Steven Z Schreiber, MBA

Tequila!   Many large players such as White Claw, and The Boston Beer Company (maker of Truly) are expanding their offerings and releasing tequila-flavored ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails as consumers are increasingly turning to tequila offerings in the beverage alcohol sector.   I had the opportunity to share my insights and thoughts on this surging trend with The Food Institute. In the article, I emphasized how innovations in ready-to-drink (RTD) formats, including tequila-based seltzers and margaritas, are meeting consumer demand for novel flavors. Additionally, I pointed out that tequila production has remained stable despite global supply chain disruptions and highlighted the increasing consumer preference for high-quality artisanal spirits.   Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gB9f-3Ci   #Tequila #BeverageIndustry #MarketTrends #ConsumerInsights #RTDCocktails

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Top 5 tips on building and maintaining strong relationships with retailers to secure shelf space and drive sales: 1. Meeting initial item set-up timelines with incredible accuracy 2. Updating the Retailer on any changes in the supply channel 3. Once establishing the cost of the shelf space, promote and invest to drive sales. Makes no sense to say “ I don’t have enough left to fund the requested programs.” 4. Be smart and be able to frequently review ROI on any tool or program that is used to be sure you are spending marketing dollars efficiently. 5. Continuous Evaluation, Continuous Improvement: The journey doesn't end with a deal. #cpg #retail #shelfspace

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Private labels sales currently account for roughly $1 in every $4 dollars spent in the grocery and consumables space today and is growing significantly. With Walmart and Target leaning into multi-tiered private label strategies to capitalize on that growth while improving profitability momentum will only increase. Shoppers say they are buying more private label, but more importantly younger consumers - Millennials and Gen Z - have grown up surrounded by high quality, differentiating private label options, as well as retailers like Trader Joes, Costco, and ALDI changing perceptions on what private label means. Roughly 40% of sales in European grocery are private label. If trends continue, I'd anticipate we get near that in the next 10 years. #privatelabel #storebrands #betterforyou #pricing #inflation #grocery #groceryretailing #Walmart #Target #PLMA https://lnkd.in/gzciDVTc

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The US Beer industry landscape is changing fast. AB InBev's North America Normalized EBIT declined by over $1.3 B from 2022 to 2023. The volume market share decline (relative to Molson Coors Beverage Company and Constellation Brands) contributed to that EBIT decline by an amount of $400 Million. It has not helped that overall volumes between these three major players has declined by over 4%. It's a general sign of the headwinds facing the beer category as shopper and consumer preferences shift. For #ABInBev, that overall market decline cost them another $200M. A just less than 4% increase in Net Pricing contributed a +ve $560Million to the Normalized EBIT change, but was insufficient to mitigate the increased inflationary unit costs associated with Cost of Sales and the de-leveraging of other SG&A operating expenses. It will be interesting to track how these components of EBIT will change for 2024, given growth constraints associated with market share gains and price increase ceilings. Looks like some drastic OPEX cuts might be the only short-term remedy for now as AB InBev looks to rebuild brand equity and volume share. Send me a DM or write "send" in the comments section and I will forward you the document that also contains the related MVA operating breakdown for #MolsonCoors and #ConstellationBrands. It's interesting to see how and to what extent Molson Coors and Constellation Brands benefited from AB InBev's headwinds. You will also see why Constellation Brands might be the longer term winner here. #Beerindustry #beercategory #beerdistribution #Heineken #BeverageAlcohol #Asahi #Carlsberg #BostonBeer #beer #beverages #BudLight #MillerLite #CoorsLight #Corona #ModeloEspecial

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It’s time to restock Amrita Health Foods Protein Bars after a very strong Prime Day. We may run out of inventory 😔 later today .. live and learn We have a heat advisory today for Bridgeport, CT! The dehumidifiers are just not able to keep up 95+ degrees and close to 90% humidity. But we put a heads down and get the job done and take frequent icrecream breaks! Recent protein bar improvements and relaunch are paying big dividends. Being vertically integrated is a lot of work - staffing, etc .. but it’s keeping costs down which is allowing us to be profitable and scale. So much of success is operational efficiency- the boring stuff that’s drives profit.

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In 2024, energy drink sales in convenience stores are expected to remain robust despite anticipated price hikes. Sales surged 10.8% in the past year, with smaller brands like CELSIUS Holdings, Inc. and GHOST leading growth. These brands are forecasted to continue expanding shelf space significantly. C-store operators are preparing for higher prices by focusing on variety, promotional deals, and flexible sizing to maintain customer interest. Brands emphasizing functional and low-sugar claims are particularly popular, catering to consumer demand for health-focused beverages. Overall, while inflation poses challenges, the energy drink market in c-stores is poised for continued growth through strategic marketing and product innovation. Read More Here: https://lnkd.in/e84H9Bbn C-Store Dive Branded Hospitality Ventures Sally Lyons Wyatt #hospitality #beverage #foodandbeverage #technology #innovation Joe Sobolewski Paul Storey John Fieldly Giancarlo Morena Jarrod Langhans Toby David Mark Magnesen Ryan Hughes

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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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Once again food retailers are following rather than leading in the food-as-medicine space. Instacart has partnered with New York's largest health system, Northwell Health, to provide stipends for patients to purchase healthy food. Food retailers have an opportunity to take a leading role in helping shoppers improve their wellbeing and control, if not eliminate, some of the chronic health conditions that afflict a majority of the U.S. population. Technology is providing the tools - extensive attributes on every food item driven by diet, health condition, lifestyle, drug interactions, and more, are coming together with automated hyper-personalization to enable retailers to guide each individual shopper to foods beneficial to them. My white paper, Next-Generation Food-As-Medicine, lays out how food retailers can do well by doing good. The paper is available here: https://lnkd.in/gq-QuR5T https://lnkd.in/gGSaBJE2 #FAM Center for Advancing Retail & Technology (CART) Sifter Birdzi, Inc. Andrew Parkinson Thomas Parkinson Shekar Raman #food #grocery #supermarket #health #health&wellness #innovation #retail #CEO #CIO #CMO Supermarket News Instacart

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My advice for private label cpg, you have to be the BEST. Here’s what to look forward to: 1. Best formula. (Same or better than brand) 2. Best Price. (You and retailer have to make $) 3. Best customer service. (VOIP & Emails) 4. Best logistics. (ALWAYS ON TIME) 5. Best Factory. (Say less) 6. Best at Retail vendor software. (Headache) 7. Best at Communication. (Pester and Perform) If you miss a single one, you ain’t getting the contract renewal or the contract period. #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #cpgmarketing #cpgbrands #cpgindustry #grocerytrends #foodandbeverage #cpg #grocery  #food #AI #ChatGPT #investors #finance #fundraising #health #privatelabel

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After spiking during the pandemic, profit margins and same-store sales growth have fallen back to pre-pandemic levels for the grocery industry, FMI — The Food Industry Association said in a report released last week. Only 38% of surveyed food retailers said they expect their same-store sales to grow in 2024 while just 13% predict net profits will increase, according to the trade group’s The Food Retailing Industry Speaks 2024 report. Food retailers are focusing on improving cost controls and cutting unnecessary expenses that do not drive value, FMI found. In 2023, profit margins in the grocery industry hit 1.6% — the lowest level since it was 1% in 2019 — as total expenses increased, FMI found. The industry’s slowed same-store sales growth of 2.1% last year was driven by inflation.

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AB InBev has reported a rise of 2.6% in first-quarter sales, in line with forecasts, but the impact of a roughly year-old U.S boycott of key brand Bud Light continued to hurt the brewer. AB InBev also sold slightly more beer than anticipated, with volumes falling 0.6% versus the 1% anticipated by analysts. Own beer volumes declined by 1.3%, while non-beer volumes rose by 3.5%. Read more https://lnkd.in/dCKmtukA

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While market dynamics for all grocers are more challenging than ever, consumers are likely to benefit from the improved value, variety, and service offerings as businesses strive to adapt and thrive in a hyper-competitive Connecticut food frontier. 🤠 🛒 🍷 #ShopSmartCT #MarketMakeover #GroceryGameChanger

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Pricing opportunities to ratchet 2024 profitability are dissipating. Volume growth has hit a wall. Trade and shopper marketing expenses have increased significantly to prop up volumes and to hold on to shelf-space. COGS inflation is declining but is still higher than the price increase that can be captured at retail. If your profitability outlook for 2024 vs 2023 looks like the bridge chart below, a key question should be: "What are we going to do that is radically different in 2024 and in 2025 to reset the brand for growth for the next ten years?" Article links in the comments section of this post walk through a case study of a CPG brand that has moved and is moving through a boom-stall-bust-reset moments these last few years. #pricing #CPG #FMCG #CPGcategory #profitablegrowth #Grocery #revenuegrowthmanagement

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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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CPG Panel — “More than commerce”: 🔥 We are working on a mega panel (June 13) of CPG powerhouses right now including some of my great friends: Jamie Schwab (Colgate-Palmolive) Jamie Decker (Del Monte Foods, Inc.). We will be diving into the importance of driving direct-to-customer engagement through digital, not just commerce. Topics: (4) 1. First-party data strategies 2. Customer engagement 3. Omnichannel marketing 4. No doubt AI! We still have a few panelists spots remaining, feel free send me a DM or comment below if you may be interested or know some who would be great for this topic. #ecommerce #digital #omnichannel #strategy #cmo #cdo #ceo #cro #leadership #retailecommerceclub #cpg #privateequity #playtowin

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Another top-line miss: General Mills General Mills reported today its Q4 results: - Net sales were down 6.4% to $4.71 billion, reflecting unfavorable net price realization/mix and lower pound volume - Those results included a three-point headwind from a comparison against favorable trade expense timing in the prior year, which impacted net price realization and mix - Organic net sales were down 6% to miss the consensus estimate of -3.3%, and slowed from the FQ3 trend - The decline in organic sales was driven by the trade expense timing comparison, a reduction in retailer inventory, and a headwind in international segment results - Volume was 2% lower during the quarter, led by a 6% drop in the North America Retail segment and 7% decline in the Pet segment - Price/mix fell 4% during the quarter, driven lower by a 10% decline in the International segment General Mills expects now 2025 organic sales to be 0% to +1% vs. the consensus estimate of +1.2%. "As we move into fiscal 2025, our top priority is to accelerate our organic net sales growth, and specifically our volume growth, by delivering remarkable experiences across our portfolio of leading brands," stated CEO Jeff Harmening Time to refocus for all on organic (volume) growth Exciting times To read our last publication on how to accelerate organic (volume) growth: 𝗙𝗠𝗖𝗚 𝗖𝗘𝗢𝘀: 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 (𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗲) 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗢𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗧𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗦𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘆 - 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗭𝗕𝗕 𝘁𝗼 𝗭𝗕��® (𝗭𝗲𝗿𝗼-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱-𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵) https://lnkd.in/eV5d39VE 𝗧𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀, 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝘀 & 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝗠𝗖𝗚 𝗖𝗘𝗢 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿: https://lnkd.in/ea4gy65y #fmcg #cpg Nestlé The Coca-Cola Company PepsiCo AB InBev Unilever Procter & Gamble Mondelēz International Kraft Heinz L'Oréal Danone The HEINEKEN Company Bel Reckitt Kenvue Sanofi Haleon Pernod Ricard Diageo General Mills Campbell's JDE Peet's Carlsberg Group Ferrero Henkel Mars Lindt & Sprüngli Kellanova Shiseido Bayer | Consumer Health https://lnkd.in/ehYwq5sR

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The moderation trend is continuing to accelerate! The NA segment of on-premise beer sales in the U.S. jumped 33.7% over the last 52 weeks with broad-based gains in all 50 states! 💪 📈 🍻 At Partake Brewing we are seeing on-premise operators move from offering 1 NA beer option to now several with macros and craft represented in addition to house mocktails. 🍺 🍷 🍹 This is an exciting time for the non-drinker and moderator alike! Gone are the days of water, juice, milk, and soda as the non-alcoholic options. 🤩 https://lnkd.in/gibbdbPB

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New sales channels for NA brands & accessible purchasing locations for consumers is a plus for retailers, consumers and brands. Even with the existence of supermarkets & the concern that stores will eat into each other's sales, a lot of folks in NYC will keep their local stores they find enjoyable or convenient alive. There's CVS all over the place, bodegas still thrive. There's an abundance of both mass chain and small business restaurants. There are more than enough consumers in this city for multiple formats to survive. https://lnkd.in/g6ZYvSmx

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