Haylee Coleman

Politics aside, I think we can all agree that WAY too many direct CPG brands are reeling right now 😥 And it’s truly sad as the founders have put their🩸, sweat and tears into these businesses, which now have: 🏪 Strong retail distribution 🥫 Unique products with true-ish differentiation 😋 Great flavor profile and hedonics 🌀 Relevant and well designed branding 💲 Price points that align with target audience So why are they failing? Three major reasons that I’m seeing: 1) Lack of investor commitment:  Previous standbys in the Food/Bev VC space have not secured new funding or now have alligator-arms when reaching for more funding as they have been ‘burned’ by this category.  So financing has to be more creative and linked to specific milestones.  2) MVPs don’t work in food:  Those who come into the industry hoping to create and launch a ‘minimally viable product’, and then upgrade regularly in the future like they do in tech, are quickly realizing that is not possible.  The regulatory environment, manufacturing, and retail make that much more difficult in this category.  And if you launch a brand that doesn’t do well, consumers and retailers won’t take another look when you upgrade it! 3) Supply chain costs are crazy:  Ingredient costs are increasing weekly for certain raws (e.g. organic cacao), strength of third-party manufacturers (who have full production schedules) and their ability to flex pricing and schedule are impacting businesses, and transportation costs have increased to get products to the end consumer. I’m sure in the future we’ll look back at this period as one of creative survival, innovation, and collaboration, but right now it just sucks 👎 for so many brands and businesses out there and I feel for you. If you are one of these brands or know of one, feel free to reach out 📲 to see if the folks here at Palm Venture Studios would want to take a look.

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2023 saw a decrease in the number of times consumers chose to eat away from home, and a simultaneous shift in their habits toward high end and luxury ingredients, according to a report by the Specialty Food Association. Consumers want to make the most of the experiences they are still choosing. Truffle is a high end flavor customers recognize but still gives a feel of luxury to a variety of dishes. Try dusting it on fries or pizza. Use it to amp up the umami in pasta dishes or salad dressings. A little truffle goes a long way. Savor carries truffle oil, truffle peelings, truffle seasoning with a bit of parsley, and truffle salt, and they are ready for your next Dot truck. Order some today. https://bit.ly/3UnhJCy #savorimports #globalflavors #supplychainsolved #imports #food

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Constellation Brands, $STZ, is up 3% in premarket after Fiscal 2025 Q1 Earnings: 📈 Net Sales: $2.66B, up 9% Y/Y driven by a robust 12% growth in beer and 2% in wine & spirits. 🍺 Beer continues to lead, boosting market share. 💼 Operating Income: $820M, soaring 22% from last year. ◼ In-Depth Analysis of Constellation Brands' Q1 Fiscal 2025 Performance Constellation Brands has delivered a robust performance in the first quarter of Fiscal 2025, showcasing a significant increase in net sales which reached $2.66 billion, marking a 9% growth year-over-year. This impressive surge is attributed primarily to the beer segment, which alone saw a 12% increase, spearheading the company's revenue growth. Meanwhile, the wine and spirits division also contributed with a modest 2% rise. A pivotal element of this quarter’s success was the substantial rise in operating income, which escalated by 22% to reach $820 million. This growth underscores Constellation Brands’ strong operational efficiency and strategic marketing maneuvers that continue to pay dividends. Beyond financial metrics, Constellation Brands remains fervently committed to its sustainability and social responsibility initiatives. The company’s ongoing efforts to enhance community engagement and environmental stewardship are integral to its corporate ethos. Furthermore, looking ahead, Constellation Brands is strategically focusing on expanding its premium product portfolio and enhancing its direct-to-consumer sales channels. This approach is aimed not only at sustaining growth but also at fortifying its market position in the competitive beverage alcohol industry. ���� Full report: https://lnkd.in/dy9s6zGp

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Cautious lower-income consumers and slower restaurant sales are squeezing Kraft Heinz. The packaged food product company on Wednesday (May 1) released earnings showing a 1.2% drop in sales, driven by lower-income consumers spending less at both the supermarket and on meals away from home. The company said it raised its prices 2.7% year over -year to offset the cost of goods such as coffee. “The gap between high and low earners continues to remain wide, and it shows a clear and continued bifurcation,” CEO Carlos Abrams-Rivera said during an earnings call. “So the lower-income consumers are challenged with interest rates remaining high, gas prices elevated and savings dwindling. So there’s a clear pullback of restaurant spend by these lower-earning households, especially in restaurants and convenience stores. These consumers instead are looking for value as they prepare more meals at home.” #inflation Kraft Heinz #groceryindustry

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Recently, we hosted our Executive Forum, "3 ACTIONS EVERY WINE & SPIRITS LEADER CAN TAKE IN THE NEXT 60 DAYS TO QUICKLY BOOST DISTRIBUTOR SHARE OF MIND" where we had a robust discussion about the state of the alcohol beverage business, which then was in complete decline. We also talked about what was in our control. We will be sharing a few of the breakthrough revelations with you over the next few weeks... BREAKTHROUGH REVELATION #5: USE AN ANALYTICAL APPROACH When meeting with distributors and key accounts, keep it to the data and facts that support your brands. Keep emotions, conflict, frustrations out of the conversations and give compelling reasons based on data. When you know your brand’s data and numbers you build credibility - you are the experts. And you provide the tools and success stories in your niche so partners can more easily attain goals. Close the gaps. Look at inventory vs. sales. 90-day gaps by SKU. Communicate this to the right people (key markets and reps) so it gets accomplished. Empower your partners. Educate retailers, as they can also benefit from the data. Build brands with fact-based, data-driven information to solve for the volatile market challenges. And volatile the market remains...so, at our next invitation-only Executive Forum for leaders in the Beer, Wine & Spirits Industry, Newborn Evolution will be sharing three strategies to help your teams, partners and customers to remain resilient, confident and able to navigate through this uncertain and unstable landscape. Join us on Friday, July 26th, at 11:00am ET for a robust virtual discussion on this topic. Why you should consider joining the conversation: -Our Executive Forums are exclusive and by invitation only -We will be sharing expert insights during the forum from decades of experience in the Beer, Wine & Spirits Industries -You will have the opportunity to have real-time conversations with high- level leaders like yourself, in the Alcohol -Beverage Industry who are facing similar challenges -This is a great opportunity to expand your network leadership skills -All attendees will receive a high-level recap of the most pertinent key take-aways If you would like to request an invitation for yourself or someone at your organization who may be interested please email us at Concierge@NewbornLeadershipEvolution.com and say “July 26th Executive Forum” and we will send you details. You can also find out more in the link in the first comment below. #Wine #Spirits #Beer #AlcoholBeverageIndustry #winetrends #spiritstrends #keyaccounts #strategy #businessplan #data #analytics

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Notable read via Just Drinks on the emergence of non alcoholic canned cocktails / NA RTD. We started investing in R&D in this category starting in 2019 right after launching at SAQ the first-ever ultra premium canned cocktail on the planet in 2018, romeo's gin tonic. "The rise of alcohol-free RTDs makes sense given the huge growth in their alcoholic counterparts in markets such as the US. According to analysis from GlobalData Plc, Just Drinks’ parent, the US “flavoured alcoholic beverages” segment, which includes pre-mixed spirits, wine coolers, hard seltzers and alcoholic soft drinks in an RTD format, could be worth $52.5bn by 2027, with the potential to overtake vodka by $31.2bn and whisk(e)y by $11.1bn." #nonalc #spirits #rtd #cocktail #data #growth #bevalc https://lnkd.in/gcA3HAe9

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ICYMI: We hosted an Access Craft webinar on securing capital for craft wine and spirits brands. Our experts explored the current state of the capital investments market, growth strategies for start-up entrepreneurs and more. https://lnkd.in/eDVZbAAa

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Working in marketing turns all of us into accidental anthropologists. For the last 6 months I've gotten a bit addicted to studying #GenZ and the impact they're having on our industry, and more specifically, the food industry. The proliferation of food influencers is just one byproduct of this fascinating generation and who better to spill my guts to on that topic than Elizabeth Green + Food Ingredients First!? tysm 🧡↓ #foodindustry #influencermarketing #marketing

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Beverage alcohol consumption has undergone significant changes in recent years, influenced heavily by the pandemic and evolving preferences of younger consumers aged 21 and older. I joined Joan Holleran Driggs for an episode of Circana’s Growth Insights podcast to explore these shifts and offer insights into what we can expect for 2024 and beyond. Here are the key takeaways: 🍺 Traditionally, adults aged 21+ started with beer or wine. Now, many young adults are beginning with ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages, particularly spirits-based options. 📉 Despite a plethora of choices, overall beverage alcohol consumption is softening across generations. However, premium beverages are still experiencing growth. 🥤 The appeal of RTD beverage alcohol among younger consumers is largely due to innovative packaging, including on-the-go options like ball form, slim cans, and aseptic packaging. 🥃 Whiskey, tequila, spirits-based RTDs, and imported beer from Mexico continue to drive the beverage alcohol market. Listen to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gqRdf9Xd #Circana #BeverageAlcohol #RTD #GenerationalTrends #PremiumBeverages #CircanaGrowthInsights

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🔥 Hot Sauce - The Dynamic Flavor Consumers Love Consumers can’t get enough of hot sauce, and we don't blame them! No longer a singular flavor, hot sauce now boasts many variations using different peppers and cultural influences to meet today’s evolving palates. Whether you’re developing a new fiery condiment or looking to spice up snacks, dips, or spreads, Kalsec has you covered. Our premium hot sauce flavors are perfect for adding that beloved kick to any product. With Kalsec’s high-quality ingredients, manufacturers don’t have to be solely reliant on crop timing and variations. Explore endless possibilities and create unique, bold flavors that stand out. Get creative and bring the heat with Kalsec! More info: https://kal.sc/4ayf52V #HotSauce #FoodInnovation #FlavorTrends #Kalsec #HotSpicyFlavors #CulinaryCreativity #FlavorExperts #GlobalFlavors

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Two hot topics within the current beverage alcohol industry are Gen-Z and Ready-to-Drink (RTD). According to Circana’s State of the CPG Beverage Alcohol Industry report, RTD reached $10.3 Billion in 2023. Part of that growth is due to Gen-Z members' strong preference for higher ABV offerings and unique packaging. But what are the top RTD cocktail brands among Gen-Zers according to Circana? 🔥 Buzzballz, LLC / Southern Champion 🎵 BeatBox 🍸 LIQS Cocktail Co. 👑 Crown Royal & Whiskey Cola 🍹 Monaco Cocktails 🥃 Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola Read more about the State of the Alcohol Industry here: https://hubs.li/Q02xggvP0 #ReadyToDrink #GenZ #BeverageAlcohol #Circana

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Despite the recent setback of Boisson, the alcohol-free cocktail market is booming! With over $162B in revenue, it's clear that the demand is there. https://bit.ly/3UFvvRj #RetailStrategies #BusinessLessons #MarketTrends #AlcoholFree #Mocktails #BeverageIndustry #Boisson

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Full volume recovery for #packagedfood could take upwards of 18 months as consumers struggle to adjust to higher prices due to #inflation -- requiring #CPG companies to be more flexible and reinvest in their brands as they did during the pandemic, and forcing shareholders to practice patiences, warned General Mills CEO Jeff Harmening at Bernstein's 40th Annual Strategic Decisions Conference late last month. "#Investors have been waiting with bated breath and maybe more than a few members of management teams as well" for volumes across the packaged food landscape to recover after falling alongside rising prices in recent years and after cutbacks in #SNAP spending in March 2023, he said. And, they likely will need to wait a bit longer .... https://lnkd.in/eCjKu7z7 #foodnews #foodandbeverageindustry #CPGindustry #sales

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Today is World Cocktail Day! 🍸 But many of us will be swapping alcoholic drinks for alcohol-free tipples this year. The no and low-alcohol category is one of the fastest growing parts of the beverage industry, with global sales of non-alcoholic drinks increasing by almost $3 billion since 2018. Brands like Seedlip Drinks, Lyre's Spirit Co, Jump Ship Brewing Ltd, Oddbird International and Lucky Saint | B Corp™ are proving that sophisticated, great tasting low-alcohol and alcohol-free drinks are available to consumers, and they're shifting people's perceptions about drinking as a result. Have you reduced your alcohol consumption? What are your favourite mocktail recipes? Let us know in the comments below. #Worldcocktailday #Alcohol #Alcoholfree #Lowalcohol #Mocktail

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Check out Modern Retail's most recent article, where Jocelyn Florence discusses the bubbly waters of retail and regulations when it comes to NA beverages (pun intended)!

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Good Morning! Welcome to the latest Tuesday edition of #WhiskeyNews!! Recently, one of the Tuesday Editions discussed how to pair food for your #whiskey tasting. Today, I will share with you how to prepare your palate for that whiskey tasting that yo are having, with another great article from our friends at Tasting Table!! Whenever you are participating in a whiskey tasting, either at a friend's house, a restaurant, or at home if you are taking one of our courses here at Whiskey University, you should always prepare so that first tasting doesn't come on strong (we call it a throwaway sip!). In order to accomplish this, you can start by sipping on a cocktail to get your senses going or starting with a warm-up whiskey with an ABV range is between 43%-46% such as Elijah Craig Small Batch Why is this important? "Warming up your palate is crucial for stimulating your olfactory (smell) and gustatory (taste) systems, allowing you to pick out the various nuances in whiskies." It is also recommended "to avoid strongly flavored foods that will linger on your palate, such as meals with lots of garlic and onion, very spicy foods, or overly greasy meals." Learn more about prepping for that first sipping by checking out the article below!! Cheers!! #WhiskeyInstructor #BourbonEnthusiest #WhiskeyPairing https://lnkd.in/ezXTXWFj

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CPG Is Constantly Changing - Except When It's Not (part 9 in a series) The Fallacy in 'Number of Doors' Virtually every week there are posts here, along with discussions I have had that talk about how many 'doors' the brand is sold in or how many 'new doors' they have secured. Actually, getting into distribution is the simple part. Getting it to leave the store in a consumer's basket is the hard part. A few questions to consider prior to securing new distribution: 1. What are my goals on a case or unit sold per week? How does that compare to this retailer's minimum for my category? 2. How do I plan to drive this velocity? Have I tested & analyzed various promotional tactics at other retailers? 3. If this is my first major retailer, do I have a plan in place? What's my project spending (at the retailer, not the distributor) for this? 4. How am I developing these plans? Am I talking to experts that spend their time analyzing trade at key retailers or listening to distributors or brokers who 'know that the retailer would like'? 4. Is this level of spending sustainable? Do I realize it's less expensive to maintain distribution than to buy it back? There's a lot more involved in the initial success of a brand than 'getting in new doors'. That's just the beginning - or the end, without a plan. ---------------------------------------------------- To read the entire series, visit www.schroedercpg.com for ongoing posts on trade promotion. Also, if you have suggestions for new posts, please advise as well.

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Did you know? In 2022, SSP awarded conference sponsorships for 2 emerging career professionals! Get to know one of the recipients, Katie Nance, in the following interview. 1. What is your current employer and role?  Manager of Sensory at Synergy Flavors 2. How did attending the SSP conference impact your professional growth? Probably the biggest way it impacted my professional growth was introducing me to ASTM standards I had not heard of yet during the joint session. This allowed me to take knowledge back to my company and improve some of the sensory practices as well as be able to more clearly explain the theory behind testing. 3. Did you gain connections that helped you advance your career?  Absolutely! SSP was the first conference I attended in person since COVID and so I'm very thankful to have met so many brilliant scientists both on the ASTM and SSP side. 4. How did the travel award benefit you?  Overall, it helped financially support me in traveling to my first conference since COVID. Not only was I able to meet inspiring colleagues and absorb all of the great info, I was so honored to present at the joint ASTM x SSP session around panel performance metrics. Definitely one of the highlights of my career so far! 5. What was your favorite thing about the SSP conference?  I really enjoyed how the conference was both technical and developmental. I learned a lot about methodologies, analyses, and more. But not only did I learn about the hard science, I learned how to better my soft skills as well with the Dare presentation. 6. How does your SSP membership benefit you?  I've really enjoyed the Connectors events. Especially during the pandemic, they were an amazing opportunity to get to meet Sensory Scientists at other companies. 7. What impact has sensory had on your life? What sensory experiences stand out — think of favorite foods, sounds, textures, etc.  I think this question is hard to answer because I'm not sure I could list one aspect. When you think about it, life is constant sensory experiences! For example, my favorite flavor is coffee, my favorite texture is a warm fuzzy blanket fresh out of the drier, and I love bitter products like dark chocolate. And each individual person has their own unique preferences just like these! What I love about sensory is how the science can make analytical use of each persons' experiences to contribute to some really amazing product insights. So overall, sensory has impacted me in a huge way because sensory is with us every day! 8. What’s a fun fact or something most people don’t know about you?  Before I got into the world of sensory, I used to care for sharks, otters, sea turtles, and more at an aquarium! The baby racoons were my favorite. #SensoryScience #SensorySociety #CareerDevelopment 

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