Dennis Botts’ Post

GrubMarket Inc. has acquired Performance Produce, a North Carolina based, vertically integrated fresh produce provider. On Performance Produce, CEO of GrubMarket Mike Xu, remarks “Several of their largest customers have been with them since their earliest years, which is a testament to their outstanding customer service and enviable delivery and fulfillment track record. With this acquisition, GrubMarket expands further into North Carolina and strengthens our strategic presence within the Southeastern U.S. We are beyond excited to welcome the Performance Produce team to the GrubMarket family." Read more about the acquisition and how GrubMarket’s AI technology, WholesaleWare, will be integrated by Performance Produce through the link below. GrubMarket is a holding in The Private Shares Fund as of 2/29/24. To view the full portfolio and learn more about The Private Shares Fund, please visit https://lnkd.in/gTeAzvq8 #AI #AgTech #acquisition

Great insights about middlemen in the food industry by our CEO, Eran Mizrahi, from ingredient brothers. Read the article to learn more!! 😎

Alright, I CANNOT speak enough about how much I admire Lynsi Snyder. Both in how she's honoring her grandfather's legacy since taking charge in 2010 + how she's ushered In-N-Out Burger forward in today's tumultuous economic climate. She's the G.O.A.T. (... I also love her cheeseburgers.) 🍔 In-N-Out a cut above the rest for a multitude of reasons - despite my tastebuds and cravings. This family-owned gem has stayed true to its roots while doubling its reach. 1️⃣ Under her leadership, the chain has expanded from 230 to 402 stores without losing its soul - or hiking its prices *too* much. A famed Double Double still costs you about the same as it did before the world turned upside-down. 2️⃣ The company has stuck it out with the SAME wholesalers used since the 1940s. The commitment to long-term relationships & quality over the need for rapid expansion is a lesson for us all in the logistics realm. Grow without compromising on what makes you special. 3️⃣ Despite her cautious approach to expansion (sorry, East Coast... no In-N-Out for you quite yet), she's been strategic - ensuring that growth doesn’t water down their brand or burden their supply chain. So yes, I'm biased. But it's also clear: it's not just about burgers... it's about keeping steadfast commitment to: - quality - community - & sticking to your roots Read more about her story at NBC News: https://lnkd.in/gjNn_3gH #innout #chain #womeninbusiness #familybusiness #leadership #supplychain

Can companies handle this themselves? 🤷♂️ I'm often asked this by people outside the food industry. Why start ingredient brothers as a middleman when the trend is to eliminate middlemen and go direct? Well, it's simple. We enable our customers to "Focus on the things that make your 🍺 taste better," as Jeff Bezos put it. And in the ingredient space, that sentiment couldn't be more true. Dealing with the complexity and risk of importing ingredients from around the world can quickly shift your focus away from improving the taste of your beer to managing complicated supply chains. As long as we prioritize maximizing value for our customers, our position in the value chain will only strengthen. I recently shared my thoughts on this topic in Forbes. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/etQ-v_Nw

Great article by our CEO!

Day 31 /100 Herman Lay: From Side Hustle to Snack Food Empire Did you know the founder of Lay's Potato Chips, Herman Lay, started by experimenting in his spare time? Lay had an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age and, after dropping out of college, worked for a food company. Recognizing the potential of potato chips as a portable snack, he began tinkering with recipes while still employed. This side hustle eventually led him to purchase the Barrett Food Company, which he rebranded as H.W. Lay Distribution Co. Lay's rise to success wasn't just about the product itself. He was a marketing mastermind, becoming the first snack food company to advertise on television and securing a celebrity spokesperson. Lay's also made product innovations like crinkle-cut chips and secured a key technology to deliver consistent flavor at scale. Today, Lay's continues to be a dominant player in the food industry, a testament to Herman Lay's vision and innovation. What are your thoughts on Lay's success? Share your favorite flavor or marketing campaign in the comments! #Lays #SnackFoodHistory #EntrepeneruialSpirit #MarketingWins

Since starting PLANT CEO, I've been lucky enough to meet so many incredible entrepreneurs in the plant-based space. One of the first companies that caught my eye—while grafting at events selling their delicious pizza—was One Planet Pizza, run by the amazing father-son duo Mike Hill and Joe Hill 🍕. Their passion, grit, and determination impressed me so much that I decided to personally invest in them. 👀 Now, I'm thrilled to share some big news! 🛒 One Planet Pizza has just secured a new retail listing in Morrisons! 🎉 And there's more: 🔥 Introducing the UK's first-ever Vegan Tex Mex Frozen Pizza! 🔥 🌶️ This spicy sourdough pizza is packed with Tex Mex-marinated veggies, jalapeños, and their signature melty plant-based cheese. 🌱🧀 📍 Available now in 315 Morrisons stores nationwide – check the meat-free freezer aisle! ❄️ 📈 After a stellar year with Asda where One Planet Pizza achieved a massive 41% sales growth year-on-year (first 6 months of 2023 vs 2024), they're continuing to defy the odds by driving an 8% month-on-month increase in Asda’s frozen plant-based section (July – Sep 2024), even as the wider meat-free category declines. 🎉 To celebrate this new launch, the Tex Mex pizza will be on offer for just £3 for the first three weeks (7th – 28th Oct), after which it will retail at £4. 👉 Go grab yours now and support plant-based innovation! 🌱🍕 #PlantBased #VeganPizza #Sustainability #OnePlanetPizza #Morrisons #Innovation #TexMex #RetailSuccess

https://lnkd.in/gbKSewhp In mid-April, Bloomberg reported that the debt-laden seafood chain and home of beloved cheddar biscuits was considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It wasn't only the increase in food costs but also the increase in labor costs combined (Think "Bidenflation) with a less-than-smart idea during a period of rising food costs that made its "Endless Shrimp" promotion, which used to be an occasional, limited-time offering, permanent. Add to that its management turnover, which suggests poor leadership at the top. Are you managing your COGS & labor costs with satisfactory results? Contact me if you want to improve your bottom line.

From Restaurant Failure to Condiments Success In 2013, Viraj Bahl's restaurant business failed after struggling for four years. Initially his father discouraged him from joining his family's business unless he earned 3 Lakh per month, Bahl pursued a successful career in the merchant navy before eventually joining Fun Foods in 2002. Despite Bahl's efforts, FUN FOODS LIMITED was sold in 2008, and his subsequent restaurant venture also failed. Starting Anew: With determination and little money, Bahl sold his house, bought land in Neemrana, and launched Veeba, a condiments company. Early Struggles: Starting Veeba wasn't easy; there was little demand initially, and Bahl faced sleepless nights worrying about paying salaries. Turning Point: In 2013, Bahl secured venture capital funding that helped Veeba gain orders from major restaurant chains. Growth and Future Plans: By 2023, Veeba's revenue soared, making it India’s top sauce brand. Bahl plans to expand beyond sauces into new product categories by 2028. Read More: Thekarostartup.com Join: 5,400 people who read such stories daily on our WhatsApp Newsletter: https://lnkd.in/g735dQsa #startupstories #successstories #foodandbeverages #entreprenuer

With grocery prices so high and on everyone’s mind. Savings matter to everyone. But that said. People still love discovering new brands and products. That new product they didn’t know yet they couldn’t live without. We’ve been intentionally leaning into “discovery” at Merryfield, PBC and the feedback from our consumers has been noticed for sure. We’ve gotten way more nice notes and zendrsk comments about recent brand partners than ever before. We’ve earned some trust with our audience and they know that all brands at Merryfield meet the same high ingredients standards. It makes trying new things easier for people that care about what they’re buying. Curated discovery is proving to big for us so we’re going to keep leaning in. Just in the last weeks new partners like. CLEAN Cause FLY BY JING Daily Harvest Good Foods Group, LLC Haven's Kitchen Bowery Farming Athletic Brewing Co. Little Sesame Pop & Bottle GoodSAM, PBC More to come. 🙂 #cpg #betterforyou #discovery #expowest #community Merryfield, PBC