Driscoll's EMEA’s Post

Y'all remember the Snickers Hi-Protein bar from 2022?   (Yes, Mars really managed to cram 20g protein—how?? —into a chocolate bar. 🍫 Check out the product listing in the comments if you don't believe me.)   Get ready for more of that.   According to a recent Deep Dive à la Food Dive, #CPG innovation will be 👑 KING 👑 in 2024. The name of the game?   Incremental growth. Consumers beset by #inflation or recession concerns will "continue to pay more for items that are different, have an improved formulation, or are unique in a positive way."   - Cue the Snickers Hi-Protein bar - Cue the Dove Milk Chocolate Tiramisu Caramel Promises (a mouthful before you even take a bite!) - Cue the Ranch Dip flavored combos - AND "a Dove bar made with 100% real ice cream using sustainably sourced vanilla."   Thoughts on #snacking trends? Drop YOUR favorite new #snack this year in the comments below! ⬇   https://lnkd.in/gBbW6bTA   #foodandbeverage #foodmanufacturing Miller Resource Group Gus Bageanis Robin Wojnicki Natalie Sarris Gary Miller Travis Miller Arelis Bageanis

When you build a business around a trend, you run the risk that tastes change or the trend turns out to be a fad. Americans, it turned out, only liked self-serve frozen yogurt so much and that left a lot of people who jumped on that trend holding the bag when demand proved soft. In other cases, people have overestimated demand in areas that do have real followings. Plant-based meat, for example, has its fans, but most fast-food efforts to offer plant-based meat products have failed. These are real trends, but a trend does not necessarily support a business. The same appears to be true of this niche market.

Interested to see the latest food, beverage, and CPG financing trends? 👀 Ryan Williams, part of the JPG family, recently published FABID's Q1 2024 report. Ryan shared a snippet of the analysis in his post below, and trust us when we say the report is worth the read! 🌐 Check out FABID's LinkedIn page ✉️ Message Glenn Pappalardo or Kevin W. for more information on our M&A services. #FoodandBeverage #CPGIndustry #Financing #M&A

BREAKING: Local man discovers he's actually been eating meat-based candy all his life. 🤔 Ok - not really - but these The Hershey Company products really make you think... 🤓 ...Upon further inspection I see these are made with oat chocolate and are vegan - but what stands out is "PLANT BASED". 🌿 I think this leads to further erosion and trust in this term, which by now, might as well mean "All Natural". Which is actually quite a shame for the TRUE plant based brands out there - I'm thinking about NoBull Burger, Blue Zones Kitchen, etc. Real whole food ingredients. 💚 For these brands #plantbased isn't just the term of the moment - it's deep in their brand ethos. It's what they believe. 🧠 Smarter folks than me will come up with a new Plant Based 2.0™ term, but I do thinks it's time to start brainstorming how best to convey this distinction so it doesn't continue being diluted by BigCo CPG. If you have a new replacement term for "plant based" let's hear it in the comments 👇

Do you think it will help for the FTC to create guidelines for plant-based goods similar to its Green Guides for "sustainable" products, perhaps requiring that a certain percentage (>70%) must be "plant-based" to lawfully use that term on product labeling in the U.S?

Fast food chains are always on the hunt for new ways to drive sales and attract customers. One popular strategy is running a Limited Time Offer. These are items like the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks or The McRib from McDonald's. In order to run a LTO item, culinary teams must consider operational feasibility, including ingredient availability, preparation complexity, and equipment requirements. LTO's should offer customers something that they can't get anywhere else. That means considering factors like flavor profiles, ingredient combinations, and product presentation. Balancing these elements can give fast food chains an opportunity to stand out from their peers. #menuinnovation #culinaryinnovation #LTO #entrepreneur

Received a thoughtful question today. "In your opinion, what defines a 'great' mid-size #food #manufacturing business?" Here is my answer: My scope is limited to #packaged food #processors making and packaging finished goods for retail and foodservice (we'll call it "#CPG Food"). In the long run, CPG Food is trending towards natural, artisanal and reasonably sustainable. Mid-bell curve consumers (i.e.: the mass market) does not share the palate, healthy lifestyle or sustainability concerns of early adopters. However, they will trade up to items with the aforementioned characteristics if the two following characteristics are met: (1) organoleptic (taste, texture, mouth-feel, visual, smell) and (2) price. A great food manufacturer is uniquely able to deliver #1 and #2. There are great businesses today that deliver one or neither, but they're either under long-term existential threat or have major "crossing the chasm" questions.

Here's what's new in the #cpgindustry this week: Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits has plans to acquire Horizon Beverage. The deal includes all of Norton, Massachusetts-based Horizon Beverage’s Massachusetts and Rhode Island operations and beer, wine and spirits portfolio, adding two states to the largest bev-alc distributor’s footprint, for a total of 46 states, plus Washington, D.C., Canada, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Oats Overnight has raised $35 million in a Series B funding round intended to help the high-protein oats brand continue to expand its manufacturing capabilities and grow its footprint in retail stores. The round follows a $21 million raise from last year when the company reported around 250 full time employees and a footprint in over 2,000 doors nationwide. Kroger and Albertsons Companies’ $24.6 billion grocery merger is once again in flux after a Colorado judge and the state’s attorneys general agreed today to an order halting the proceedings until the Colorado District Court rules on the state’s lawsuit that seeks to permanently block the deal. The agreement also cancels a nine-day hearing on the preliminary injunction set to start on August 12; instead it consolidates the proceeding with a two-week trial slated to begin on September 30. Ghetto Gastro is adding to its line with the launch of two fall-inspired toaster pastry flavors: sweet potato and brown sugar. The pastries are vegan, formulated with organic roots and grains, non-GMO and include no artificial additives or preservatives. Plant-based whole cuts maker Juicy Marbles has added plant-based Baby Ribs with edible bones to its portfolio. The company said it has been experimenting with its ribs for the past year, selling limited versions of its ribs to its online community but is now offering a retail-ready product. Danone is entering a partnership with Microsoft in order to integrate artificial intelligence throughout its supply chain. The dairy business said the program will include initiatives for its workforce to boost their experience with AI, including the use of predictive forecasting and real-time adjustments to streamline its operations. Siddhi Capital announced the closing of its second fund today at $135 million; the new vehicle marks the firm’s shift from startup to growth equity stage investments and a broadening beyond food and beverage. brekki has expanded its portfolio of ready-to-eat oats with two new flavors: Lemon and Choco Coconut. Plant-based milk and creamer producer Elmhurst® 1925 has made its first foray into the plant-based meat set with its single-ingredient chicken alternative, TerraMeat Plant-Based Chick’n. The new ambient product is made with hemp protein and has 26 grams of protein per serving.

Great Packaging helps the journey/ experience of a excellent product

Now available on demand!! This week's WEBINAR "Maximizing Profitability With Inventory Strategies in a World of Razor-Thin Margins" discusses how private label, fresh food management and sustainability enable grocers to think strategically about the brand experiences they want to create and the loyalty they want to drive. WATCH in entirety:: https://ow.ly/M22n50Ro2xN #foodretail #grocery #supermarket Oracle