Toi Gunn

Beginning July 1 2024, salaried workers earning less than $43,888 a year will qualify for 1.5 times pay if they work more than 40 hours a week That is a 23% increase from the current threshold The threshold will expand to $58,656 on Jan. 1, 2025 That is a 65% increase from the current threshold Amongst other industries, this is a huge deal for managers in the QSR, retail, and overall hospitality space I predict this change combined with minimum wage increases will continue to drive up menu prices across the country #economics #pricing #consumers #QSR #fastfood

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🌿 Exciting news from EleTex as we spread the joy of ‘giggle grass’ infused beverages across North Texas! 🫖 Here’s what we’ve learned: • Many 🍃brands are diving into exclusive deals with distributors from the alcohol 🥃sector who might not yet grasp the nuances of the canna🍃industry. It’s essential we focus on brand care and consumer safety to really make a difference. • Consider pricing strategies: some brands might find more success and better margins directly selling to consumers. Plus, we know shipping can add up—let’s think strategically about distribution. 📉 • 🚭 Let’s talk licensing: It’s crucial for accounts selling 🍃beverages to have proper state licensing. Although some might say ‘Texas isn’t even checking,’ staying compliant ensures longevity and trust in our industry. 🚫 • Banking challenges are real: many businesses in our field work with banks which may not be fully aligned with canna🍃operations. Stay informed and prepared for potential changes. 🏦💚 At EleTex Brands, co-founded by me, Kim Flores, we leverage a unique perspective thanks to our roots in both the canna🍃 and alcohol distribution sectors. As an influencer, advocate, and canna🍃brand owner I’m committed to enhancing industry standards and practices. 🍃🥤 👉 Ready to elevate your game with EleTex? If you’re a 🍃retailer or 🍃brand looking to make impactful changes, let’s connect. Follow, comment, or share to keep the conversation going. Together, we can navigate these challenges and elevate the industry RESPONSIBLY. 💚 #hempbeverages #distribution #beveragedistribution #texas

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Very comprehensive and well written analysis by Scott Moses at Solomon Partners as to why C&S Wholesale Grocers is well positioned to drive success in the updated Kroger & Albertsons Companies divested store plan. Two key things Scott fails to address: First, driving customer loyalty requires much more than a robust supply chain. While it is arguably the *most* important factor (if shoppers can't find their favorite products, they will leave the store), it certainly requires other key elements to not just maintain loyalty, but *drive* loyalty. Things like loyalty programs, digital and ecomm capabilities, retail media partners, targeted customized offerings etc. - This is how you drive success and long term shopper loyalty in todays CPG landscape. Which leads me to the second area: Data Retailers and vendors have to win through data, one way shape or form. As retail media networks continue to grow across the US, along with the expansion of digital capabilities and the ever increasing complexities of the consumers path-to-purchase, data is the key to driving long term success via loyalty. That's why retailers invest millions upon millions each year in loyalty data programs and digital capabilities. And how C&S will ensure their store operating partners will be successful in this arena is really yet to be addressed. Scott makes a strong case for C&S being strong wholesale operators, highlighting their 100+ year expertise in the grocery industry and vast distribution networks and capabilities. But he leaves the door wide open for debate on whether or not C&S will actually drive success with these divested stores in todays complex consumer/retail landscape that is becoming increasingly reliant on data and digital capabilities. My curiosity (and concern) is less around whether or not C&S will be exemplary distribution partners, but whether they have the ability help these banners be successful and continue to evolve into the future of grocery. https://lnkd.in/gV4QEPzH

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Chipotle Mexican Grill - Anamoly in this economy even with continued price increases and hardly any innovation (they once showed a spicy chocolate shake in one of their documents a long long time ago). Stock is +30% YTD and +60% past year....... comps +5%, transactions +3% and avg check +2% "Chipotle has become the rare restaurant chain to report rising transactions despite higher menu prices. The company once again raised its prices in October, citing inflation. Others in the restaurant industry have turned to limited-time offers and deals to appeal to customers, particularly those with lower incomes." https://lnkd.in/gXuVhgUn

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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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Dear Struggling Enterprise Brands, At the NRA Show, we engaged with medium and large-size brands facing challenges in reclaiming their former glory. Many share a common struggle, witnessing a cycle of price increases, temporary sales spikes, and subsequent declines, wash, rinse, repeat, leading to uncertainty about the future with a byproduct of dwindling morale. It's disheartening to witness repetitive attempts at solutions like new leadership, menu changes, and location alterations without leveraging the valuable data at their disposal. Data they have been sitting on for years. The pressure to maintain profits amid rising costs can make every decision feel like a make-or-break situation... because in many cases it is. Fortunately, there's a solution. Machine Learning and Actionable Intelligence offer unparalleled speed and accuracy in decision-making, leveraging existing data to pave the way for smarter, data-driven strategies. By harnessing technology to analyze honest guest feedback found within transaction details, businesses can tailor location-specific solutions for sustainable growth. That's where the battles are won or lost. District Managers and Franchise Business Consultants hold the key to driving individual location performance. RedOnion.ai stands as the "Wizard Behind The Drapes" empowering them with insights to anticipate challenges and opportunities proactively. All before ever stepping a foot inside a location. Don't rely on guesswork with a diminishing profit pool for marketing efforts. Embrace data-driven strategies to address your brand's challenges effectively and join our esteemed client list to navigate the complexities of the industry with confidence. Here's a peak behind our drapes of how we do, what we do at Red Onion. WardO@RedOnion.ai Leader in Guest Behavior Analytics since 2014

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Culture is everything. Letting culture change will change everything.

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Walmart needs to be careful and not lose focus on their main business engine. See more below: MediaPost has a story about how Walmart "is poised to become a non-retail powerhouse." Not that its retail business is taking a back seat to its other initiatives, but the story says that a new report from Deutsche Bank says that Walmart is "gathering steam from alternative value streams, which are boosting revenue and pumping up profits. Specifically, Walmart is doing well in five pools of opportunity within the ecommerce world, including Walmart Connect, its retail media network, membership fees, marketplace transactions, fulfillment services, and data monetization." Advertising, MediaPost writes, "is a significant component" - a $3.4 billion business growing as much as 25 percent annually and contributing 70 percent to margin. Krisztina Katai, an analyst who follows Walmart for Deutsche Bank, writes in an investment letter that management has defined these five new value streams as "key drivers in the underlying transformation of the business."

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Sam’s Club is starting a community feedback network of 50k shoppers to improve its private-label products. 👀 The new Member’s Mark Community includes 50,000 shoppers giving feedback on products before they reach stores. “At Sam’s Club, we have a long history of listening to feedback from our members," said Megan Crozier, chief merchant at Sam’s Club. This initiative will help Sam’s Club create better products and offer more personalized experiences for their members. Competing with Costco's Kirkland brand is no easy task. Getting feedback at this scale will help. 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 ✅: 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿-𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: • Insightful Feedback: Direct insights from 50,000 shoppers. • Improved Product Quality: Refine products before market launch. 𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: • Building Loyalty: Increases customer loyalty and trust. • Personalized Experiences: Tailors products to customer preferences. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: • Competitive Edge: Positions Sam’s Club as unique. • Innovation: Encourages continuous product innovation. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 ❌: 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀: • Managing Feedback: Handling large volumes of feedback. • Integration: Efficiently integrating feedback into processes. 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴: • Bias Risks: Feedback may not represent everyone. • Diverse Preferences: Balancing varied customer opinions. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲: • Cost and Time: Requires significant resources and effort. • Continuous Engagement: Maintaining community participation consistently. It's going to be hard, but Sam's Club is on the right track.

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Someone is always watching… When people observe, listen, and watch you, and you do not even realize it, what impact are you making? I met Brian Smith very early in my CPG career.  I learned a lot from you observing how he conducted himself. I recently had the pleasure of spending time with Brian. I asked him how this seemed to come so naturally to him. Watch this short clip to hear his response. Who do you observe? Who deserves a shoutout from you for their impact on your development? #ProfessioanlDevelopment #Growth #Mentors

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The chicken segment is one of the most dynamic and competitive among the large restaurant chains in the U.S. And while Chick-fil-A continues to dominate and Popeyes is taking over the 2nd in the rank, there has been significant movement in the rank among other mid-size leading chains over the last ten years. It goes to show that in the restaurant industry, you can never rest. Leaders are waking up to the realization that if they’re not growing fast they’re dying slowly.  Outgrowing and outsmarting your competitors requires using the power of long-term thinking. #restaurants #chicken #strategy #leadership

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The digital revolution has transformed every aspect of the CPG and retail business. However, has it truly impacted category management? This question frequently crossed my mind during my time in retail, but I never received a resounding affirmation from industry practitioners. There are variety of reasons that we could ponder over on why that is the case. However, I am more focused on how do we evolve this space to what the customer shopping behavior is today and what is the experience customers expect of their shopping experience (both physical and digital). At Think Blue we have come up with a list of key items that can help you develop a deeper and meaningful process that helps category management be effective: 1. Is Category Management embedded around consumer centricity? 2. Does Physical retail still drive the decision making with digital business being a bolt on? 3. Are your category roles defined by your #CustomerValueProposition? 4. Do these category roles properly understand the Omni- customers? 5. Are right data inputs being used by practitioners to make the appropriate distribution decisions? 6. Do you have a universal expectation of your category teams to deliver physical and digital shelf at the same time? Or is digital shelf a function of a different team? 7. Pricing Tactics - Are they defined by channels and customer or by store groupings and regions? 8. Promotional Tactics- Do you innovate promotionally by using new digital tools to build loyalty? 9. Tech and Digital Capabilities- Are you embedding your teams with the latest tools around Space Planning and Promotional effectiveness 10. Partnerships- Are you building the right partnerships with your CPG/retail partners to create Joint Value! #categorymanagement #digitaltransformation #thinkblue Sri Rajagopalan Manish Sharma

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High school seems like forever ago, but I still see it play out all the time as an adult, especially in the CPG space. Brands/founders who want to be “popular” so they: > Chase trends and always try to be on top of the next diet/lifestyle craze. > Care so much about what people think that they never take a stand and say everything without saying anything at all. > Have lost their own authenticity to chase being what they think people want them to be. > Only want to befriend/partner/collaborate with the other “cool kids”. > Always act like they have it all going on and things are perfect, even when they’re not. > Sell their soul for “success” (or what they think others will define as successfull). But, just like in high school, it’s the kids [brands/founders] that know who they are (and aren’t afraid to be who they are), keep their heads down doing the work that matters (regardless of how much attention it gets them), stick to their opinions (even when it's unpopular), and would rather live a meaningful, authentic, and purposeful life than be a high school hero (industry darling) that are the most impressive. Your $30k trade show booth or eight-figure fundraise will never impress me nearly as much as the authenticity that you can bring to the world to help make the world a better place, regardless of how many people notice. To the admirably "unpopular" ones… No need to tag you here. You don’t need that kind of validation anyway. You know who you are. The world needs you. Know that you’re the ones that impress and inspire me the most. Please keep being you. Don’t let this world influence you otherwise. Sincerely, me.

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PRIME DAY LIVE TAKES: DAY 2 We’re wrapping up the second and final day of Prime Day. It’s looking like Amazon has accomplished its goal of beating last year’s Prime Day performance… by a healthy margin. Not only that, but participation from CPG brands this year felt like the highest it’s ever been! Here are some hot takes from Day 2 (maybe a bit less rosy!): 💹 Are the deals fake? - I got questions about price increases ahead of Prime Day, which has the impression of making the deals seem “fake”. (I think this is trending on Tiktok) - This definitely exists, though it’s not so simple to pull off: requires months of planning. “Reference price” is closely monitored and if it moves ahead of Prime Day, you often have to recreate your deals or restructure - In our categories we actually worried about June or July deals or price matching which would make your reference price too *low*, requiring too deep of a discount brands couldn’t afford. On that topic… 🏷️ Price matching from other platforms is getting worse: - Chewy and Target have started price-matching promos or sales prices which can jeopardize Prime Day deals. - Because of this, it’s becoming almost table-stakes to have unique assortments for different retailers. ♻️ Amazon is emphasizing repurchase behavior: - This year, Amazon showcased deals from brands on “Buy It Again” list (appearing high on the homepage) - S&S coupons were everywhere - a 50% coupon was a great follow-on to a deep discount - The mega brands you know were some of the biggest deals - Apple, Dyson, etc. Best Buy now operates as a 3rd party seller - Paired with less prominent badging of deals, feels like Amazon focused on driving sales a bit more than new product discovery 🛠️ Prime Day also had lots of technical issues: - The Amazon advertising console was down for over an hour last night - Brands experienced several strange, new suppressions that prevented them from running coupons or promos. - Prime Day badging displayed somewhat inconsistently, causing confusion for shoppers (and frustration for brands!) The next 2 weeks is critical. The purpose of Prime Day is—and always has been—new customer acquisition. Brands should specifically target new people who visited their pages. Follow-on promos for people still in cart, emails about the follow-on promos (”Did you miss it?” FOMO is strong!), retargeting ads, and repurchase campaigns should all be launched in the coming days. Finally, want to know if your Prime Day was good? My advice: look at your Best Seller Ranking compared to your direct competitors. It’s the simplest measure of relative performance! You can use a tool like Keepa or Helium10 to track both this and price (to see if any brands pulled price increase tricks!). - - - - - Next week, we’ll be aggregating all of Cartograph’s Prime Day performance data and writing a deeper list of learnings from this year.

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Ad Age rounded up the top summer 2024 beverage alcohol trends, one of which being around the continued interest in low- and no- alcohol beverages.   At EIGHT Brewing Co., we've been all about a lower alcohol offering that complements your life without compromise since day one. With only 4% ABV, our low carb, low cal light lager is the perfect option, not only for the summer but every season.   I'm curious to watch the wider trend as it plays out across both the alcohol and traditional beverage categories. As and since we launched, we've watched more players roll out lower alc. / lower calorie offerings across wine, beer and spirits in an effort to continue to meet ever-evolving drinkers where they are. It will be interesting to see if this is a lasting trend and shift in consumer preferences, a passing phase, or the growth of a niche consumer that was previously overlooked.   To read the full piece, click the link below: https://lnkd.in/gmp6SVra

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🍷 Recently, my dad recommended Frank Family Cabernet Sauvignon as his latest obsession. To my delight, there happened to be a promotion available when I went to purchase it! 🎉 What's your go-to wine recommendation or recent find? Did you know that Wine Sales account for 62% of total BevAl sales in the United States? Despite varying state shipping laws complicating matters for retailers and manufacturers, DTC wine sales are legal in 40 states across the country. Online wine sales have seen a growth of +2.6%, contrasting with a -1.0% decline offline.

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Just as unusual as the fact I’ve never been to New York City, I’ve never had a formal mentor in my career. Looking hindsight, I realize I could’ve been much better off as a professional if I did. While it’s too late for me, I hope to raise awareness to those earlier in their careers to find a mentor. However, since I never had one, I don’t know how to advise someone to find one. This is where I hope to get your input. How should someone go about finding a formal mentor? Any advice? Probably not as simple as “go ask someone if they’ll be your mentor.” Probably a lot of thought should go into selecting who would make a good mentor, and even coaching on how to approach the prospective mentor… laying out goals, expectations etc. Since this is fresh territory for me, I’d love to hear your input!

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Here's what's up in the #cpgindustry this week: Uncle Nearest, the country’s largest Black-owned distillery, is widening its reach across spirit categories in announcing a deal to acquire Square One Organic Spirits. Tortilla chip and salsa brand Xochitl Inc.‎ has become the second brand to join private equity firm Forward Consumer Partners’ portfolio. Ben Branson, founder of Seedlip Drinks‎ , has now set up venture-studio Pollen Projects, which has launched 0.0%-abv cocktail bitters brand @seasn Seasn in the UK and is set to take product across the Atlantic to the US.   Doughlicious The London Dough Co.‎ has gone nationwide with Whole Foods Market, expanding its partnership with the grocery chain. The retailer carries the brand’s Frozen Cookie Dough and Gelato Bites, which have a SRP of $6.99 per 6-piece box. Teton Waters Ranch‎ has launched Teton Taste Buds, a new product line of blended veggie and grass-fed beef positioned to kids. The four nutrient-dense SKUs are made with mushrooms, carrots and butternut squash and launched in Sprouts Farmers Market, Whole Foods Market and New Seasons Market locations, among others. Three Wishes Cereal‎ has released grain-free granola available in three flavors: Original, Maple Pecan, and Chocolate Almond,available at Sprouts Farmers Market stores and on Amazon. Dave’s Killer Bread has extended its bar line with Amped-Up Organic Protein Bars in three flavors: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk, Chocolate Coconut and Blueberry Almond Butter. Voyage Foods‎, a maker of peanut-free spread, chocolate without cacao and coffee without coffee beans, has raised $52 million in a Series A round. The round was co-led by Level One Fund and Horizons Ventures. SOSV and Collaborative Fund also participated. Voyage will use the funds to expand manufacturing facilities and grow personnel. Chip City‎ Cookies, a New York City-based cookie chain, has raised $7.5 million in a Series B investment from Enlightened Hospitality Investments. In 2022, Chip City also received $10 million from Enlightened.

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Post Holdings, a leading player in the CPG sector with renowned brands like Honey Bunches of Oats, Pebbles, Bob Evans, and more, experienced a significant 23% increase in sales during the second quarter ending March 31. However, challenges such as volume declines in foodservice and US Retail, coupled with impacts from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) reductions, adversely affected Post Consumer Brands. Despite these hurdles, recent acquisitions, including a portion of J.M. Smucker Co's pet food business, Perfection Pet Foods, and Deeside Cereals Ltd., contributed to the uptick in net earnings and net sales compared to the previous quarter, with acquisitions accounting for $468 million. This dynamic underscores the importance of M&A for large CPG companies in a challenging consumer environment. In today's consumer landscape, major CPG companies must drive growth and remain relevant by having relevant brands and offerings in trending categories, which often entails divesting non-core assets to enhance cash flow for strategic acquisitions to execute on a buy vs. build strategy. We expect this trend to continue throughout the remainder of 2024 and into 2025. #PostHoldings #CPG #BusinessGrowth #StrategicAcquisitions #OperationalExcellence https://lnkd.in/gVT24nDx

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