Matthew Bowen

SAFE NOTES ARE NOW UNSAFE... OK so what is going to happen to the money that was poured into CPG Brands via these supposed SAFE Notes? Issue is that no priced round took place and now it is likely if it did happen it would be at a fraction of the valuation that was contemplated leading to massive dilution for the founder. Many have a cap...few have a floor. and unless they are converted it will be impossible to raise new money at any valuation. #cpg #safenotes #fundraising

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When it comes to functional beverages, the energy and weight management segments are leading the pack, according to NielsenIQ's Jordan Moore, who spoke at ECRM's Center Store Sessions recently and was interviewed by Joseph Tarnowski on some key takeaways from her presentation. Overall, the functional beverage segment (which NIQ considers any beverage that makes a wellness claim) is growing 2 percent faster that RTDs. Energy beverages, which are already a $22 billion category, have seen 10 percent growth vs. a year ago, and weight management beverages, which include those beverages aimed at helping consumers gain muscle as well as speeding up their metabolism and losing weight, are up a whopping 22 percent. Interestingly, protein is making its way into an increasingly diverse array of beverages outside of traditional protein shakes, including coffee (like the new Instant Coffee with Protein by Fire Department Coffee, and the new Genepro Tea). Some functional beverage categories are declining, however. Those under the preventative segment, which focus on brain health, probiotics and immunity is down 8 percent and diabetes related beverages are down 6 percent. Not all is lost though, if you are in one of these segments. While the overall segment may be down, your specific category may be on the rise. A case-in-point is kombucha. While it falls under the preventative segment, the category itself is up 5 percent. Watch the full video below! #beverages #cpg #wellness #retail #ecrmrangeme Luke Schneider Jason Patton Jon Bryan Stacey Helbig Brian Parks Brian Haymaker

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𝗧𝘆𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗺𝗶𝗱𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Tyson Foods Inc. recently saw a significant drop in its shares due to ongoing inflation impacting consumer demand. The company’s profits, mainly driven by branded and ready-to-eat products, have been affected by consumers prioritizing essential items over discretionary spending. Read the full story > https://lnkd.in/eDqC26Dv #TysonFoods #RisingInflation #RetailWire

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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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Conagra may be the first, but it won't be the last. This morning the company's quarterly earnings missed both top and bottom line expectations. One of the main drivers: the need to promote to drive volume. Here's an excerpt from my Q3 earnings preview (link to the blog up by my name and face!): "The sectors I’m keeping the closest eye on will be consumer goods and retail, of course. Consumer goods specifically had a rough go last quarter not just because they mostly missed revenue expectations, but because volume degradation continues to play out in North America zones. As these organization use trade spend to drive volume, it will mess with profitability. Without much pricing power today, there will only be so many things these companies can do to react." Conagra is doing what it needs to do to keep volume pumping, but it's hard to meet what are undoubtedly the highest expectations from the market since 2021. The next step isn't to keep doing the same thing, it will be to become more strategic and targeted with spend. The age of meeting earnings expectations through simple tactics is over. This is the point I've been waiting for in CPG. When it's the most creative and commercially innovative companies that earn their gains through thoughtful strategies, not pricing. For now, we'll see how many more companies follow this top and bottom miss... #consumerbehavior #cpg #earnings

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As grocery shelf space becomes more competitive, brands are feeling the squeeze—literally. With grocery stores reducing unique products by nearly 9% since 2020 and store brands gaining ground, companies like Conagra Brands and CELSIUS Holdings, Inc. are finding new ways to stand out. Interestingly, some brands are investing more in packaging and technology to extend product shelf life, all in a bid to secure that prime spot. It's a reminder that you must perform and remain visible on the shelf is as vital as ever in retail. With supermarkets becoming more selective and store brands on the rise, how brands adapt will determine their success. Read the full story from The Wall Street Journal here: https://lnkd.in/e5HiEXaE #RetailSales #ConsumerHabits #ConsumerInsights #GroceryStore

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Our customers love our ALDI private label alcohol offerings – with overall sales growing double digits🍺🍷. But nationwide sales of wine and beer are down overall post pandemic. As CNN Business reports, the focus ALDI has on quality and value resonates with shoppers as they seek more affordable options. With a growing number of U.S. households shopping at ALDI, we are proving great taste doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. Curious about the surprising shift in booze sales? Find out how ALDI is defying the trend – bit.ly/3OkJNUI

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Functional beverage is the fastest-growing category in grocery—but it’s also the least forgiving: https://okt.to/9BhacA “In a category as crowded and volatile as functional beverage, you’ll quickly see that the competitive forces are extraordinarily intense,” says LPK’s Chief Growth Officer, Jesse McMullin, a multi-hyphenate in functional beverage who has led the development and branding of over 140 on-shelf CPG products in his career. “The key to understanding these forces—and to maintaining a competitive advantage—lies in being self-aware about your brand and your business dependencies.” In our latest piece on lpk.com, McMullin gives guidance on navigating the complexities from seed to shelf: https://okt.to/sWZB1F #functionalbeverage #bevtrends #cpg #brandgrowth

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It’s only getting about 2% of the media coverage of the Kroger/Albertson’s merger, but if the rumored Alimentation Couche-Tard acquisition of 7-Eleven actually happens, this is a HUGE impact on our industry. I think there is a very good chance that we will look back on this in 10 years as a major inflection point in CPG. There are a lot of complexities to this, given that it is a Canadian acquisition of a Japanese company, with the majority of stores in America. (Details in comments) There would be divestures galore, especially in FL and TX, but the combined entity would still control more than 10% market share of the convenience store channel. Convenience stores are a big part of the future of our industry. Grocery stores have gotten smaller while convenience has gotten larger. Store design is converging on a mid-size format with a robust grab and go assortment (including fresh). Most importantly the food is actually going to be GOOD. Anyone who has been to a Lawson’s in Japan gets the idea, but this is America so the stores will be bigger, and potentially better once this evolves and matures. The CPG retail innovation engine of the next decade might be where you least expect it. Pod Foods Flowspace Total Quality Logistics Craig DeMarco Jac Moskalik #innovation #circleK #grocery

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In 2024, energy drink sales in convenience stores are expected to remain robust despite anticipated price hikes. Sales surged 10.8% in the past year, with smaller brands like CELSIUS Holdings, Inc. and GHOST leading growth. These brands are forecasted to continue expanding shelf space significantly. C-store operators are preparing for higher prices by focusing on variety, promotional deals, and flexible sizing to maintain customer interest. Brands emphasizing functional and low-sugar claims are particularly popular, catering to consumer demand for health-focused beverages. Overall, while inflation poses challenges, the energy drink market in c-stores is poised for continued growth through strategic marketing and product innovation. Read More Here: https://lnkd.in/eDaPiHFf C-Store Dive Branded Hospitality Ventures Sally Lyons Wyatt #hospitality #beverage #foodandbeverage #technology #innovation Joe Sobolewski Paul Storey John Fieldly Giancarlo Morena Jarrod Langhans Toby David Mark Magnesen Ryan Hughes

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Most trustworthy... Market Force surveyed 4,300+ consumers across the United States to uncover the food retailers delivering value, trust and satisfaction: https://ow.ly/tlx850UgZem #foodretail #grocery #supermarket

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