Startup CPG’s Post

Hold the phone, foodies! Beloved gourmet market Foxtrot just unexpectedly closed its doors, leaving everyone wondering what went wrong. But the real impact goes beyond disappointed shoppers. Small brands like Spring & Mulberry are devastated! This chocolate startup spent a ton of time and resources getting into Foxtrot, only to have their inventory sit idle after the closure. This isn't just a sad story – it's a wake-up call for emerging brands relying on trendy retailers to launch. Is the "cool factor" expiring? Several trendy stores like Foxtrot have shut down recently. Does this mean brick-and-mortar is doomed? But wait, there's a glimmer of hope! Specialty stores like Erewhon and Pop Up Grocer can still be launchpads for new brands. And that Foxtrot experience can be valuable when pitching to bigger chains. The future of retail is a recipe in progress. What are your thoughts on the Foxtrot fallout? Is there a place for trendy stores in today's market? Sound off in the comments! #retail #startup #startups #foxtrot #erewhon #popupgrocer

Unlike so many overhyped businesses in food (Daily Harvest, Beyond Meat, Miyokos) led by attention-seeking founders, Sovos has quietly proven a totally new model to scale premium brands. It's about building a premium portfolio and selling that bundle at a multi-billion valuation to strategics. Food strategics are only interested in $1B revenue streams today, because that's when acquisition benefits tend to kick in for EPS/topline. These are the lowest net profit companies in CPG, and they need massive volume. I congratulate Sovos' team on their masterful navigation through the nine figures where so many premium food brands hit a $500M wall. This is best-in-class brand management without sacrificing premium positioning. And none of the cringy, chest-beating PR we see so often elsewhere. Sovos Brands Todd Lachman #business #startups #entrepreneurship

Attention CPG founders. Foxtrot is accepting applications for the third annual Up & Comers program aimed at helping small makers reach their full potential. They are looking for the most innovative group of makers yet. Got a funky flavored snack or a new idea for an elixir? Submit your product to win a spot on our shelves (IRL and URL) and so much more. Apply here by Oct. 30, 2023. https://lnkd.in/g4hwWyXR The Up & Comers program was created to create space for emerging brands on their shelves - "space for small makers, for local businesses, for diversity, for change." Over the past two years, Foxtrot has 36 local and emerging brands across its 32 stores and app. SKU alum Funky Mello was an Up & Comers winner. Michelle Breyer Buff Greebe Brooke Wilson Stephanie Klaers Kim Wells #emergingbrands #upandcomers #startups #cpgstartups #retailing #cpg #consumerpackagedgoods #consumerproducts

Remarkable to witness Marc Lore the visionary behind Diapers and Jet (eventually sold to Walmart) embark on yet another transformative journey! While many see food delivery as a lucrative market, Lore envisions something much bigger than just profit. He's on a mission to build a brand that stands the test of time, revolutionizing the way we experience dinner. With his latest venture, Wonder, Lore is not just aiming for quick success but rather for lasting impact. By addressing the frustrations of slow and disappointing food deliveries, he's reshaping the landscape with innovation and efficiency. Wonder's approach isn't just about convenience; it's about democratizing gourmet food, making it accessible to all. Through partnerships with renowned chefs like Bobby Flay and Michael Symon, Wonder brings iconic dishes straight to your doorstep. And it doesn't stop there. With $700 million in funding and plans to expand to 35 locations by year-end, Wonder is poised for exponential growth. Lore's dedication to research and development, including the exploration of automated kitchens, ensures that Wonder stays at the forefront of the industry. As a serial entrepreneur with a track record of success, Lore's vision for Wonder goes beyond the ordinary. #FoodTech #Innovation #usa #retail #efood #egrocery #fooddelivery #entrepreneurship #onamission

Tony Owen ’97 MBA leads firms investing in #foodstartups and digital brands — a calling that combines his family's legacy in the #foodindustry and his own passion for innovation. His best advice? Develop listening skills to absorb "not just to what you hear but what you see and feel" when working with partners. Owen tells Kellogg students today that confidence and perseverance are key to navigating the highs and lows of the #startup journey: "Follow your intuitions. You know that if you’re here at Kellogg, you have the capabilities." Learn more about Tony in the latest issue of Kellogg magazine. https://kell.gg/yp0d #KelloggLeader

As we come to the culmination of the Spring ‘24 Track, it is bittersweet. We have all become so close - the founders, the mentors and the SKU Crew. We can’t wait for you to meet theses founders in Austin on May 21 at the Spring ‘24 Showcase! Thank you to all the expert speakers (including many SKU mentors) who helped participated in today’s Marketing Planning and Innovation class - Scott Marcus, Catherine McCarthy, Caroline (Cari) Kwong, Joy Simpson, MSc, MBA, Scott Carter and Lindsey Ducroz With an audience of CPG leaders and investors from the country, these entrepreneurs each will share their strategies to successfully scale their innovative businesses, which include food, beverage, beauty and pet brands. They are Curation Beverage Company, I Love Micheladas, Heather's Choice, Kelsi's Kitchen, OhhFoods, Sanara Skincare, and Wellnergy Pets. RSVP for the Showcase here: https://lnkd.in/g9ppS2KS If you are a brand who would like to successfully scale, SKU is accepting applications for the Fall '24 Track. The application deadline is May 31. Please apply here: https://lnkd.in/gizfPVVd. Jake Buzaid Bricia Lopez Fernando Lopez Kelsi Petersen Cassandra Hume Heather Kelly Rebekah Jasso Jensen Zonram Liao Brittany Charlton Brooke Wilson Buff Greebe Michelle Breyer #cpg #cpgaccelerator #accelerator #consumerpackagedgoods #consumerproducts #startups #cpgstartups #founders #cpgfounders #mentors #mentoring #mentorship #innovation #foodandbeverage #petcare #beauty #skincare #marketing #marketingplanning

Accel and Chiratae Ventures-backed Curefoods has fully acquired Yumlane Pizza and its proprietary technology for an undisclosed sum. The deal will enable Curefoods to use Yumlane’s pizza technology for its other brands. The move is also expected to help Curefoods—which owns brands like EatFit, Nomad Pizza, and CakeZone—expand its reach and distribution through Yumlane’s network of cloud kitchens. 🚀 Join the startup revolution! Follow StartupTrak for the latest and hottest startup news, inspiring stories, and game-changing innovations! 💯❤️🔥 . . #Curefoods #YumlanePizza #Acquisition #FoodTech #CloudKitchens #BusinessExpansion #FoodDelivery #TechInnovation #MarketGrowth #StrategicMove #IndustryNews #AcquisitionDeal #Investment #BusinessDevelopment #FoodIndustry #BrandExpansion #StartupNews #StartupTrak

Calling all Philly CPG Founders and Service Providers please come out and join us for the second Philly Startup CPG get-together! We are just getting "started up" here in Philly so come out and meet your fellow founders and our service provider experts. All the details are below. Jen Honovic Herczeg and I will be leading the charge, hit us up with questions, and hope to see you there! #startup #philly #cpgbrands #emergingbrands #foodandbeverage #healthandwellness #startupfounder #founders #cpg #cpgindustry

Participating in SKU means joining a huge community of mentors and other founders who all are there to help you success. SKU is now accepting company applications for the Spring '24 track. Ideal candidates are market-validated companies with compelling founders and innovative products in hot categories, including food and beverage, beauty, pet and more.⁣⁣ The 12-week program will run March through March. In addition to SKU's best-in-class curriculum, participants receive a hand-picked team of superstar mentors - industry leaders, investors and successful founders who all dedicated to help founders successfully scale their brand. More than 120 brands have participated in SKU, including such successful alumni as Siete Family Foods Aura Bora, DUDE Wipes and EPIC Provisions. SKU is a hybrid program and brands need not be based in Austin. The application deadline is Nov. 19th. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gRvkwWMh Buff Greebe Michelle Breyer Brooke Wilson Austin M. Pittman Austin Pittman Blue Norther Hard Seltzer #cpg #cpgaccelerator #cpgstartup #startups #consumerpackagedgoods #consumerproducts #emergingbrands #founders #mentors #mentoring #cpgfounders #foodandbeverage #beauty #pet

From Cake to Cloud: My Entrepreneurial Journey Through Innovation and Partnership A look back to February 2020, on the brink of monumental global changes due to COVID, Ivi Gabales and I embarked on an entrepreneurial adventure by launching All Purpose Cake Co., a venture born from audacity and a dream. Without any prior experience in baking, we plunged into entrepreneurship. This beginning showed us that novice minds could indeed give rise to incredible creativity and innovation, encouraging us to embrace unconventional thinking and turn our inexperience into our most valuable asset. From the outset, our journey was characterized by venturing beyond conventional limits. Collaborating closely with a Food Scientist for more than a year, we transformed our concept for multi-allergen (gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, flour-free, keto friendly) cakes into a scalable reality within a commercial kitchen. Our collaboration transcended mere product development; it represented a pivotal shift, underscoring the significant role of teamwork in bringing innovative ideas to fruition as tangible, market-ready offerings. COVID compelled us to pivot swiftly to a new reality, by establishing a partnership with a reseller partner, we found the vehicle to scale our operations across the United States within six months, transitioning from retail to doorstep! In the face of adversity underlined the critical importance of adaptability and partnership in the world of startups. “From Cake to Cloud” symbolizes more than a journey of transition from tangible products to exploring the vast potential of digital innovation. It encapsulates the essence of entrepreneurship, where starting with a blank canvas and a novice mindset paves the way for extraordinary creativity and groundbreaking innovation. Our story, particularly our rapid adaptation during the early days of COVID, serves as a compelling testament to the power of strategic partnerships and an open-minded approach in overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities. As we forge ahead, the lessons learned, the partnerships forged, and the pivots navigated remain foundational to our approach, reminding us that innovation thrives on collaboration, adaptability, and the courage to dream big. Let our journey inspire others to embrace their beginnings, no matter how novice, to recognize the transformative power of partnership, and to boldly venture into the unknown, turning visions into reality. #Entrepreneurship #StartupJourney #Innovation #CreativeThinking #DreamBig #FoodTech #Foodinnovation #partnerships #womanentrepaneurs #strategicpartnership #growthmindset