Pete Herman

It was good to once again visit WBBM | CBS Chicago’s Noon Business Hour to discuss the potential acquisition of Hershey by Mondelez with Rob Hart.      We discussed headwinds some food companies are facing as they look to foster organic growth, including price increases on ingredients like cocoa and weakening demand for snack foods due to the rise of GLP1 drugs. These trends are driving companies like Mondelez to look for growth via acquisition.     Listen to the full clip at the 20:00 minute mark to hear more: https://lnkd.in/geC6PFBi    #MergersandAcquisitions 

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Great article on Fast Co covering Oishii. This gets a little deeper into our strategy and shares some of my views on where we’re going if you are interested! https://lnkd.in/emWTWeCd

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The CHAOS is real in a significant way for a MONDAY. 💫 In-person meeting with Weis Markets tomorrow. 💫 In-person meeting with Kowalski's Markets on Thursday. 💫 3 different meetings with Gelson's Markets this week. 💫 Meeting with iHerb, LLC on Thursday. 💫 Meeting with Wakefern Food Corp. next week. 💫 Received the yes for Harmons Grocery for two launches in September. 💫 Received the yes for a Meijer launch. 💫 Received the yes for The GIANT Company launch. 💫 Received the yes for a Sprouts Farmers Market launch with four SKUS. 💫 Have a meeting with one of my FAVORITE brands tomorrow! 💫 Signed on another year with one of our clients 💫 Signed on our first sports nutrition test client! 💫 Interviewing for new positions as we grow. FIRE. 🔥 I love my team. ❤️ #cpg #sales #passion #cpgbrands #food #beverage #cpgindustry #founder #cpgbrokers #growth #snacks #supplements #team

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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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We stand in solidarity with NYC food leaders like Hunts Point Produce Market, Fulton Fish Market, Crafted Hospitality, Food Bank For New York City, and Baldor Specialty Foods, Inc. to urge New York State Executive Chamber to exempt essential food distributors from the upcoming congestion pricing plan. While we support reducing traffic and improving air quality, rising costs could harden small businesses and food access. This policy will disrupt the food supply chain that NYC depends on—affecting restaurants, grocers, hospitals, schools, and food pantries. While we continue to work to keep costs down and service steady, we need a better solution. NYC’s food system needs your help—sign the petition here: http://bit.ly/49xcOpS #NYCFoodIndustry #FoodSupplyChain #FairSolutions

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Calling RI food entrepreneurs. Do you have a product and are ready to scale but need help? Complete our survey and we'll connect you with the best mentor(s) to meet your business needs. Tap into the amazing Branchfood network of experts and angel investors. https://lnkd.in/edWM3f9E #foodentrepreneurs #foodstartups

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For ingredient companies, CPG Radar's abiltiy to marry big data with Ai can unlock significant business development opportunities hiding in plain site. We worked with a large ingredient company looking to unlock new opportunities for their ingredient portfolio. They asked us to help them identify emerging brands that were growing fast that could benefit from incorporating clinically backed ingredients into their products. We said we can do that, but then we asked ourselves, what if we could show them that there's plenty of opportunities to pursue at bigger more established companies that spend millions in brand ingredients? So we set out to find out...and what we discovered was a ton of opportunity hiding in plain site. For each of the ingredients in their portfolio, we were able to show them that there were literally hundreds of ingredient integration opportunities at 20 of the largest companies in their category. We also showed them that two of their ingredients by far represented the biggest opportunities in the market. We were able to bring those opportunities to life visually, through this stacked bar chart (anonymized) which displays the number of targeted products per the Company's ingredient for 20 brands in the category. This chart provides a brand-focused view, allowing the company to identify which brands have the largest number of products that could benefit from the company's ingredient solutions. These insights help them understand: 1. How to target their outreach to the most promising brands 2. The market penetration potential of their ingredients, and which to prioritize Their response: "Wow. This is amazing." (Actual quote) That's just one of the visualizations we shared with them (more in the comments). Oh yeah, and they also get the actual list of leads, with a list of each relevant products they can optimize, and specifically how their ingredient would optimize the formulation (organized by brand). All with relevant contact information. Interested in learning more? Drop me a DM and let's meet at SSW. www.CPGRadar.com

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I see a continued trend toward healthy - definitely necessary. In the US, depending on the US tariff situation, food and ingredient costs might go up dramatically in 2025. And it will be interesting to see what happens with the ongoing FDA Food reorganization under the Trump administration.

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Here's a quarterly update video interview featuring Sean Black, CIO of Happy Belly Food Group (CSE:HBFG). I love companies that have highly-motivated, domain experienced management teams that have worked well before. Putting the band back together again can be powerful in terms of team chemistry and seeing a company hit the ground running. Happy Belly is a good example of this, back in 2013 they sold some of their franchised restaurant brands to MTY Food Group and then again, monetized restaurant brands in 2021, selling assets to Recipe Unlimited Corporation (now Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited). They provided speculative microcap investors with a groundfloor opportunity when they stepped in to refocus a struggling plant-based CSE stock back in 2022. Since then, they have been executing QoQ...8 record quarters in a row and seen the share price rise by more than 600%. This isn't a quick promote-type stock that enters a quickly becoming crowded buzzy sector, this is a management team that are doing what's in their DNA and they've grown up doing for most of their lives. This isn't financial advice at all but if you are a microcap investor, this recent interview might be worth your time to assist with your due diligence and at the very least you'll hear from someone who created a restaurant brand that you've likely eaten at. ✌ 🎤 💧

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Baldor is calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to provide an exemption on congestion pricing for NYC-based food businesses. Our coalition of more than 100 businesses is asking state leadership to consider how these changes impact the entire food ecosystem - from markets to distributors to neighborhood restaurants to consumers. Let's keep NYC's food scene thriving while working toward environmental goals. Please read the coalition letter and sign the petition in the Baldor post below

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For all the meat manufacturers out there...insightful read from our Economics team. Top trends to watch for in 2024: -Live animal costs will be higher in 2024 -Consumers want sales and promotions when purchasing meat -Convenience food sales continue to grow

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In 2007, Anheuser-Busch brewed 105 million barrels of beer across its 12 US breweries and commanded 50% of the US beer market. In 2008, the company was bought by a Brazilian/European competitor named Inbev. Over the next 15 years, Anheuser-Busch Inbev (AB-Inbev) saw its US beer production and market share dwindle to ~60 million barrels and ~30% share. Last week, Anheuser-Busch announced an embarrassing partnership with one of its largest rivals, Pabst, to contract brew beer for them. This signals that Anheuser-Busch doesn’t intend to grow its US business anytime soon, and they are now selling excess brewing capacity to rivals to stem declining sales and profits. I have a better idea for AB-Inbev to increase sales and shareholder value in the US – sell the US business back to US owners. Here are 5 reasons why it makes sense: 1. The US is no longer core to AB-Inbev. The US accounts for less than 25% of the $60B revenue and $20B of EBITDA that AB-Inbev produces. It is also the only business unit with declining volume over the past 5 years, dragging down the results of the total business. 2.  The Brazilian/Belgian team has never understood the US consumer or what it takes to successfully innovate in the US. No product launched in the last 15 years has had sustainable growth. I don’t see anything changing in the next 15 years, which will lead to further volume declines. New leadership, solely focused on the US, can figure out the right alcohol & non-alcohol portfolio to revert these trends. 3. AB-Inbev is still highly levered from its $120B acquisition of SAB-Miller in 2016. The company still has ~$70B of debt on the balance sheet and is levered at over 3x. They could sell the US business unit for $30-$40B (6-8x EBITDA) and pay down debt, which gets them to their 2x leverage target. They could then focus on buying another business outside the US. 4.  New US owners could repair the damage from the Bud Light Dylan Mulvaney campaign. I think at least 50% of lost customers would return with a well executed PR campaign talking about the new ownership and commitment to American values. 5.  Outside the US, AB-Inbev controls its distribution and retail channels. In the US, it has to sell through the three-tier distribution network, including a group of independent wholesalers. It has never understood how to work with this group of wholesalers and the wholesalers are frustrated with Anheuser-Busch’s lost sales. New ownership could reinvigorate this group behind the brands. Selling the entire business is better than band aid solutions that just make competitors stronger and prolong the current decline. Large US private equity firms could band together to buy it. Or a single player like Berkshire Hathaway should. Maybe they let AB-Inbev retain a minority position to benefit from the upside. Employees, distributors, retailers, customers, AB Inbev and shareholders will all benefit from this approach. Thoughts on this plan?

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"Don't focus on being the best. Focus on being the only." This is one of the best quotes I've heard recently from Andrew Zimmern at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Culinary event. There is too much chasing of the same trends, the same data, or competitive activity. Chasing rarely leads to innovation that really pushes the industry forward, which is particularly what foodservice needs at a time when its relevancy is increasingly threatened. And, as was pointed out in this presentation, it's not just relevancy that needs to be addressed but a host of fundamental and existential problems that must be solved. #innovation #tremds2024 #campusdining #foodandbeverageindustry #foodservice #chefs #cpg

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Have you ever heard of Spruce syrup? Me neither. I attended the Food Producer Showcase, hosted by Maine Center for Entrepreneurs and FocusMaine last week. Although Food CPG is a tough place to be in right now for some, it’s certainly not short of great ideas. 🌲 Spruce Syrup was the breakout star of the event for me. Pen & Cob Farm produces this magical liquid by harvesting the tips of spruce trees and macerating them in brown sugar, creating a sweet and citrus tasting syrup to put on or in anything - ice cream, fruit, cocktails, meat, etc. Thanks to its founder Katherine Swann for sharing! Harvest Maine was one of my favorite stops for several reasons: ♻ Their products are upcycled - ⅔ of each product is made with imperfect veggie seconds, which provides a new revenue stream for local farmers. 🥦 The flavors were outstanding - my favorite was the Broccomole - no avocado to be found, but incredibly delicious 🤯 🍎 They’ve just launched sweet treats, “Pummies”, bite-size pieces made from apples and dates…and the packaging is compostable! Whole Foods Market does a terrific job of calling out local products on shelf. Support local brands when you can. You will be delightfully surprised at what you discover. And shout out to Naturally New England, so as a member, I could find out about this terrific event. #foodcpg #innovation #upcycling #supportlocal ___________________________________ 👋 I’m Karen Anderson. 🥨 Product Marketing Expert for CPG brands. ⬆ I help brands accelerate sales, profit, and distribution growth. 🔎 I’m looking for my next full-time role in Food, Bev, or Pet CPG. DM me if you or someone you know is looking for a strategic and compassionate marketing leader.

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FSMA Rule 204 traceability requirements can be complicated- where do you need to begin enhanced traceability? Let me help you answer that question for your unique supply chain!

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Exciting news from Craveworthy Brands As many of you know, I love to hint at our next big moves. Some might question this approach, but I believe it’s crucial to show my commitment to pushing our team and our dreams to new heights. Our latest acquisition is a game-changer, bringing Taim and Hot Chicken Takeover into our family! This strategic move will supercharge growth for our beloved Soom Soom and The Budlong Southern Chicken providing them an extraordinary platform to thrive. Additionally, it accelerates the expansion for Sigri Indian BBQ, offering immediate opportunities for two to three new locations. We’re also setting the stage to launch Costeño Rojo, testing a few locations to refine our concept further. But it’s not just about growth—it’s about people. We’re thrilled to collaborate with the fantastic teams at Taim and Hot Chicken Takeover. Their passion and innovation are exactly what we need to reach new heights. I’m excited to see what we can achieve together with this incredible talent. Stay tuned. We’re just getting started! #CraveworthyBrands #BusinessGrowth #Acquisition #FoodIndustry #Leadership #Innovation #RestaurantBusiness #Teamwork #Entrepreneurship #BrandExpansion

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When we first met Siete Family Foods back in 2018, we knew they were a truly special brand and team. They were still relatively small at the time but clearly on their way to achieving BIG things. Fast forward to today, and PepsiCo’s recent $1.2B acquisition proves it. What factors drove their success? Here’s a breakdown: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 📈 • The Mexican-American food category (including snacks/chips) is a $13B+ market that had yet to be disrupted by better-for-you (BFY) competitors, so was ripe for a breakout brand like Siete. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 🔥 • Founded by the seven (siete) members of the Garza family, the brand was built on authenticity and a promise of great taste combined with healthy, clean ingredients. Their evolution from “Must B Nutty” to Siete is also one of the greatest brand transitions of all time! 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀 🥑 • Siete's Market-Brand-Product fit is second-to-none. Their products deliver authentic flavors with better-for-you ingredients and "+2’s" (e.g., grain-free + avocado oil, paleo + preservative free). They also built an 𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙚 that was able to quickly turn market opportunities into new products. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 👥 • Led by Miguel Garza and Veronica M. Garza, Siete’s team had the talent and vision to scale rapidly. Bringing on other leaders like Sami Jallad helped turn that vision into a reality. __________________________________ That sounds great in hindsight, but what were the 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙨 when Stripes invested $90 million in Siete in 2018? 📊 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗩𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 • Siete’s chips and tortillas were already #1 at Whole Foods with unmatched sales velocities. They were strong (and growing) in conventional, proving this wasn’t just a natural channel phenomenon. 🌱 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 • Siete had more Instagram followers than Chobani and KIND Bar (still does!), and over 6x the followers of Old El Paso, Tostitos, Mission, Pace, Ortega and La Victoria COMBINED. 🚀 𝗔𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 • Siete had already successfully expanded from tortillas into chips and were in the process of launching hot sauces and other products. Retailers were asking for new products in other categories, proving this is a brand that could travel! 🎯 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 • Siete had a methodical growth plan based on proven retail velocities, steady distribution growth, and planned new product launches. 𝘈𝘨𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦. ________________________________ With Stripes' investment, Siete further built out their team and accelerated their amazing growth—and the rest is history…   An incredible success story all around. Best of luck with your new partnership with PepsiCo! Big congrats to Miguel Garza, Veronica M. Garza, and the entire Garza family, as well as Karen Kenworthy, Christopher Carey, and Julia Solomon at Stripes Group! 👏

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Need additional insight into 2025 commodity market trends??

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