Houlihan Lokey’s Post

𝟱.𝟮𝟶.𝟮𝟰: 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 ________________________________________ 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Building Long-Term Relationships with Retail Distributors 🤲 Sustaining successful distribution is not just about sales figures; it’s about building relationships. To maintain strong, mutually beneficial relationships, regularly touch base with your retail partners, appreciate their efforts, and address any issues promptly. 🔄 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Schedule regular review meetings to discuss performance, feedback, and opportunities for growth. #organictrends #specialtyfoods #ecofriendlybiz #retail4smallbiz

Retail expansion is a tricky game. Expand too slow and you may miss your chance to lead the category, or get in at all. Expand to fast and you risk not having enough awareness on the brand or not being able to support it properly. Even though this is common knowledge in CPG, it is very hard to say “No” when a retailer wants to sell the brand. I believe that when you have at least some proven market fit and find the right partners that are excited about and want to support your brand, you are set up for success. We were fortunate to find partners like that early on with Koia. And they are still great partners to this day. #retail #cpg #beverages #beverage Wegmans Food Markets Giant Eagle, Inc.

🚄 Speed up your order processing with Esker's Order Management Solution. 🚄 Take a look at this quick video below and 'Book an Appointment' on the button by my name to find out more. #ordermanagement #O2C #automation

🌟 We're excited to announce that Steve Zurek, our esteemed VP of Thought Leadership, has been recognized by The Wall Street Journal for his valuable insights on the changing dynamics of grocery shelves. 📊💥Curious to learn more about these industry shifts? Check out the full article in the link below!

The "Great Shutdown" might have briefly derailed the strong momentum CELSIUS Holdings, Inc. had built in the vending sales channel, but with PepsiCo now adding extra firepower to its efforts...CELSIUS is reaching even the most exclusive vending machines in America! This was one of my favorite "positive mainstream media stories about energy drinks" recently... #strategy #trends #markets #fmcg #cpg #beverages #energydrinks #politics #government #pepsico #sportsnutrition #supplements #innovation #marketing #sales #retailing #merchandising #business #businessintelligence #entrepreneurship John Fieldly

Navigating the US beverage industry is no small feat, especially given the current tight cycles and competitive landscape. 🔷 Despite dollar growth driven by inflation, actual volume traction remains limited, leading companies to fiercely compete for a static volume share. 🔴 One key challenge for European companies entering the US market is understanding the sheer scale of distribution. The US consumer market operates on a different wavelength compared to Europe, and it’s a mistake to assume that American market dynamics are simply "doing it wrong." 🔷 The convenience-driven environment, limited access to C-suites at large retailers, and market density present unique hurdles. These factors make it crucial for beverage companies to develop extensive distribution capabilities and a deep understanding of the distinct US consumer landscape. In summary, the US beverage market is highly competitive with minimal volume growth. 🟢 Success here requires not only strategic distribution but also a nuanced grasp of local consumer behavior. Let’s connect and explore how these insights could impact your strategies. Together, we can navigate these challenges and seize opportunities in this dynamic market. #BeverageIndustry #USMarket #DistributionStrategies #ConsumerInsights #MarketDynamics #LSInternational

I find this The Wall Street Journal story fascinating for a couple of reasons. First, from a corporate strategy perspective, Walmart is clearly challenging Trader Joe's and Target. They are also intensifying backward integration, taking on giants like Nestle, PepsiCo, and P&G. It speaks to the power of distribution. Whether you're Netflix, Walmart, or Amazon, owning the distribution channel is powerful. Second, how negotiation dynamics directly impact business. Examining counterparty alternatives (or, in technical speak, the Best Alternative To A Negotiated Agreement, or BATNA) is important to do statically. It is also critical to examine dynamically: how will it change over the next 3, 5, and 10 years? Here’s a quick and short recommendation: 1️⃣ If counterparty alternatives improve over time, secure longer agreements. 2️⃣ If counterparty alternatives worsen over time, secure shorter agreements. The rise of Trader Joe’s normalized private labels among consumers and set the stage for Target, Wal-Mart, and Costco to expand their own. Playing Monday morning quarterback, that would have been the moment for brand suppliers to secure long-term agreements. Final point: Negotiation, both in sales and procurement, must connect with corporate strategy. For Walmart, negotiating quality standards with private label suppliers is paramount. If a recall happens on a private label product, it damages the entire Walmart brand. If a recall happens on Tide detergent, it only damages P&G’s sub-brand (Tide). For companies like Nestle, negotiating product placement, endcap usage, and co-marketing is more important than ever. My take? I think the transformation Walmart has undergone has been phenomenal to watch. This extension into higher-end private label builds on that momentum. But I will wait until we bring home some Walmart oat milk ice cream before I give my final perspective. https://lnkd.in/gsMgNnE4

What's happening in my business? When are we launching at Whole Foods? Can you share a launch tracker with booked meetings, pending listings, new listings, launch dates, and submitted promotions? Did that promotion run? When is the next review? If you're in CPG, these questions are at the top of your mind daily. With the current tools available to brands, brokers, and on-demand sales teams, it's a complex and slow process. It's not our fault; We are just doing what we've always done. Well, there's a new way Toodu things. Toodu's mission is to simplify the lives of CPG professionals by offering a more efficient way to manage, track, and organize all things CPG. With Toodu, there's a new way to do things, a way that can simplify the daily challenges we face. Connect with us: https://lnkd.in/g3aC6gHV #productivity #cpgindustry #naturalproducts #founders #brokers #sales #management #chfa

Aldi: Culture and Operations of a Hard Discounter Article URL: https://rfr.bz/l9j27r5 Comments URL: https://rfr.bz/l9j27rg Points: 2 # Comments: 0

I'm excited to be a keynote speaker at tomorrow's CMA | SIMA conference in Dallas, Texas. Being part of such a distinguished group of retail and consumer professionals is an honor. This year's theme for the CMA|SIMA conference is “Trailblazing Retail’s Bold Future,” as the industry collectively returns to an innovative mindset after a long period of disruption. Managing through a pandemic followed by an unprecedented time of food and consumer goods inflation and more recent volume erosion has challenged category managers, space planners, and shopper insights professionals to think differently. But this conference is one of the best places to pick up new ideas and insights about the future. #retail #retailers #grocerystores #supermarkets #consumerinsights #consumerpackagedgoods #stores #malls #conveniencestores #foodretail #food #petstores #drugstores #retaildesign RETHINK Retail #topretailexpert