CPG Week Podcast

NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg and reporter Lukas Southard discuss spending time and eating with family over the holidays. They then look back on the big stories of 2022 and how macro trends over the past year may provide insight as to what to expect in 2023. In this week’s interview, Carol talked to Coefficient Capital investor Natalie Borowski and Editor-in-Chief of The New Consumer Dan Frommer to discuss the most recent release of their ongoing Consumer Trends report. In this episode: 0:50 – Carol and Lukas talk about celebrating with family and their respective holiday eating traditions. 5:45 – Lukas makes some predictions about the future of plant-based meats in the year to come. 9:00 – Carol discusses how the investment landscape is expected to tighten this year but the opportunity it could provide for innovative brands. 14:40 – Carol talks with Coefficient Capital investor Natalie Borowski and Editor-in-Chief of The New Consumer Dan Frommer about their fourth quarter Consumer Trends report, which examined consumer spending, perspectives and media habits in 2022 and how brands can use this data to plan for 2023.   About the NOSH Podcast The staff of NOSH.com takes listeners inside the business of natural, organic, sustainable and healthy food during the NOSH Podcast. Using interviews and discussion, the team illuminates the news, brands, people, trends, and money affecting the world of packaged food. New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

On this week’s show, NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg, editor-in-chief Jeff Klineman and reporter Adrianne DeLuca discuss the state of online subscription businesses as well as some recent snack deals. The team is then joined by another NOSH editorial team member, Shauna Golden, to help highlight key themes from a recent seminar hosted by Natural Products Consulting. Later, we hear from Andy Whitman, Managing Partner of Loft Growth Partners about the current investment landscape and what to keep in mind when pitching investors for your next raise. Show Highlights: 01:34: The NOSH team discusses Blue Apron’s cash flow and funding issues, the state of Nestle’s Freshly business and why recent reports indicate the pandemic-induced subscription service boom may be declining. Carol and Jeff also discuss some recent notable deals in the snack space. 09:28 The discussion then turns to a recent seminar the team attended that took developing a sales strategy and financing your CPG business to a granular level. Shauna Golden joins to share some of her learnings from the three-day conference. 23:03: Andy runs through the current state of investing and why businesses should always be focussed on the fundamentals and balance growth with profitability rather than “growth at all costs.” 33:36: Later, Andy breaks down the five things any brand should keep in mind when pitching investors, including what you don’t need to tell them and how to approach the conversation from their perspective. “Most businesses don’t go out of business because they’re terrible ideas, they go out of business because they run out of cash… If you understand what your cash needs are, you can understand what you need to finance and that keeps you out of the penalty box.” -Andy Whitman

On this week’s show, NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg, BevNET Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman and reporter Adrianne DeLuca discuss the latest news surrounding the Kroger/Albertsons merger, explain the challenges Instacart keeps having with going public and dive deep into some sea-faring food trends. Reporter Lukas Southard then sits down with Food and Beverage Investor Database (FABID) founder, Ryan Williams, to discuss the current investment climate and what brands should focus on before and after raising capital. Show Highlights: 01:16: The NOSH team talks about this week’s top stories including the Senate Judiciary Committee’s thoughts on the Kroger/Albertsons merger and the broader implications of a recent funding round for tinned seafood brand Scout as well as highlighting upcoming trends in other sea-based food segments. 22:45: Why Ryan believes brands need to be extremely strategic with their first move after raising capital and how those actions will likely impact the company’s ability to raise funds with each subsequent raise. 28:36: What categories Ryan believes still have room for innovation, and why he believes operating with some intellectual property or in a category with greater barriers to entry will benefit a brand when approaching investors.