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].

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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

In this episode:

The CPG Week team is capping the year with a discussion about BevNET and Nosh Best of 2024 Awards, which were announced during the live events in early December. Senior reporter Lukas Southard reveals a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the selection process and explains why Olipop and Poppi were both celebrated as BevNET’s Brand of the Year. Next, senior reporter Brad Avery points to a few rising stars, including Nguyen Coffee Supply and Barcode. Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous wraps up the conversation with standouts of the Nosh Best of 2024 Awards, including Brand of the Year Good Culture and Best Marketing Campaign award winner Fishwife.

Show Highlights:

0:50 - Team Olipop or Team Poppi? Lukas highlights why – for the first time ever – two companies received BevNET’s Brand of the Year designation.

5:00 - Which adult non-alcoholic brands bubbled to the top? Brad and Lukas shine a light on several standouts, including Brez, Recess, Little Saints and Lapos. 

9:15 - Brad and Monica examine the parallels between the BevNET Person of the Year and Nosh Person of the Year award winners, respectively, David Crooch of Ritual Beverage Co. and Miguel Garza of Siete Foods. 

11:25 - Monica rattles off the winners of Nosh Rising Stars honors and explains why they stood out among a strong slate of nominees.

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:

Fresh off of BevNET Live in Marina del Rey, Calif., the CPG Week podcast team jumps right back into the big M&A stories of the week. Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous walks the group through the Kroger-Albertsons failed merger and the fallout from it. Then, the team goes on to talk about Mondelēz’s second attempt to acquire Hershey. Finally, senior reporter Lukas Southard describes frozen potato product maker Lamb Weston’s recent problems and potential acquisition suitors.

NOTE: This episode was recorded before news broke of Post Holdings’ acquisition of Potato Products of Idaho.

Show Highlights:

0:30 - The CPG Week team recap their favorite moments from BevNET Live Winter 2024, which wrapped up last week.

4:30 - Find out how the planned merger of Kroger and Albertsons finally fell apart, why it’s not too surprising and what happens now.

9:45 - For the second time, Mondelēz has made an offer to acquire Hershey, and once again the deal has been rejected. Monica explains what has happened so far and why it might not have been such a bad deal for the chocolate maker, which is facing steep cocoa prices.

12:45 - Lukas tells the team about frozen potato food maker Lamb Weston’s struggles with activist investors and a class action lawsuit – and why it is drawing the attention of potential acquirers.

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:

Nosh Live might have wrapped up last Friday in Marina Del Rey, Calif., after multiple days packed with great presentations, lively conversations and amazing networking opportunities. The CPG Week team sat down earlier in the week to chat about all their favorite moments from the two-day event. Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporters Brad Avery and Lukas Southard talked about the Pitch Slam, the speakers and the new tattoos some team members got on their day off.

Show Highlights:

0:30 - The podcast kicks off with the hosts’ general impressions of the two-day conference including their love of Lexington Bakes brownies, POM Wonderful’s ingredient innovation and tattoos.

4:30 - The group talks about some of the Pitch Slam presentations. They discuss common themes in the brand pitches and some of the feedback founders received from the judges.

9:45 - The team discusses how there was a common theme running through many panels and on-stage content that spoke to platforming as well as when and how to bring innovation to market in a company’s lifecycle.

17:00 - The podcast finishes up with a quick chat about Lukas’ newfound appreciation for Erewhon’s exorbitantly priced smoothies. 

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 that time of year and the red-and-white is not in honor of Santa’s impending sleigh ride around the world. It’s time for BevNET Live and the CPG Week podcast team took some time out of preparing for both Nosh Live and BevNET Live to discuss some of the exciting speakers and panels taking place Dec. 8 and 9 in Marina Del Rey, Calif. Along with respective speaker discussions focused on retailing THC beverages and innovative marketing strategies, the team also talks about buying expensive Erewhon smoothies and getting tattoos.

For listeners looking to tune into either Nosh Live or BevNET, both events will be live-streamed online or available on-demand for Insiders.

About the 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:

The CPG Week podcast has taken the week off to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday.

Stay tuned next week for a teaser of Nosh Live on Dec. 5-6 and BevNET Live Dec. 8-10 in Marina Del Rey, California. Both events will be live-streamed online or available on-demand for Insiders.

About the 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