Parker's Kitchen’s Post

Thank you IR Magazine for this best practice report on an important and sometimes neglected IR target group: retail investors.

Why We Invest Upfront: Lessons from Partnering with a #Global100 Company I’m incredibly proud of the Harper + Scott team for their hard work and dedication. We were recently onboarded as a preferred supplier for a Global 100 company, handling #brandedmerchandise, #influencermailers, #newhirekits, #MerchStore opportunities, and more. At Harper+Scott, we take a proactive approach to building relationships with our clients. Each quarter, I make it a priority to check in with our main stakeholder to review how things are going and, more importantly, what we can do better. We put the cart before the horse, investing in the full support of a dedicated team before even signing the first order. It’s a risk, but we believe that’s what true partnership looks like—taking the first step to scale together. Yesterday’s conversation with our client was inspiring. While I pushed to uncover any potential areas for improvement—knowing that speed bumps are common in new partnerships, especially when clients are transitioning from legacy suppliers—the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Their team has only had glowing things to say about the work we’re doing. This level of trust doesn’t come easily, and it’s a testament to our team’s unwavering commitment to excellence. While there’s always room to grow, it’s moments like these that remind me how important it is to invest in relationships from the start. Onward, together. 💪

If you're a rapidly emerging brand, then you need to partner with awesome brokers to best service your retailers... and I believe Market Performance Group is one of the best in the business!! Here's my testimonial: We love our partnership with MPG. By and large, this team has been so good to us. We see them as an extension of the Cheers team and work closely with them for all of our FDMC retailers. If you're a new supplier, not working with a broker is not an option. New suppliers = too much work for retailers. Those merchants don't have the time to show you the ropes... they need you to get coaching elsewhere. I also don't believe that suppliers should pursue a strategy where they are trying to ride multiple brokers across various channels and retailers. I.e.: "We want the best broker for each retailer—regardless of who it is." It's more ideal to have a one-stop shop for all of your FDMC accounts. This ends up being much better operationally for everyone on the whole. We look forward to seeing all of our partners/friends at MPG next week for our HBC "Super Bowl" of the year... National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) TSE! 🥂🍾

Fast on the heels of #newyork and #beverlyhills Rarely Heard Voices will welcome Gen Z Retailers to the Gen Z Retailer Summit, in London, tomorrow: We teach future retail leaders about the future.

In the bustling aisles of major retailers, the difference between success and failure is razor-thin. Last week at Expo West, the candid confessions of category managers and buyers revealed a stark truth. "Our execution is lacking," one executive admitted. He told me he had recently conducted a retail audit and wasn't happy about the empty shelves and missed opportunities that should've been gold mines. It's a brutal reality: many products vanish from shelves not from a lack of quality, but from a lack of presence. Our mission at Basemakers? To bridge this gap. But it's not a solo journey... Success blooms from the synergy between retailers, distributors, and brand champions. The secret ingredients? Focus & Dedication. Brands that stand out aren't just participating; they're "all-in" on execution. Take Lauren Martin from Chomps, for instance. Her relentless pursuit of excellence took her to Houston this week, collaborating hands-on with our team. The impact? Immediate! In the complex dance of CPG, it's easy to overlook the true drivers of success - the people powering the machine. A big shoutout to Lauren and the Basemakers Texas crew for reminding us what truly moves the needle!

🎉 Big News from Noel & Co. - We're B Corp Recertified! What a journey it's been! Today, we’re over the moon to share that Noel & Co. has successfully renewed our B Corp certification. At Noel & Co., we’re passionate about creating change and challenging the status quo. Being a B Corp is more than just a title, it's about being part of a movement that believes in the power of business to make a real difference. It's about being bold, being brave, and always striving for better. This big idea to use business as a force for good played a big part in what sparked the Noel & Co. team to launch better made easy. We envisioned a platform that offers amazing products and builds awareness for all of the different ways business can be a force for good. It's about making an impact, one product, one cause at a time. Achieving this recertification wasn't a walk in the park. It required dedication, hard work, and a relentless pursuit of our values. But every step was worth it because it resonates so deeply with what we stand for. A huge shoutout to our fantastic team, our supportive clients, and our inspiring community. Your belief in our mission fuels our fire and drives us to keep pushing forward. Here's to more impact, more growth, and more ways to show that business can be a force for good. #BCorp #MakingADifference #BusinessWithPurpose #BetterMadeEasy #Sustainability #Innovation #NoelandCo

In the ever-changing world of grocery store acquisitions, brand strategy is constantly in flux. In 2014, Albertsons acquired Safeway, resulting in a mix of outcomes: some stores retained their original branding while others were rebranded or closed. Similarly, Kroger's acquisition of Roundy's Supermarkets in 2015 led to the retention of Mariano's brand but also resulted in some locations being converted or closed. The Ahold Delhaize conglomerate, formed from the 2016 merger of Ahold and Delhaize Group, saw many stores retain their branding. It also included sales and closures as part of their consolidation efforts. In 2006, Supervalu's acquisition of numerous Albertsons stores eventually led to rebranding under the Jewel-Osco banner or closure. These examples illustrate the dynamic nature of brand strategy following grocery store acquisitions. #business #grocery #management

Lessons from recent history in the c-store industry: ✍ Never underestimate the power of a toxic work environment. People can make or break a business. ✍ You need a foundation to grow on (SOPs, Ops optimization, innovations...). Dot your "i"s and cross your "t"s before expanding. ✍ Don't overlook the importance of convenience stores in the fuel retailing market. Fuel might have the higher margins, but c-stores (and foodservice I would add) keep the people coming in. ✍ Ubiquity of locations does not make up for terrible customer experience. Visibility is not enough without added value and consistent services. ✍ Sustainable growth requires a system and a culture, according to Roy Strasburger. The ability to scale internally is key. For all of you in the industry looking to scale up sustainably, Ecolab can help with operational optimization, brand protection and enhanced customer experience. The rest is up to you!

If I listened to all the doubters... “Why do you think you can break into the U.S. market from the U.K.?” I’ve heard this question more times than I can count. But let me set the record straight: Where SWISH was founded — or where I’m from — has *nothing* to do with: • Our ability to craft premium, plant-based cocktails and mocktails • The years of expertise we’ve built in the beverage industry • Our global partnerships and market knowledge • The passion, persistence, and tenacity of my team • Our track record of expanding globally • The value we bring to every new market It doesn’t matter if SWISH started in the U.K. or anywhere else. We’ve broken into new regions, from Europe to the Middle East, and now we’re ready for the U.S. What matters? That we know how to navigate complex markets. That we’ve built a brand with purpose and quality at the core. And that we’re determined to make our mark, regardless of borders. So here’s the truth: You’re paying for our vision and expertise, not our location. The world is our marketplace, and we’re bringing SWISH to the U.S. because we know there’s demand for what we do. If you’ve ever been underestimated because of where you come from — let this be a reminder to prove them wrong. Let your results do the talking.

In the competitive arena of award season, where reputations are at stake, your supply chain faces similar scrutiny. Any misstep can attract unwanted attention. Remember the power of positive partnerships and solutions. Parcel Pro at UPS Capital® offers award-winning solutions and technology to manage your shipments. Learn more [Link]. Schedule a chat with us [Link]. #ParcelPro #Logistics #HighValue #HighCare #Shippingrates #Protection #End2End #TradingCards #Collectables