CPG Week Podcast

In this episode: Who doesn’t want a personal vending machine in their garage? The CPG Week talks about poppi’s recent publicity stunt and the backlash that has ensued before exploring how the CPG industry is evolving with convenience stores. A recent CoBank report highlighted how foodservice is making an impact with consumers in c-stores. The CPG Week team explores how the channel is offering fresh opportunities and new challenges to food and beverage brands. Show Highlights: 0:30 – There have been a lot of opinions about poppi’s vending machine marketing campaign that launched during the Super Bowl last weekend. The CPG Week team gives its takes. 4:15 – Senior reporter Brad Avery explains what he learned from a recent CoBank report about foodservice in the convenience channel. The group discusses how CPG brands are evolving with a shift in consumer buying behavior in the channel. 7:00 – How are next-generation brands adjusting strategy to better align with how consumers are using c-stores as food destinations as opposed to just a snack stop while filling the gas tank? 9:20 – Operating in the convenience channel is different than grocery retail. How are CPG operators prioritizing their distribution to meet a brand’s target audience? What does this mean for the larger food and beverage companies? 13:15 – The team discusses how the evolution of convenience stores towards better-for-you brands represents a recent shift in consumer behavior. About CPG Week CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage. New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode: Remember the U.S. craft distillers’ consternation over a potential trade war? The CPG Week team is joined by BevNET Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman to understand how tariffs are impacting nearly all of the CPG industry after a whirlwind Monday paused the 25% import taxes on Mexican and Canadian products. After a quick discussion about Super Bowl food and beverage choices, the group unravels how CPG brands from spirits to food makers to contract manufacturers are preparing for an uncertain future. Show Highlights: 0:30 – This Sunday marks the annual February tradition of drinking beer and eating Buffalo wings while watching advertisements and famous musicians perform in the middle of a field (plus a bit of football). The group discusses whether they will be noshing on Kansas City BBQ or Philly cheesesteaks during the Super Bowl. 4:20 – Jeff explains why tariffs are an especially important topic for many U.S. CPG brands. He explains that it is not just concerning from a cost perspective but also impacts the long-term sales of American products abroad. 7:30 – It goes deeper than raw ingredient sourcing for many brands but reverberates in other aspects of manufacturing like the equipment and machine parts that U.S. suppliers buy from China, Mexico and Canada. 9:30 – Brad talks about how potential tariffs could impact U.S. producers with aluminum pricing which is largely sourced from China and Canada. 11:00 – How are international brands reacting to the looming trade war? Some Canadian startups are weighing moving operations to the U.S. Jeff shares insights from supply chain experts about how brands can adapt to a fluid import environment. About CPG Week CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage. New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode: It’s likely not news to anyone who has bought groceries in the last two years that food costs are up. Due to environmental issues, supply chain challenges, tariffs and demand, eggs have become a quintessential example of why costs at the checkout will likely continue to be higher than most consumers would prefer. Household staples like eggs, cocoa and coffee are quickly turning into nonessentials for many grocery shoppers as inflation continues to plague the industry. Show Highlights: 0:30 – Do sour candy and pickles mix? Monica asks the team if they would “chew or spew” Van Holten’s expanded LTO partnership with Warheads candy. 3:15 – Why are eggs so expensive these days and how is it reflective of the broader topic of grocery inflation? The team dives into why eggs might be expensive forever. 6:30 – How will the high cost of eggs and other household staples cause ripple effects throughout consumer buying behavior? The podcasters explain why prices won’t likely fall but might stabilize. 10:00 – It’s not just eggs that have been on an expensive rollercoaster ride. Coffee, cocoa and many other commodity shortages are impacting how CPG brands and consumers are adjusting to dynamic prices. About CPG Week CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage. New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode: In this episode, the CPG Week podcast team discusses the emerging trends spotted on the show floor at the final Winter Fancy Food Show and why the Specialty Food Association is replacing the long-running tradeshow with a new event next year. Then, the group talks about the adult non-alcoholic beverage category, including sales data and standout brands. Show Highlights: 0:30 – Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous recaps the trends from the Winter Fancy Food Show and explains why the Specialty Food Association is retiring the event after a nearly five-decade run. 10:00 – Senior reporter Lukas Southard discusses his Damp January and shares NIQ data on the adult non-alcoholic beverage category. 11:45 – Senior reporter Brad Avery details his experience with the growing sober-curious movement and highlights a mass market retailer expanding its assortment of booze-free beverages. 13:50 – The group debates the pronunciation of a new celebrity-founded brand in the near-beer segment. 15:40 – The Surgeon General denounces alcohol as “one of the leading preventable causes of cancer.” Will this lead to a decrease in consumption? About CPG Week CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage. New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts  

In this episode: In this episode, the CPG Week podcast team covers four acquisitions in food and beverage including Spindrift’s anticipated sale and the unexpected new owner of Simple Mills. To start the show, the team discusses how the likely ban of TikTok will affect CPG brands. The group moves on to talk through recent acquisitions of Spindrift, Simple Mills, Sauer Brands and Yerbae. The podcast explains what these deals mean for the brands being acquired and how they fit into the portfolios of their new owners. Show Highlights: 0:30 – With U.S. operations of TikTok likely to shut down on January 19, many CPG brands will lose an important platform for new customer acquisition. The team discusses what this means for emerging brands and how they might pivot. 4:30 – Senior reporter Brad Avery walks the group through Gryphon Investors’ acquisition of Spindrift and why this exit was a long time coming. 6:45 – Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous explains why better-for-you snack brand Simple Mills might be a good fit for baked goods and bread company Flowers Foods. 10:00 – Moving onto spices and condiments, senior reporter Lukas Southard gives an overview of Advent International’s purchase of Duke’s Mayo and Mateo’s Gourmet Salsa maker Sauer Brands from Falfurrias Capital Partners. 11:45 – Lastly, Brad goes through Safety Shot’s acquisition of sparkling caffeinated beverage brand Yerbae, explaining why the deal could breathe needed energy into the yerba mate drink maker. About CPG Week CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage. New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode: On this episode of CPG Week, the podcast dives into the revival of nostalgic beverage brands, the implications of California’s fight against ultra-processed foods and one beverage co-packer’s abrupt plant closure. Odwalla is the latest beverage brand getting a reunion tour thanks to a legacy beverage maker. Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporters Lukas Southard and Brad Avery discuss the strategy behind resurrecting failed brands with new value propositions. The team goes on to discuss what it means that California will be investigating the adverse health impacts of ultra-processed foods and synthetic dyes. The podcast wraps up with a briefing on what is known about the closure of Joriki Beverages’ Pennsylvania production facility. Show Highlights: 0:30 – Slice, Jolt Cola and, most recently, Odwalla are all getting a chance to return to shelves after being discontinued. Brad explains Mexican beverage producer Grupo Jumex’s plan to bring back the former Coca-Cola-owned juice and smoothie brand. 5:30 – Do brands need to be revived or did they fail for a reason? The group discusses if nostalgia is enough to create lasting success and why there is momentum behind this resurrection trend. 9:00 – Lukas explains the recent executive order from California’s governor targeting ultra-processed foods. The CPG Week team discusses how the directive calling for state agencies to investigate ultra-processed products and synthetic food dyes will impact the larger CPG industry. 15:45 – Brad tells the team what he has learned so far about the sudden closure of a Pennsylvania co-packing facility owned by Canada-based Joricki Beverages. About CPG Week CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage. New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode: In this episode, the CPG Week team goes back through some of the trends they tracked in 2024 while looking ahead to predictions and issues to watch in the new year. Kicking off a discussion on 2024 trends, senior reporter Brad Avery starts with an update on the energy drink category and its evolution over the past year. Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous explains how consumer interest in GLP-1 drugs has impacted food and beverage. Senior reporter Lukas Southard talks private label prioritization and how it relates to inflation. The team goes on to look ahead with predictions about 2025 trends to watch, including an emphasis on seed oil-free products, consolidation, and the impact of tariffs and inflation on the CPG industry. Show Highlights: 0:30 – Energy drinks continue to dominate the beverage category with renewed strength behind women-positioned options. This time last year, big CPG companies were wringing their hands over the impact of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy, but 2024 brought a slew of brands positioned toward the opportunity in the weight-loss consumer group. 4:00 – Whether it’s Walmart’s bettergoods or Amazon Saver, private label is on the rise with no sign of slowing. The team discusses how retailers like CVS are bringing new energy with its new Well Market store brand and what it means long term for retail. 6:45 – It’s often difficult to make bold predictions for the coming year, but the CPG Week hosts discuss how a minor trend like no seed oils might bubble up in 2025 and how it aligns with a growing rancor about ultra-processed foods. 9:00 – The group also predicts a continuation of the M&A activity witnessed in 2024, how potential tariffs and inflation could impact the industry, and why Monica is calling 2025 the Year of Ranch. About CPG Week CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage. New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts