Anne Thompson

Climate change is changing our agriculture landscape and therefore the cost to consume our favorite things- especially coffee, which is why the work we are doing around organic cultivation with climate resilient varietals like robusta coffee is more important than ever. Thanks WSJ for speaking with me about this important work!

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Good insight from Walmart: Food and beverages companies are worried that weight loss medicine like Ozempic will reduce consumption, as consumers are becoming less hungry. What a brilliant marketing challenge for a brand manager - sell more to less hungry and thirsty user :) Ozempic Is Making People Buy Less Food, Walmart Says https://lnkd.in/dBvtFDi6

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Great conversation in the recent "Beef, It's What's for Dinner" article, where I shared some insights on consumer trends. The key takeaway? While prices are up, a strong 70% of consumers still crave the beef! At Omaha Steaks, we're committed to providing high-quality beef and resources to help you get the most out of every bite. https://lnkd.in/gATvKQEf

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Pet care trends are rapidly evolving as more pet parents choose fresh, minimally processed foods for their furry friends. Although premium pet foods come with a higher price tag, they represent a potential long-term savings by promoting better health and happiness for your pet. Nutrition stands as a crucial pillar of your pet's health. Opting for fresh, human-grade pet food made with a limited number of ingredients is not just a choice—it's a wise investment in your pet's future well-being. HAPPYBOND #pethealth #petnutrition #petcare #startup #bemoredog https://lnkd.in/gub7eGPJ

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One in five consumers who purchase frozen food items usually buy a store-brand product, and that figure is growing, according to “The Power of Frozen 2023” report from the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) and FMI- The Food Industry Association. The big factor turning the eyes of consumers toward private label products, unsurprisingly, is price. While private label and national-brand frozen products each saw unit share erosion in 2023 — down 3% for private label and down 5.4% for national brands — both segments saw dollar sales grow 7.7% during the prior year. Also notable is the rather weak brand loyalty that consumers have within frozen food despite the category’s having some long-standing national brands. The AFFI report found that 20% of consumers usually purchase private label frozen food products, while 16% said that they prefer national brands. Nearly four in 10 said that brand preference varies by item, and 26% had no brand preference. | Progressive Grocer https://lnkd.in/gFZEj_j3 #retail #supermarkets #frozenfoods #storebrands #privatelabel #consumers

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Hey Network: "There is no silver bullet to guarantee product adoption in the marketplace. However, businesses can implement strategies before launch to improve market readiness and increase the likelihood of securing a place in consumers' weekly dinners." If product adoption is something that your company struggles with, please listen to this episode CPG Launch Leaders featuring TPG's own Eleni Shipp and reach out to Eleni or I so that we can share strategies that can help you secure your place in the weekly dinner rotation. #food #CPG #newitems #newitemlaunch #ecommerce

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Check out my recent conversation with Christopher Campbell of The Food Institute We talked about the big funding gap in early-stage CPG investing and the growing power of angels... ...and how institutional investors' bias towards pro-operators has only grown since COVID. https://lnkd.in/gFu7D8XV #investing #business #entrepreneurship

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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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Huge thanks to Kristine Kobe, VP of Marketing at Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., for sharing her leadership story with our team last week. The simple prompt of "Who/what people, places and experiences shaped you into the leader you are today?" reveals a lot of great takeaways, and I learn so much every time we do this. Here's my 6 favorite tips from Kristine: 🍻 Culture isn't free bagels and beer on Fridays. It's how you show up when a leader isn't in the room. Repetition is key. Be crystal clear about what you need. Be team first. Challenge your mindset and expect that of others. 🎨 Infuse creativity in a strategic way. "Creativity is more than just pictures or design. It's about how you problem solve. How you collaborate. Doesn't have to be dramatic or cost a lot of money. Think differently. Check out the Heinz fraud case study as a great example." 🔥 Do what gives you energy. If you aren't excited about your work or the people you're working with, you're probably in the wrong role. ❤️ Frame the what and the how. What you're trying to achieve is critical. But how you achieve it with others is equally important. Things happen because of people. Respect each other, and don't forget about the people behind the work. 🏃‍♀️ How you show up at work is influenced a lot by what's going on at home. Unplug, Take the PTO (really take it). Exercise. Connect deeply with friends and family. Take time for you. 📣 Advocate for yourself. If you want the bigger job, the different job or more money, make it a fact-based conversation and bring proof points. Don't just rely on the relationship itself; make it easier for them to say "yes." Got a good leadership story to share (or know someone with a great story) and want to be a guest speaker for us? Drop me a note or DM me!

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Huge thanks to Oshiya & Padma for having me on WH-THE-TECH!?! WH-THE-TECH!?! is one of my favorite podcasts - it bridges the digital divide for business and tech leaders, fostering collaboration through shared insights. This episode's conversation about ecomm frameworks, DTC, and marketing in the ecomm space was fun and insightful. I truly appreciate your focus on actionable insights in the ever-evolving world of digital commerce.

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We're nearing the end of June, which is National Dairy Month, an annual celebration of the vital role dairy foods play in delivering quality nutrition to help nourish the world. As President of National Dairy Council, I’m always excited to talk about the health, wellness and enjoyment benefits of dairy foods like milk, cheese and yogurt—true nutrition and culinary powerhouses that deserve celebration not only in June, but all year long. Perhaps what I’m most excited about are the modern functional wellness benefits dairy foods offer. I’m talking about the energizing, high-quality protein that's so important to fuel muscles. And we reap digestive health benefits from yogurt and other fermented dairy foods like kefir. Additionally, there’s growing evidence that dairy foods offer a unique package of nutrients that may support mental health alongside a healthy lifestyle. Most Americans are about 1 serving shy of meeting the daily recommendation for 3 servings of dairy foods. Think about this: 1 serving (1 cup or 8 ounces) of milk – the foundation of all dairy foods – provides 25% of daily calcium to build and maintain strong bones and teeth, 15% of daily vitamin D to support bone and immune health, and 10% of daily potassium to support heart health. That’s a lot to pack into just one serving, and this only scratches the surface of what dairy foods contribute toward better nutrition and health. With 13 essential nutrients in milk and a whole food matrix of benefits, the unique nutrition of dairy foods can be hard to replace. As June and National Dairy Month come to a close, please raise a glass (of milk!) and thank the dedicated dairy farmers who make their livelihoods producing delicious and nutritious dairy foods to nourish us. I hope you’ll join me in continuing the celebration throughout the year by spreading the benefits of adding 1 more serving of dairy each day and encouraging everyone to meet their recommended 3 daily dairy servings. #NationalDairyMonth #EnjoyDairy #UndeniablyDairy

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The intersection of convenience and value. This article from Food Business News on a recent FMI study talks about how inflationary concerns have eased in the supermarket aisle as shoppers seek convenient meal solutions with an eye towards value. Important findings when you consider that the supermarket aisle is the last three feet of the marketing mix.

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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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Tequila!   Many large players such as White Claw, and The Boston Beer Company (maker of Truly) are expanding their offerings and releasing tequila-flavored ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails as consumers are increasingly turning to tequila offerings in the beverage alcohol sector.   I had the opportunity to share my insights and thoughts on this surging trend with The Food Institute. In the article, I emphasized how innovations in ready-to-drink (RTD) formats, including tequila-based seltzers and margaritas, are meeting consumer demand for novel flavors. Additionally, I pointed out that tequila production has remained stable despite global supply chain disruptions and highlighted the increasing consumer preference for high-quality artisanal spirits.   Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gB9f-3Ci   #Tequila #BeverageIndustry #MarketTrends #ConsumerInsights #RTDCocktails

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I’m happy to see private brands finally get the star treatment they deserve. This story from The Wall Street Journal Jesse Newman and Stephanie Stamm highlights a key statistic that speaks to the power of private brands: They now capture 22 cents of every grocery dollar. And it’s not just because consumers are cutting back on spending. It’s because private brands today offer not only value, but quality. In many cases not just quality but unique distinctive innovation as well. As retailers make real investments in development, packaging and marketing on private brands, the retail landscape is shifting in a major way. And no one knows that better than Daymon. https://lnkd.in/eFT2edZN   #PrivateBrands #Retail #RetailTrends #ConsumerBehavior #RetailInnovation 

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I highly recommend attending the webinar! Not only will we be reviewing the learning, but there will be a panel discussion on how the findings can be leveraged in market!

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There was a moment in last week's Roundtable when Emily Flannery declared, "that's right: beverages are officially a snack, too." The way we see category lines blurring, overlapping and/or completely falling away is fascinating, and a huge opportunity for food & bev brands with the nerve to keep up. Did you see it yet? Give the convo a watch right here: https://okt.to/XpGrUZ And if this glimpse into the future inspires you, let's chat! #futurefluent #futureofsnacking #cpgtrends

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CPG Panel — “More than commerce”: 🔥 We are working on a mega panel (June 13) of CPG powerhouses right now including some of my great friends: Jamie Schwab (Colgate-Palmolive) Jamie Decker (Del Monte Foods, Inc.). We will be diving into the importance of driving direct-to-customer engagement through digital, not just commerce. Topics: (4) 1. First-party data strategies 2. Customer engagement 3. Omnichannel marketing 4. No doubt AI! We still have a few panelists spots remaining, feel free send me a DM or comment below if you may be interested or know some who would be great for this topic. #ecommerce #digital #omnichannel #strategy #cmo #cdo #ceo #cro #leadership #retailecommerceclub #cpg #privateequity #playtowin

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What might you expect next from the #foodandbeverage industry for your four-legged friends? Find out what #trend expert Daniel Levine has to say about using human #food as your guide. Read the report from his #keynote at the #PetfoodForum this week in Kansas City.

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