Lori Taylor

Meow! General Mills announced this morning that it intends to acquire Whitebridge Pet Brands for $1.45B (4.5x revenue). This builds upon the 2018 acquisition of Blue Buffalo for $8B (6.5x revenue). This looks like a smart move on several fronts: - Consistent with the “shrink to grow” portfolio shaping trend. The sale of low-growth Yogurt for $2.1B (1.5x revenue) and the acquisition of faster-growing Whitebridge for $1.45B (4.5x revenue) are close enough in size and timing to call it a swap. General Mills nets ~$1B less revenue but gains a more synergistic, growth-focused portfolio. - Synergy opportunities. The technology to extrude pet food and snacks isn’t vastly different from cereal, and General Mills’ broad customer reach offers significant distribution expansion opportunities. This is their fifth pet acquisition since 2018, so they’re steadily building expertise and reach within the category. - Adapting to changing population dynamics. If your business model depends on feeding more humans, you’re in trouble. Around the world, people are having fewer children, but many are offsetting this by adding more pets. Expanding in pet food gives General Mills access to a growing market to help counterbalance the population headwinds. While performance in General Mills’ Pet segment has been challenging recently, the 4.5x multiple reflects the company’s commitment to the segment and its belief in long-term growth potential. https://lnkd.in/edg2ECTn #strategy #CPG #FMCG #M&A #leadership #innovation

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West Food Brands Indiegogo campaign will be featured on The Associated Press. I will be sitting down talking with contributors to discuss our products and mission to change the CPG landscape. When I started West Food Brands I was first black owned donut and cookie mix brand in the world. This is scary to think that this is a multi billion dollar industry and not one black person owned a donut or cookie mix brand since me. This article will discuss how I turned down VC funding in the beginning, and why my campaign on Kickstarter had been denied due to systemic barriers. My hope long-term is not only more black owned brands can start CPG brands, however other minorities as well. African Americans spend roughly 1.2 trillion dollars in the USA today, however have the highest business failure rate than any other racial group. Also, African Americans face the highest poverty rate and unemployment rates in the USA. From the beginning I tried to help bridge the cap and educate people on why people should support black owned businesses. Also debunk theories about bad customer service and quality products. Supporting black businesses statistically will actually improve the whole entire US economy by a few trillion. Let's create more jobs and build communities of hope. This press release will highlight some great information on how I am changing the CPG industry, and bringing more diversity to the baking mix industry. Follow us on the journey at West Food Brands and our Indiegogo campaign if you haven't already done so. Try our products today before the Indiegogo campaign launches once it launches you will be able to only pre-order our products. R.I.P Wally Amos- "Nothing is an obstacle unless you say it is" #ap #associatedpress #pressrelease #article #news #Sunday #campaign #cpg #diversity #food #contributor #crowdfunding #emergingbrand #Amazon #indiegogo #wallyamos #glutenfree #Baltimore #blackowned #sustainability

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It was great fun to sit down with Dr. Lara Ramdin 🇬🇧 of Upcycled Foods, Inc. (UP, Inc.) for a fireside chat at Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) #IFTFirst on navigating ultra-processed foods. My key takeaways: HOW a food is made is not more important than WHAT is made. The level of processing is not more important than the overall nutrient content of a food. Not all ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are created equal. Research is starting to reveal the nuances -- and the limitations -- of the ultra-processed category. Some UPFs are linked to negative health outcomes (processed meats and soft drinks), while others are not (plant-based meats, whole-wheat bread and cereal). Why would a category be as broad to put plant-based meats and whole-grain cereals in the same category as soft drinks, chips and cupcakes? A UPF label demonizes a food, yet does not even consider the nutrient content or environmental footprint of a food, such as a soy burger vs. beef burger. A diet of minimally processed foods can be nutritionally inferior to one that includes more ultra-processed foods (like plant-based meats and whole grain cereals) and more expensive, new research indicates. Let's don't let this new narrative around the dangers of ultra-processed foods further confuse consumers and distract them from making positive changes to enhance their health.

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I love it when this happens—client Grote Company's thought leadership piece, 𝘖𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘖𝘶𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘗𝘪𝘵𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘴, was featured in the June issue of Food Industry Executive. Then, it made it into the publication's Top 5 Articles of the Month as the second most-read article in June. That resulted in a 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 article. This is an example of taking owned content (a blog post published on your site) and repurposing it by turning it into earned media using a PR approach through media relations (pitching it as editorial content). This means the piece gets much more visibility. More members of your potential audience will see and read the content. And, it links back to the company's site, potentially driving traffic. The link to the article is in the comments. #manufacturingPR #manufacturingmarketing #thoughtleadership #PRtips

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Have you heard about PepsiCo program to help black owned restaurant concepts launch and thrive? “Our mission is to give Black-owned restaurants the resources they need to build and grow. We provide support to overcome foundational challenges, resources for digital optimization and programs to raise the visibility of Black-owned restaurants.”

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The biggest challenge early on with launching, and then scaling Hint Inc. , was getting people to understand why they needed an unsweetened flavored water. 💭 Consumers and grocery buyers struggled to see why they needed a new category and a product within that category. Hint was the only product in the category, too, which wasn’t helpful either. Just because there is no competition, doesn’t mean it isn’t needed. It could mean that you are early. 🤗 And then there was this. 🙇‍♀️ When you don’t have the “right” experience, plenty of people will doubt you. 🤔 Don’t pay attention. A lot can be figured out if you are willing to do the work and WAIT for the consumer to catch up. For the buyer making the decision to put you on the shelf or not. Keep standing! Keep showing up. Persistence and patience goes a long way. 💡 Educating your audience takes patience. The consumer has to *feel it* to *want it*. Experiencing the product and waiting for consumers to catch up to where you are is what’s necessary. In Hint’s case, a product, company and team focused on helping consumers get and stay healthy without sacrificing taste. No trickery either. Hint always delivered. 💦 It took us a long time before we could see a light at the end of the tunnel. Before the brand became what it is today. Soon, the same people who originally didn’t understand why they needed a product like Hint became our biggest fans and advocates. 💪 Creating and growing a company that is meaningful to people, that people love, is a powerful feeling. 🥰 Success isn’t about being the first or the fastest. It's about being the most committed. Not letting people get in your way who hope to squash it. Or who believe can do it better. Bringing people along is what true brand building is about, but not the ones who have the wrong interests in mind. And, finally, not giving up when you are challenged. You can do big things. You have. 💥 #Undaunted #KaraGoldin #Hint #Entrepreneurship #Vision #Verlinvest #Innovation #Health #Persistence #Inspiration #Hint

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CPG Brand Marketing Leaders – Great evening with Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network hearing nuggets of marketing excellence from a powerhouse panel, catching up with friends old and new, and even 1 minute of sizzle reel fame (because 5 minutes is WAY too long.. link in comments 😊) Key insights from on The New Rules of Brand Management reflecting how marketing has changed (spoiler—a LOT) in the past few years: 💡𝘿𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙁𝙡𝙪𝙗 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: Brand fundamentals are still, well, fundamental. While the paths to market have changed, the need for sharp insights, distinctive benefits, and compelling messaging is evergreen 💡𝙈𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜: Attribution offers empowering performance insights, internal alignment, and the freedom to optimize as you go. But with those analytics must come nimbleness: be ready to adjust early and often, 3-yr planning horizons are SO 5 years ago. 💡𝘽𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙚 𝙐𝙥 𝙩𝙤 𝙍𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙈𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨: even if you lose some control.  While UGC may break some brand guidelines, when your brand and culture intersect in ways you can’t buy or plan for, seize and fuel those moments. 💡𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘿𝙖𝙩𝙖 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝: with unprecedented access to ocean-deep, yet fragmented data, collaboration and transparency are key to common understanding and alignment on implications 💡𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙘𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙑𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙤 𝘼𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙩 𝙆𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙣: Video is today’s language. Make your dollars and brand assets work as efficiently as possible with savvy production planning and batching so your content is truly on demand Which of these resonates most? What New Rule did I miss? Saverio Spontella Larry Deutsch Stephen Gaither Ashley Nazarian Findlay Jessica Barrutia Janet Garetto Tracy Hatfield #brandmarketing #brandstrategy #insights I'm Elizabeth, and I help brand marketing leaders harness consumer & market insights to fuel strategic brand growth. DM me to talk nimble, data-driven strategy to drive consumer connection.

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Kefir-- a fermented dairy beverage-- is rising in popularity. I weigh in on this good-for-you drink in this article via Layla Khoury-Hanold via Food Network where it takes about: --What is kefir? --How is kefir made? --What does kefir taste like? --Health benefits --The difference between kefir and yogurt --And of course, HOW to pronounce it!

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Nice idea Quorn, but unfortunately if suspect it wont work and it may confuse the consumer about what your brand is. There have been lots of attempts at blended solutions in North America and Europe - and for good reason. They address much of the taste challenge of plant-based foods, offer some of the health benefits of plant-based foods and so what's not to like? Fewer animals die, fewer carbon emissions too. The problem is that consumers don't seem to understand the offer or relate to it. They blend their diets over different meals and don't seem to be looking for a blended solution in a sausage or a burger. As far as I know, no blended solutions have really taken a hold in any market. Consumers reject them. And in trying the idea, there is a risk to the Quorn brand that its vegetarian credentials are diluted. I hope this works. But I suspect it won't

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Better-for-you brands are breaking through. PepsiCo acquired Mexican-American snack maker Siete Family Foods for $1.2B. Known for its grain-free versions of cultural staples, the 10-year-old company is expected to hit $500M in annual revenue by EOY. Initially designed for Latinos with dietary restrictions, Siete’s products span almond flour tortillas and chips, wedding cookies, sauces, salsas, and more. Hitting the mark, it raised $90M from Stripes in 2018, and actress Eva Longoria invested this year. Now, PepsiCo will look to bolster its multicultural and better-for-you portfolios. Across cultures, healthy convenience is in demand. But, when it comes to ethnic foods, authenticity is key — meaning upstarts have a rare R&D edge on corporations.

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Watch the #insidecultivation episode where BigMike Straumietis and I discuss trimming and the cannabis industry.

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Ever wonder why apples turn brown after slicing? 🍏 I enjoyed sharing my food science expertise in a recent Food & Wine article by the incredibly talented Emily Saladino. It was a wonderful opportunity to dive into the science behind apple browning and how to prevent it. I've been using the tips for packing lunch boxes. The simple techniques make a big difference! Check out the full article for all the details!

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The acquisition of Siete Brands by PepsiCo is generating significant attention today. Following Diageo's acquisition of Ritual and Mars' partnership with Kellanova, it raises an important question: is M&A the primary avenue for innovation and growth in the food industry? I’m also interested in how consumers of these smaller brands perceive these large CPG acquisitions. Will this shift influence their loyalty and purchasing decisions? #FoodIndustry #MergersAndAcquisitions #ConsumerPerception #Innovation #BrandLoyalty #CPG #MarketTrends

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Great coverage by #NutraingredientsUSA regarding this major win for DS retailers not just in California, but also in many other states lined up to move on their own versions of this onerous bill. Well done by the NPA Team #DanielFabricant #KyleTurk This win will be out of the spotlight when another version of the bill will likely show up again in the future. Every natural products retailer, brand, ingredient vendor, and contract manufacturer needs to learn and understand the negative impact these bills can have in regards to restricting the choices consumers have when they are looking to purchase a dietary supplement. Are any of us in the industry content with some of our products being treated as being as hazardous as cigarettes?

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🍾 NEW WEBINAR for non-alcoholic beverage + #CPG brands: Breaking into Retail: A Roadmap for Emerging Brands w/ SPINS and the Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association (ANBA). For a growing brand, succeeding in physical retail stores is the key to scale. In the USA, there are over 2,500 natural grocery stores, 110,000 conventional grocery, mass, drug and club outlets, and over 100,000 convenience stores. In this webinar, Benji Fitts from SPINS will teach you strategies on how to pick the perfect retail partner that aligns with your needs and mission, and divulge tips and tricks to craft a smartly tailored pitch to curious category managers. If your goal in 2025 is succeeding in the retail marketplace, don't miss this important webinar. RSVP & REGISTER AT: https://lnkd.in/eekgh59s ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ♻️ #Repost if you like this content and follow me, Marcos Salazar 🍺🍷🥃 , for more content like this. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Have you joined yet? "Today's Foodbevy newsletter was especially helpful! Always good but there are 3 links I opened today." Marina Gabriela Brink, RA, NCARB. Every week you'll receive: 1) Inspiring Weekly News Celebrating CPG Brands 2) Educational Articles 3) Exclusive Opportunities and Partner Offerings Want an invite? Comment below and I'll add you to the list #CPG #foodandbeverage

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