Phyllis Rothschild

For a brief window in history, the “Cool Dog” was a cultural phenomenon in New England. Boston.com put together an comprehensive chronicle of the rise and fall of this unique brand after Ayo Ederberi brought it back into the spotlight this month and it went viral on TikTok. Nostalgia can be a powerful force. Objectively, the Cool Dog wasn’t particularly good in terms of ingredient quality, but it still strikes a nerve 20 years after its heyday. This makes for a fascinating CPG case study. • What made it so popular in the first place? • Did it really need to disappear so abruptly? • Was there a better way for them to scale without Nestle getting involved? • Would they have done better with a more stable, diversified base of retailers? • If someone could make it again, but actually make it GOOD, would it be a huge hit, or have consumers moved on from gimmicks like this? Pod Foods Nosh.com #cooldog #sethmeyers #nostalgia #innovation https://lnkd.in/eSdxRXjT

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Did you know that while pricing is important to the Hispanic Consumer, things like Brand Reputation are even more critical to them than other shoppers? Our #pepviz data and analytics proprietary practice has helped us gather interesting findings on our consumers that help us reiterate our commitment towards consumer centricity. Learn why Brand Reputation is so important to the Hispanic Shopper here: https://bit.ly/pepviz_data  

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General Mills spoke recently at a Barclays investor event and used the platform to reassure investors of its plans to return to growth. While it has been a difficult stretch for major CPGs as consumers' wallets are tighter than in years past the company did highlight some indicators suggesting near-term growth. But beyond that General Mills emphasized a need to create a new competitive playbook. They highlighted misses on innovation, pricing movements, and packaging sizes, as areas of concern. Identifying the problem is always the first step, but how do they correct course? Immediate levers to pull like boosting media and trade spending, will improve top lines in the short term, but a commitment to consistent consumer and competitive research is needed to help realize efficiency gains on the bottom line. #Fletcher #CPG #CompetitiveIntelligence https://lnkd.in/gxMcbGDU

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🐾 Attention, Pet Lovers and Supplement Makers! 🐾 Did you know that many companies in the Human Dietary Supplements space are expanding their product lines to cater to pet parents who want to take better care of their furry friends? 🐶🐱 Whether it's supporting joint health, boosting immunity, or ensuring overall well-being, there's a growing demand for pet-friendly products! Ready to dive into this exciting market? Download our trend report to discover the top areas to focus your product development on, and this amazing opportunity size, across the globe. Let's make it a paw-some world together! 🌟 #PetSupplements #DietarySupplements #PetCare #FurFamily #ProductDevelopment #DoggyDoggyWorld 🐕🐾

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With 2025 right around the corner, prioritizing company goals while balancing emerging technologies and growth expectations should be top of mind for marketing professionals. I shared my thoughts and predictions for #AI and marketing with Michelle Castillo in Campaign US – read the full article below: https://bit.ly/3YwYbOr #Marketing #McKinsey

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Beverage alcohol consumption has undergone significant changes in recent years, influenced heavily by the pandemic and evolving preferences of younger consumers aged 21 and older. I joined Joan Holleran Driggs for an episode of Circana’s Growth Insights podcast to explore these shifts and offer insights into what we can expect for 2024 and beyond. Here are the key takeaways: 🍺 Traditionally, adults aged 21+ started with beer or wine. Now, many young adults are beginning with ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages, particularly spirits-based options. 📉 Despite a plethora of choices, overall beverage alcohol consumption is softening across generations. However, premium beverages are still experiencing growth. 🥤 The appeal of RTD beverage alcohol among younger consumers is largely due to innovative packaging, including on-the-go options like ball form, slim cans, and aseptic packaging. 🥃 Whiskey, tequila, spirits-based RTDs, and imported beer from Mexico continue to drive the beverage alcohol market. Listen to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gqRdf9Xd #Circana #BeverageAlcohol #RTD #GenerationalTrends #PremiumBeverages #CircanaGrowthInsights

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The Conversation US published new research last week by a group of professors who found a strong correlation between grocery shopping patterns and credit score. This is a very novel use of grocery data with altruistic intent. I’m interested to see where it leads. Of course, consumers who can afford to buy high quality food everyday will generally have higher incomes and credit scores…but imagine where this could go next. Life and health insurance companies might start mining your grocery data to determine your monthly premiums. Customers who buy innovative, better for you snacks instead of legacy Big CPG candy bars are flagged for special credit card offers, lower mortgage rates, or advertisements for fancy vacation packages. I was never healthier than I was 15 years ago, when Whole Foods offered a 30% store discount (instead of 20%) to any TM who volunteered for a biometrics screening for cholesterol, BMI, and blood pressure. The idea was that the company could save so much money on health care by having healthier TMs, that it would offset the cost of the 30% discount. I ate (mostly) vegan leading up to the screening, exercised more, and got into the best shape of my life because I had the goal. If grocery data could be used as a force for good, we might be able to achieve the same kind of social experiment on a much bigger scale. BTW, Pod Foods has some VERY interesting predictive data which is getting increasingly accurate at predicting which attributes, price points, and packaging designs will be approved by retail buyers and sell well at shelf. #innovation #grocery #retaildata

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Liz Buchanan <> The CPG View On this week's podcast, "Pioneering the Future of CPG Data," on The CPG View featuring Liz Buchanan, President, North America at NielsenIQ. Liz covers the following key points: 🎯 Leadership and Market Evolution: Liz emphasizes her transition to leading Nielsen IQ's North American business and the dynamic changes in the market, highlighting her extensive experience and the company's adaptive strategies. 🎯 Data Activation and Value: A major focus is on making data "activation ready" by ensuring it is comprehensive, granular, and useful for driving business outcomes, particularly in retail environments. 🎯 Customer-Centric Approach: Liz shares the importance of understanding and addressing customer needs through modern data access methods, personalized insights, and maintaining high standards of data stewardship and privacy. Tune in to gain insights on new data strategies, AI tools, and market trends shaping the CPG industry on The CPG View. 🚀🌟 Full Podcast Link (Apple, Spotify, Google, etc): 🎧 https://lnkd.in/eEqXpSB6 #ecommerce #digital #omnichannel #strategy #success #cro #ceo #leadership #cmo #cdo #retailecommerceclub #cpg #privateequity #playtowin #thecpgview

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As we start to close out the year, I want to take a second to highlight, once again, how important it is to take a step back and take a second for yourself. Quotas are going to be high as the holidays hit and, if we aren't concerned about work, we're concerned about the state of our world. It's easy to get overwhelmed and stressed out. Palena Neale offers this great list of steps you can take if you're looking for self care options. One bad day doesn't have to define the rest of your week – make that nail appointment, take a shower, or buy a sweet treat. You deserve it! #SelfCare #MentalHealth #Wellness #Leadership

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Circana’s Mid-Year 2024 Food & Beverage Market Outlook is here, and it confirms our earlier predictions—2024 is seeing modest growth, with a strong 2025 on the horizon! Check out the full scoop: https://bit.ly/3MlYS7s

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Yesterday, a long-term dividend-income investor sent me the following message on the Seeking Alpha platform: "Mr. Reese, "First, a thank you for your invaluable insight on The Hershey Company over the years. I have followed your commentary for nearly a decade here on Seeking Alpha. "One question, on the future of the company. I know for example that Hormel Foods has vowed to remain a stand-alone, publicly traded, company forever. Do you believe that The Hershey Company will remain a stand-alone, publicly traded, company for decades to come? Would you say that is probable? "I am a longtime holder of the stock (since 1990) and the very last scenario I want to see is the stock being taken out by an entity like Berkshire Hathaway or 3G Capital or for that matter even Nestlé. A takeover by Nestlé would mean that the company would be domiciled in Switzerland, which as you know would mean that longtime Hershey shareholders would have to pay substantially more in dividend taxes, more than double, actually. "My best to you and thank you in advance for your insight. "Charles" --------------------------------- Well, below was my response to this long-term dividend-income investor who messaged me yesterday on Seeking Alpha: --------------------------------- First Charles, you're welcome. Secondly Charles, I do not believe that The Hershey Company will remain a stand-alone publicly traded company. Thirdly Charles, The Hershey Company as well as its controlling shareholder, the Hershey Trust Company, are already being totally manipulated by Larry Fink of the BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, PDF page 49, item 4. Charles, since I helped stop the sale of Hershey in 2002, its quarterly cash dividend has increased by +736%. Thank you for your kind note. Brad #SeekingAlpha #HersheyCompany #HormelFoods #BerkshireHathaway #3GCapital #Nestle #HersheyTrustCompany #HersheyTrust #BlackRock #LarryFink

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CPG manufacturers are adopting shelf-stable products for efficiency and sustainability. Check out this article from The Food Institute with insights from Madhav Durba. This trend promises smoother supply chains and reduced waste. #CPG #Sustainability

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Reflecting on this monumental moment, I wanted to wait until the news was "official" before sharing my thoughts and feelings... Almost 7 years ago, a good friend now who started as a good client invited me to his new office in NJ to explore a plant-based protein company he was considering acquiring. That's when I first encountered OWYN. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to make of it initially. Plant-based, vegan protein drinks weren't in my usual "repertoire" of ideation and marketing. But after trying the product that day, I knew I wanted to be part of the journey. And what an incredible journey it has been! Throughout the last 7 years, in my capacity as a "strategic advisor," I've embraced a multitude of roles and responsibilities, working closely with a diverse array of talented leaders. From individuals who made significant contributions from the outset and have since moved on, to those who have ascended to leadership positions, such as CEO Mark O. and Chief Sales Officer Matt OConnell, as well as "more recent" additions like CMO Julia Perez, who came in and made an immediate and substantial impact, our collaboration has been characterized by passion, mutual respect, and an unwavering commitment to innovation. Now, fast forward to today. After countless hours of strategic discussions, meetings, and partnerships, we've achieved something remarkable. We've taken a niche brand, crafted with the finest ingredients, and found the perfect successor in our recent acquisition. If you notice, even as a "consultant" I always will refer to it as we. When I work with brands, especially from day 1, I consider myself a true part of the team. Being part of a brand from inception to this pivotal moment is incredibly special. As a matter of fact, it's been a huge goal of mine since that fateful day 7 years ago. I'm eager to see what lies ahead for OWYN and hopeful that I can continue contributing to a product and brand that means so much to me and countless others, especially our consumers. #OWYN #PlantBased #Acquisition #Journey #Gratitude #Business #CPG #SimplyGood https://lnkd.in/emY6UT2g

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I’ve been a longtime fan of Siete Family Foods, and seeing their journey unfold has been truly inspiring. Now, with PepsiCo acquiring Siete for $1.2 billion, I’m curious to see how Pepsi will integrate this brand into its portfolio without losing the authenticity that makes Siete so special. Siete’s ability to blend health-conscious products with Hispanic heritage is what sets them apart. It’s not just about products; it’s about values and culture. The real question is—how will Pepsi leverage Siete’s unique position in the market, and what does this acquisition mean for the evolution of Pepsi’s brand portfolio? Excited to see how this unfolds. How do you think big brands like PepsiCo should approach acquisitions like these? Check out the full story here

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To learn more about John Carroll's insights on the importance of Brands, watch the FULL Acosta Group webinar, "Four Killer Insights to Heighten Shopper Engagement for Retailers & CPG Brands." https://lnkd.in/dJZyWrBF

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Many beverage brands are finding success in partnering with retailers, influencers, or icons (think Marvel, Disney, etc) to help boost consumer awareness and trial. In the last year at Circle Beverage we’ve had some of our largest-growth clients benefit from this trend, as recently as this week when we produced a new collaboration between a high-potential brand and a well-aligned influencer. Commercializing these types of projects is challenging. There are extra “opinions at the table” when it comes to formula adjustments, packaging design, and more. Due to the understandable lack of industry experience of the influencer partner, often times these changes come late in the process. Late changes require the manufacturer and operational teams to apply considerable flexibility and attention to detail to execute without error or turbulence. Changes that usually take weeks or months often need to be pulled off in days or hours. I can’t say how long this collaborative trend will remain in our industry, but it is gaining momentum every week. We are committed at Circle Beverage to keep perfecting the process that it takes to pull it off. #cpg #manufacturing #influencermarketing #beverageindustry

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I think consumer feedback is often under used by emerging CPG brands… Coming from a Kraft Foods general management upbringing and then experiencing start-ups for many years, I’m often thinking about which “big company” practices could bring value to young emerging companies while not screwing up their great entrepreneurial culture and founder brilliance. The one area I continue to see a gap in is “entrepreneurial” consumer feedback/market research—the lack of fast/low cost consumer research options (or even confirmation research) discussed to prevent a low velocity SKU to get delisted, to maximize brand communication, and avoid wasted spend or lost opportunity on the back end. There are some great research companies out there, but their costs (while valid and worth it) are just not in the ballpark for what many founders want to spend for or go through the time on. Sometimes it’s a lot more natural for founders to go with their gut and not get bogged down by research. And I totally get this, and it does work in many instances.   I just wish there were more options out there to efficiently confirm purchase interest between two packages or between new innovation ideas to complement founder gut. In the end, it could save the emerging brand money…. Thought I’d reach out to the linkedin community, PLEASE not from research companies selling their research, but from founders/emerging brand marketers who have been through this dilemma and have found some consumer feedback very helpful and fitting for emerging brand bootstrap budget and speed (even if their own tools or alternative ways they’ve brought in consumers more)?  This sharing might help more companies maximize their moves in the future…so hope it helps… thanks! #ConsumerFeedback #jcbgrowth

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