Nothing Bundt Cakes’ Post

Building a brand in a highly competitive market is hard. Harder still, is finding your space in complex distribution. Going against the grain and following your passion is easier said than done. Ankur Jain did all the hard things to create Bira 91, in a story as buzzy as the beer. Can the fun, contemporary brand turn into a big profitable business? Read on here - https://lnkd.in/gS9XjD3h

Fascinating read via The Washington Post and M. Carrie Allan centered around how celebrity-fueled tequila brands are shaping the landscape of the wider agave industry, both for the better and for the worse some may argue… While opinions on celebrity involvement in the tequila category vary, one thing is unanimously clear: it's crucial to preserve the ages-old heritage and culture of tequila making amidst the category's evolution. We also shared own perspective on four key elements as to what makes a celebrity spirit brand collaboration successful by way of the following Fast Company article: https://lnkd.in/gkfka8gH #speakeasyco #celebritytequila #wineandspirits #dtc #agave #tequila

Great column from one of Bloomberg Businessweek's latest hires, Amanda Mull: The key to Erewhon's success, as she sees it, has less to do with celebrity-designed smoothies and much more to do with prepared foods, an area of the store that tons of supermarkets are investing in. "The soaring cost of restaurant meals has pushed more buyers to peruse the deli section of their local grocer on nights when they don’t feel like cooking. The margins here for grocers are great: They can use raw ingredients from their own inventory that are nearing their sell-by dates to make their prepared foods, preventing them from having to discount those items or write them off entirely. When you chop that fruit or fry those chickens, you can sell them at a premium." https://lnkd.in/g5UfazWi

In a world driven by innovation, it's easy to overlook the charm of more traditional designs. Classic-labeled wine represents more than just a beverage; it embodies a connection to tradition, history, and craftsmanship.   Numerous studies attest that consumers, amidst an inundation of #innovation, often gravitate towards timeless designs. And this is precisely what we've accomplished with the #Albades family. These products evoke feelings of trust and familiarity while also being renowned for their #quality, thereby fostering greater confidence in both the brand and the product.   Undoubtedly, it's a reliable choice for consumers. Multiple studies support that they frequently favor timeless designs. And this is precisely what we've achieved with the #Albades family. 💡 How about you? What instills confidence in your product choices?  

The Full S.I.P. 9.15.24: A mixed bag of results on #DEI initiatives continues to play out with publicly traded companies like Molson Coors Beverage Company among others walking back corporate initiatives mostly due to activist investor pushback; signs of success like a sold-out #blackwine festival in Philadelphia mixed with Roger Coryell on North Coast #blackwinemakers reporting retreating sales. Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. agreed to a $1.5 million settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over charges that the company made inaccurate statements about the recyclability of its single-use K-Cup pods. UK bank HSBC offers farmers discounted loan fees to support #sustainablepractices. An interesting overview of the five-year-old lingerie startup NUDEA, who began auditing its supply chain emissions in 2020, one year after opening its doors. https://lnkd.in/eXBUmuJt

What a great innovation from my favourite Scotch whisky brand – and former colleagues at Pernod Ricard! The Glenlivet launched two ready to serve cocktails with a Twist and Mix cap.   It’s such a great innovation because it overcomes many consumer frictions: ☑ Packaging technology (by Vessl®) used in a very simple, intuitive way adding a new exciting proposition to spirits category. ☑ Worry free cocktail making: Always the right ratio with a balanced drink, everyone can do it. ☑ Hassle free cocktail making: no left-overs, no need for extensive ingredients shopping. ☑ ‘Twist and mix’ adds a little ritual and experience to the drink. ☑ Unlock a new consumer pool with more accessible whisky drinks. ☑ Available in smaller bottles, so the bottle will be emptied in one moment with friends. No downsides at all? ➖ Well, a little one… it’s only available in the US   I expect to see a rise in the upcoming years for this kind of concentrated / dosing / flavour-adding solutions in many categories. 🕐 Recently, I met up with the people from Weener Plastics Group who developed the CIF EcoRefill system https://lnkd.in/dbKZrwdy. This is more or less the same solution used in a completely different way: it’s a sustainable alternative for at-home refill of detergent sprays. With this product, only the 90% smaller refill bottle needs to be made and shipped.  This solution saves tons of plastic and water being transported.   🌟 Curious about the opportunities this might hold for your brand or products? Whether you're in the #softdrinks, #spirits #juices, #dairy or any other liquids category, feel free to reach out. I’m happy to help with your innovation challenges.   #readytoserve #cocktails #sustainability #refill #innovation #happytohelp 

There’s nothing quite like introducing a new whisky to true connoisseurs — it’s the thrill of sharing a passion project that’s been years in the making. The Art of the Blend isn’t just another bottle on the shelf. It’s an exquisite fusion of three Speyside single malts from Craigellachie, Glenrothes, and Aultmore, all aged in first fill Oloroso sherry casks for their entire maturation. No shortcuts, no “finishes”.  Our first release in the series, crafted by none other than whisky legend Max McFarlane, represents over 46 years of whisky-making mastery. When I get the chance to tell our story to whisky lovers in person, you can see the spark of understanding light up. This is whisky stripped back to its essence—no recipes, no rules, no celebrity gimmicks — just a whisky maker, their vision, and the freedom to create something extraordinary. And for those of you wondering, the ages are no secret: Glenrothes is 16 years old, while Craigellachie and Aultmore are both 10 years. But the real magic? It’s in the artistry of cask selection, in how these distinct malts come together to create a symphony of flavors that you simply can’t replicate. While other brands chase trends, The Art of the Blend honors whisky’s true heritage, cutting through the noise with one-off releases that focus on the craft. This isn’t just another bottle; it’s a whisky with a soul. It’s for those who appreciate whisky as a journey, not a destination. Here’s the thing—no two casks are the same. That’s the beauty of what we do. Every release of The Art of the Blend is a singular masterpiece, never to be repeated. The complexity and depth of flavor come solely from malted barley aged in wood, with each cask lending its own unique personality. What you’re tasting isn’t just whisky — it’s the craftsmanship of a master, the story of a cask, and the art of blending. #whisky #startup #creativity #passion #brand #label #limited

The Wine Group has many familiar brands from Franzia, Chloe, Cupcake, Glen Ellen, Almaden, Ava Grace. Purchased from CocaCola to be a private company by Arthur Ciocca. Success is created by long term sustainable values, by creating a culture of excellence. Putting customers first, then their employees, the middle man and lastly stockholders. "Most people are content on on succeeding without any value instead of creating wealth they are redistributing wealth to themselves". #PrincipledEntrepreneurship https://lnkd.in/gWzdv4WY

Not 263 Years But 47 Years And Counting The oldest drinks brand we’ve worked on, Worthington’s, was founded in 1761 - some 263 years ago. So, at just under five decades old, we’re relative whippersnappers. But we’d like to think we’ve matured over the years and gained in knowledge and skills; not to mention acquired a taste for the drinks world. We’ve worked across a broad range of categories, such as cognac, gin, whisky and vodka, for clients across the globe. We’d also like to think that our experience equips us well to create distinctive, impactful, engaging, and effective solutions whatever our clients’ objectives and metrics. Our video shows some of the 100+ brands we’ve worked on. It’s a celebration of these brands and an appreciation of the clients who have trusted us to deliver ideas, creativity and a return on their investment. #drinks #drinkspackaging #spiritspackaging #drinkspackagingdesign #packagingdesign #drinksbranding

Is this a retrograde move by Coles to try and compete with Dan Murphys for liquor retail supremacy? Given how much less visible the Vintage Cellars and First Choice brands are in general vs Dans, seeing the Liquorland brand step up is unsurprising. Given that VC still has a strong wine program, I think it's bad for fine wine retail in Australia to have a big retailer dumb down product offerings. https://lnkd.in/gANwWDYi