Tony Fung

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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🏢 Let's not forget about in-store retail which is still a huge part of a brands overall retail media strategy. Peter Crosby & I sat down with Jeffrey Bustos from the IAB and Michael Wessel Esq. from Kroger to talk about the latest in-store media playbook! Be sure to listen 🎧 #digitalshelf #content #retailmedia #instore #omnichannel

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I'll be at 👉 (https://lnkd.in/geS8v3aq) the NielsenIQ C360 conference in Phoenix - May 13-16 as The CPG Guys. Will you be there as a senior leader to discuss today's important #cpgindustry topics? 1.) Total store optimization in a post pandemic world? 2.) What does today's truly #omnichannel shopper journey look like? Have #retailmedia networks changed full funnel #omnichannelmarketing? 3.) Of course, all about #artificalintelligence 4.) #innovation - most large brands temporarily slowed it down over the pandemic - now its back to the mayhem. Shelf space is not unlimited - who wins, who loses and who doesn't belong on the shelf in the first place. Watch Liz Buchanan (NA, president), Jamie Clarke (NA retail), Andrew Criezis (President, #ecommerce) and so much more.

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From Walmart to Target and Kroger and beyond, major retailers are expanding their focus on #privatebrands with strategies that go beyond value. More of today's private brands focus on everything from flavor innovations and lifestyle-friendly products to revamping design and packaging and reaching younger customers where they live — which often means social media and platforms such as TikTok. Daymon's Michael Taylor and Jean Ryan share their perspectives on the latest trends in private brands — and what retailers need to know. https://lnkd.in/gpAQJXy4 #PrivateBrand #ConsumerTrends #Retail #PrivateLabel

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Politics aside, I think we can all agree that WAY too many direct CPG brands are reeling right now 😥 And it’s truly sad as the founders have put their🩸, sweat and tears into these businesses, which now have: 🏪 Strong retail distribution 🥫 Unique products with true-ish differentiation 😋 Great flavor profile and hedonics 🌀 Relevant and well designed branding 💲 Price points that align with target audience So why are they failing? Three major reasons that I’m seeing: 1) Lack of investor commitment:  Previous standbys in the Food/Bev VC space have not secured new funding or now have alligator-arms when reaching for more funding as they have been ‘burned’ by this category.  So financing has to be more creative and linked to specific milestones.  2) MVPs don’t work in food:  Those who come into the industry hoping to create and launch a ‘minimally viable product’, and then upgrade regularly in the future like they do in tech, are quickly realizing that is not possible.  The regulatory environment, manufacturing, and retail make that much more difficult in this category.  And if you launch a brand that doesn’t do well, consumers and retailers won’t take another look when you upgrade it! 3) Supply chain costs are crazy:  Ingredient costs are increasing weekly for certain raws (e.g. organic cacao), strength of third-party manufacturers (who have full production schedules) and their ability to flex pricing and schedule are impacting businesses, and transportation costs have increased to get products to the end consumer. I’m sure in the future we’ll look back at this period as one of creative survival, innovation, and collaboration, but right now it just sucks 👎 for so many brands and businesses out there and I feel for you. If you are one of these brands or know of one, feel free to reach out 📲 to see if the folks here at Palm Venture Studios would want to take a look.

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Inclusion isn’t just a moral imperative—it’s essential for business success. Unfortunately, these companies rolled back their commitments to inclusive workplace policies. At a time when diversity, equity, and inclusion should be celebrated, it’s more important than ever for brands to take a stand. When these policies are rolled back, they are abandoning their employees, customers, and the values that build trust and loyalty. Lowe’s is my go-to place for home improvement, and I was recently so proud to purchase a Made in America vehicle with my Ford truck. So, it really hits hard to see brands I personally invest in step back from this critical work. Let’s remind them that these initiatives are not only vital for equality, but also for their long-term success. Take action and urge them to reject the voices of internet trolls and continue their commitment to inclusive workplaces. #InclusionMatters #DEI #BusinessForGood #LGBTQIA

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Mermaid Mustard is now in 20 stores!   As we continue to expand into retail I’m starting to think about a few things. One of them being…   How can we POP off the shelf!   All of our competitors (French’s, Heinz, Grey Poupon, etc) are branded yellow.    If you go to the mustard aisle at any store you’ll notice it creates a big wall of yellow.    Since we only have 1 (really good) flavor, we will only have 1 outward facing SKU. How can we stand out?   My thought is to zig when everyone else is zagging by coming in with a bright label color that will POP.    What color label do you like best?

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Why is this the smartest thing Walmart has ever done in Private Label? During the pandemic, Walmart experienced unparalleled growth across demographic profiles, but as inflationary pressures entered the equation the past couple of years, Walmart has experienced nearly all or in some cases their entire growth (depending on the category and dept) from High income shoppers. And, it wasn’t from just shoppers already in the box—it was from channel shifting coming from the broader retail landscape. What makes that shopper unique is their participation in Private Brands at their former retailer of choice, more upscale Private Brands at Target, Kroger, HEB, Publix etc. With that shopper now in the Walmart stores, and the fact that these inflationary pressures won’t last forever, how do you keep them? How do you elevate the Private Brand experience for that shopper group and over-deliver on what an elevate private brand can be? And, as we continue to gain knowledge on how food can be the driver of our health, how do you also provide more access to healthy, life-giving foods to all income groups and demographics? How do we address the fact that many people experience lactose intolerance and have a dietary need for non-dairy products in their everyday lives? Or, that many children and adults suffer from dairy, egg and other food allergies that require them to access foods without these ingredients? Have a family member that are lactose intolerant or a milk allergy—why should they not have access at the best possible prices to incredible, delicious, non-dairy products that address those needs? Enter Bettergoods. It addresses so many of these questions and is just getting started. This is one more reason why Walmart is for every shopper, every income group, and every demographic profile. This launch demonstrates Walmarts strategic thought leadership, being aware of what is happening with the shopper in their box, and being willing to meet the needs of these shoppers. I can’t wait to see how far this brand goes and how many people are positively impacted by it. Kudos to Denise Wright for being the visionary leader and to her team for bringing this opportunity to life for Walmart. Well done. #Walmart #PrivateLabel #BetterGoods #NonDairy #Culinary #ChannelShifting

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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 below.

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Ready to launch your CPG brand? Our latest TJC guide breaks down the three essential marketing steps for a successful launch in the competitive food and bev space: 1️⃣ Conduct audience research to connect with your ideal consumer. 2️⃣ Develop clear brand positioning and messaging to tell your unique story. 3️⃣ Create a cohesive cross-channel marketing strategy to reach your target audience effectively. First impressions count. If you’re looking for expert help with your CPG brand, let’s connect. https://lnkd.in/eFaBUcts #marketing #publicrelations #mediarelations #communications #integratedcommunications #strategiccommunications #marketingagency #pragency #foodandbeverage #hospitality #strategy #pr #startup #launch #smallbusiness #cpg #cpgbrands #brandlaunch

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When 9 out of 10 of the world's top CPG's all agree on one thing, it's time to sit up and take notice. In our in-depth report below, find out what brands like Kimberly-Clark, Kraft Heinz, 3M and more all have in common when it comes to adapting to shifting market demands, delighting customers and staying resilient in the face of disruptions. Want to learn more? Find out how FourKites can help you transform your CPG supply chain: https://4kites.cc/3Vk78c3

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U.S. Ad Spend Trend: As nonalcoholic beverages gain popularity among younger consumers, it appears the alcoholic beverages ad spend category is attempting to bite back. Guideline Data shows a rebound to growth in 2023 after a 7 percent decline year over year in ad spend. Are alcohol brands trying to win back the buyers opting for more sober soirees? 🫗 We’re eager to see what’s in store for alcoholic beverage advertising in 2024. #CPG #CPGAdSpend #Advertising2024 #2024MarketPredictions #GuidelineData #AdSpendCategory #AlcoholicBeveragesAdSpend

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June is national candy month. And while store brands dominate the top 10 of the #Snack50, a few notable national brands are on page-one. However, more confections brands made the top 10 last year. What's changing? Request your private walkthrough of the #Snack50 report to discover what's happening 'between the ears' of consumers – and what your brand can do about it to drive growth. https://lnkd.in/gijG37D5 Abasto | Food & Beverage Business News, The Food Institute, The Hershey Company, Mars, Wrigley, Mondelēz International, Perfetti Van Melle, Frito-Lay, Kellanova, Walmart, Target, Kroger

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Have you heard of The Game? It’s our free and engaging quiz that tests your CPG design instincts daily. We test a brand’s redesign with over 200 category buyers to see which version of the packaging, old or new, consumers prefer most—and we ask which you think won consumers over. Take your guess at Maxwell House’s latest redesign! Play now: loom.ly/rLttMzY #designmeetdata #packagingdesign #packaging #redesign #analytics #cpg #visualdesign #brand #branding #branddesign #consumerinsights #marketresearch #datadriven #data #designquiz Kraft Heinz

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