Eric Simon

AI will significantly impact the CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) industry. Here are some immediate ways in which AI will have an impact. 1. Predicting Consumer Demand: AI can analyze consumer preferences to predict demand for various food trends, such as microbiome-friendly foods, alternative proteins, low trans fats, and personalized nutrition. 2. Food Formulation AI can leverage big data for "What-if Analysis," enabling the formulation of products with new and alternative ingredients while maintaining flavor, texture, nutritional claims, and cost efficiency. 3. Optimizing the Food Supply Chain: AI-powered data analytics can enhance the efficiency of manufacturing, co-packing, and delivering food to customers' doorsteps, ensuring cost-effective on-demand access. H/T Thomas Hayes #foodismedicine #CPG Agilitas #food #formulation #AI

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The Alcohol Industry "Reset" of 2023/2024. Some of my thoughts on current market and what we might expect in 2025 👇

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A B2i Digital Featured Company, NEWTON GOLF: A Sacks Parente Company (Nasdaq: SPGC), has released preliminary financial results for the third quarter of 2024 ahead of its full quarterly report, expected in mid-November 2024. Financial and Operational Highlights for Third Quarter 2024: - Revenue of $1,150,000 – $1,250,000, representing a 1,163% increase at the midpoint of the range from Q3 2023 and a 48% sequential increase at the midpoint of the range from Q2 2024. - Gross margin of 63-67%, up from 41% in Q3 2023, driven by higher manufacturing volume. - Announced a complete rebranding of the Company. - Launched the Gravity Premium putter line, introducing five new models. - Expanded distribution with Newton Motion shafts available in 50 retail locations in Japan. - Gained increased traction on the PGA TOUR Champions, with 34 players now using Newton Motion shafts. - Completed a $732,000 public offering of shares. Greg Campbell, Executive Chairman of NEWTON GOLF, commented: “Our third quarter was marked by continued momentum in the sales of our Newton Motion replacement driver shafts and the first full quarter of revenue from our fairway woods replacement shafts. The continued traction we are seeing from professional golfers, highlighted by 34 Champions TOUR players now using the Newton Motion shafts, gives us confidence that our technology-forward approach to design is the proper cornerstone of our product development strategy. Additionally, a recent launch of our putter line that now carries the NEWTON GOLF Gravity brand can potentially add to our growth trajectory.” NEWTON GOLF is a technology-driven golf brand that delivers high-performance equipment to golfers worldwide. Its growing portfolio includes putters, golf shafts, grips, and other golf-related accessories. The company is known for innovations such as the Vernier Acuity putter and Ultra-Low Balance Point (ULBP) technology, which help golfers enhance their game. NEWTON GOLF manufactures its products primarily in the U.S., with a facility in St. Joseph, Missouri, and distributes them through resellers, its website, Club Champion retail stores, and distributors in the U.S., Japan, and South Korea. NEWTON GOLF is a subsidiary of Sacks Parente Golf, and investor-related activities are conducted under the SPGC ticker on Nasdaq. See Preliminary Financial Results for the Third Quarter of 2024 https://lnkd.in/eNcB4XYd Contact the company’s investor relations team with any questions at [email protected]. Newton Golf Shafts Sacks Parente Golf #NewtonGolf #SPGC #B2iDigital #GolfInnovation #PGA #Q3Results

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🌟Celebrating the Kansas Angel Investor Tax Credit (KAITC) Program💫 This week Startland News documents the journey of Albatross Golf, Inc. to raising $675K in seed round funding thanks to the help of the Kansas Angel Investor Tax Credit (KAITC) Program. Congratulations Albatross Golf on this milestone achievement and 'thank you' Startland News for sharing this impactful story! This is another example of the real impact the KAITC program is having on Kansas-based startups, like Albatross that is innovating with their GolfTRK and Noonan technologies that is bringing top-tier golf tech to enthusiasts. Quoted in the article is Albatross's CEO and Co-founder, Alex Reed saying: "We experienced firsthand the challenge of accessing outside capital here in the Midwest. We’re fortunate to be headquartered in a state that invests so heavily in helping startups get off the ground. With this funding, Albatross Golf is poised to redefine golf for avid players everywhere.” From inception the program has consistently delivered on its mandate to incentivize and encourage angel investors to invest in Kansan ideas, startups, and innovation. Today that legacy continues with hundreds of companies benefitting from the inducement effort of the program. The Office of Innovation recognizes KAITC - a program of the Kansas Department of Commerce - as a vital resource for supporting startup growth in the Sunflower State. We look forward to many more testimonials in the future. Read more about in the article below: 👇 learn about the KAITC Program here 👉 https://lnkd.in/edqhFgz9 #InnovateKS #KansasInnovation #KAITC #AngelInvestors #Investors #Startups #LoveKansas

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Papa Johns $PZZA just released their Q2 2024 earnings report, and it's a slice of reality in a competitive market 🍕. Revenue dropped due to economic pressures, but Papa John's is implementing strategies to tackle those challenges head-on. The company is focused on international restructuring and investing heavily in digital technologies to meet evolving customer preferences. They're also emphasizing operational efficiency and customer-centric initiatives. Despite the headwinds, Papa Johns remains optimistic about their long-term growth strategy. Will they succeed in navigating the current climate? Read More ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gc9Q37bz #PapaJohns #PZZA #Q2Earnings #Pizza #RestaurantIndustry

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🌟 The Return of Fiber: CPG's Next Big Wave Who would have thought fiber would be making headlines again? But here we are in 2024, and this humble nutrient is having yet another turn in the CPG spotlight. The timing couldn't be better. As conversations around GLP-1s dominate wellness circles, consumers are rediscovering fiber's natural role in appetite regulation. Data shows searches for fiber-rich foods are up 29% this year – and smart brands are taking notice. Remember the protein-and-fiber boom of the early 2000s? This time feels different. We're seeing fiber show up in unexpected places: sparkling waters, smoothie boosters, and even sodas. Even though brands like poppi and Jones Soda Co. already contain fiber, there's a fascinating consumer psychology at play. While terms like "prebiotics" and "probiotics" can feel scientific and distant, everyone understands fiber. It's familiar. It's trusted. And yes, we all know exactly what it does for our digestion 😉 Leading the charge in the beverage space, pioneers like Bruno Gorgulho Rodrigues at vibi+ and Tom Bushkie at hellowater are revolutionizing how we think about functional hydration. They're proving that getting your daily fiber doesn't have to mean choking down supplements or forcing down another bowl of bran cereal. The innovation opportunity here is massive. As we look toward 2025, expect to see fiber-fortified products expanding beyond traditional categories. The real winners will be brands that can make fiber both functional AND delicious. #CPG #FoodInnovation #Wellness #ConsumerTrends #ProductDevelopment Photo by Vanessa Loring

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Athletic Brewing just raised $50M at a $800M valuation 🍻 General Atlantic led the investment, boosting the nonalcoholic beer brand's production and global expansion. No longer a buzzkill, Athletic Brewing Co.’s NA craft beers are in high demand: — Sales grew 60% YTD through June. — It holds 19% of the nonalcoholic beer market. — It became a top-20 US brewer by volume last year, making 258K barrels. CEO Bill Shufelt says Athletic Brewing wasn’t created to replace full-ABV beer. Targeting the 41% of Americans seeking to reduce—but not eliminate—alcohol, its beverages are a healthier stand-in for social gatherings and recreational pursuits. Unlike functional beverages, NA beer is surging for what’s not in it. With younger generations ditching alcohol, more sober swaps will follow — and Athletic will be ready for another round. 📖 Read the full story on Fitt Insider → https://lnkd.in/eR_bEpf8 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for more health & wellness headlines, trends, and insights. → https://lnkd.in/ePW8y89d

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The Beans (Bean Crunchy), a Korean foodtech company, secured seed funding from Newkids Investment, leveraging 300% sales growth and export plans to Southeast Asia and China for further expansion.

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🚀 The rise of functional beverages is more than just a trend—it's a movement reshaping how we think about what we drink. 📖 Great piece by Keren Landman at Vox on why the better-for-you beverage category is surging, with the market set to surpass $200 billion by 2027. Millennials are leading the charge, consuming these beverages at twice the rate of other age groups.   🌱 This is just the beginning. The rapid innovation and demand we’re seeing are a testament to consumers seeking healthier, more mindful alternatives to traditional drinks.   🌵 We look forward to continuing to pave our own unique path forward for MAGIC CACTUS and provide consumers with a refreshing, healthier beverage that can be enjoyed by a broad base of drinkers nationwide. ✨   Link to full article below:

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There's a subtle but HUGELY important trend playing out in CPG that may have ripple effects across the entire industry: Modern consumers are starting to care less about legacy brands. This article was specifically about Kraft Mac & Cheese, but I think it's indicative of a wider trend happening across the CPG landscape, and in alcohol in particular. Many multi-national, household name brands don't carry the same weight with consumers that they did even five or ten years ago. So, what does this mean & what are the implications? Well, it has lots of implications but two things I feel strongly are true: 1. This is a particularly interesting time to be launching and scaling challenger CPG brands 2. Big CPG conglomerates will need to get aggressive in shaking up their portfolios Going to be an exciting and interesting few years in the space!

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Scaling a franchise requires more than just great products — it demands brand consistency. Recently for our Brandit & Beyond podcast, I spoke with Alex Gingold of DonutNV about how critical it is for franchisors to maintain brand integrity for accelerated growth. #FranchiseGrowth #Leadership #Branding

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No Data, No Dollars Anyone who has heard me speak recently will have heard me say this. Retail Media is hugely profitable for retailers. Unsurprisingly they want more and more investment from manufacturers, often times in return for ads that are becoming less and less effective. As manufacturers we need to make sure we are making the maximum return possible on ever £,$,€,¥ (or any other currency invested). For me, that means knowing what we want in return and that starts with access to robust, accurate, complete and timely data for every campaign we invest in. Simply put, if you don’t get data in return you shouldn’t be investing. Recently I spoke with Lauren Livak Gilbert and Peter Crosby of The Digital Shelf Institute. Amazingly, they have chosen to refine my words and meanings and turn them into the amazing article attached. If you aren’t a member of the DSI I really can’t advocate it highly enough. They do excellent work and their podcast is the best in the industry. #digitalcommerce #ecommerce #cpg #fmcg #cpgindustry #fmcgindustry #digitalshelf #retailmedia #digitalretailmedia #omnichannel #digitalretail

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Setting marketing budgets can be a challenging task. Without the right funds teams cannot capitalize on emerging trends or or create high quality content that your audience will love enough eventually make a purchase. If you’re not sure where to start with budget allocation, a good guideline to follow is the 70-20-10 rule. Using this as a benchmark: 70% of your budget is allocated toward strategies you know work well. 20% of your budget is allocated toward new strategies aimed at growth. 10% of your budget is allocated toward experimental strategies. Below are how large companies are allocating their budgets in the U.S.

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Top companies are recognizing 'mood management' as a powerful way to boost employee happiness, productivity, and overall satisfaction. #chooseyourmindset

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CPG Friends, I have discovered a platform that is on a mission to offer a more fair distribution method to help build your brand while also having merchandising and re-order built in and handled by their team. They are focusing as of now on convenience stores, liquor stores, gas stations, and other independents. And so far from my vetting process and speaking for hours with the CEO, they are the real deal and offer really great solutions for small, emerging brands and even large brands that are doing massive sales. We’ve all heard the pain points on here from countless brands when dealing with distribution in general in this business from chargebacks, freight billbacks(sometimes putting brands out of business) If I could help link your brand with a better solution to grow your company and retain all the sales dollars in your pocket, this could be potentially groundbreaking and flip the traditional model as we know it ON ITS HEAD. Please DM me and happy to share more information about it.

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Staying Focused: Lessons from Sue’s 40-Year Journey in the Toy Industry and ASTRA’s Mission Join us on Toy Business Unboxed as we chat with Sue, a seasoned professional with over 40 years of experience in the toy and retail industry. From managing stores to leading ASTRA as its Director of Member Relations, Sue shares insights on staying focused, adapting to change, and building lasting connections. Discover how ASTRA helps specialty toy retailers thrive and learn from Sue's inspiring journey of resilience, leadership, and passion for the toy industry.

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The surge in non-alcoholic beer sales has been amazing to watch over the last year or two, and reflects the incredible growth that we have seen in NA spirits at Ritual Zero Proof. While it feels as if there has been more media focus than ever on the NA market, we are still at the beginning of a broader movement towards mindful drinking, with high quality non-alcoholic options readily available and sought after. It’s an exciting time for the entire sector, and the latest investment in Athletic Brewing Co. is another indicator of the momentum we are building collectively as an industry. The growth of the non-alcoholic beverage sector is more than a trend—it’s a cultural shift. Consumers are not just looking to cut back on alcohol; they are actively looking for a healthier, more mindful lifestyle. They want to have great experiences with friends, and they want to feel good the next day. That’s what Ritual, Athletic and other brands are working on as we shape and meet the demands of new generations of consumers. Bill Shufelt at Athletic Brewing is pioneering the non-alcoholic beer sector in the same way that we are doing for spirits at Ritual. I couldn’t be more thrilled for him and the team at their new investment. A rising tide lifts all boats. Investors are excited about the potential for this market, and that’s good for companies such as ours – but it’s also good for consumers who want more choice, better products and deeper availability. The future of mindful drinking is here, and it’s only going to get brighter.

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