Michael Stull

Recent Nielsen data reveals that additive-free tequila now represents 5% of the U.S. market. What does that 5% equate to? More than $425 million annually. Here's what we can anticipate: Additive-free tequila is poised to mirror the trajectory of craft beer. Much like craft beer chipped away at the dominance of large beer companies by appealing to discerning consumers, additive-free tequila will gradually capture more market share. Currently, craft beer accounts for 13% of the U.S. beer market. Additive-free tequila is on a similar path to success. Share this if you’re excited to join this movement.

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The Hershey Company’s response to the chocolate shortages of 2022 tells us everything we need to know about them.  🎧 https://lnkd.in/gqStKT9x They went on a mission - a 10X mission you might say - to increase the availability of snacks worldwide, starting with how they think about their supply chain. Will Bonifant, now Vice President, Supply Chain, Confection & Salty Snacks, told investors at the time that changes in consumer demand led Hershey’s to rethink their supply chain strategy, seeing it as a “business enabler” rather than a cost center. The company pursued multiple opportunities in parallel, and their collective changes led to a 5 percent increase in capacity in 2023 - a sweet accomplishment indeed. In this week's episode of the Art of Procurement podcast, Philip Ideson speaks with Sherry Ulsh, Hershey's Director of Indirect Procurement. Learn more about Hershey's vision for the future of procurement here: https://lnkd.in/gXUN8yDy #supplychain #procurement #chocolate CoreTrust

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HR Strong had a blast 🚀 at the Molson Coors Beverage Company tour at the Shenandoah Valley location hosted by Women in Manufacturing! Visiting the brewery brought back many nostalgic memories, but most importantly reminded us of our passion 🔥 to support food and beverage manufacturers to prepare for the future of work. HR Strong has mastered ⚡ lean manufacturing methodologies that optimize lines and operational efficiencies. Molson Coors strives to be the number one choice for customers, an ambitious yet fitting goal. We believe reaching as high as you can 🌟 is the best mindset one can have. Being bold and decisive are the keys 🔑 to success. Molson Coors also values people as most important. They aim to honor their differences as a diverse culture of employees to achieve a winning 🏆 team culture. HR Strong strongly agrees with this message and believes that diversity only improves collaboration. Another quality that is important to Molson Coors is integrity 🔒. We think that integrity is one of the most defining aspects of a person, and taking responsibility for our actions comes first. Like HR Strong, Molson Coors believes in learning every day. One of our core values is being enterprising, meaning always seeking out opportunities for growth 🌳. Finally, celebrating together—Molson Coors places high importance on acknowledging achievements. We know how important it is for employees to feel their work is recognized. Thus, book a Discovery Call today so we can bring your business to the future: https://lnkd.in/eqpTzmDE #changemanagement #futureofwork #womeninmfg #womeninmanufacturing #molsoncoors #beveragemanufacturing #workforcedevelopment #leanmethodology #hrstrong

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A lot of new bourbon has been released since the start of the 21st century. The category has surged in popularity recently to reclaim, or even surpass, the standing it once had. That means there have been innovations in the world of this strictly defined style of whiskey, from new cask finishes to even putting barrels into experimental warehouses to see how it affects the flavour. There have been some great successes, along with a few failures, but overall the past quarter century has been a boom time for bourbon. Robb Report has compiled a list of the most important bourbons released since 2000, including a few brands that were founded earlier but reached their pinnacle of success over the past 24 years and change. https://bit.ly/4514j4f

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How does Molson Coors get the "best brewing barley in the world"? It's all thanks to hundreds of growers who take part in our best-in-class barley program that ensures quality in every bottle or can. Read more about how the 78-year-old program helps make Molson Coors a better company, and what's coming next. On the blog --> https://bit.ly/3WH423N

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As we approach the Fourth of July, BBQ costs are hitting record highs, yet the dairy industry sees a bright spot with stable cheese prices amid strong consumer demand. Viking Specialty Supply is well-positioned to support manufacturers during these times, offering reliable supply and quality dairy products to meet evolving market needs. Discover how this trend presents opportunities for growth and stability in the dairy sector in our latest feature. #DairyIndustry #FoodCosts #FourthOfJuly #CheeseMarket #VikingSpecialtySupply

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Happy International Beer Day! Glenn’s personal favorite beer is...Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout...like drinking a nice dark beer and eating a candy bar at the same time. Win!Win! 🍻 Let’s talk about possible Beer Investments: Molson Coors (TAP) *Stock is down 14% YTD and a good buying opportunity for value investors. Trades with only a 10.5 P/E ratio and a dividend yield of 3.3%. Company famous for Coors and Miller products but also has lots of craft brews. Personal favorites are Leinenkugels, Killians Irish Red and Fosters Lager. Boston Beer Company (SAM) *Stock is down 20% YTD but still has a 36 P/E and doesn't pay a dividend. Avoid!. Too bad, one of my favorite beers is Samuel Adams. Constellation Brands (STZ) *Stock is up slightly YTD of 1.5%, and trades at a P/E of 18 and has a dividend yield of 1.65%. Good value at $245/share. Imports Corona from Mexico and has exclusive license to sell their brands in the U.S. Love a cold Negro Modelo Beer (Corona’s brand). To set up a meeting or meet up for some brews, visit our website www.DovetailWP.com #InternationalBeerDay #BeerStocks #DovetailWealthPartners #ManageYourWealth #Investments #MakeMoney #WealthManagement #FinancialAdvisors

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As we approach the Fourth of July, BBQ costs are hitting record highs, yet the dairy industry sees a bright spot with stable cheese prices amid strong consumer demand. Viking Dairy Company is well-positioned to support manufacturers during these times, offering reliable supply and quality dairy products to meet evolving market needs. Discover how this trend presents opportunities for growth and stability in the dairy sector in our latest feature. #DairyIndustry #FoodCosts #FourthOfJuly #CheeseMarket #VikingDairyCompany

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As I navigate through my growing my business, I often reflect on my journey.  In 1992 I was ready to be done with “school” took my Food Science degree from UW Madison and went to work at a small company in Indiana.  A family company in an emerging product category, driven by passion for food, and quality products.  Along the way, I worked for some of the biggest and best. Oscar Mayer, Kraft, Smithfield and most recently Swift Prepared Foods. Each company had a unique and evolving culture of Quality and Food Safety. All with an acute awareness of how Quality and Food Safety impacted their business. All with their own idea of what the value of quality was to them. Companies great and small have a responsibility to meet government regulations to keep consumers safe. From FSMA to modern GFSI auditing schemes one thing remains consistent. Leadership Commitment Matters! CEO’s must have a customer focus to be sure. Is there a better way to make your customers happy than get the products you make done right the first time and every time? It certainly helps profitability to do it once and do it right. Commitment to quality has to be owned by all. Operations and QA need to be partners. The old school “cops and robbers” mentality only works for so long ( if at all).. Believe me I have seen it. There is a sweet spot for each company.  My guidance is often simple. System design and function must be monitored , you must strive to be experts in what you do, and the programs must demonstrate that you have your process in control. John Wooden got it right,“If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?”  Fast forward, I have learned a tremendous amount about how Quality can impact a business and a brand. I have learned one size does not fit all. We can compromise. The greater the quality and food safety focus from the top down, the greater the likelihood of success.  Still mastering my craft, after 32 years in the food business. I have seen hundreds of factories and partnered with the biggest customers. I have more to learn, but it feels like I have earned a PhD in Quality and Food Safety. I am passionate about growing strong connections and strong teams. I believe in the power of people.  My goal is to share what I have learned with as many people as I can. To leave organizations and the people in them stronger. Are you a Venture Capital group looking at a new business? You should know the potential pitfalls before you buy.  Big or small, It doesn’t matter, I can help mature your FSQA programs and culture.  I can help you and your teams find the solutions you seek, and the " right size” programs for your business to deliver on your promises and leadership commitment to Quality and Food Safety.  #Quality #FoodSafety #BusinessSuccess #LeadershipCommitment #FSQA #VentureCapital #StrongTeams #ContinuousImprovement

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From Dairy Foods to Fortune Business Insight, experts agree: the RTD dairy beverage market is on the rise. With milk, tea, coffee, aseptic juices, and bottled juices leading the charge, dollar sales are increasing year after year. While some may see a decline in unit sales, the exception lies with canned juices, whose dollar sales spiked 8.5% and unit sales saw a 2% rise. And the global market shows no signs of slowing down, projected to reach over $1 trillion by 2032 thanks to urbanization and busy lifestyles. Don't miss out on the opportunities in this growing category!" #RTDbeverages #dairy #growthopportunities

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Trends suggest that Ohio’s craft beer industry will continue to grow on net in 2024, but that growth is expected to be harder to come by for an industry segment grappling with an increasingly crowded, competitive and evolving market.

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Exciting news for craft beer connoisseurs and lovers of Upland Brewing Company—Indiana's third largest craft brewery! 🍻🎉 Upland Brewing Co. just launched rāe, a brand new sibling beverage brand, and its first product, a sparkling golden ale of the same name. 🍺 Designed for the next generation of craft beer lovers, rāe's first brew is made with real ingredients like lemon and ginger, packing a punch at 4.2% ABV and only 110 calories! 👀 In the creation of rāe, Upland Wholesale Brands contacted SMARI to conduct formal market research. We are proud to have helped shape rāe into the perfect brew for the modern craft beer enthusiast! 🥳 Our president, Katie Ittenbach, with more on this project ⬇️ "This journey with Upland has been an exciting one as the Upland team identified an underserved market that hit home with me, the millennial female. To better understand her, Upland knew research would be essential to curating the right beverage. How this audience chooses to enjoy their beverage and what really matters has now been encapsulated in the rāe brand. We found that a high-quality sparkling ale is the missing can on the shelf for this audience. Plus, you will love the can design! You spoke, Upland listened." Read more on the launch of rāe here [🔗: https://loom.ly/BIfcu_E] and stop by Upland Brewing Company this weekend to have a sip, or you can find other locations serving rāe on their website ➡️ https://loom.ly/ApvJo1E This is beer's next wave. Are you ready to ride? 🌊 --- #uplandbrewingcompany #uplandbrewery #bloomingtonindiana #rāe #marketresearch #marketresearchfirm #marketintel #datadriven #strategicinsight #marketstrategy #dataanalysis #marketintelligence #strategicmarketing #strategicresearch #analytics #SMARI #consumerjourney #product #productevaluation #focusgroups #marketassessment #adtesting #concepttesting #brandassessment #surveys #qualitativedata #quantitativedata #innovation

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Legislation to help draft beer. https://lnkd.in/eUkwbEu3

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