Katrina El-Kik

INCOMING VAGUE RANT/UNPOPULAR OPINION/HOT TAKE: Your Harvard BA (in subjects completely unrelated) does NOT make you an expert in CPG. Know-it-all, self-righteous "grandstanding" on LinkedIn is utterly insufferable. You *actually* know next-to-nothing in terms of the potential lifetime it takes to Master the CPG business and who even knows if that's possible, or who has done this *NOT* off the backs of human beings (all of "The -Isms") or at the expense of our planet (Industrial Revolution). Simply put: STFU if your CPG product is only about 5-6 years old. Let's see if your brand makes it to the 10-year mark. Chances are you've also probably never cleaned a toilet or folded a lick of laundry in your life. I can't stand the privilege on here sometimes.

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Circana’s Mid-Year 2024 Food & Beverage Market Outlook is here, and it confirms our earlier predictions—2024 is seeing modest growth, with a strong 2025 on the horizon! Check out the full scoop: https://bit.ly/3MlYS7s

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Is Everyone Still Talking About Deadpool??!! If you've been online lately, you've probably seen Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman all over your feed. The marketing blitz for the new "Deadpool & Wolverine" movie has Marvel fans (including myself) buzzing with excitement! This sequel looks set to smash box office records and keep us all talking for weeks. Naturally, other brands are jumping on the hype train, and one standout collaboration is with Kraft Heinz. They’ve brilliantly leveraged the matching colour schemes of Deadpool and Wolverine to rebrand some of their iconic products. It’s one of those things where, “Once you see it, You can’t unsee it!” Heinz has cleverly connected their everyday products with our favourite superheroes, making this more than just a fun packaging idea—it's a way for us fans to enjoy a slice of Marvel Entertainment magic in our daily lives. The marketing team behind Deadpool has always been bold and creative, and this collaboration captures that spirit perfectly. I'm definitely keeping an eye out for these limited-edition bottles. They're a must-have for any Marvel fan. Kudos to Heinz for staying relevant and tapping into today’s pop culture! #Deadpool #Wolverine #Heinz #Foodie #PopCulture #MarketingWin https://lnkd.in/g-AghJRG

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I am extremely excited to be in sunny Phoenix, AZ attending Consumer Connections conference (#CC2024) to speak about reaching consumers with the help of #AI alongside Mary Heslep and Brianna Shales! As we continue to navigate the world of #AI, here are my pressing thoughts: 💡AI and #marketingautomation, how do they fit together? 💡How will AI transform the fresh produce and floral industry across the #supplychain and ultimately how they reach the consumer? 💡What AI tools are out there and how do we harness them? 💡AI and #socialmedia isn't exactly new, how can we continue to evolve at the exponential pace that's been set? 🍓 And ultimately, when it comes to consumers, how do we help individuals #haveaplant every time they eat?

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I'm that guy...and alcohol brands probably hate me. I buy a new type of RTD almost every time. High ABV, low ABV, premium craft cocktails, funky fruity seltzers. Something to hype me up or calm me down. How the heck are brands supposed to plan for the future in an ever-evolving category? Luckily, Black Swan Data has the answers. This new eBook shows how AI-powered social trends can uncover what to do NOW, NEXT, and even after that. Use the most consumer driven data to innovate and create what consumers want. You might even lock in a flip-flopping consumer like me! Download the full report here ➡️ bit.ly/3QDwQah 

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Higher Prices Shifting Snacking Landscape American snacking habits are evolving as prices continue to rise. At the recent SNX conference, Sally Lyons Wyatt and Darren Seifer from Circana highlighted several key trends: -Consumers are facing snack prices that are 30% higher than in 2019, which is forcing them to change their buying habits. -Many are seeking better value through smaller packages, value packs, and multi-packs from club stores like Costco. -Generational shifts show younger consumers opting for quick-service restaurants over retail as they find cooking at home challenging. -Despite starting the day with healthy snacks, many end it with indulgent treats. Budget constraints lead low- to middle-income households to purchase snacks from dollar stores. -The rise of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss could impact future snack sales. -Social media plays a significant role in influencing consumers' snack choices, with many seeking authentic and unique experiences. #SnackingTrends #ConsumerBehavior #FoodIndustry #SNXConference #ValuePacks #GenerationalShifts #HealthAndWellness #SocialMediaInfluence #MarketInsights #CPGTrends https://lnkd.in/gbq-t-Z5

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We’ve officially launched into Sprouts Farmers Market nationwide! But first things first, huge shoutout to everyone who made the launch possible: Abby Mullen from Sprouts, our Category Manager The entire Jade Street Consulting Inc. team, our broker! Dan Rabens and Peter Gialantzis from Pod Foods, our distributor! And Caroline Grace from Product and Prosper, our portal manager! --- Now, let’s talk about what it took to get here… It’s been a real rollercoaster. From the moment we started working with Sprouts, we knew they had some pretty high standards. As a natural retailer, they’ve got a strict policy on what goes into their stores. That meant we had to make some significant changes to our existing product formulations. We couldn’t just tweak a few things here and there. We went all out to ensure every ingredient complied with their guidelines. But we kept going. We also developed new products specifically for this launch. So instead of having just one lonely product sitting on the shelf, we've got a whole brand block. Retailers appreciate having that level of visibility to ensure that a brand doesn't go unnoticed! One thing that helped us a ton with the launch was POD Food’s Ship to Store (STS) program. It let us bypass the traditional retail review process that every brand usually has to go through, where in most cases, you’d be sitting in a long line waiting for your products to get reviewed. But with POD’s innovation program, we were able to fast-track straight to the buyers. No waiting, no delays–just straight to the shelves! Last thing I want to mention is that Sprouts just opened its first ever location in New Jersey, close to our HQ!. We’re pumped to see our products in stores so close to home, and we’ll definitely be filming some content there soon–stay tuned for that! So what about you? What has your retail journey been like? Any big plans for 2025? Would love to hear how things are going!

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