Social Impact Marketing by Nafford Junction’s Post

Instacart’s 2024 Fastest-Growing Emerging Brands list just released. A great, searchable report highlighting brands winning in new product, packaging design, and digital shelf innovation!

Proud to be a part of this list. #72 on the list but #1 in our hearts and our guts! 🤗. The way you look, feel, and perform on a daily basis starts in the gut. Yes, I may be a little biased but there's real science behind it and fermented foods and beverages can help! #guthealth #kombucha #betterforyou #fermentedfoods #microbiome, #probiotics #trustyourgut #Health-Ade P.S. Want to know more? Check out Dr. Andrew Huberman's podcast on How to Build, Maintain & Repair Gut Health

If you're not maximizing your brand on Instacart, you might be leaving significant, profitable growth on the table. They've had some growing pains to deal with, but overall a platform to pay close attention to, and one that is very easy to manage.

Two companies we work with, Cerebelly and Olli Salumeria, were featured on Instacart's list of fastest growing emerging brands on the platform. Instacart is a highly attractive and often very profitable tool for driving velocity at the retail shelf across a wide variety of retailers. Various ad formats allow brands to find new audiences shopping in their categories on the digital shelf and intercept them as they make purchase decisions. Another brand we work with has also seen tremendous growth on Instacart in 2024. It's an easy platform to manage, with useful data tools and a helpful support team. They occasionally offer experimental marketing opportunities, which we've seen mixed results on and only limited data, but at least they're experimenting as a platform to find ways to help brands find new audiences and get into the shopping cart. #shoppermarketing #shelfvelocity #cpg https://lnkd.in/eNGNkCWk

Here's my 2024 LinkedIn Rewind, by Coauthor: 2024 showed me that retail media isn't just evolving - it's transforming how brands and retailers collaborate to serve consumers better!!! What an incredible year of growth and connection: • Joined Cornell University as Executive Education Instructor, developing their first-ever retail media strategy curriculum • Celebrated Episode 400 of The CPG Guys featuring Walmart's CRO (!!!) • Extended Flywheel's strategic partnerships from Mexico City to Tokyo • Named Top Retail Influencer by RETHINK Retail (2nd year!) • Witnessed retail media transformation from Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity to Amazon unBoxed Posts that truly resonated with our community: "Doing so is not a sign of weakness, it lets everyone know you recognize your own humanity" On leading with vulnerability after losing our beloved Tove https://lnkd.in/eVMjq-kJ "I'm happy to share that I'm starting a new position as Executive Education Instructor at Cornell University!" Bringing retail media expertise to the next generation of leaders https://lnkd.in/eFFEf3Py "It's the perfect way to recharge this weekend" Finding joy in NYC Christmas traditions with my daughter https://lnkd.in/efzqj3ub 2024 reminded me that behind every transaction, every partnership, and every retail media strategy is a human connection. Whether saying goodbye to our beloved Norwegian Elkhound Tove or celebrating Christmas at Radio City, these moments ground us in what matters most. Looking ahead: 2025 will be about helping brands leverage retail media networks more strategically while expanding our Cornell program's impact. Just like my Dodgers, we're always building for the next big win!!! To everyone navigating the retail media transformation - keep learning, stay curious, and remember that authentic connections drive real growth. #retailmedia #omnichannel #ecommerce #cpgbrands -- Get your 2024 LinkedIn Rewind! Go to coauthor [dot] studio in your browser

Winning in today’s market means blending cultural relevance with sharp consumer insights, and the 2024 Brands That Matter honorees are nailing it. Applebee's Neighborhood Grill + Bar turned a viral earthquake video into a Dollarita-fueled sales surge, Beachwaver used TikTok livestreams to move $11M in six months, and Cerave’s absurdist Super Bowl campaign earned top honors and #GenZ love. Meanwhile, DoorDash broke barriers by accepting SNAP/EBT payments, and Whataburger’s community-first expansions are solidifying its cult following. The takeaway? Authenticity, cultural resonance, and creative consumer engagement aren’t just tactics—they’re table stakes. CMOs, your move. #BrandsThatMatter #Advertising #ModernConsumers https://lnkd.in/gwPtdY4F

In an unpredictable purchasing environment, CPG brands are using innovative approaches to build emotional loyalty. Brands like Hydro Flask, Planters, and Clinique are creating trade-in programs, personalized ambassador initiatives, and enhanced e-commerce experiences while companies such as P&G and E.l.f. are exploring culturally relevant partnerships and leveraging platforms like Roblox to connect with audiences in authentic, engaging ways. Check out Phaedon's latest CPG trends report for our overview and analysis on how some of today's best brands are breaking through and connecting via shared beliefs and cultural relevance. https://lnkd.in/gCmyuhb3

CTRL+C, CTRL+V, done! The battle for Millennial wallets has intensified with Walmart’s new private label launch, ‘bettergoods’. Beautiful name, beautiful branding, beautiful story. 

 Unfortunately, also beautifully unoriginal. There is a fun game of ‘follow the leader’ going on here. Startups innovate, big corps swoop in, giant corps follow.
 Everything is a copy, of a copy, of a copy. It’s simply the circle of life. *cue Lion King* The mass-marketing of culture. 
 The merry-go-round of trends. 
 The endless lifestyle obsession. 

 I can’t decide if I love it or hate it.

 But I am convinced this will be incredibly successful for Walmart.

 Why? 💰 They’re chasing the cycle of inflation-fuelled growth. 
 💰 This is a nice upsell in a recession-wary market. 
 💰 Target have done well with this range. 
 💰 We love a bargain just as much as we love cute branding. 
 💰 They used the words ‘culinary experience’ 16 times in the press release, so I assume it tastes good. What do you think? Is it gonna work? Shoutout to Tom Goodwin for tipping me off on this one. 
 ~
 If you liked this post, I write about CPG marketing daily so follow me @ Brent Vrdoljak for more.

Excellent piece of thought leadership with some practical application from Jeriad Zoghby and the IPG Commerce team. Here they explore the major trends shaping the future of commerce for consumer brands and how to capitalize on them to win and grow.

2025 is poised to be a significant year for emerging and disruptor brands at Publix. At Effective Marketing Solutions, we understand that success goes beyond just exceptional products—it hinges on the right strategies to engage with shoppers meaningfully. This week, we're delving into three key pillars of impactful shopper marketing partnerships: Innovation: Crafting tailored activations to bring your brand's narrative to life. Alignment: Ensuring each campaign resonates with your brand's distinct voice while meeting Publix shoppers' needs. Impact: Harnessing themed platforms and in-store opportunities to drive tangible outcomes. If you're still shaping your roadmap for the upcoming year, there's ample opportunity to forge a partnership strategy that delivers value, visibility, and expansion. Interested in exploring the possibilities for your brand at Publix? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments or reach out via message—let's collaborate on transforming your aspirations into achievements! #2025Planning #StrategicGrowth #BrandPartnerships #MarketingInnovation #PlanForSuccess