The Online Community for Food and Beverage Startups

   5 WAYS TO       BUILD A CUSTOMER       CENTRIC BUSINESS   

Your customers give life to your business, but it’s easy to become disconnected from them as the demands of the business grow.We tend to think of our customers as a monolithic group, and this hurts our relationship with them. We send the same emails, offer the same discounts, and talk to them in the same way. When in fact the reality is that people come to us for dozens of reasons.Here are 5 ways to stay connected to your customers even as you grow. Schedule Weekly Customer Calls Ask Questions in Your E-mails Build a Private Facebook Group Include Your Customers in Product Development Segment Customers Using Zero-Party and First-Party DataRead my full article as I break down examples from Damien Law at Effin' Good Snacks and Michelle Tew at Homiah.

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     THE 8 CHARACTERISTICS       OF SUCCESSFUL       CPG COMPANIES    

Whether you’re starting a new CPG company from scratch, you’re charged with reinventing a CPG firm and growing it, or you’re part of an innovative unit within a large and established CPG company, this article is for you.We’ve identified eight characteristics CPG companies today need to succeed. But these characteristics are more than just gimmicky merchandising or marketing tactics. They’re actually the attributes of a new type of CPG company.This new type of CPG company is quietly rising up and sweeping the market. We call it the CPG 2.0 company.These are startup firms, mid-sized companies, and even innovative, agile divisions within large corporations, who are changing the way CPG companies do business.What are the characteristics of CPG 2.0 companies?

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   Whole Foods Market Accepting Applications       for its 2023 Local and Emerging       Accelerator Program (LEAP)   

Whole Foods Market today opened the 2023 application process for its Local and Emerging Accelerator Program. The initiative, which launched in 2022, advances Whole Foods Market’s core value of seeking win-win partnerships with local suppliers. Participants benefit from the mentorship of Whole Foods Market experts, tailored educational programs and the potential for direct financial support. Each participant’s products are also considered for placement on the shelves of Whole Foods Market stores in their home city or region at the conclusion of the six-month program.“Since our start more than four decades ago, we’ve been empowering small, local and emerging producers,” said Alyssa Vescio, Senior Vice President of Merchandising at Whole Foods Market. “We’re thrilled to continue this important part of our legacy through the Local and Emerging Accelerator Program. Our first cohort of nine local producers successfully graduated from last year’s inaugural program, and three have already launched in select Whole Foods Market stores. We could not be more excited to begin our search for a new and innovative group of suppliers we can support.” 

Apply to the LEAP Program

   Guide to Creative Briefs       for CPG Brands   

Are you looking to communicate your vision for your brand to creatives so they can design your logo, packaging, images, and video content? Download our Guide to Creative Briefs for CPG Brands.There are two main problems CPG companies encounter when working with designers:

1. I have a vision but not sure how to properly communicate it as a creative brief for content – photo, video, illustration, etc.

2. I see content that I like, but now sure how to develop a style guide for my brand to then share with a designer

I’ve partnered with Hart and Highland to create a Guide to Creative Briefs with all the details on how to bring your vision to life. Download the guide below:DOWNLOAD GUIDE

   Preparing for 2023: BigCommerce       Leaders Share Their Insights   

The beginning of the year is a chance to get a jump on the challenges and opportunities ahead or even just reset and begin planning. This couldn’t be more true for online retailers. In 2022, we saw the emergence of a number of trends with staying power in areas like alternative payment methods, omnichannel selling and headless commerce. BigCommerce tapped its foremost subject matter experts for a roundup of predictions and insights around these trends and more to create a comprehensive picture of what we can expect in the coming year.Staying Ahead of the Curve in 2023Now is the time to ensure your business has a great 2023. To do so, brands need to be up to speed on the latest ecommerce trends. Here are some insightful thoughts from BigCommerce leadership on where the industry is headed this year.

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   You know influencer marketing       is important but don’t       know where to start?   

The age of cheap clicks via FB is long gone. Consumers now trust word of mouth and referrals from influencers. But every time you think about working with influencers, you see a long list of unknowns that you don’t have the time or energy to answer right now.I came across this Jumpstart program which I wanted to share with you. It’s better than working with an agency or signing up for an expensive software tool, they’ll set you up with a tailor made strategy, give you a customized list of 100 influencers, write the email scripts for outreach, and set up a system that allows you to acquire commission-only influencers almost on auto-pilot.They’re doing a 10% off for the Foodbevy community. You can book a call to learn more!

STARTUP TO SCALE PODCAST

96. Unlocking the Secrets to Building a Successful CPG Brand with Chris Cuvelier

Chris Cuvelier founded Zola in 2002 and led the business as CEO for 17 years until 2019. Originally started as an Acai Juice business, he added coconut water 10 years later and eventually dropped the Acai Juice to focus on the Coconut Water.

Chris had a goal to build Zola to be a $100 million business and sold the company to a private equity firm in 2016 while staying on a CEO. Join me as we unlock how he built his business, the pivots along the way, and advice he has for emerging founders now.

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

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