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- Monday Newsletter 10/14/24
Monday Newsletter 10/14/24
😋This Week in CPG 10/14/24
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Hey ,
This week the family and I took a much needed vacation, and it was amazing. I spent countless additional hours the past few months finalizing our Guide to Starting a Food or Beverage Business and my wife just finished writing and launching her book, and we were beat. So we took a trip to Disney World (in between the two hurricanes) for a little fun.
Having control over your time is one of the biggest benefits of being a founder when you’re first starting out, but quickly you full that time with demands your customers, your suppliers, your team, and your investors. When I first launched TeaSquares (my first real business) I had all the time in the world, and quickly tried to fill every moment with stuff to do. After five years into the journey every hour was filled with commitments to others leaving no time to myself. It felt like my control of time had slipped away.
Now that I run Foodbevy, I made it a key priority to control my time and limit how much other people can book my day. I have a set availability and rarely meet outside of that so I can focus on my work priorities and family. Yes it feels like I’m “missing out” on opportunities, but that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make. I feel like at this point I have “enough” and don’t need to sacrifice my happiness trying to squeeze out every last dollar or bit of growth.
So now that I’m back to work this week, I want to encourage you to reflect on the journey you created running your business.
Are you spending your time how you want? If not, what changes can you make to take back control? No matter what, there will always be more to do than you have time for. That’s a given. Where you set your boundary is in your control.
Wishing you all the best on your journey,
Jordan Buckner
CPG NEWS
A roundup of CPG news that happened last week.
🛒 Retail Rollouts
🍕 Blackbird Foods, led by CEO Emanuel Storch, has launched its plant-based WINGS at over 100 Wegmans stores nationwide, offering bold Buffalo and Korean BBQ flavors.
🍔 Actual Veggies, co-founded by Jason Rosenbaum, Alex Swartz and Hailey Swartz, proudly launches its Black Bean, Mushroom Quinoa, and Sweet Potato veggie burgers at Harmons Grocery in Utah.
🍝 Sauz, co-founded by Troy Bonde and Winston Alfieri, brings its Cracked Pepper & Parmesan sauce to 1,900 Target stores nationwide just 15 months after launch.
🌱 Paradise™, founded by Emily D. Edwards, celebrates its milestone partnership with Strack & Van Til Super Markets, expanding the reach of its allergen-free, plant-based spreads across Indiana.
🚀 New Product Launch
🎂 Diana’s, founded by Neil Cox, unveils its limited-edition Birthday Cake flavor exclusively at Target, celebrating its 30th anniversary with upcycled bananas and all-natural ingredients.
☕ Atomo Coffee, founded by Jarret Stopforth, introduces a revolutionary 50:50 blend that combines traditional coffee with its sustainable "beanless" coffee, helping big brands cut their environmental footprint.
🤝 Brand Partnerships
🍏 Fruit Friends teams up with Annie’s, launching organic fruit and veggie pouches available at Whole Foods and Kroger, in collaboration with Charles & Alice and General Mills.
🎉 News to Celebrate
🍖 AubSauce, founded by Aubrey Lenyard, has been nominated for the prestigious Best of Georgia award in the Manufacturing category, recognizing its six-year journey of crafting gourmet barbecue sauces.
🎉 BāKIT Box, founded by Shelley Gupta, wins the grand prize of $50,000 at the AnitaB.org PitcHER Competition during the 2024 Grace Hopper Celebration.
🍪 LEXINGTON BAKES, founded by Lex Evan, doubles down on Radical Ingredient Transparency, listing every ingredient supplier on its packaging and website.
In collaboration with Amber Caro from Marketbite.
Have news to share?
EVENTS
Webinar: How to Fund Your Brand for Growth
Access to funding for CPG brands has fundamentally changed over the past two years, with early stage VC funding significantly decreasing.
So how big do you need to be before the smallest VCs will consider you and how do you fund your growth before then?
Join me as I talk with Veronica Lehman and Andrew Reynolds on how to fund your brand for growth in today’s environment.
Webinar: How to Build Effective Digital Sampling Campaigns
Needing to drive sales in grocery stores? Creating a digital sampling campaign is one of the best ways to do this. It allows you to:
Drive existing customers to purchase in their favorite stores
Acquire new customers to the brand to purchase in store
Increase sales velocity at targeted retailers
In this webinar we’re breaking down exactly how to build effective sampling campaigns using digital rebates that effectively reach your goals.
PODCAST
188. 5 Things Buyers Need To Hear to Say Yes
Let’s break down exactly how to get a buyer to agree to take your meeting and then get them to say “yes” to bringing your product in store. For this conversation I talk with James Pippin with Good Now Foods and share actionable tips and tricks to stand out.
Looking for a Directory of Retail Buyers, Category Reviews, and Review Schedules? Check out Harvest Hub.
Listen on:
FINANCE
Which Loans Is Your Business Eligible For?
We discussed the importance of creating a debt stack to help scale your business. While understanding the use cases for each type of financing is key, it’s even more critical to know which types of debt your business is eligible for. Eligibility is usually based on factors like your sales channels, customer base, profitability, and other key criteria lenders use to assess your qualifications for funding.
2024 Grant Opportunities
As of October 2024, there are numerous grants and accelerators available for founders globally and in the United States. Below is a list of 60+ grants designed to support and advance various entrepreneurial ventures. Thanks to the Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce for compiling this list.
MANUFACTURING
Co-Manufacturing Contract Example for CPG Brands
Looking for a great co-manufacturing contract example? Our friends at JPG Resources put together an amazing manufacturing service agreement sample so you can understand all the key components that go into building a great relationship with your manufacturer.
The Agreement covers:
Manufacturing Process
Recipe ownership
Ingredient Processes
Orders and Change Orders
Pricing and Payment Terms
Capital Investments in Equipment
Marks and Labeling Legal Requirements
Representations and Warranties
Liability and Recalls
Term and Termination
Confidentiality
Insurance
Product Specifications and MOQs
JOIN
FOR BRANDS
If launching or scaling your own food and beverage business is a goal of yours, let us help you realize your dream and avoid unnecessary struggle. Join as a Premium Member.
FOR PARTNERS
Work with Founders to identify their problems and share solutions to help them overcome the challenges of growing their companies. Join as an Expert Partners.
About Foodbevy
Foodbevy helps food and beverage brands grow from startup to scale through inspiration, education, and partnership.
Jordan Buckner
Founder
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