Simon-Kucher’s Post

Discover the surge in no/low alcohol beverages: Once niche, these drinks are now mainstream, with industry leaders innovating to meet rising consumer demand. This shift, marked by a significant Gen Z and Millennial uptake, has propelled the market to an impressive $18.5 billion globally. As the trend evolves, questions about its sustainability and market potential arise. Learn more about this spirited industry transformation from my AlixPartners colleagues Olga Gareeva Bernardo Silva Randy Burt and Caleb Idiaghe

From COVID-driven booms to 2023's slowdown, the spirits M&A landscape is evolving fast. Learn how changing consumer habits, rising case volume expectations, and new players, are reshaping the game. Our blog on How Spirits Trends Are Driving Investments touches on the latest trends, including: 📈 A Case Study in Investment/Divestment: Black Button Distilling 🎯 How Brands Should Position Themselves 🔮 Current Market & Beyond Key takeaway: Quality over quantity in both products and markets is the winning strategy in today's spirits M&A landscape. What's your take on these trends? Read more here: https://hubs.li/Q02FScGN0 #SpiritsIndustry #MA #AlcoholTrends

Don’t miss May’s top supply chain insights! Wake up and smell the coffee as you discover our cover feature with Snooze an A.M. Eatery! Cindy Keys, Director of Procurement, unveils the sustainable framework and supply chain wizardry that fuels the beloved breakfast joints. Join Rupesh Sanghavi, CEO and Founder of Ergode, as he unravels the secrets of turbocharging a lean supply chain for maximum profitability. Raul Fernando Rodriguez, co-founder and CEO of Movita Juice Bar, discusses how strategic supply chain manoeuvres and sustainability principles shape their health-focused beverages. Catch Andrew Hovancik, MBA, CEO of JAGGAER, as he reveals how autonomous commerce is reshaping the landscape, empowering businesses to thrive through next-gen procurement and supply chain tech. Sit down with Ivan Schober, Head of Group Procurement at Coveris Group, as he takes you on a journey toward sustainable manufacturing excellence. And Edouard Ades, MBA, MPM, VP of Supply Chain at Nature's Touch Frozen Foods, shares the epic tale of their supply chain evolution, all aimed at serving up top-notch, wholesome delights. But that's just the tip of the iceberg… 🏥 Explore the groundbreaking initiative sparking a green revolution in MedTech supply chains. 💧 Dive deep into the frosty world of cold chain technology, witnessing its meteoric rise in the food industry. 🌿 Buckle up for a ride through the realm of Scope 3 emissions reporting, driven by an unprecedented collaboration in the automotive sector. Read the full issue now 👉 https://lnkd.in/dU3v4hQi With thanks to project partners: Maple Leaf Foods Inc, Ecolab, Tender Belly, Phillips Foods, Knork Flatware, SANGEAN ELECTRONICS INC., SAMBAZON, BearingPoint, aneon solutions - A h&z Group Company, Groves & Company, Hanseatisches Folienkontor HFK GmbH, First Cut Produce, Inc., Cloverdale Cold Storage Ltd., KlearNow.AI #thoughtleadership #supplychainnews

My first time attending the "FMI Midwinter" conference and so glad I'm here! If you are in the CPG/Retail industry, I'd recommend you check it out. This morning held a fascinating futuristic discussion on what food in retail may look like in 2030. "Trust", "Openness", "Partnerships", and "Curiosity" in relationships between the brands that make the foods we love and the retailers where we buy them will be critical to meeting rapidly changing consumer preferences. Mark Baum of FMI facilitated a riveting panel discussion (that I wish could've lasted longer!) with Dan O'Connor who set the stage from a Harvard-backed research standpoint and Sri Rajagopalan of General Mills (and formerly Revlon and PepsiCo) and Sandy Douglas of UNFI (they helped 12,000+ fast-growing brands). Technology and innovation (and AI) will eventually be as ubiquitous as "running in the walls like electricity." As an entrepreneur, my favorite quote was Sri stating the importance to always "put the consumer at the center!" including when thinking about innovation. I agree that the most successful businesses focus on the delivering value for and solving problems with the customer. If we had more time, I hoped to ask, "From a leadership perspective, how do you get your leaders from all levels to be courageous in testing long-term innovations while also balancing the short-term pressures of quarterly earnings?" FMI- The Food Industry Association, Doug Baker, Tom Cosgrove, David Fikes #cpg

To help companies think longer-term and prepare for the future we have updated our Four Forces of Change: STAR model. IGD’s STAR model highlights the four megatrends shaping the world we live in, and specifically the food and grocery industry. As we look to the future and consider the megatrends that will shape the world around us, and take into consideration the aspirations and aims of governments and industry, we believe there are several predictions that we can make that will help the industry get on the path to future proof its operations. The eight predictions will help businesses create the strategies and milestones that they need to set over the coming years to ensure they don’t just survive but thrive in 2050. IGD #IGDinsights https://lnkd.in/ekR83g3Z

[Part 2/5] 🌍 Partner Asher Rubinstein invites wine and spirits business owners to ask themselves what impact will societal shifts have on the Wine & Spirits industry, and how are you adapting to these changes? In an era of constant change, understanding and anticipating cultural trends is vital. From consumer preferences to global market dynamics, staying ahead means being attuned to the evolving world around us. Don't miss Part 3 for more key elements to success. 🍷

Bowmark-backed IWSR has appointed Julie Harris as CEO. The transition comes following Mark Meek’s decision to step back from the CEO role and to take up a non-executive director position within the company. Julie Harris joins from Comparison Technologies, a leading tech-enabled comparison and customer acquisition platform in the home digital services market, where she has been CEO since 2019. Julie’s appointment at IWSR marks her fourth time leading a private equity-backed business.   Under Mark Meek’s leadership, IWSR Drinks Market Analysis has delivered annual revenue growth of 20% and has significantly expanded the coverage and functionality of its core database, as well as developing a range of new products. Julian Masters, managing partner at Bowmark, commented: "Mark has been both a great leader of IWSR and partner to Bowmark, driving transformational change during his tenure as CEO. We thank him for his significant contribution to the company’s success and are delighted that we will be continuing to work together in his new role. We look forward to working closely with Julie Harris on delivering IWSR’s next phase of growth and continued product development.” IWSR’s database tracks consumption trends across more than 35,000 brands in over 160 countries. The company has over 200 blue chip customers representing all the major market participants including producers, ingredient manufacturers, investment banks and consultancies. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ehb65pGs

Insightful read on the shift from price taking to profitable volume as margins get squeezed. #consumertrends #consumerinsights

Global macro forces and deep societal changes will unearth rich opportunities and pose new challenges by 2035 for retailers and CPGs alike, a key topic ahead of the Consumer Goods Forum's Global Summit. To help executive teams prepare more effectively for the future, we at the Bain Consumer Lab (Leah Johns, Lyne Jaroudi, Amanda Howe, Pranav Ram and myself) identified eight future consumer economies that consumer-facing companies can use to future-proof their businesses. https://atbain.co/4e0xM2x #BainatCGF

Big Grocery Retail: “We’re giving preference to companies building regenerative, equitable supply chains.” Big Distribution: “We’re helping small and emerging brands succeed and win at retail.” Big CPG VC: “We’re giving preference to sustainable growth and financial equity.” All three: “We're focused on building a better food system for our ecosystem, communities, and environment.” Me: