Pivotal is an interview-style segment that tackles topics in consumer packaged goods (CPG) and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) from the business leaders that live it EVERY DAY! For the past several months, you’ve probably noticed that branded beverage cooler over my shoulder. I call it my “get shit done” cooler because it’s stocked with mostly C4 Smart Energy drinks but also a variety of other functional beverages that contain the brain energy ingredient Cognizin. Whether it’s signals from growth in social listening data or successful brand partnerships landed recently, there’s a lot of momentum building for Cognizin. So, I figured why not catch up with Gerard Adams, who has been leading the Kyowa Hakko USA segment of Kirin Holdings for the last 18 months. In our conversation, we cover everything from the Japan Brewing Company’s 100+ year evolution to how that beverage experience (and the pharmaceutical division that grew from it) greatly benefits it’s “health science” ambitions. Gerard and I also chat through how Kyowa Hakko’s ingredient positioning and aggressive growth plans are intersecting perfectly with Kirin Holdings’ expansion into more functional CPG brand acquisitions…especially when you consider how everything integrates with greater consumer benefits and aligns with the company’s “Creating Shared Value” initiatives. But these are just some of the fascinating topics we chatted about in this episode...

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