Dynamic Business’ Post

Legacy vs. Innovation: Lessons from a Food Wholesaler A couple of months ago, I had the intriguing opportunity to work with a client in the food wholesale industry. The mission? To modernize one of their product lines. Sounds straightforward, right? Well, not quite. As we delved deeper into understanding their market positioning, customers, market share, and competitors, it became glaringly obvious that none of these elements were clear to them. The only certainty they had was that they offered high-quality products at prices lower than their competitors. Honestly, that was challenging for us. Knowing where you are today is key to where you want to go. This experience is not unique. In fact, it’s a common scenario among brands that have been in existence for a long time. Unlike new market entrants or young investors who have a razor-sharp understanding of who they are, what they do, and why they are different, established businesses often lean heavily on their history. But here’s the kicker – how long can their historic credit carry them into the future? Can the legacy truly sustain them, or are they risking obsolescence by not evolving with the times? I've pondered this often – and here's my take: Long-standing businesses have a treasure trove of experience and customer loyalty that’s enviable. However, history alone isn’t enough to keep the brand relevant and competitive. The market is ever-changing, and what worked in the past is not a guaranteed formula for future success. Contrast this with young entrepreneurs who are constantly innovating, expanding their brand identity, and establishing a strong, authentic presence in the market. They’re not just playing the game; they’re redefining it. So, what’s the lesson here? For businesses, both old and new, it’s crucial to stay attuned to current market trends, understand your audience deeply, and continually innovate. Knowing your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats is not a one-time exercise but an ongoing process. To all seasoned brands out there, embrace the power of self-reinvention. Your history is your foundation, not your entire story. Use your experience to fuel transformation and stay relevant. Your legacy is an asset if used wisely, but innovation is the key to survival and growth. #BusinessGrowth #Innovation #BrandStrategy #LegacyVsInnovation #MarketPositioning #Entrepreneurship #FoodIndustry #ClientSuccess #BusinessTransformation

🚀 The Power of Contract Manufacturing and Co-Packing in the Food Industry 🚀 Launching a new brand in food and beverage can be incredibly complex. Many new brand managers opt to use contract manufacturers and co-packers to help their business grow and succeed. Here’s how: 🔧 Capital Efficiency: For entrepreneurs, investing in manufacturing equipment and facilities can be a substantial financial burden. By partnering with a trusted contract manufacturer, businesses can keep their capital expenditures low, freeing up resources to be used more effectively elsewhere. 🌟 Simplified Operations: The complexities of manufacturing require specialized knowledge and skills. By outsourcing these tasks, companies can focus on their strengths—such as branding, marketing, and sales—without needing to master the intricacies of production. This leads to a more streamlined business model. ⏱️ Speed to Market: Bringing a new product to market quickly is essential in today’s fast-paced world. Co-manufacturing services help reduce the time it takes to launch a product, ensuring it reaches consumers faster and meets market demand without compromising on quality. 💰 For entrepreneurs looking to grow their company and sell quickly, the use of 3rd party manufacturing can make their companies easier to scale and exit. The biggest trade off with partnering with a 3rd party manufacturer or packer is control. For many entrepreneurs, this is a question of adherence to quality standards and a fear of disclosing proprietary recipes and methods. In Gatherer's early days, we looked hard for a partner who could manufacture on our behalf but failed to find one that could honor our commitment to quality while also serving a firm as small as we were. As we've grown, we've turned into the partner that we had been looking for. Today we serve a portfolio of client granola brands who are laser focused on exceptional quality. You can learn more about what we do here: https://lnkd.in/g47dnP4W Contract manufacturing and co-packing are invaluable tools for businesses aiming to scale efficiently and focus on their core competencies. Embrace these services to unlock your brand’s potential and achieve sustainable growth. #ContractManufacturing #CoPacking #FoodIndustry #BrandGrowth #Entrepreneurship #ProductLaunch #QualityFocus #Efficiency

THE MAKING OF... MINGLE SEASONING As Jordyn Evans Mingle Seasoning adds a certain spice to the supermarket condiment aisle (yep, we know… spice… condiments), her story is a brilliant example of leaning in on the experience of industry partners to not just disrupt a category but completely reinvent it. Sometimes, a bit of expert advice can make all the difference. This is The making of… Mingle Seasoning. Head to our blog to read her story 👉🏼 https://lnkd.in/gSVQKJth If you're an ambitious founder, VC or PE looking to launch, scale or reboot your brand then reach out to us directly. #mingleseasoning #healthyseasoning #branding #brand #fmcg #cpg #ranged #scaling #scaleup #pantryself #founder #marketers #bootstrapping #investors #privateequity #venturecapital #smartinvestors #incubator #fastgrowth #unicorn #marketingtips #brandingtips #simplesells #learnfromthebest #challengerbrand

THE MAKING OF... MINGLE SEASONING They say good things take time or is it persistence? Either way, it was over a year ago when we first reached out to Jordyn Evans. We heard so much good stuff about Mingle Seasoning and we just couldn't wait to share Jordyn's story. Not to spoil anything... we're starting to see a bit of a pattern here. Female founder. Challenger brand. Awesome product. Bootstrapping. A single-minded focus on a category. And great partnerships with experts in their field. Follow the link below to read her story. #LFG #brand #founder #marketing #business #fmcg #cpg #challenger #bootstrap #launch #scale #venturecapital

Beyond Winners and Losers: The Power of Enabling Others In the heat of competition, the focus is often on who emerges victorious - the winner takes all. But what if there's a more strategic approach? Here's a thought: The Real Winners: The Enablers In war or business, the true long-term gainers might not be the victors themselves, but the third-party service providers who support both sides. > Think Logistics: Imagine a war – armies clash, but who supplies them with food, weapons, and transportation? The logistics providers on both sides continue to operate and profit. > Business Applications: In the corporate world, consider a fierce marketing battle between two brands. The winner might gain market share, but the design agencies, printing companies, and advertising platforms that facilitate both campaigns also prosper. The Power of Enabling: By focusing on creating products and services that empower others to succeed, you tap into a potentially limitless market. > Catering to All Sides: Instead of picking a side, you can provide solutions valuable to both competitors. >Building Long-Term Relationships: When you help others win, you foster long-term partnerships and recurring revenue. The Takeaway: Shift your perspective from a binary winner-loser mentality. Focus on becoming the indispensable enabler. By providing tools and services that empower others to achieve their goals, you create a sustainable and potentially more profitable business model. #businessstrategy #competition #entrepreneurship #winwin #enablers #ecommerce #day10 Hlo Ecosystem will be your battlefield source. Rook Let's discuss! Share examples of companies that have thrived by enabling others to win.

It was always hard to separate Bang Energy (the energy drink brand and innovative product) from its founder (Jack Owoc). And that arguably became the biggest Catch-22 challenge as it went through chapter 11 bankruptcy, subsequent sale process to Monster Energy, and ongoing legal proceedings. That shouldn't deter the founder-led CPG movement, but important learnings should be taken from every situation (good or bad). #strategy #trends #markets #fmcg #cpg #beverages #energydrinks #sportsnutrition #supplements #influencermarketing #startups #innovation #productdevelopment #marketing #branding #merchandising #retailing #retail #business #businessintelligence #entrepreneurship #consultants

Launching a new business can be daunting, but McKinsey's guide offers proven approaches for success. From market research and customer segmentation to creating a strong value proposition and developing a robust business plan, this resource covers it all. Utilizing data-driven insights and innovative strategies, entrepreneurs can confidently enter the market and stand out from the competition.💼🚀 #NewBusiness #Entrepreneurship #SuccessStrategies #AskGiraffe🦒 Read here: https://lnkd.in/gnpg787F

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝗠𝗘 🏆🌟 Growing a new brand can be challenging, especially in today’s highly competitive marketplace. Emerging brands need to be efficient with their costs and cannot afford to get it wrong. 📈 Success lies in having the right strategy. We understand this first hand, because at JME Drinks Consultancy we bring decades of experience, plus it’s what we do, day-in-day-out. 📆🕰️ Contact JME Drinks Consultancy today to see how we can help plan your strategy. Leverage our deep expertise in providing new brands with the #strategic roadmap they need to thrive in the right markets, from day one. Our team doesn’t just deploy sales tactics, we help you build a robust #strategy that pinpoints the best venues, the key channels, and the ideal field sales personalities for your brand. ✔️ Let’s avoid making costly mistakes, and get your brand on the path to success with a strategy that works. Reach out to see how JME can help your brand make a lasting impact.💥 It couldn’t be easier, just message Jenny Mary Elliott or email Jenny@JMEdrinksconsultancy.co.uk #BrandStrategy #MarketGrowth #FieldSales #JMEDrinksConsultancy #BrandGrowth #DrinksIndustry #BrandBuilding #OnTrade #StartUp #BrandSupport

Lessons from Harsh Mariwala: Building Marico into a Global Powerhouse I recently tuned into two incredible conversations featuring Harsh Mariwala — one with Karthik from Blume Ventures & the other with Ranveer. Both were packed with wisdom, revealing his journey from transforming a small family business into a global FMCG empire. Here are 8 golden nuggets I took away from his invaluable experience: 1️⃣ Empowering Talent to Build Success He emphasized one principle repeatedly: Hire people smarter than you. Empower them, enable them, & create an environment where they can thrive. Surround yourself with high-quality talent, and you'll find growth becomes inevitable. 2️⃣ Strategic Growth: Choosing the Right Category Rather than competing directly with the likes of Unilever or Procter & Gamble, he chose to play smart. He identified niches like hair oil and built Marico Limited into a leader before expanding into #skincare. The lesson? Own your category first before thinking of expansion. 3️⃣ D2C: Threat or Opportunity? For FMCG players, #D2C models present both a challenge & a growth opportunity. Marico didn’t shy away but leaned in. He initiated strategic acquisitions & incubated new brands, successfully integrating digital-savvy talent to capture the D2C wave. Today, their D2C business is solid ₹450 cr. 4️⃣ Marico’s International Expansion: Focus with Intent Marico now derives 26% of its revenue from 5 overseas markets. He strategically chose developing markets to focus where the company could win. His leadership style is about nurturing these international markets with same intensity as India. 5️⃣ Culture: The Key to Longevity He highlighted how crucial culture is to an organization’s success. Innovation, reading, travel, and scanning trends were his ways of staying ahead. The burning desire to keep learning & growing was at the heart of Marico’s culture. 6️⃣ Leadership: From Hands-On to Hands-Off One of the most fascinating insights was how he transitioned from CEO to a more hands-off role at the age of 63. He made a clear distinction between governance and empowerment, establishing a professional leadership structure. His book Harsh Realities dives deeper into this delicate art of transition. 7️⃣ Building a Right to Win In today’s hyper-competitive environment, simply being a "Me too" product won’t cut it. #Entrepreneurs need to create a Right to Win, that sets them apart. Whether through innovation, operational excellence, or a deep understanding of consumer, constantly improve & stay 2 steps ahead of competition. 8️⃣ Lifelong Learning & Giving Back Despite achieving extraordinary success, his hunger for learning continues. His advice is simple yet profound: Life is a journey of constant experimentation & innovation. His Ascent Foundation, supporting over 1000 entrepreneurs, is his way of giving back & ensuring next wave of entrepreneurs succeed. What’s your biggest takeaway from his incredible journey? Let's discuss in the comments!