Allison Ellsworth

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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In the CPG industry it's not about how many doors/stores you get into it's about the quality of stores you get into. I look forward to building relationships with every retailer/buyer. Even though you may not be in a large bix box store at the moment focus on building relationships with independent retailers first then go from there. Building a personal brand helps out a lot in business. This is crucial to let buyers know about you and your products and why you started your business. #retail #growth #business #sales #mindset #businessgoals #businessrelationships #connection #integrity #cpg #startup

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I am excited when Walmart innovates. The launch of their new Better Goods food brand is bringing innovation, a new private label brand, and new price points to their shelves. This is a smart move at a time when shoppers are changing stores to save money. I know people who have said they would not buy private-label food from Walmart. With this new launch of more than 300 products, there will be many new interesting and tasty products for shoppers to try. This is worth watching. #foodstrategy #foodandbeverage #foodinnovation

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The non-alcoholic drinks market continues to grow and grow (and mature). Check out recent insights + stats from our friends at Grüvi: March Off Premise Retail Sales: → $48.6M > Identical to February, up 23% YoY → You can see subcategory performance in the chart below. Gruvi predicts: → 30-35% of YoY NA category growth. → 25%+ in off-prem and 50%+ in on-prem. → Premium, high quality craft or import NA beers will capture most of the growth of the NA beer market. → Big bet on NA RTDs to surpass NA wines by end of year. Gruvi has some more great stats in their blog post (link in comments). I’m hearing this same type of growth from members of the Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association (ANBA). There's been some questioning about the growth of the category because of the recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy by non-alc beverage retailer Boisson and the closing of their retail locations. I was going to share some thoughts on this but the Gruvi team summed it up well: “Having served as a supply partner for Boisson, and being intimately familiar with their retail locations, it became apparent that they faced challenges across their retail and e-commerce channels. Boisson positioned itself as the upscale destination for NA beverages, boasting premium locations and a curated assortment. However, despite the overall growth in the NA market, it remains predominantly composed of NA beer (80%) and NA wines/RTDs under $12 (10%). As larger retailers expanded their NA offerings to target the mainstream consumer—the 90% of the market as seen above - Boisson was left with a small addressable market. Unfortunately, the demand proved insufficient for Boisson to sustain its operations.” Andrea Hernández also has a great take on it in her most recent Snaxshot (link in the comments). The adult NA category is maturing. Brands that do not have good business models, have bad product-market, or average quality products will need to adapt or close their doors. And this is not a bad thing. Because what rises out of this are business and products that better serve the consumer. I’m always impressed by the continued release of higher and higher quality NA products, with each raising the bar for the category. And this is great for people looking to moderate or not drink alcohol for whatever reason, and in whatever situation that best suits them. The adult NA category is getting bigger and better each day. And ANBA, our members, and I are here to continue to create a world where everyone has access to great tasting adult non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy in every social situation. And that is something we can all celebrate! 🍾 🥂 🍻 You can join us in growing the category and this movement by visiting ANBA's website and signing up for a soon to launch newsletter (link in comments). And you can follow me, Marcos Salazar 🍺🍷🥃, (& click the bell under my profile banner) to get regular insights and news about NA drinks. ♻️ #Repost if you like this post :-)

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How does the convenience industry compete in today’s employment market? According to data presented at the April NACS State of the Industry Summit, 2023 metrics compared to 2022: ·      decreased annual non-manager turnover 3.9% ·      decreased annual manager turnover 3.3% ·      increased wages positively impacted employee turnover ·      the trend of growing manager turnover has slowed ·      retail quits were 15.7% lower   The TVG Vision Report “Loosening the Tight Labor Market,” based on results from the latest Coca-Cola Retailing Research Council study, explores innovative employee recruitment and engagement solutions in addition to industry-wide image-boosting ideas. Read “The Views” for TVG members’ thought-provoking discussion on the convenience retailing industry's journey to become an employer of choice. Don’t miss “In The Room With TVG” for the full transcript of the dialogue as it occurred, for an inside track on members’ employee engagement strategies and challenges. #conveniencestores #thoughtleadership #retail #recruitment #HR #employerofchoice #nacs myra kressner Roy Strasburger Eva Strasburger

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Stoked beyond measure to be featured in this paperboy ventures episode with an investment opportunity, spotlighting our epic growth, thus far, and immense potential ahead 🚀 In this episode, Kyle Fitzpatrick dives into RationAle Brewing's journey, showcasing our exceptional #nonalcoholic brews, innovative BrewVo tech, rapid growth in the booming #nonalc beer market, key partnerships, impressive #distribution expansion, and our exciting plans for the future. 🏆 Check out the full episode on #Spotify and #PaperboyVentures (subscribe in the comments) and get in on the investment opp before time runs out. 🤘🏼

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Go check out this episode! Landon Ashton representing for the KKC family!

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Over 10,000 jobs lost in the QSR/fast food space in California alone according to the California Business and Industrial Alliance (CABIA) Operators needed to raise prices and lay off workers to avoid shutting down Some still shut down These 10,000+ workers need to be repositioned in the workforce because QSR/fast food operators will turn to automation to stay afloat Food/beverage operators can't fight economics and math with heads in the sand Any job or repetitive task that can be automated will be so let's focus on how we can leverage workers in other roles that can't be automated #automated #repetitivetasks #workforce #operations

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Exciting times in the retail sector as Walmart steps up its game! With their new premium line, Bettergoods, they're not just expanding their offerings but redefining their brand to cater to a broader audience. How will this shake up the competition with giants like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market? #RetailRebrand #MarketCompetition #Bettergoods

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April 2024 Control State Results are in! Total Control States spirits sales 9L volume grew by +0.7% compared to April last year generating a +1.5% $Vol growth and a positive a +0.8% price mix indicating a decelerating premiumization trend. Over the past 12 months the 9L volume grew by +0.2% accompanied by a +2.2% gain in $Vol. During April there were 6 additional selling days with 3 additional days in Pennsylvania, 1 additional day in Alabama, Mississippi, Montgomery County, Montana, and North Carolina. New Hampshire had 2 fewer days than April 2023. There are mixed results across the spirit categories in April with Canadian Whiskey +0.4% in 9L volume, Cocktails +11.4% in 9L volume led by Canned RTDs +23.8%. Cordials posted a positive +3.1% in 9L volume with a +6.6% in $Vol. Tequila grew by +9.3% in 9L volume and +10.3% in $Vol returning a price mix of +1.0%. Vodka, Domestic Whiskey, Gin and Irish all declined in 9L volume with only Domestic Whiskey showing a positive $Vol. The on-premise spirits channel grew by +3.1% in 9L volume and +3.9% in $Vol resulting in a positive +0.8% price mix. Due to a data anomaly, the results for wine will be published in a few days. Full details by state are available at https://lnkd.in/eeCcx-yH Behind the Categories: Decelerating Premiumization: Most categories are experiencing a slowdown in premiumization, indicating that consumers may be less inclined to pay a premium for certain products within those categories. Canadian Whiskey, Rum, and Cordials are the exceptions, as they are still experiencing growth or at least maintaining their premiumization trend. The Tequila and Brandy/Cognac categories have seen the most negative impact.

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Headline not matching the accompanying story I’m afraid. Jon Moramarco calls the data “muddy” at best. My own impressions are that many wholesalers have cut their post-pandemic inventories by reducing SKU counts. This by extension disadvantages the smaller producers who consume as much staff time as the larger ones and often sell products with less predictable sales trajectories. There are advantages to marginalising smaller producers both in staff time and capital, but large producers have the power to dictate their wholesaler’s inventory levels sometimes under the threat of pulling their lines with potentially devastating consequences. Wholesaler inventory levels are not necessarily an indicator of the health of the market or consumer behavior.

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🌿 Despite #high hopes, the #cannabis industry has faced significant challenges. Turns out, it's not as #dope as investors toked it'd be. 📉 The leading player, Curaleaf, saw its value drop from a peak of 💲11.5B in 2021 to 💲4B today, highlighting the downturn in #marijuana stocks. The #market: 💰 Total U.S. Cannabis Market (legal + illegal) is valued at 💲75B, while the the legal US TAM, currently 💲32B, expected to grow to 💲43B by 2027 (source: BDSA) 🗽Just the New York state TAM is a hefty $6 billion cannabis market (and if you've strolled through NYC lately, you'll know it's not just the hot dog vendors adding to the aroma). 🌿 🍺 In comparison, the U.S. #Alcohol Market was valued at $247B in 2021, with the beer market alone at $115 billion, a stark 8x times cannabis TAM. 💼 Diageo, the leader in the spirits market boasts a 💲76B market cap, 💲21B in revenue and over 💲4B in net income. AB InBev, the leader in beer, commands a 💲120B market cap, 💲60B revenue and 💲5B net income. Some analysts believe that if a cannabis leader emerges, it might eventually reach similar figures. A long way to go for Curaleaf and others... 🌍 Besides the US and Canada there's potential in Europe with countries like Germany, Poland, and the UK that loosening cannabis regulations. More are expected to come. The #issues: 💸 Profitability hurdles include prohibitive taxes, with cannabis businesses unable to deduct common expenses, resulting in significant tax burdens despite losses in net income. 🤝 Fragmentation plagues the industry, with no player holding substantial market share, signaling a potential need for consolidation through mergers. 📊 Data on major companies: 📈 Revenue (2023) Curaleaf - $1.35B Trulieve - $1.22B Green Thumb Industries (GTI) - $1.02B Verano - $879M Cresco Labs - $825M 💹 Gross Margin (2023): Trulieve Cannabis Corp. - 52% Verano Holdings - 51% Green Thumb Industries Inc. - 49% Cresco Labs Inc. - 48% Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. - 45% 💼 EBITDA (2023): Green Thumb Industries Inc. - $291M Verano Holdings - $284M Trulieve Cannabis Corp. - $263M Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. - $239M Cresco Labs Inc. - $125M 👥 Total Employees: Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. - 5,650 Trulieve Cannabis Corp. - 5,400 Green Thumb Industries Inc. - 4,561 Verano Holdings - 3,900 Cresco Labs Inc. - 2,760 💼 Market Cap (may 3rd 2024): Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. - $4.17B Green Thumb Industries Inc. - $3.13B Trulieve Cannabis Corp. - $2.33B Verano Holdings - $1.75B Cresco Labs Inc. - $1B Fast forward a decade, where do you envision the cannabis industry? Do you anticipate pharmaceutical companies making their mark in the cannabis market? Could tobacco or alcohol giants venture into cannabis diversification?

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3 Cannabis Product KPIs- most operators don't look at Whether you're a dispensary or a vertically integrated operator, understanding how customers interact with your products is crucial for making assortment decisions and monitoring loyalty. You've likely seen products hit the shelves with a bang, only for sales to fizzle out within 60 days. This often happens because the product fails to drive repeat purchases from most customers. Track these three key performance indicators (KPIs) 1. Follow-up Purchase Rate (%): How many transactions containing Product X resulted in a subsequent purchase from the same customer, regardless of the product? 2. Repeat Purchase Rate (%): How many orders containing Product X resulted in a repeat purchase of the same product? This metric is especially important for vertically integrated brands or products where you want to cultivate customer loyalty. 3. Customer Lifetime Value ($): What is the annual value of customers who bought Product X during their first visit? Where do you apply these insights? → Customer acquisition and retention campaigns →In-store product placement and merchandising → With budtenders and store managers to build selling confidence. These KPIs provide valuable insights into what products are selling, when, and to whom. While budtenders and managers may instinctively know the top-selling brands or products, these metrics unveil hidden gems or underperformers that deserve closer attention. These KPIs can help you/your teams make data-driven decisions that optimize your product mix, improve customer experiences, and ultimately drive revenue growth.

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I am going to say this publicly one time and one time only. Please stop tarnishing the integrity of the CPG industry with rushing products to the market. What I mean by this is lying to customers, followers, influencers etc about your ingredients and nutritional analysis or lack there of. This effects other upcoming entrepreneurs by creating a illusion that the CPG is easier than what it really is. As a black man in this industry I take great offense to this because black owned businesses have to work very hard to get products into retail as it stands. In the past I've been told West Food Brands wasn't professional, however we've never lied to a customer not once especially about testing or ingredients. Come to think of it we've sent customers free products and apologized for any delays or inconvenience on our end. I don't care about your race or sexual orientation just please remember to have integrity in business. Going around lying to customers and followers about your products or ingredients is not cool. If you have not done proper lab testing of your products please take some time to get those things done. You should not be mass promoting on social. This post may come off has harsh but I rather you not lie to a customer, and get sued or worse someone gets sick. The CPG industry is not a get rich quick business it takes time. Any business you start takes time. I have been on LinkedIn more often the last year or so, and have seen many brands just dissappear no Instagram page now or posts on LinkedIn from the founders. The one thing I will tell you about business it's all about integrity and strong business acumen. You can have all the followers/hype you want and be out of business next week. Slow and steady wins the race. #community #engagement #collaboration #blackowned #blackownedbusiness #smallbusiness #customerservice #integrity #followers #development #creativity #mindset #cpg #strategy #operationalplanning #linkedincommunity #collaboration #wealthgap #culturalawarness #diversity #inclusion #financialinclusion

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Austin is cranking out good food and drinks, with some brands reaching national and international status like Waterloo, Nutrabolt and Siete. This article dives into how Miguel Garza's team at Siete got on Whole Foods' radar — it all started with an email. #austin #cpg #food #wholefoods #siete #business

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#Strawberry Summer Showdown: 2024's Top Picks! #BIGOBASKET BEST 1 TOP 1 NEAR YOU #SALESACHIN The summer heat is on, and what better way to beat it than with a delicious scoop (or two) of strawberry ice cream? This year, three major brands are vying for your frozen treat affection: Mother Dairy, Amul, and Milky Mist. Let's dive into their offerings and see which one reigns supreme! The Contenders 1)#MotherDairy: Ultimate Strawberry Crush (115ml cup - ₹40, 1L tub - Price not mentioned) - This classic favorite boasts of 6% strawberry fruit content, offering a familiar taste at a pocket-friendly price #MommaMiaMotherDairy #UltimateStrawberryCrush 2) #Amul Refreshing Strawberry Ice Cream (750ml Family Pack - ₹150) Amul brings the freshness with a whopping 16% strawberry fruit content. Perfect for sharing with the whole family! #TheRealTasteOfStrawberry #AmulIceCream 3) #MilkyMist: Prime Strawberry Ice Cream (750ml Buy 1 Get 1 Free - ₹270) - Milky Mist goes big on value with their BOGO offer. However, their strawberry content sits at 7%, so the flavor might be slightly subtler. #DoubleTheStrawberryDoubleTheFun #MilkyMist The Breakdown | Feature | Mother Dairy | Amul | Milky Mist | |-----------------|---------------|-----|-------------| | Price (per ml) | Lower | Mid-range | Lowest | | Strawberry Content | 6% | 16% | 7% | | Size Options | Cup & Tub | Family Pack | BOGO | The Verdict The winner depends on your priorities! For value Milky Mist's BOGO deal is unbeatable if you're looking to stock up For intense strawberry flavor Amul's 16% fruit content is the clear champion For a classic and budget-friendly options Mother Dairy's Ultimate Strawberry Crush is a reliable choice. #AajkuchToofaniFoodi : Tell us your favorite! We want to hear from you! Have you tried any of these strawberry ice creams? Which one stole your heart (and taste buds)? Share your experience and recommendations with us on social media using #AajkuchToofaniFoodi. Remember, MRP prices can fluctuate, so keep an eye out for deals! Happy summer and happy scooping!

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Uncle Nearest, the renowned U.S. whiskey producer, is expanding its portfolio by acquiring Square One Organic Spirits and stepping into the vodka market. This marks another significant milestone following its venture into Cognac last year with Domaine Saint Martin. Founder and CEO Fawn Weaver will lead Square One, with Allison Evanow staying on as an ambassador and innovation leader. This move highlights Uncle Nearest's commitment to authenticity and cultural resonance in its products. Uncle Nearest plans to rebrand Square One’s vodka and introduce a new line of organic vodkas made with corn, available across all 50 states this summer. Production will also move from Virginia to Tennessee. As Weaver stated, "By entering the vodka market, we’re not just expanding our portfolio; we’re responding to a consumer call for transparent, culturally connected brands.” This acquisition is a testament to the power of strategic growth and the importance of preserving authenticity in business. Source: Just Drinks #LiquorLawyer #Entrepreneurship #LegalServices #Law #DrinksIndustry #Regulations #AlcoholCompliance #WineIndustryAdvisor #AlcoholIndustryAdvisor #BeverageIndustry #SpiritsIndustry #AlcoholIndustry #UncleNearest #SquareOne #Vodka #OrganicSpirits

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Sorel: The ULTIMATE Modifier I'm about to say The Quiet Part Out Loud: the liquor industry has a problem nobody talks about: Alcohol (in its pure form) doesn't taste good. This is because the sense of taste is designed to detect poison. Over the millennia, the knowledge that alcohol is poison has dismayed humans, little. As a species we've spent thousands of years trying to figure out how to enjoy the effects of alcohol, without dying. There's a reason why alcohol is a controlled substance; why every bottle comes with a warning. The ancient Egyptians added botanicals to alcohol, creating tinctures. The Celts are credited with beginning the practice of aging alcohol in casks, to absorb the flavor of the wood. Over the centuries the methods of making alcohol more potable has become increasingly sophisticated. Big liquor's solution to this problem is to take vast amounts of GNS and simply add flavor. This is why we have blueberry flavored vodka, cinnamon flavored whisky, and jalapeño flavored tequila. Sorel Liqueur reverses the logic. Everyone else takes alcohol and adds flavor. We take flavor, and add alcohol. The difference in this methodology is what makes Sorel the most versatile modifier on the planet. Sorel does one thing better than any other modifier, in that it masks the taste of ethanol, while pushing flavor forward. Add Sorel to gin, and you'll get more floral notes. Add it to an aged spirit (whisky or rum) and you'll get more barrel notes. Add it to an agave base (tequila or mezcal) and you'll get more fruit and smoke. Add it to other liqueurs and you'll get pure flavor. Don't believe me? Try adding equal parts Sorel and Chartreuse. Or equal parts Sorel and Skrewball Peanut Butter whisky. With hundreds of possible flavor combinations to play with, and how its flavor changes based on temperature, the possibilities with Sorel are endless. We're honored to be included among this list of fine liqueurs. With thanks to SevenFifty Daily and Susannah Skiver Barton https://lnkd.in/ebPgM3Vg #DrinkSorel #BlackOwned #ForTheCulture #Caribbean #Brooklyn

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