CT Food Launchpad’s Post

In this week's article, we explore the SupplySide Food & Beverage Journal as Audarshia Townsend does coverage of an exciting new event held in Denver, Colorado. Known as "Newtopia," this neat event is a valuable resource for the CPG market. It is tailored for buyers seeking innovative brands that offer purposeful products and also aims to shift the buying experience from transactional to relational. Check out the article below to discover what makes Newtopia unique and why you might want to attend the next one! ⬇ https://lnkd.in/g8BNXSeR For more information about how MSI Express is charting a path for success, reach out to Chuck Woods or Rob Carstens. MSI Express has 14 locations in 6 states to provide you with operational excellence & world class speed to market. MSI Express is a strategic, innovative contract manufacturing and packaging company. Our growing breadth of capabilities and trusted team of problem solvers are a perfect match for the challenges of today’s CPG and Emerging Brands world. #manufacturing #supplychainmanagement #innovation #MSIExpress #foodindustry #foodmanufacturing #packagingsolutions #foodandbeverage #sustainability #packaginginnovations #petfood #petfoodindustry #inc5000list #snackfood #gummies #supplements #consumerbehavior #packaging #foodbusiness #foodandbeverageindustry #food #foodandbeveragemanufacturing #innovation #supplychain #contractpackaging #contractmanufacturing #copack #copackager #packaging #cpg #cpgindustry #comanufacturer #brand #energy #compliance #foodsafety #quality

Streamlining supply chains and boosting efficiency through Direct store delivery. Making business operations smoother, one delivery at a time. #dsd #dsddistribution #wagonjobbers #directstoredelivery https://lnkd.in/ez2ygR9Z

I am soooo excited about this! We named L.A. Libations after Lauren & Annika, our daughters! So launching this brand is very personal, YES the 🌴 turns green when our Alkaline Water is cold! Thank you to ALL our retail partners for supporting it! No better way to announce our investment in CTI - Chromatic Technologies, Inc. (which was consummated at The Beverage Forum - A place to do deals!). Watch the below mind blowing 🤯 technology that can differentiate your brand! Reach out to Maria Del Rio & Daniel Wachter if you want to explore it! Manhattan Beach, CA – The Beverage Forum 4/29/24 L.A. Libations makes Strategic Investment in Colorado-based Ink Tech Company CTI - Chromatic Technologies, Inc. as the companies join forces to drive brand innovative differentiation in the Beverage & Food Industry. Beverage Innovator L.A. Libations adds CTI's innovative consumer-engaging chromatic technologies to its strategic portfolio of partners to help established and emerging beverage brand owners differentiate their brands through packaging innovation. For over 16 years, CTI's color-changing temperature-activated (thermochromic) technology has transformed Coors Light's iconic mountain on its packaging blue when the beer is as cold as the Rockies. This is probably the "best-known unknown" consumer engagement example showcasing what CTI's proprietary chromatic technologies can generate: On any packaging substrate and highly customizable to the specific needs of any brand owner. "This is the best-kept secret in beverage and food packaging innovation, and I am blown away by the technology that Lyle Small, CTI's founder, and his team have created. Their patented technologies can unlock breakthrough innovation and differentiation in beverage and food brands. L.A. Libations is uniquely positioned to bring this secret to bigger life with our strategic partners, retailers, our own brands, and the entire CPG industry." Says Danny Stepper, Co-Founder and CEO of L.A. Libations. Beyond Molson Coors Beverage Company, various other beverage and food brand-owners have trusted CTI to help engage consumers pre-, during- and post consumption, increase consumers' purchase intent, and ultimately lift sales: AB InBev, Constellation Brands, The Coca-Cola Company, PRIME Hydration drinks, General Mills, The Hershey Company's and Mondelēz International among many others. "L.A. Libations is the ideal partner to help us shine a light on the breakthrough innovative and differentiating power CTI - Chromatic Technologies, Inc. has been delivering for brands. As we approach a key moment in our company history by changing gears and scaling globally, Danny Stepper, Dino Sarti, Patrick Bolden and the L.A. Libations team, with their position in the marketplace, are the ideal strategic investor and partner for CTI. “Says Daniel Wachter, CEO of CTI.

The Food Business News team, are all attending the Natural Products Expo where we will see a number of the "Insurgent" food and beverage brands mentioned in Keith Nunes story about this interesting Bain report. Read the story and click on the link at the end to see the entire list of brands to watch. Bruce Webster, Tom Huppe, Lauren Juliana #foodbusiness

🚨🚨Applications are open for The Big Connecticut Food Event $50k pitch competition for emerging CPG food & bev brands, happening on 3/1/25 at the Yale School of Management. Visit ctfoodevent.com to learn more about the event and submit a participation request. Deadline to apply is 12/1/24. More info 🏆Applications will be scored by our judging committee then ranked. The top 5 scoring brands will be invited to participate in the pitch competition, and the top 30 scoring brands (including the finalists) will be invited to participate in tabling and sampling. 📍All food & beverage brands that are interested in participating in the pitch competition or tabling/sampling must be headquartered in Connecticut (it's okay if you were incorporated in a different state). Food & bev brands based outside of CT are welcome to participate in expert coaching sessions and attend the event. 🔎The following factors will be considered when scoring food & bev brand applications for consideration in the pitch competition. --Target market: Addressable target market is large and/or growing, or is a high-priced niche. Customer is well-defined. --Solution: Product is differentiated vs. competition: better, faster, cheaper, quality, efficient, convenient, focused. --Team/board/advisors: Evidence of more than just founder-led and -run. Relevant industry knowledge, skills, leadership experience, key relationships, prior successes and/or failures. --Traction: Stated planned milestones, minimal viable product built, market validation, key success metrics, revenue growth, partners. --Impact on the company: Would this company stand to gain significant advancement and opportunities by being featured at our event? Will an award help them move their stated project along and help take the company further? --Woman- or BIPOC-owned: Business owners represent one or more sytemically disadvantaged identities (race, gender, etc.). --Sustainable or regenerative: Sustainable/regenerative practices are a significant component of product and business (ingredient sourcing, packaging, energy use, etc.).

“Think about yourself as part of an ecosystem,” says Jesse McMullin, LPK’s Chief Growth Officer and an expert in CPG strategy, with experience leading seed-to-shelf journeys for brands across functional food & beverage. “Your brand is working in concert with suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers—all of whom have different interests. And that’s all before your product even makes it in front of a consumer who’s shopping.” Read more: https://okt.to/8Y0lok #foodandbev #cpgstrategy #consumerstrategy #customerstrategy #cpgsuccess

At an estimated 149 deals, Q3 saw the most number of food & beverage CPG transactions in a quarter since 2017. The active quarter reflects PE interest in the lower end of the market, as sponsors acquire venture-backed companies to capitalize on rapid product development and shifting consumer preferences. To learn more about food & beverage M&A trends, contact Rachel Corn Kluge at 312.494.9803 / [email protected]. #mergersandacquisitions #privateequity #foodandbeverage

The latest Food, Beverage, and Wellness Report published by Fifth Third Bank highlights the significant momentum and innovation of private label products: https://lnkd.in/gR6bTYgU Although overall inflation is cooling, consumers continue to face elevated food costs, creating opportunities for retailers to invest in their private label or “house brands”. Here are some of my thoughts on this trend and what it means for consumers and big-box retailers: - First things first, “Private Label” refers to a retailer’s proprietary trademark for house brand merchandise (think Kirkland Brand (Costco) , Good & Gather (Target), or pretty much anything pumpkin-flavored at Trader Joe’s). From a manufacturing perspective, a third-party produces a good for a retail client, and the retailer sells the product under its own brand name. This arrangement allows retailers to benefit from reduced marketing costs, adaptation to changing consumer preferences, and even driving brand loyalty. - Kirkland Signature has been one of the most successful private label brands in American history, representing $56B of Costco sales in 2023, while providing ~20% value compared to national brands. Other retailers, such as Kroger, launched their own private label in 2022 and has become the fastest growing U.S private brands in a time where consumers are carefully weighing their options at the grocery store to make the most out of their trips. -The premiumization of private label will continue to be an opportunity for retailers to expand their market share in growing categories such as food, beverage, and home care products as consumer purchasing behaviors are increasingly focused on health, functional value, and store experiences. Lastly, private label is just one example of third party manufacturing. Food and beverage startups such as the ones I’ve come across within the past year oftentimes rely on contract manufacturing (“co-packing”) agreements to focus on go-to-market strategies while reducing their cost of capital. I’m excited to see the continued growth in this space and how third-party agreements will fuel the future of food and beverage innovation. “We’re Costco Guys, of course we choose to shop private label before buying a chicken bake!”

Target is ramping up its focus on food and beverage offerings to enhance the shopping experience and meet evolving consumer demands. With a commitment to quality and variety, Target is positioning itself as a key player in the grocery sector. What are your thoughts on Target's approach? How do you see this impacting the market? #RetailInnovation #FoodAndBeverage #Target #MarketTrends #Grocery

Target is ramping up its focus on food and beverage offerings to enhance the shopping experience and meet evolving consumer demands. With a commitment to quality and variety, Target is positioning itself as a key player in the grocery sector. What are your thoughts on Target's approach? How do you see this impacting the market? #RetailInnovation #FoodAndBeverage #Target #MarketTrends #Grocery