We’re excited to see more innovative brands at the Expo this week. Contact [email protected] if you’d like to set up a meeting to discuss #disruption in your category! #innovation #snacks #confections #marketing #ontheroad

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When it comes to the bottling industry, custom packaging plays a vital role in helping your product stand out on the shelves while ensuring it remains safe and fresh for consumers. Whether you’re bottling beverages like juice, water, or specialty drinks, choosing between glass or plastic bottles is an important decision that impacts the aesthetics and functionality of your product and even speaks to the values of your target audience. But custom packaging goes beyond just selecting the right bottle—it also includes the label design, quality control processes, and even value-added steps like printing Best Before dates. Glass or Plastic? Finding the Right Custom Packaging Solution When deciding between glass or plastic for your bottles, each option has its own advantages depending on your brand, target market, and the product itself. https://lnkd.in/gUAPeJVD #copacking #copacker #bottling #foodpackaging

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Did you know the Kentucky Bourbon market is facing a supply-demand gap? 🥃 With a shortage of aged stock, brands are feeling the squeeze! Unlike Scotch whisky, where distillery reputation is key, bourbon relies on contract distillers to supply iconic brands like Bulleit Bourbon, Templeton Rye, and High West. 🏭 This structure makes bourbon’s value determined by the quality of the liquid and its age – setting it apart from Scotch! ⏳

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skilled Labor shortage, more of it needed, upskilling required... According to a recent survey of 300 manufacturing executives by CADDi, there are 3 top pressure points facing manufacturers in the U.S. 1 - Lack access to skilled labor (56%) 2 - Navigating political demands to bring more production on shore (51%) 3 - Equip current employees to step into strategic roles (50%) Add to this the major turnover churn that took place over the last 4 years leading to tenure at record lows and the issues begin to mount. There are many approaches to solve this through sourcing, training and development. These approaches will fall short unless there is a clear management system with the appropriate tools available to ensure sustaining success. The right people need to be on the bus, they need to know what they are accountable for, they need to tools to succeed and they need to know the score continuously. If this sounds like what you need, please pm me and let's get some time on the calendar to discuss your situation. OPSJAM is uniquely positioned with the resource connections to solve your biggest Supply Chain Operations challenges.

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Rubix Foods has its finger on the pulse of the hottest flavor trends and brings those trends to life for roughly 70% of the top QSR and FSR restaurant brands in the nation. On the newest episode of Forktales, we’re joined by Shannon O'Shields, VP of marketing for Rubix Foods, for a sneak peek at how the company helps restaurants stay one bite ahead of the competition. FULL EPISODE: www.forktales.co #marketing #marketingpodcast #branding #brandingpodcast #restaurantmarketing #restaurantbranding #restaurantstrategy #restaurantgrowth #advertising #marketingpodcast #forktales #forktalespodcast #vigor #FlavorTrends #RubixFoods

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Artisan Beverage Producers Explore Job Sharing to Address Workforce Shortages Workforce shortages are one of the top issues for wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries in the artisan beverage industry. The Business Alliance for Artisan Fermenters and Distillers has taken an innovative approach to address the issue through a feasibility study exploring job sharing among these agri-businesses. The study, supported by the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC), has opened minds to a unique approach and identified new opportunities for a more resilient, sustainable artisan beverage sector. READ MORE > https://lnkd.in/dFP-iBn6 #StrongEconomy #StrongerCommunities #ETSIBC

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Hey Brewers! Ever wonder how cutting corners can impact your brewery in the long run? Join our free webinar, "How Cutting Corners Can Hurt Your Brewery," with CEO and Founder Pulkit K. Agrawal and Samantha Aycock from Revel CPA. 🗓️ Mark your calendars for July 11th, 2024 at 3 PM ET / 12 PM PT. Comment "WEBINAR" below for the link! 🚀 #Beer30 #Webinar #CraftBeerIndustry #Brewers

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"Sustainability is no longer a buzzword; we need to align with our processors and customers as they look to reduce their carbon footprint" - JJ Pagel of PAGEL'S PONDEROSA DAIRY, LLC. Whether you have 4 cows or 4,000+, PDP is here to empower your on-farm sustainability story. Your Farm - Your Footprint helps dairy producers to know and understand their environmental footprint score and implement solutions to shape the future of their farms. Learn more about Your Farm - Your Footprint at https://lnkd.in/gwXpkU6P

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Auto-Rinse™ is actually 3 pieces of equipment efficiently packaged in a single, compact footprint--and that's why it's in a category of its own!🏆 Let's break it down: 1️⃣ The Top Deck is a storage area for bar tools to keep everything within arm's reach 2️⃣ The Rinse Platform is where 2 items + a strainer are rinsed inside & out--with warm water 3️⃣ The Ice Dump is where you dump used shaker ice (and where the rinse water flows down to melt it) As you can see, it does much more than a simple beer glass rinser, and it's much easier to retrofit into an existing design. Auto-Rinse™ is an optimal solution that finally takes the standard bar station into the future.🚀 If you want to give your entire FOH staff more time to engage and sell, you need to invest in automatic rinsing with Auto-Rinse™. Learn more about Auto-Rinse™ here: https://lnkd.in/et9MuYD #bars #restaurants #cocktails #foodsafety #restaurantdesign #bardesign

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There's a lot of talk about the state of Gen Z mentally, emotionally and professionally. Certainly, there's good evidence that this generation may not be prepared...or even suited...for corporate jobs. Consider the stat that Mike Kostyo shared in his #fridayfive last week, that 26% of Gen Z applicants bring their parents to job interviews. Of, that over 50% have trouble making eye-contact with interviewers. It's true, those stats are concerning. Balance those, however, with this article from The Wall Street Journal with plenty of supporting evidence that Gen Z is turning into a toolbelt generation - https://lnkd.in/ew-vcRQx. There's plenty of evidence that Gen Z is turning to technical careers for a host of reasons, and promoting those choices on social media which may simply serve to spur an even greater surge in vocational school applications. From a food point of view, why does this matter. While it's hard to say specifically how this type of a professional shift may impact consumer needs and demands specific to foodservice, there will undoubtedly be changes. Consider how working hours will change if a greater share of this generation is employed in the trades...or how incomes and income growth will shift. These careers may change the type of solutions required including shifting convenience, at home solutions, and daypart availability. Often, trends we read about may seem disconnected from the food industry but, inevitably, shifts well beyond flavors, ingredients, cuisines and formats will ultimately drive trends in these areas. At Menu Matters LLC, we're here to help clients connect all of these dots to be better prepared for changes in the short and long-term. #innovation #genz #trends2024 #consumerbehavior #consumerinsights #foodandbeverageindustry #foodservice #trades

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#FunFoodFactFriday On December 4, 1991, the trademark for Zima was filed by the Coors Brewing Company. The clear malt-based beverage was developed as an alternative to the wildly successful wine cooler market in the 1990s. It also was a part of the “clear craze” of the same era, which also produced products such as Crystal Pepsi. Zima was created by removing the color and taste from beer with activated charcoal and adding lemon lime flavor to the reconstituted product. The new lemon-lime flavored beverage was initially test-marketed in Nashville, Sacramento, and Syracuse in 1991 but was launched nationally in the US in 1993 as Zima Clearmalt. To further set the drink apart from beer, it was marketed in a clear, fluted-glass bottle. The name “Zima” means “winter” in many Slavic languages, and it was marketed in a $50 million campaign using the tagline, “Zomething different.” Over the next few years, an estimated 70% of American alcohol drinkers would try Zima, and it was particularly popular with young women. At its peak in 1994, Zima sold 1.3 million barrels. However, Zima struggled with the male market, even though Zima Gold (with a “taste of bourbon”) was released in 1995 but disappeared within the year. In the 2000s, Zima was reformulated with various fruit flavors, like citrus, tangerine, and pineapple. However, the brand would discontinue production entirely in October 2008. Other Fun Facts: *** In addition to numerous commercials, Zima launched one of the first-ever websites for a food product. *** Zima still can be found in Japan and is a popular drink with both males and females. The beverage never left the Japanese market, and it remains relatively popular. It is distributed by Hakutsuru Sake Brewing Company in partnership with Molson Coors Beverage Company. *** Zima returned to US shelves for a brief time in the summers of 2017 and 2018 but hasn’t had a revival since. #cpgindustry #beverageindustry #innovation #forhireresults #nowyouknow

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How can Lineage's 'Innovation Challenge' revolutionize food waste reduction across the supply chain? Greg Lehmkuhl, President and CEO of Lineage, highlights the dire need for solutions. Supported by Walmart, Tyson Foods, Dole Food Company, and Kroger, this competition empowers students and startups to develop innovative strategies for reducing postharvest losses. #FoodWaste #InnovationChallenge #SupplyChainInnovation

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The American People Are Hungry for a New Farm Bill By Grant Colvin Executive Director of the Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *   As lawmakers return to Washington after a month back home with their constituents, they have a golden opportunity to address the top voter priority of lowering food costs by passing a bipartisan farm bill.   Extensive ongoing coverage and polling prove that Americans are frustrated with stubbornly high grocery bills. The fact that both presidential campaigns have placed food prices at the center of their economic policy proposals speaks to the potency of this issue for voters in all corners of the country and across the political spectrum.    How can the sugar program be reformed to lower food costs? In short, our outdated sugar program restricts domestic sugar production and imports, which in turn creates unnecessary ingredient shortages and cost increases for American food manufacturers. Given the prevalence of sugar as an ingredient in many grocery store staples—peanut butter, pasta sauce, bread, yogurt, and so many more—these same outdated policies also weigh down the budgets of families and small businesses.   This bipartisan, problem-solving action by Congressional agriculture leaders is commendable and should be recognized as the most promising momentum for sugar program modernization in decades. Notably, the emerging consensus on this package of reforms is backed by both sugar producers and food manufacturers. With that key support locked in, lawmakers are now positioned to land a defining blow in the country’s fight against high food costs. But they need to pass the farm bill in the weeks ahead.   That’s why food manufacturers and farm groups from across the country have been imploring lawmakers to pass a farm bill that delivers targeted reforms and provides relief for consumers. Manufacturers, small businesses, and families deserve the certainty of a five-year farm bill reauthorization, rather than falling back on yet another short-term extension that falls short on much-needed changes to the sugar program and other key areas.   Days may be running short for the 118th Congress, but there’s still time for lawmakers to bring food price relief to the overwhelming number of Americans yearning for Washington to come together and focus on this issue. To do so, let’s get the farm bill over the finish line.   Grant Colvin is the executive director of the Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy, a large coalition of food companies, trade associations, consumer groups, free market organizations, and many others united in pursuit of a fairer, simpler U.S. sugar program.  

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Dive into the future of food safety with ReposiTrak CEO Randy Fields! In his latest feature in Supermarket Perimeter, Randy discusses the critical importance of a comprehensive traceability plan for the industry. His insights are invaluable for anyone looking to stay ahead in food safety. For a deeper understanding and the full article, follow this: https://lnkd.in/gNSMq4tZ #Traceability #FoodSafety #FSMA204 #SupermarketPerimeter

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Listening to peers in your industry can uncover insights you never realized you needed. In this #TBT episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, Adam Hall of Boulevard Brewing Company shares how collaboration and open dialogue can lead to enlightening "light bulb" moments. To stay innovative in your industry, you need to listen, look and learn! Catch episode 201 on our website, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. #throwbackthursday #manufacturingindustry #brewingindustry

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