Gavin Konkel

Identify opportunities to help U.S. consumers tackle time constraints affecting their daily mealtimes. Circana's Kitchen Audit helps you develop strategies to address consumers’ evolving needs in the kitchen.

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Community Call: Whole Foods Market - Updates for Local and Emerging Brands Kristin Sherman, Principal Local Forager at Whole Foods Market, and Casey Gaston, Executive Leader of Local and Emerging Brands, join Community Call to share essential updates and strategies for local and emerging brands who want to get their products on shelf including: *Changes to how the local and emerging team operates *Current differentiation and innovation the team is looking for *Inside tips for submissions and pitching *Distribution recommendations *Pricing strategies *Special diets and macro trends of note

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The new arm within US Beverage will leverage its existing network to accelerate time to market for craft and emerging spirits brands.

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Coke vs. Pepsi? Not so fast.   For the first time, Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. has now claimed the #2 soda spot in America, surpassing PepsiCo, who had held the position for over two decades. Their innovative marketing initiatives and unique blend of flavors have truly set them apart from the competition. I had the chance to discuss Dr. Pepper's remarkable rise with The Food Institute, emphasizing their strategy and how they have particularly resonated with the younger demographic, who crave diverse flavors beyond traditional cola.   In the article, I mentioned: "Dr. Pepper has distinguished itself through effective marketing campaigns that emphasize its unique flavor and individuality. This strategy resonates particularly well with younger demographics seeking alternatives to traditional cola drinks."   With Dr. Pepper's leap to the #2 position, do you think they have a shot at dethroning The Coca-Cola Company from the #1 spot? In which other categories do you think a shift like this is possible? Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g572y5jv   #MarketingStrategy #BeverageIndustry #Innovation #DrPepper

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Coca-Cola relaunches Mexican soft drink brand Barrilitos in California and Texas The beverage manufacturer said the fruity offering, which first launched in 1938, appeals to consumers craving nostalgia and a connection to heritage and authenticity. Coca-Cola is relaunching the Mexican soft drink brand Barrilitos in the U.S., starting with California and Texas. There is likely to be further near-term expansion into Nevada and Oklahoma. Barrilitos was discontinued a few years ago after Coca-Cola said it listened to consumer feedback and chose to concentrate on other imported brands, the company stated in an email to Food Dive. The beverage manufacturer said Barrilitos appeals to people craving nostalgia, its connection to heritage and authenticity, and its vibrant flavors and quality. Barrilitos, which debuted in 1938 in Monterrey, Mexico was purchased by Coca-Cola in 2008. Coca-Cola said the fruity beverage is getting a new formula. The company declined to offer specifics about the reformulation, except to say that it appeals to a new generation of consumers. Hispanics are fueling 16% of total consumer packaged goods (CPG) growth in the U.S., according to a report from Circana.The data firm noted the demographic makes up a fifth of the American population and accounts for 71% of national population growth between 2022 and 2023. At the same time, more than 25% of Gen Z and Gen Alpha identify as Hispanic, Circana said, demonstrating the long-term potential of the Hispanic consumer group. In relaunching Barrilitos in the U.S., Coca-Cola noted that the beverage appeals to multicultural Gen Z’ers, millennials and families. This wide consumer base immediately gives Coca-Cola a diverse cross-section of the public to target, most notably younger consumers who are looking for novel flavors and increasingly control a larger portion of consumer spending. “Barrilitos is evolving to meet the needs of a new generation, without losing sight of its rich history,” Maria Correa, who leads the Barrilitos brand for Coca-Cola, said in a statement. “We’ve infused Barrilitos with a refreshed brand identity while preserving the classic flavors and traditions that have made it a beloved part of Latino households. This relaunch is an invitation to experience Barrilitos and celebrate its heritage in a whole new way.” Barrilitos, which is produced in Mexico, is available in four flavors — Mandarina (Mandarin), Manzana (Apple), Piña (Pineapple), and Ponche de Frutas (Fruit Punch) — packaged in a twist-glass bottle. In relaunching Barrilitos, Coca-Cola is likely looking to tap into some of the attributes that made its Topo Chico brand a success. Coca-Cola paid an estimated $220 million in 2017 to purchase Topo Chico, a Mexican sparkling water brand it had worked closely with for nearly a century before, as it moved aggressively to diversify its beverage portfolio and reduce its dependency on sugary drinks.

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Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. has named Drew Panayiotou as its new #CMO for U.S. refreshment beverages, overseeing a $9 billion portfolio, including brands like Dr. Pepper, Snapple Group. and Canada Dr. Drew brings deep expertise in #AI-driven marketing and #ecommerce from his time at Pfizer. His appointment underscores the growing need for enterprise-wide #data standards—ensuring consistency across brand taxonomies, proactively removing bad data, unlocking actionable insights and enabling seamless collaboration. These foundations empower marketers to deliver precise, #innovative campaigns that drive results. #datastandards #datagovernance #contentsupplychain #bigdata #CPG #digitalmarketing #Claravine

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I am continuing to track this transaction! I remain confident that the enhanced divestiture package will continue to add value. I anticipate improvements in pricing discipline, enhanced customer responsiveness, and, ideally, a more diverse product mix achieved through new market penetration. The deal appears advantageous, and I am optimistic that post-merger, we will witness: "lower prices and more choices to more customers [to] secure the long-term future of unionized grocery jobs." The Shelby Report #kroger #albertstons #divestitures

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Functional foods are more than just a fad —they’re shaping the future of health and wellness in CPG. Consumers today are actively seeking products that go beyond basic nutrition (which is still rare) , and are looking for functional benefits like added protein, gut health support, and enhanced energy. This shift is driving innovation across the food industry, as brands tap into the demand for products that fuel both body and mind. Protein Candy is trying to be a big part of this movement, bringing high fiber, low sugar, protein-packed treats to the candy aisle. It’s an exciting time to be in the space where food meets function.

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Provi insights on No and Low offerings and key elements of building a quality program on and off premise to capture the customer who already is looking for these alternatives

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Are you aware of the programs out there for emerging brands? More and more, retailers and distributors are becoming very aware that consumer demand for new and emerging brands is higher than ever in CPG. BIG guys are looking for the LITTLE guys that might be the next BIG thing. Here are just a few: 🌟 McLane Company, Inc. Emerging Brands Marketplace powered by Mable 🌟 US Foods Direct Marketplace available through Mable 🌟 7-Eleven Brands w/ ❤️ 🌟 Target's Forward Founders and Target Takeoff 🌟 Walmart Open Call 🌟 Sprouts Farmers Market Innovation Center 🌟 If you know of others not listed - please let me know in the comments! If you haven't read the recent article from Nosh.com's Shauna Golden about retail chains sourcing exciting emerging brands, then be SURE to read the article in the comments. You'll read valuable insight on a few of these emerging brands programs from Yasmin Curtis (Two Fish Foods) , Sabeena Ladha (DEUX), Emily Knapp (Stellar Granola), Israel Moreira (Doughp), Scott Gutche (Walmart), and me (Bon Bee™ Honey). And BONUS heads up! The application for 7-Eleven's Brands w/ ❤️ is live NOW through November 3. Check out the link in comments to apply. (pic here from our recent stint with Brands w/ ❤️ ... now THAT's a Slurpee.) #LeaveNoRockUnturned #emergingbrands #retailgrowth #cpg #veteranowned #womenowned #familybusiness #sharktank

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Super sad to see, but it's understandable – at the end of the day, money will always win... PepsiCo’s acquisition of Siete Foods marks another big shift in the natural foods industry. While it’s exciting to see a family-owned company like Siete gain access to greater resources, it’s also a reminder of how quickly values-driven brands can get swept up by large corporations. The challenge now is to see if Siete’s core values – health, authenticity, and family – will remain intact under new ownership. Wishing the best to the Garza family and hoping that Siete's mission continues to thrive in this new chapter.

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These statistics on alcohol consumption in the U.S. are quite revealing. The top 10% of consumers are responsible for over 70% of total drinks consumed, with the top 20% consuming more than 2 drinks per day. Conversely, 60% of consumers average less than 1 drink per week. With impending updates to guidelines on safe alcohol consumption levels in the U.S., it will be interesting to observe how this distribution evolves. Where do you fall on this consumption chart? Thanks for bringing to my attention Tim Perreira Tim Barnes Darren McKee #AlcoholConsumption #USStatistics #HealthGuidelines

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WE ARE IN A GLOBAL ECONOMIC FUNK, BUCKLE UP! When Stalwart Brands Like PepsiCo Trim Revenue Expectations We Should Pay Attention. We are still ducking Covid, two wars, inflation (prices remain high) as do interest rates. Asian markets have slowed down as have their factories. Oil prices are on the rise again. And one report says consumers plan to spend the same amount of money on Halloween (for example) as they did last year. One of the reasons PepsiCo and others are trimming revenue. Consumers are getting less for their money. Which means everything else is expensive and they will not buy more than they can afford. The grip of higher prices and keeping a roof over one’s head and food on the table is a bigger priority than splurging. Retail therapy today is more akin to balancing the home Economics budget and taking care of necessities. #retailing #strategy #ceo #technology #innovation

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There was a major recall last week that put the company and many brands at risk. Check out the latest posts and links provided to see what happened and what you can do to protect your organization from this type of failure. As employees involved in product management, quality assurance, and risk management, your role is crucial in preventing future recalls. Visit Manning Resource at https://lnkd.in/e5ea-Rac and for recall-specific information at https://lnkd.in/dusSJT5j for industry-specific details on how we can collectively protect our industry. #FDA #USDA #FSIS #listeria #listeriamonocytogenes #salmonella #bacterialcontamination #foodandbeverage #foodmanufacturing #sanitation #environmentalmonitoring #foreignmaterials #testing #releasecriteria #preventrecallsworldwide #preventativemaintenance #allergens #mislabeling #misbranding #ecoli #arugula #animalfeed #clostridiumbotulinum #cbot

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Meanwhile in CPG news... Kroger and Albertsons announced the agreement to combine in October 2022 amounting to over 4,000 stores, which would have been one of the biggest US grocery deals in history. Today, both retailers issued statements that will end the over 2-year saga. Albertsons terminated the merger and filed a lawsuit against Kroger for several breaches of the agreement including: refusing to divest necessary assets, ignoring regulators’ feedback, and rejecting stronger divestiture buyers. Kroger issued a response suggesting Albertsons had also breached the contract. #cpg #merger #food #retail #retailers

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Specialty retailer Sprouts Farmers Market delivered impressive financial results for its first quarter ended March 31. Sales grew by 9%, with comparable-store sales increasing 4% and diluted earnings per share jumping 14%, compared with adjusted diluted earnings per share in the same period last year. store growth, the organic grocer opened seven new stores, ending the quarter with 414 locations across 23 states. It's on track to open approximately 35 stores by the end of the year. In June, it will introduce two new stores in Philadelphia, and one in Cliffwood, N.J. new store builds will continue to be based on Sprouts’ smaller-format design concept, measuring approximately 23,000 square feet. the company's gross margin in Q1 was 38.3%, an increase of approximately 80 basis points. “This improvement was primarily due to a significant turnaround in our fresh shrink performance Ryan Gomes Larry Finis Gregory Esslinger Holly Newberry Lauren Anderson Mark Saucedo #nynjfoodguru https://lnkd.in/eAe-y9ET

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White Chocolate Raspberry Subarz were first introduced for Valentine's Day in 2017 and quickly became one of our most popular flavors. What is your favorite flavor of Subarz? #subarz #eatmoresubarz #subarzsweets #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #shopsmall #supportwomenownedbusinesses #womensupportingwomen #wbenc #wbecwest #shopwomenowned #corporategifting #clientappreciationgifts #corporategiftideas #businessgifting #supportsmallbusinesses #corporategiftboxes #subscribe #originstory #backstory

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Be careful what you wish for... "Tilray lays off 10 Barrel Brewing’s entire Innovation Brewing Team lead by Tonya Cornett Remember when 10 Barrel Brewing celebrated their sale from Anheuser-Busch/InBev to Cannabis and beverage behemoth Tilray? That was only a year ago this month, and there was a note of optimism in the air for their return to “craft beer” status based on the definitions laid out by the Brewers Association. 9 years of operating under the oversight of the world’s largest beer maker had its ups and downs, but when the 10 Barrel team gathered on the patio to roll out a celebratory banner and spray cans of beer like they just won the Super Bowl, it sure did seem like a joyous occasion. Today things are not so celebratory. According to reports, 10 Barrel Brewing founders and brothers Chris and Jeremy Cox tendered their resignation from the brewery they created, announcing their departure internally last week. What followed was a mass layoff of 10 Barrel Brewing’s entire innovation brewing team on Wednesday, September 4th. This included company wide positions in brewing, admin, and sales, which has been confirmed by multiple sources." (from The New School Beer) I wonder if Irwin will give any of his tens of millions in cash compensation he has taken at Tilray, for delivering billions in losses and a plummeting share price, to support the workers he just put...out of work. Oregon is an employment at will state with no obligation to provide severance upon termination, unless it has specifically been built into an employment contract. So, it feels like a no.

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