Meghan Caiazzo

Over 10,000 jobs lost in the QSR/fast food space in California alone according to the California Business and Industrial Alliance (CABIA) Operators needed to raise prices and lay off workers to avoid shutting down Some still shut down These 10,000+ workers need to be repositioned in the workforce because QSR/fast food operators will turn to automation to stay afloat Food/beverage operators can't fight economics and math with heads in the sand Any job or repetitive task that can be automated will be so let's focus on how we can leverage workers in other roles that can't be automated #automated #repetitivetasks #workforce #operations

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The non-alcoholic drinks market continues to grow and grow (and mature). Check out recent insights + stats from our friends at Grüvi: March Off Premise Retail Sales: → $48.6M > Identical to February, up 23% YoY → You can see subcategory performance in the chart below. Gruvi predicts: → 30-35% of YoY NA category growth. → 25%+ in off-prem and 50%+ in on-prem. → Premium, high quality craft or import NA beers will capture most of the growth of the NA beer market. → Big bet on NA RTDs to surpass NA wines by end of year. Gruvi has some more great stats in their blog post (link in comments). I’m hearing this same type of growth from members of the Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association (ANBA). There's been some questioning about the growth of the category because of the recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy by non-alc beverage retailer Boisson and the closing of their retail locations. I was going to share some thoughts on this but the Gruvi team summed it up well: “Having served as a supply partner for Boisson, and being intimately familiar with their retail locations, it became apparent that they faced challenges across their retail and e-commerce channels. Boisson positioned itself as the upscale destination for NA beverages, boasting premium locations and a curated assortment. However, despite the overall growth in the NA market, it remains predominantly composed of NA beer (80%) and NA wines/RTDs under $12 (10%). As larger retailers expanded their NA offerings to target the mainstream consumer—the 90% of the market as seen above - Boisson was left with a small addressable market. Unfortunately, the demand proved insufficient for Boisson to sustain its operations.” Andrea Hernández also has a great take on it in her most recent Snaxshot (link in the comments). The adult NA category is maturing. Brands that do not have good business models, have bad product-market, or average quality products will need to adapt or close their doors. And this is not a bad thing. Because what rises out of this are business and products that better serve the consumer. I’m always impressed by the continued release of higher and higher quality NA products, with each raising the bar for the category. And this is great for people looking to moderate or not drink alcohol for whatever reason, and in whatever situation that best suits them. The adult NA category is getting bigger and better each day. And ANBA, our members, and I are here to continue to create a world where everyone has access to great tasting adult non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy in every social situation. And that is something we can all celebrate! 🍾 🥂 🍻 You can join us in growing the category and this movement by visiting ANBA's website and signing up for a soon to launch newsletter (link in comments). And you can follow me, Marcos Salazar 🍺🍷🥃, (& click the bell under my profile banner) to get regular insights and news about NA drinks. ♻️ #Repost if you like this post :-)

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Texas Wine Market Monday! How can you drive higher sales volumes in todays softer retail consumer market? 🍷 🍇 Things aren’t how the were just after “re-opening” with massive tasting room traffic numbers and sales conversion rates. Every customer who walks in is PRECIOUS! 💎 1) Have a unique and facisinating story/draw to get people in the door. Try not to make it “stereotypical winery” story if at all possible. It doesn’t even have to be your whole lineup, maybe even just a single label! ⭐️ 🤩 ⭐️ 2) Back things up with OUTSTANDING wine quality! Getting them in the door means zilch if you can’t make them a new convert and brand loyalist! Hammer home your cool story with amazing product. 🥇🍷 🏆 3) Don’t spend a ton of capital to try new things in todays market when capital is much more expensive. Leverage partners to help you! While you are looking to make the next product to push your business further, don’t dump a bunch of expensive capital on equipment or tank space until you prove out the concept. Leverage partners to do that R&D and product development with THEIR equipment! 💵⚙️🧐 Tip if you read to the end: We are seeing more movement in wine-based beverages that aren’t your traditional still wines! Think creatively and look for problems to solve, folks! Texas Vine Country FermForge Matt Moreland Mike Moreland Brian CHEESEBOROUGH #TexasVineyards #TexasWine #GrapeReturns Shoutout to Vmech Technology / Westside Equipment Company / Oxbo for the sweet hat! It’s one of my favorites!

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The data and insights in this article suggest continued headwinds in 2024 but better days ahead in 2025. Informative, quick read. https://lnkd.in/gcDccG-N

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In recent years the beverage industry has witnessed a remarkable shift driven by the preferences of younger consumers. Two emerging trends, non-alcoholic spirits, and boba, have captured the attention of younger folks and are experiencing significant growth as a result. According to the article, one-third of consumers ages 18 to 24 abstain from alcohol altogether. This shift in drinking habits has paved the way for the emergence of non-alcoholic drinking options, providing consumers with sophisticated and flavorful alternatives to traditional alcoholic beverages. #DrinkingTrends #YoungConsumers #Boba #NonAlcoholicSpirits

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SAFE NOTES ARE NOW UNSAFE... OK so what is going to happen to the money that was poured into CPG Brands via these supposed SAFE Notes? Issue is that no priced round took place and now it is likely if it did happen it would be at a fraction of the valuation that was contemplated leading to massive dilution for the founder. Many have a cap...few have a floor. and unless they are converted it will be impossible to raise new money at any valuation. #cpg #safenotes #fundraising

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April 2024 Control State Results are in! Total Control States spirits sales 9L volume grew by +0.7% compared to April last year generating a +1.5% $Vol growth and a positive a +0.8% price mix indicating a decelerating premiumization trend. Over the past 12 months the 9L volume grew by +0.2% accompanied by a +2.2% gain in $Vol. During April there were 6 additional selling days with 3 additional days in Pennsylvania, 1 additional day in Alabama, Mississippi, Montgomery County, Montana, and North Carolina. New Hampshire had 2 fewer days than April 2023. There are mixed results across the spirit categories in April with Canadian Whiskey +0.4% in 9L volume, Cocktails +11.4% in 9L volume led by Canned RTDs +23.8%. Cordials posted a positive +3.1% in 9L volume with a +6.6% in $Vol. Tequila grew by +9.3% in 9L volume and +10.3% in $Vol returning a price mix of +1.0%. Vodka, Domestic Whiskey, Gin and Irish all declined in 9L volume with only Domestic Whiskey showing a positive $Vol. The on-premise spirits channel grew by +3.1% in 9L volume and +3.9% in $Vol resulting in a positive +0.8% price mix. Due to a data anomaly, the results for wine will be published in a few days. Full details by state are available at https://lnkd.in/eeCcx-yH Behind the Categories: Decelerating Premiumization: Most categories are experiencing a slowdown in premiumization, indicating that consumers may be less inclined to pay a premium for certain products within those categories. Canadian Whiskey, Rum, and Cordials are the exceptions, as they are still experiencing growth or at least maintaining their premiumization trend. The Tequila and Brandy/Cognac categories have seen the most negative impact.

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"$100b (not a typo) that can be shared amongst the stakeholders" in the foodservice supply chain! Mani Kulasooriya and his team at Cut+Dry are some of the smartest people I know in this business. The latest Farm to Fork: The Innovators Podcast episode is absolutely a must listen. Money back guarantee! #FoodTech #PodcastEpisodes

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Seinfeld fans: Remember the one about the yogurt shop?   Kramer invests in a “non-fat” frozen yogurt shop whose product is both delicious … and deliciously crowd-pleasing.   The only problem? The yogurt’s flavor-boosting ingredient turns out to be (spoiler alert) fat, spurring the shop’s angered fan base to cry false advertising.   Bogus product claims can land businesses and brands in hot water, and fast. This harsh truth is why, at GoTo Foods, we’ve woven education on marketing, claims and trademark law into our annual compliance training.   Like most big corporations, each year our associates must participate in several hours of compliance training. And while everyone completes certain trainings—such as sexual harassment awareness and AI policy updates—we also take this opportunity to connect associates with courses tailored to their roles.   Marketing and trademark education, for example, is earmarked for members of our PR, social media, marketing and brand teams. Those teams, and the seven incredible brands they support, manage a robust and far-reaching social media presence, and it’s imperative that each individual has a good working knowledge of what is—and is not—considered appropriate when it comes to logos, trademarks, images, cross-promotion and product claims.   [Case in point: Mentioning Seinfeld as a point of entry to compliance talk? A-OK. Photoshopping Jerry and the gang inside a Carvel to illustrate the point? That’s a no-no.]   For our international and retail channels/licensing teams, we require training on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and Office of Foreign Assets Control, providing valuable insights into international  trade sanctions and anti-corruption policies (like the fact that simply gifting a bottle of wine, under certain circumstances, could be perceived as a bribe!). For other teams, we’ve developed joint employer risk training to assist in compliance with ever evolving laws and regulations around the franchisor-franchisee relationship.   We know people are, hands down, the most important resource to any company. However, without the right investments and guidance, they can also be the biggest liability. That’s why we even make our compliance training a prerequisite for individual team members to receive their annual bonuses.   Like it or not, ignorance of the law doesn’t free us from accountability to it—and at GoTo Foods, one of the ways we’re developing people and potential is by empowering our associates with the knowledge they need for informed, independent decision making.   After all, it’s that knowledge base that helps our colleagues think more strategically, problem solve with confidence and engage a “No Limits” mindset that leads to the craveable experiences our guests love.   #GoToFoods  #CorporateCompliance #TrademarkTraining  #CareerDevelopment  #NoLimits #InternationalLaw #SocialMediaTraining

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#Strawberry Summer Showdown: 2024's Top Picks! #BIGOBASKET BEST 1 TOP 1 NEAR YOU #SALESACHIN The summer heat is on, and what better way to beat it than with a delicious scoop (or two) of strawberry ice cream? This year, three major brands are vying for your frozen treat affection: Mother Dairy, Amul, and Milky Mist. Let's dive into their offerings and see which one reigns supreme! The Contenders 1)#MotherDairy: Ultimate Strawberry Crush (115ml cup - ₹40, 1L tub - Price not mentioned) - This classic favorite boasts of 6% strawberry fruit content, offering a familiar taste at a pocket-friendly price #MommaMiaMotherDairy #UltimateStrawberryCrush 2) #Amul Refreshing Strawberry Ice Cream (750ml Family Pack - ₹150) Amul brings the freshness with a whopping 16% strawberry fruit content. Perfect for sharing with the whole family! #TheRealTasteOfStrawberry #AmulIceCream 3) #MilkyMist: Prime Strawberry Ice Cream (750ml Buy 1 Get 1 Free - ₹270) - Milky Mist goes big on value with their BOGO offer. However, their strawberry content sits at 7%, so the flavor might be slightly subtler. #DoubleTheStrawberryDoubleTheFun #MilkyMist The Breakdown | Feature | Mother Dairy | Amul | Milky Mist | |-----------------|---------------|-----|-------------| | Price (per ml) | Lower | Mid-range | Lowest | | Strawberry Content | 6% | 16% | 7% | | Size Options | Cup & Tub | Family Pack | BOGO | The Verdict The winner depends on your priorities! For value Milky Mist's BOGO deal is unbeatable if you're looking to stock up For intense strawberry flavor Amul's 16% fruit content is the clear champion For a classic and budget-friendly options Mother Dairy's Ultimate Strawberry Crush is a reliable choice. #AajkuchToofaniFoodi : Tell us your favorite! We want to hear from you! Have you tried any of these strawberry ice creams? Which one stole your heart (and taste buds)? Share your experience and recommendations with us on social media using #AajkuchToofaniFoodi. Remember, MRP prices can fluctuate, so keep an eye out for deals! Happy summer and happy scooping!

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People ask me all the time how they can learn the foodservice business. My answer is: #1 Dive in and start doing #2 Find a mentor with experience (5% of the cost of strategy consultants) #3 Listen to the Titans of Foodservice podcast. Where you can hear directly from both industry vets who know the business, and folks like First Bite trying to change it. Thank you so much Nick Portillo for having me on to talk about how our data and workflow tools are helping sales teams execute in foodservice! Episode link in the comments.

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The fastest-growing emerging restaurant chains are showing growth in non-obvious categories. We are often working with multi-national multi-brand groups helping with portfolio optimization, answering questions like: Where is growth going to come from? What brands in our portfolio should we grow and which ones should we divest? Should we invest in a new concept or franchise brands in any new growth concepts? Which are those? Companies across the globe are working on portfolio rationalization to improve their enterprise value in the mid- and long-term. #restaurants #emergingbrands #growth https://lnkd.in/euGyNFvS

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16 sentences of wisdom from bond trader turned restaurateur, Sean Feeney, that will make you a better person, friend, and leader. 1. The most important ingredient is the one that’s left out. 2. The greatest gift is courage. Give someone the courage to be themselves. 3. Success is doing something every day for the rest of your life, happy to do it. 4. Everyone has genius inside them. 5. Truly showing belief in others will buy them a ticket to someplace they never knew. 6. Hospitality is creativity plus compassion. 7. “That’s just the way it is,” tells you there’s money to be made. 8. It is tempting to have something for everyone but there is preciousness in not filling demand. 9. Create a brand that people chase, don’t chase people with your brand. 10. Make others feel a part of something. 11. You are one of us, whether you work with us or you're dining with us. 12. Treating others well is good for business. 13. Finish the day, asking, “How did I impact someone in a positive way?” 14. Know what works and be honest with what doesn't and don't do that. 15. Block out all the noise and keep it simple. 16. Believe every day is a good day. But don’t think it’ll be easy.

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A double earnings/sales beat, raised guidance in many meaningful categories, and new product new news for CAVA makes for a great quarter. In fact, very few other brands--only a handful-- are doing as well. A new brand regarded as cool by guests and employees and the right kind of executive management and food has been evident for years now. The IPO seems to have supercharged attention and momentum. The discussion about the calendar adjusted SSS and traffic and the two year stacked SSS number warrants a note. While the 10Q P&L necessarily focuses on change from prior year, we are almost certainly wrong focusing on that number. We as an industry can and must spend more time on 2 year and even five year stacked numbers for better MD&A. CAVA did today. Their disclosure changed the tone. Thank you Brett Schulman.

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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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How many of you, at least on occasion, shy away from intimidating things? Admit it. We’ve all been there. I’ve been there. It’s simply human nature to prioritize things that come easy to us. To do otherwise, to push yourself outside your comfort zone, takes determination, focus, often with a goal in mind, and perhaps even some serious grit. Cathy Huyghe (CEO at Enolytics) wrote a truthful, transparent piece about how wine and data both fall into this “intimidation camp”. They’re scary to many because they’re unknowns. They’re going to take time and effort to get to a general baseline understanding, and only then can you really mature in your comprehension to where it starts bringing you value and joy. As a winemaker turned technologist, I am already an outlier. The importance of data-driven winery operations was always painfully obvious to me. In the early years of InnoVint, I was perplexed by how many modern wineries were resistant to even have a conversation with me about technology. “Why would someone leave winemaking to start a software company?” I was an anomaly. They were shocked by the career decision. The sentiment was that wine producers “don’t speak data.” Why would they need to? Today, those that are winning in wine absolutely do, and honestly, it’s an easier language to learn than ever before. During the last 10 years running InnoVint I’ve seen progress, albeit not as much as I’d like to see for the sake of our industry. There's so much good wine these days, so how do you stand out and continue to grow? You need to put data to work for you - to drive business efficiencies, to target and woo consumers in ways that have shown repeatable success, to accurately understand your financial health, and so much more. Don’t shy away. Lean in. Cathy agrees by saying “I am concerned what will happen if we as an industry continue to procrastinate around applying the most up-to-date technologies to our business challenges.” You simply can’t afford to be left behind. Put forth the time and effort to get over the first big learning hump. I promise the view from the top is quite nice, and you’ll really enjoy the pick up of pace cruising down the other side passing others by. https://lnkd.in/g_6rS8rS

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latest Snaxshot are you even ready?! 🌶 Momo-fuk-u takes everything back, best naive acting goes to Momofuku and marguerite mariscal just agreeing to everything, WOW! 📈Boisson retail is no more but NA continues to grow 🛒 Erewhon's RTD is apparently debuting in over 100 stores in SoCal 🍻Liquid Death, Not Beer and the vice-fication of water 👀Dr Smood Group's doubling down in CPG CURATION OF NEW BRANDS + MORE! immi's ramen-ventions: a category outlook

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Beverage alcohol companies are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for research and new product development. The potential benefits of AI in the industry are vast, paving the way for significant advancements. AI is set to play a pivotal role in transforming the beverage alcohol sector in the near future! Read more about how AI can benefit the beverage alcohol industry: https://lnkd.in/gtfMTjs7

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