Wes Stone

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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A powerful independent known for a balance of brands and private label. It will be interesting to see the government view on this acquisition as food inflation has been under significant scrutiny lately. While the focus is more on retail food cost, this will certainly get attention. #foodservice #independents #southeast.

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Angry Chickz VP reveals 4 steps to running a successful franchise. Mike LaRue, VP of Franchise Development at Angry Chickz, discusses the importance of developing a clear mission and a 100-year plan. http://ow.ly/rrS0105B4fL

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Spirits like #Bourbon and #Scotch have regulations protecting their standard of identity so why doesn't American Single Malt Whiskey 🥃 have one? ➡️Take action today and urge the TTB to issue a formal, government-approved definition to establish trust within the category, assist distillers with label clarifications and equip consumers to make informed purchasing decisions! #AmericanSingleMalt ACT NOW: https://bit.ly/3AuOKGI

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🚨 National Beer Wholesalers Association 87th Annual Meeting is just around the corner, and Bud Dunn will be hosting a seminar you won’t want to miss: Incentives vs Entitlements: How to Get More Effort from Your Team 📅 Monday, September 30, 2024 🕗 8:00 – 9:15 a.m. If you’ve ever struggled to keep your team consistently motivated, this session is for you. We’ll be diving into the psychology behind motivation and discussing how to use strategic incentives to build a high-performance culture. Here’s what you’ll take away: ✔️ Proven strategies to inspire dedication and hard work ✔️ How to balance incentives with expectations ✔️ Practical tools to align your team’s effort with your company’s goals Whether you’re leading a small team or managing a large operation, this talk is designed to help you get the best out of your people—no more guesswork, just actionable steps that drive real results. 🗓️ Add this to your NBWA agenda and be sure to stop by Booth 713 to learn how VXP Tech can help you leverage AI to improve your sales and profitability. 💪 #NBWA2024 #Leadership #TeamPerformance #Incentives #BeerIndustry #HighPerformanceCulture #VXPTech

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We discussed this on our latest episode of CPG Vibes, BIG BIG news from KeHE Distributors on 11/22, a new program dubbed 'AAP' (administrative allowance program). A flat 2 % off-invoice allowance for specific fees including New item intros, extra performance fees, MCBs, new item set up fees, and lumping fees. My quick thoughts: This is a step in the right direction for sure. UNFI implemented SSI which is a similar program to help brands budget for costs and fees associated with doing business with large national distributors. With all that said, these categories are pretty large and encompassing, so for all the other fees associated with Kehe that can chop down a brand's margin, will this program truly cover it? Likely not, but at least it covers some. What are your thoughts?

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Great article. Partnership is really key with suppliers Highlight from article 3 Leveraging Suppliers The relationship between foodservice operators and suppliers has changed, or at least it should have. There may still be some transactional relationships, but overall operators and suppliers have truly become partners. It benefits both parties. Great communication and total transparency are a must. The consumer will not support inconsistency in the quality of a product or coming to get product and it is not available. Products must be kept in stock and if there is an issue, suppliers must communicate the issue and have a suitable back-up in place. Suppliers must also support product innovation and supply current data to support operators as they grow.

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Grocerant Boom Shakes Up Restaurant Landscape: Consumers Seek Convenience and Value #Food #Beverage #FoodserviceSolutions #Grocerant #foodservice #Retail #CPG #Equipment #GrocerantGuru https://lnkd.in/gkJasFw5

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One of our founders, Shahron Chaudhry had a great conversation and interview with the team at the UpnUp Network. In this segment Shahron talked about the vision and purpose of establishing Saanj Winery and the intentionality of innovating the wine marketplace for the new-age American. Robel Andmicael and Shahron talked about the theme of "Being Humble Enough to Prepare and Confident Enough to Perform". More specifically, when it comes to establishing a business combined with having no past skills in producing wine or running a winery, it's important to spend time deep diving and knowing that you'll need to continue to iterate assumptions to make them into reality. Check it out!

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In recent years the beverage industry has witnessed a remarkable shift driven by the preferences of younger consumers. Two emerging trends, non-alcoholic spirits, and boba, have captured the attention of younger folks and are experiencing significant growth as a result. According to the article, one-third of consumers ages 18 to 24 abstain from alcohol altogether. This shift in drinking habits has paved the way for the emergence of non-alcoholic drinking options, providing consumers with sophisticated and flavorful alternatives to traditional alcoholic beverages. #DrinkingTrends #YoungConsumers #Boba #NonAlcoholicSpirits

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Checkout this article about our sushi that we make in-house for our retail shops. We are using technology in a way that allows us to have the highest quality seafood and rice available for our sushi. My big business bet is that people will eat more sushi when it is: quality, transparent, and free of carbon dioxide gas. What do you think?

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Check out the latest buzz at Semper Foods with our very first blog post by the talented Laura Zinger! 🌟 Dive into the insights and updates straight from the heart of our team. Click here to read: #SemperFoods #BlogLaunch #TeamUpdates #IndustryInsights

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A new era of takeout-only is thriving for dining operators. At US Foods we cover this emerging trend in the latest issue of #FoodFanaticsMag: https://bit.ly/42UHJJH #usfoods

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Introducing The Snack's May MVP: Heath Shoup! This month, The Snack AndNowUKnow is spotlighting Heath Shoup, Vice President of Sales and Product Management, Planning, and Logistics at West Pak Avocado. With 21 years of dedicated service to West Pak, Heath is celebrated for his integrity, supportive nature, and strong communication skills. 👨‍👩‍👦 A loving husband and father, Heath blends family values with a dynamic leadership style. His role? Connecting teams and fostering growth: 💬 "I act as the glue that keeps the company together, linking planning, supply chain, and sales. It's all about helping each individual learn and grow." 🗣️ Heath's journey in sales teaches the power of taking chances and stepping out of your comfort zone: 👉 "In sales, you have to communicate effectively. These skills benefit you at work, home, and with friends and family." Dive into the full article for more insights on Heath’s experience: https://bit.ly/4dP65JJ #MVP #Leadership #WestPakAvocado

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Chipotle Mexican Grill brought back smoked brisket for a limited time this fall, a multi-year effort that included sourcing 22 million pounds of beef and locking in supplier agreements multiple years in advance. Learn more 👇 #supplychain #supplier #procurement #sourcing #brisket

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Even with regulatory risk, beverage brands are securing new investment, distribution, & retail partners. We have to look at the amendments as an opportunity to establish sensible regulation. Stay tuned for the Cannabis Beverage Association's Code of Conduct and a formal announcement of a new federal coalition to support adult beverage alternatives. DM me for more information. "As we work to pave the way for the hemp beverage category, it's crucial to seize opportunities arising from industry and regulatory developments. The recent federal committee vote on the Farm Bill amendment offers a chance to integrate the hemp beverage segment into the alcohol industry. With the existing infrastructure in the alcohol industry, we can effectively regulate hemp beverages. The CBA will continue collaborating with stakeholders to establish responsible regulations, ensuring our beverages meet strict standards and gain approval for sale." And shout out to PAMOS BEVERAGE CO. on their recent expansion! https://lnkd.in/e2H7wntB #drinkcannabis #regulation #beverageindustry #beverage #adultbeverage #hemp

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