Peter Katz

IF RED BULL CAN LOSE THE SHELF, NOBODY OWNS THE SHELF. Kroger's new CEO has made it clear: the retailer intends to push back on supplier price increases and lean harder into private label when vendor economics don't work. Price matters. Margin matters. Velocity matters. Promotional support matters. And increasingly, your ability to explain and defend a price increase matters https://lnkd.in/g4faunEV

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Business Alliance Inc. and The Brandit Agency Join Forces to Deliver Complete Branding and Fulfillment Solutions to Franchise Network Posted on September 4, 2025 by bclifford - Featured. Tacoma, WA – [8/11/2025] – Business Alliance Inc. (BAI) has announced a new partnership with The Brandit Agency, a creative and logistics powerhouse specializing in branded merchandise, e-commerce solutions, and franchise marketing support. The partnership will offer an integrated suite of services for franchise brands, brokers, and suppliers in the BAI network—making it easier than ever to maintain brand consistency and accelerate growth. Together with BAI’s deep industry relationships with BrandIt’s creative expertise and operational infrastructure. From custom online stores and promotional products to full-scale logistics and marketing campaigns, members of the BAI network will have access to an end-to-end platform for building and scaling their brand presence. “This partnership marks a transformative leap for our network—uniting BAI’s trusted relationships with BrandIt’s inventive and operational excellence,” said Brandon Clifford, CEO of BAI. “It’s designed to empower franchisees, brokers, and suppliers with consistent, scalable, and impactful branding and fulfillment solutions.” Founded in 2009, The Brandit Agency has built a reputation for making brands unforgettable. Their offerings range from premium branded apparel and promotional giveaways to kitting, warehousing, and real-time order tracking. In addition, their creative marketing team develops campaigns that combine storytelling, digital strategies, and localized outreach to help franchises grow. “We exist to make brands unforgettable—and through this collaboration with BAI, we’re extending that promise across the entire franchise ecosystem,” said Simon Jenkins, CEO of BrandIt. “Together, we’ll deliver seamless brand consistency, creative innovation, and logistical precision at scale.” For BAI’s leadership, the venture is about more than creative assets—it’s about freeing up time and resources for franchise businesses to focus on what matters most. Gina Johnson, COO of BAI, noted, “Operational efficiency is at the heart of this partnership. With BrandIt managing everything from e-store logistics to fulfillment, our network members can focus on growing their brands and delighting customers.” From a value-added standpoint, the collaboration also offers significant advantages for BAI’s members. Jeff Hurwitz, CFO of The Brandit Agency, explained, “By combining our infrastructure and capabilities with BAI’s network, we can offer superior service levels with cost-effective execution. It’s a win for everyone—brands, brokers, and suppliers alike.” Through this partnership, BAI and The Brandit Agency aim to give the franchise industry a turnkey solution for branding, marketing, and operational execution,helping members of the BAI network present a unified image, expand their reach & expertise.

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Searching for growth? General Mills has announced plans to boldly go after the over 55s in their quest to increase volumes. While much of CPG chases 18-45s or the latest wellness fad, General Mills is placing its bets on three under-the-radar, high-leverage consumer groups: - Adults aged 55 +, who account for nearly half of U.S. households and have enormous spending power. - Consumers using GLP-1 medications (up to 12%+ of U.S. adults), who’re eating less but seeking more protein, more functional nutrients, smaller portions. - Hispanic shoppers, where General Mills plans to ramp up innovation and engagement by ~40% in FY26. This move takes product renovation in new directions - redesigning products and formats to match how people now live, eat and feel. They’re innovating for smaller households (smaller pack sizes), higher-protein need states, functional nutrition and not just indulgence. And this isn’t an isolated move. It’s part of a broader CPG reboot as the absence of growth looms. Full article by Elizabeth Crawford here: https://lnkd.in/eC7uqJSk #CPG #Innovation #ConsumerTrends #GeneralMills #Wellness #GLP1 #MidlifeConsumers #BrandStrategy

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Opening Prices for U.S. Pistachios – New Season 2025/26 Wonderful Pistachios has officially announced the first prices of the new U.S. crop: 🔹 In-shell Pistachios, 21–25, Extra No. 1 → $9.02/kg ($4.10/lb) 🔹 Golden Hills variety, raw pistachios → $8.47/kg ($3.85/lb) 🔹 Kerman variety, raw pistachios → $8.25/kg ($3.75/lb) 📌 These opening figures serve as a global benchmark, influencing trade across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. ⸻ 🌍 Impact on Iran’s Pistachio Market The U.S. announcement immediately puts pressure on Iranian exporters: • For standard round varieties, prices above $7.5$ per kg are now unrealistic unless supported by superior kernel quality. (Sizes in Iran is small this year , Fandoghi in average will be 34/36 ) • Green kernels remain the only product with steady, genuine demand, where Iran continues to hold a strong advantage. • Exporters will adjust offers to remain competitive, especially in China, India, Turkey, and the EU. ⸻ 🇨🇳 Why China’s Decision Matters China is the swing buyer in the global pistachio trade: • It is the fastest-growing market, with strong gifting culture and rising middle-class consumption. • Buyers closely compare Iranian vs. U.S. pistachios on price, quality, and logistics. • Political and regulatory factors matter: U.S. pistachios face tariffs, while Iran faces banking and sanction-related barriers. • Because of their large-volume, short-window purchases, Chinese buyers can tip the balance of global prices. 👉 If China steps in strongly, both U.S. and Iranian markets could stabilize. 👉 If China delays or reduces buying, global inventories will weigh on prices for months. ⸻ 🔑 The key question now: Will China step in to stabilize the pistachio market, or will oversupply keep pressure on prices into 2026? Chinese traders are in big hesitation now… #Pistachios #IranianPistachios #trade #Agriculture #Foodindustry #Nuts #Export #Pistachioindustry #Marketinsight #SustainableAgriculture #Foodexport #cropreport #marketupdate #Agritrade #Nutsindustry #Businessgrowth #Globaltrade #Gulfood #Pistachioinshell #pistachiokernel #worldfood #inc #usapistachio #californiapistachio #wonderfulpistachio

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Kava and kanna are both sitting in the same spot: legally unscheduled, functionally interesting, and still early with consumers. Alcohol distributors picking this up is a real signal, they don't move on categories without real demand behind them. But it will be the ones with the best product, and the ones that make the category make sense to people first, that win here.

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Grand Prairie-based Republic National Distributing Co. says it has received a proposal from Chicago’s Reyes Beverage Group to purchase 11 of its markets.

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The 2026 protein market is shifting fast—beef prices remain high, pork and poultry offer stronger value, and egg costs are finally stabilizing. At the same time, operators are navigating evolving tariffs, freight uncertainty, and strong consumer demand for value‑driven, labor‑efficient menu items. One standout solution for the year ahead: Philly steaks—versatile, portion‑controlled, and perfectly aligned with 2026 menu trends. We broke down the full outlook, including pricing forecasts, tariff impacts, and menu strategies to help operators stay ahead this year. 👉 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eEsQ4GQY

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February beer data just dropped and it tells an interesting story. Dollar sales are up 1.6% year-to-date, but volume is basically flat. What’s working? Imports. Super-premium domestic. Hard cider. Non-alcoholic beer. What’s struggling? A lot of craft and domestic premium. The takeaway isn’t that people stopped drinking beer. It’s that consumers got selective. The brands winning right now have three things: • Velocity • A clear point of view • Absolute clarity on who they’re for If you’re trying to be everything to everyone… the shelf is going to humble you. Truthfully, Sam #beverageindustry #beerbusiness #cpg #drinkup #brandstrategy

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