Christine (Chris) Flaherty - CMO’s Post

Here's an example of big companies making a deeper play into private label brands. Walmart's bettergoods offers customers a new elevated experience delivering quality #food at a great value. With #inflation holding fairly steady, consumers are looking for good value and great quality. It’ll be interesting to see how #cpg brands fight back with customer loyalty, brand building, pricing, and innovation. #FoodandBeverage #cpg

So Walmart have unveiled their new private label brand, bettergoods, marking their first foray into private label in 20 years! A 300 strong range launch is no small achievement 👏🏼. The design looks sleek and has modernity and the commitment to quality and affordability is very commendable. Very on trend and set to capture and resonate with a younger audience. Perhaps redefining the private label landscape in the US, setting new standards for quality and value🤔? But. I can’t help but think it could enhance its appeal further by clarifying what sets bettergoods apart? It’s 3 pillars of culinary experience, plant-based and made-without are great in their own right but is the overall proposition too disconnected? It’ll be interesting to see how consumers respond but well done Walmart…#bettergoods #RetailInnovation

🚨Third-Party Sellers Beware: Walmart’s bettergoods and the Threat of Product Duplication.🚨 Exciting news in the retail world! Today, Walmart rolls out #Bettergoods, their most significant private brand initiative in food for two decades. This extensive new line boasts salsas, easy-prep meals, and even plant-based and gluten-free options, making high-quality, chef-inspired meals both attainable and affordable for everyone. As they celebrate this news, I have to acknowledge a broader trend in the industry: Walmart's proactive stance in announcing its new products is a clear signal to the market. This transparency in private labeling is something we don't always see, especially when compared to practices at other giants like Amazon, where similar strategies often come with whispers of "idea appropriation" from their top sellers. Great job Walmart on identifying goods you can private label, and to put the cherry on top you called the brand Bettergoods... Then the one you identified as good selling products from your suppliers and 3rd party sellers. By launching bettergoods, Walmart not only promises innovation but also brings a level of openness about their strategies that enhances consumer trust and sets a new standard in retail. #Walmart #bettergoods #RetailInnovation #PrivateLabel #Transparency #ConsumerTrust #Amazon #WoW #Brandowner #Brands #Cash #Retail #eCommerce #Strategy

New private brand line from Walmart called "Bettergoods" has launched. 🥕 Quality, unique, chef-inspired food at incredible value 🥕 Fastest private food brand Walmart has brought to market 🥕 Items range from $2 to $15, with most products under $5 🥕 Fresh take on the culinary experience focused on taste, flavor, and variety 🥕 300x items are included and many are totally unique to Walmart 🥕 3x pillars include Culinary Experiences, Plant-Based, and Made Without 🥕 Culinary Experiences - Spotlight innovative recipes and ingredients 🥕 Plant-Based - Feature distinct green branding and big flavors 🥕 Made Without - Cater to different dietary lifestyles like gluten free It would be interesting to see activation collabs between this line and CPG NA brands. What if a brand brought an entire culinary program to Walmart? To include a major culinary influencer, geo targeted media in core DMAs, pop-up events at these core stores, bringing the brands to life in a comfortable and engaging space, live culinary sampling of Bettergoods and CPG NA beverage, and meaningful gifting and offers. #Walmart #Retail #CPG #ZeroCal #Culinary

Lots of news this week about how McDonald’s and Wendy’s have been rolling out $3-$5 meal deal breakfasts. At the surface this looks like a simple inflation price war, but the underlying issue is that too many of their customers are actually bailing on ALL fast food and just eating at home instead. (IMO this ABSOLUTELY a good thing, both for Public health and for CPG brands) What ISN’T good for any of us, is the mass proliferation of fast food brands into retail CPG. If the fast food chains throw in the towel on value and just start selling Frosty’s and McNuggets at the grocery store, that has a ripple effect on emerging brands’ ability to keep product on the shelves. 👉Some good, some bad. In any sea change like this there are risks and opportunities. 👉It’s also a trap for retailers to take some easy comp sales in the short term, but dilute THEIR brand for the long haul. 👉What happens when too many consumers decide they can’t afford made to order salads at QSRs anymore, and they just want to buy them packaged at the grocery store instead? 👉Good for customer count, more opportunity to sell CPG snacks and beverages, in theory. #wendys #mcdonalds #sweetgreen #greatwealthtransfer #innovation Pod Foods sweetgreen Urban Remedy Flowspace Total Quality Logistics Here’s 25 SKUs that are already on shelf:

This is big time. Walmart just announced a #privatelabel lined called “Bettergoods” described as an “elevated experience that delivers quality, unique, chef-inspired food at an incredible value”. This isn’t your run of the mill #PrivateLabel brand (which already have hit record growth numbers in recent years and represent 20.7% of #grocery industry unit sales today). The line of over 300 products hit three categories: 🧑🏼🍳 Culinary experiences  🌱 Plant-Based ⛔️ “Made Without” (Has Walmart been studying the New Fare thesis? 😎). This type of launch shows Walmart is paying attention and by developing a unique white label that isn’t solely competing on price, but delivering a specific #experience driven by consumer-driven preferences, proves what Americans expect from their food today. Better Goods. New Fare Hallie Bonnar Jaewon Kang Jesse Newman Whole Foods Market #cpgindustry #cpgbrands #retail #consumer #grocery https://lnkd.in/eTHMi6Jv

🌟 **The Beverage Category: A Retailer's Secret Weapon!** 🌟 As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of retail, one category remains consistently vital to our success: beverages. 🥤🍷 From refreshing soft drinks to premium wines, the beverage aisle is not just a shelf-filler; it’s a powerhouse that drives foot traffic, enhances customer experience, and boosts overall sales. Here’s why staying in stock is essential: 1. **Consumer Demand**: The beverage category is often the first stop for shoppers. Whether it’s grabbing a quick drink or planning for a weekend gathering, consumers expect variety and availability. Missing out on popular items can lead to lost sales and frustrated customers. 2. **Brand Loyalty**: Consistency is key! When customers find their favorite beverages in stock, it fosters trust and loyalty. They’re more likely to return to a retailer that meets their needs consistently. 3. **Impulse Purchases**: Beverages are often impulse buys. A well-stocked beverage section can encourage customers to add items to their cart they hadn’t planned on purchasing, thus increasing average transaction value. 4. **Seasonal Opportunities**: From summer refreshers to holiday favorites, the beverage category offers unique seasonal opportunities. Being prepared and well-stocked allows retailers to capitalize on these trends and drive sales. 5. **Competitive Edge**: In today’s competitive market, being the go-to destination for beverages can set you apart. A well-curated selection that is always in stock can differentiate your brand and attract new customers. In conclusion, let’s prioritize our beverage inventory strategy! 🚀 By ensuring we’re consistently stocked with a diverse range of products, we not only meet customer expectations but also pave the way for sustained growth and success. Cheers to making smarter retail choices! 🥂 #RetailStrategy #BeverageCategory #StockManagement #CustomerExperience #BusinessGrowth

Are Restaurant Brands Taking Over Grocery Aisles? The pandemic and inflationary pressures have led to a surge of new restaurant CPG entrants over the last three years. Does this trend have staying power? Read the article & panel discussion here: https://lnkd.in/eH9BBZqn Richard Hernandez "I remember when Starbucks was taking a huge leap going into the grocery channel. Now it’s a normal extension of the brands into the retail sector." Melissa Minkow "We actually just surveyed consumers on this topic, and there wasn’t much interest in buying QSR branded products. It’s a sensible extension, but I’m not sure it does all that well for many brands." Lisa Goller, MBA "The restaurant CPG trend has staying power because retailers, restaurant brands and consumers win."

Last week the NNY community received insights from restaurant CPG brands that all companies should know. Here are some key points from our panelists from our first 'Restaurant + Retail' event presented by Helbraun Levey - 🕜 Dario (Tacombi) - think long term. It's not un-common for a business to take more years than you would hope to establish itself and reach a level of maturity where it can consistently generate cash and become self sufficient. 🛒 Kiernan (Deep Indian Kitchen) - to succeed in conventional grocery, you need to know your data in order to tell a good data story and make sure you can perform, because if you get discontinued, you may not get another shot for years. 👤 marguerite (Momofuku) - don’t force consumer behavior when it comes to finding your brand (DTC vs retail). If they want to buy your product on amazon, they’ll buy it on amazon. Another big thank you to our samplers from this event, Aunt Ethel's Pot Pies, Deep Indian Kitchen, Seed & Shell, Momofuku, Tacombi, Sibahle Teas, Harlem Baking Company, Mai Vino, & Uncle Waithleys Beverage Company. #naturallynewyork #restaurant #retail #business #cpg #recap #takeaways

Target has big plans for its booming food and beverage sector! 🍎🛒 With sales skyrocketing by nearly $9 billion over the past four years, Target's food and beverage division has become a $24 billion powerhouse, making up 23% of its fiscal 2023 sales. 📈 CEO Brian Cornell sees massive growth potential, driven by a mix of strong national-brand partnerships and popular owned brands like Good & Gather. 🥧🍂 As Target focuses on affordability and innovation, they're introducing over 150 new own-brand and 500 new national-brand products for the fall season, including fan-favorite flavors like pumpkin spice and pecan pie! 🎃🥧 Digital sales are also a key driver, with curbside pickup and same-day delivery continuing to grow. 🚗💻 Read More: https://lnkd.in/gBWfEzRM #Target #FoodAndBeverage #RetailGrowth #BrandInnovation #DigitalTransformation #FallFlavors #GoodAndGather #RetailTrends #CustomerExperience