Matthew Robertson

CNBC reports “As booze alternatives take off, more nonalcoholic drink makers promote health benefits as the next buzz” "A more health-conscious younger consumer and an aging older demographic are contributing to a growing interest in nonalcoholic drinks, according to Nielsen IQ, and to the rise of a niche subset called “functional beverages.” Is functionality and health benefits the future of non-alcoholic drinking? What are some of your favourite functional beverages right now? We might be biased, but we think gut benefit boosting drinks like Agua de Madre and Mother Root Drinks are two of the best! 🏆 https://lnkd.in/eSjA23Kt

12

1 Comment

🎥 What do the U.S. #1 baby bottle brand and the fastest-growing energy drink have in common? Beyond being essentials for any new (and tired!) Mom, these two powerhouse brands @Nutrabolt and @Dr. Brown's are driven by leaders with a purpose— showing that making a positive impact can fuel business growth. 💡 👉Watch this exclusive recorded webinar (link in the comments) if you want to be inspired by Christy Pogorelac and Emily Clark and learn how they’re turning purpose into action and creating success in their industries. Their insights can help shape your own journey! #Sustainability #SocialImpact #Leadership #Webinar #Innovation #BrandSuccess #PlasticBank

14

1 Comment

🌿 Convenience and wellness will continue to dominate consumer trends in 2025 as consumers increasingly seek ultra-convenient, nutritious meal options that fit seamlessly into their busy lifestyles. From immune-boosting foods to low-calorie, functional beverages with added health benefits, people are prioritizing health-conscious, mindful consumption. Brands that can align with these trends are positioning themselves for success in 2025. The OFI is ready to help businesses capitalize on these shifts by strategically planning campaigns that resonate with evolving consumer preferences. Let’s start preparing now, so your business is ready to thrive in the new year! Interested in learning more? Comment below, DM us, or visit our website at https://lnkd.in/gGXHeF2k to discuss how we can help you stay ahead in 2025. #ConsumerTrends2025 #ConvenienceAndWellness #BusinessGrowth2025

6

Functional drinks are one of the biggest trends in F&B in 2024 📈 Consumers are increasingly looking for drinks that do more than act as an alcohol alternative or form of pure hydration. ❌ Forget friends with benefits. ✅ We want bevs with benefits. Is it good for my health? Is it good for the planet? Is it going to wipe out my terrible karma for subjecting my team to last Friday’s Karaoke? We’re at least addressing two of those concerns: - Our drinks our low-calorie ⁠- Our flavours are ALL NATURAL and FREE FROM SWEETENERS - We’ve got options with prebiotic fibre, live cultures, and CBD If you wanna give the people what they want - you know where to find us: 💌 [email protected]

12

3 Comments

If you're heading to SuperZoo Aug. 14-16 in Las Vegas, you won't want to miss the panel at 10:30 a.m. CT on Aug. 16 on opportunities for Petcare Startups. SKU Executive Director Buff Greebe will be a part of the superstar panel of the leaders of the nation's top industry accelerators. Other members of the panel include: - Moderator: SKU alum Jamie Smith, co-founder of Innovative Pet Lab - Dustin McAdams, EIR Purina PetCare Innovation Prize - Anne Gunden, Program Manager, Animal Health Plug and Play - Rachel Sheppard, Director Ventures at Mars Petcare Pet industry professionals from around the world will attend the 2024 SuperZoo, North America’s leading pet retail trade show. More than 16K attendees are expected to attend this year's show, including more than 1.3K buyers and 1.1K exhibitors. Several SKU alums will be exhibiting, including Springer Pets (1488), 🐶 A Pup Above (3469) and Innovative Pet Lab (7177). If you would like to connect with Buff Greebe at the show, email him at [email protected] to schedule a time. Michelle Breyer Buff Greebe Brooke Wilson Maddie S. 🐶 Ruth Stedman Marriott Javier A. Marriott Shannon Ross James (Jay) DeLong #petcare #petstartups #accelerator #petaccelerator #petproducts #emergingbrands #dogfood #catfood #dogaccessorites #petcare #petcareindustry #petcareinnovation #petaccelerators #mentors #mentorshipmatters #petstartups #petfounders #entrepreneurship #founders #emergingbrands #petemergingbrands

5

At 3 Tier Beverages, we use BDI (Brand Development Index) 📊 and CDI (Category Development Index) 🛒 to help beverage brands focus on the markets that matter most. BDI 📈 shows where your brand is strongest compared to your overall performance. CDI 🌎 reveals how well the category is doing in specific markets. Here’s why it matters: High BDI + High CDI 🎉: You’re winning in a strong market—keep the momentum going! Low BDI + High CDI 🔍: A sign of untapped opportunities in high-demand markets. These insights power #smarter strategies, helping you #grow where it counts. Let’s find your next big #win! 🍻 🌱📚 Come Learn and Grow with Us! 🚀🌟

15

Introducing the evolution of Quarter Proof: Reengineering traditional spirits for modern drinkers. We're thrilled to unveil our rebrand, marking a significant step in our mission to create a new model of alcohol consumption. At Quarter Proof, we're not just evolving our brand - we're ushering in a new era: Spirits 3.0. Let's take a moment to reflect on the journey of spirits: Spirits 1.0 dates back to c. 7000 B.C. in China with a fermented beverage made of wild grapes, hawthorn, rice, and honey. By the 18th century, distillation techniques had advanced significantly around the world, leading to the creation of iconic spirits like gin and bourbon. Spirits 2.0 emerged in the 21st century with the rise of non-alcoholic alternatives. The global non-alcoholic spirits market was valued at £227 million in 2021 and is projected to reach £503 million by 2031, reflecting a growing demand for alcohol-free options. Spirits 3.0, introduced by Quarter Proof. A revolution that combines the best of both worlds. Our innovative fractionation technology allows us to deliver the full flavour and experience of traditional spirits at only 15% ABV. So, between all-or-nothing, we’ve created a third way of drinking: an antidote to the idea that moderation is something to be endured, not enjoyed. Quarter Proof represents the convergence of luxury and functionality.  We're challenging the outdated norms of high-ABV spirits, offering a comprehensive range that includes our Blanco Agave  and London Dry, as well as two new spirits already in the works (first one dropping June 17th, mark your calendars!) Based on human fundamentals, as opposed to the rules around it, Quarter Proof provides the freedom to enjoy premium spirits on your own terms and without compromise. Join us in redefining the future of spirits. Quarter Proof: Same pleasure. More freedom. #FutureOfSpirits #MindfulDrinking #LuxuryWithPurpose

30

7 Comments

Trends predictions for the new year are here, and my latest for Commercial Baking dives into what the Whole Foods Market Trends Council has its eye on for 2025.

15

🌟 We’re proud to have been a finalist at the Process Innovation Challenge with Sous Chef! 🌟 Sous Chef was designed to create content that speaks directly to each of your target personas, delivering the right 'flavor' for every audience. Customize these to perfection, refining them through engagement insights to make sure each message hits just right. Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all translations. Say hello to targeted, seamless communication—from source to target personas! Watch our CEO, Gabriel Fairman, present it in action in the video! #Localization #ProcessInnovation #SousChef #Translation

12

Upgrade your office snacks with more flavor and better nutrition for sustained energy Whether you are craving something sweet, salty, crispy or chewy, there are plenty of delightful choices in each category. The typical Orchard Snack Box contains an assortment of tasty treats in five categories: Crunchy & Savory, Bars, Nuts, Fruit and Jerky. The percentage of snacks in each category in your box will be the same no matter which size you order. Larger count boxes may feature more flavors of each product.

1

Nutrition Business Journal data shows that mass retail continues to dominate the channel split for hydration and energy beverages with a 93.2% share. While online sales remain limited for both, hydration is seeing faster growth here with 5.3% share vs 1.3% tracked in the energy beverage space. Whether your products are found in brick-and-mortar or a digital storefront, enXtra can help bring NEW opportunities to grow your hydration business. Contact us for more information at [email protected]. #MentalEneregy #Focus #Attention #Alertness #Hydration #FunctionalBeverages

28

1 Comment

As a food and beverage provider you have to look at consumer trends to make sure you're giving people what they want. Food preference is an ever shifting landscape, and one that can change very suddenly. To make sure our food offering is meeting consumer needs we have to constantly compare internal and external trends. Finding the balance is crucial for keeping current customers happy and attracting new people into the venues through our food offering. There are also so many emerging trends in the food and beverage world that it is often a mammoth task to build out the correct offering without being too reactive to 'flash in the pan' trends that are gone as quickly as they come. The two lasting trends that we've found most interesting have been: 1) A shift towards 'healthy eating' that has 32% of millennials saying is their main focus when considering food and drink. 2) The power of social media and especially Tik Tok in setting the tone for consumers desires and habits around food. As we continue to improve on the food and drink offering at X-Golf and Hey Caddy, these trends have become the lenses that we develop our offering through. Doing this means there won't be any nasty surprises for us as hospitality provider when we look at our data and find we're behind the times. #xgolf #consumertrends #foodandbeverage #emergingtrends #hospitalityindustry

10

#expowest is just the beginning of your product discovery journey. Whether you're a: 👉 Retail Buyer looking to build lasting relationships with their customers and brands 👉 Conscious Company searching for meaningful, authentic ways to connect and foster relationships with buyers and consumers Newtopia Now will expand on what you built in #anaheim, deepening those relationships and connections that are integral to your growth and success. Read more below about how you can join us in charting the future of CPG at #newtopianow this August 👇

23

As the leaves change and the air turns crisp, customers crave the warmth and comfort of savory dishes, and that means an increased demand for fresh herbs! Capitalize on this seasonal shift with these merchandising tips: 🌟 Highlight Seasonal Favorites: Showcase herbs like rosemary, thyme, sage, and chives prominently in your produce department. 🍗 Inspire with Recipes: Provide recipe cards or signage featuring fall-inspired dishes that highlight the use of fresh herbs. 👀 Create Appealing Displays: Arrange herbs in attractive bundles or baskets to create a visually appealing and inviting display. 🍄 Cross-Merchandise: Pair herbs with complementary ingredients like mushrooms, garlic, root vegetables, squash, and proteins. We offer a wide variety of fresh, flavorful herbs to help you meet the demands of the season. Our commitment to quality and freshness ensures that your customers will enjoy the best flavors nature has to offer. Let's make this fall season a flavorful one! Contact us today to discuss your herb needs: [email protected]. #FreshProduce #FreshHerbs #Herbs

9

Creating content that looks great and stays on brand doesn’t have to be hard. In the wellness and nutrition industry, it’s important to have visuals that match your brand’s colors and style. But starting from scratch every time can be overwhelming. That’s where Canva comes in! It makes designing super easy, even if you’re not a graphic designer. We just made a quick demo video to show you how simple it is: Step 1: 🖼️ Choose a LinkedIn Carousel Post template that works for your message. Step 2: 🎨 Use Canva’s Brand feature to instantly update the template with your brand’s colors. Step 3: ✅ Apply the changes to all pages with just one click. Easy! Canva helps you save time and keeps your content looking sharp and consistent. Perfect for making sure your brand always shines!. 👉 Follow our page for more tips on creating easy and effective content! #ContentCreation #BrandConsistency #Canva #WellnessMarketing #Empathiq #DigitalMarketing

19

4 Comments

Celsius is reshaping the energy drink market with its approach to blending wellness with energy, and the results are appealing to younger consumers. CMO Kyle Watson is driving Celsius’ innovative marketing campaigns, which have been continuously increasing brand awareness and driving sales. Since introducing Celsius as a healthier alternative to traditional energy drinks, the brand has been able to engage and resonate with Gen Z and position itself for continued growth. How can other brands that want to engage with younger consumers incorporate these lessons into their own strategies? Explore the full story from Adweek: https://bit.ly/3MeCfSw #Branding #BrandStrategy #Celsius

1

Many CPG food brands overlook this at festivals. Not activities, social, contests, or sign-ups. Selling their product. Ninety-nine out of a hundred times, CPG brands just give it away. You'd be surprised how many people want to buy a full size sample. It's as easy as putting up a price list. When the festival has 10,000+ attendees, this offsets the cost considerably. Let's make money moves together! #eventmarketing #experientialmarketing #CPGmarketing

1

Consumers may not know exactly what the term “Ultra Processed Food” means, but they know they don’t want it. While the term may be misunderstood, the sentiment is clear: shoppers are seeking healthier, less processed options. 🍽️🌿 As consumers push for whole and minimally processed foods, how should the industry respond? #FoodTrends #ConsumerBehaviour #HealthyEating #UPF https://lnkd.in/dSut3UYx?

9