Todd Scott

Selling food in California? Prop 65 might apply to your label. Even tiny amounts of chemicals like lead or acrylamide, which is naturally found in some ingredients, can trigger a required warning. Not sure what that means for your product? Our quick guide breaks down what Prop 65 is, recent updates, and how to stay compliant with confidence. https://hubs.ly/Q03spTyr0 #Prop65 #FoodLabeling

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WINCO FOODS: EMPLOYEE-OWNED DISCOUNT GROCERY CHAIN WinCo Foods, Inc., based in Boise, Idaho, operates over 138 stores across 10 U.S. states, offering a no-frills, bulk-food shopping experience. KEY FINANCIAL METRICS: • Revenue: $9.8 billion in 2024 • Employees: Approximately 20,000 • Ownership Model: 100% employee-owned STRATEGIC FOCUS: • Cost Leadership: Maintaining low operating costs through efficient supply chain management and minimal advertising • Expansion: Continuously opening new stores in high-growth regions to increase market share #WINCOFOODS #GROCERYRETAIL #EMPLOYEEOWNERSHIP #DISCOUNTRETAIL #RETAILGROWTH #BUSINESSSTRATEGY #SUPPLYCHAIN #VALUEFOODS #AMERICABUSINESS

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THC at Target? The Beverage Boom Just Hit Mainstream 🚨 Big beverage news: Target is now selling THC-infused drinks in 10 of its Minnesota stores, with the state approving all 72 locations. Is this the inflection point we’ve been waiting for? On this week's episode of High Spirits, AnnaRae Grabstein and Ben Larson break down what this move means for: 🍹 Brands like CANN, Giggly, Birdie, Wink and others entering mainstream retail 📊 How big-box stores will finally give us real, scalable consumer data 📈 Why top beverage distributors are calling THC drinks the "most exciting category" they've ever seen 🧠 And the importance of reverse engineering a $50B future Is this just a test market or the start of something massive? 💬 As Ben puts it, "If you're still discounting THC beverages, pull your head out of the sand." 🎧 Listen in and get a front-row seat to this industry shakeup. On Apple Podcast (apple.co/40e8I2T ) Spotify (spoti.fi/4iUKphY ) and YouTube (https://lnkd.in/g5CMxNAM) #THCBeverages #CannabisIndustry #TargetStores #FunctionalDrinks #ConsumerTrends #HighSpiritsPodcast #RetailInnovation

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California’s cannabis industry deserves transparency, fairness, and due process. This week, meaningful progress was made. Working in close partnership with Assemblymember Tom Lackey, the California Cannabis Industry Association is proud to support the introduction of AB 1826 — critical legislation designed to restore balance and accountability to California’s cannabis recall and embargo process. This bill is a direct response to what our members have experienced on the ground. AB 1826 introduces several important safeguards for licensed operators: 1️⃣ Evidence First: requires supporting documentation, including lab data and chain of custody, at the time of any adulteration or recall notice. 2️⃣ Right to Meet & Confer: establishes a process ensuring licensees have a seat at the table before decisions are finalized. 3️⃣ No Premature Destruction: prevents forced product destruction until due process is completed. 4️⃣ Fast-Track for Perishables: requires expedited judicial review for perishable goods. 5️⃣ End to Coerced Waivers: prohibits forcing businesses to waive appeal rights to lift embargoes or approve recalls. At its core, AB 1826 is about due process, ensuring enforcement is transparent, consistent, and fair for responsible, licensed operators who are working hard to comply with California law. CCIA brought the voice of the industry to the Capitol, and we will continue working constructively with policymakers and regulators to strengthen trust, improve regulatory clarity, and support a stable, well-functioning legal market. #AB1826 #CannabisPolicy #DueProcess #CaliforniaCannabis

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"Regulatory fees accounted for 1.24% of production costs in 2006; now fees cost 8.9%. A hypothetical lettuce grower paid $109 in fees in 2006 but now pays $1,600 per harvested acre." Quote is from the article below, regarding the regulatory burden placed on California farms. https://lnkd.in/gVyZnv-E

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EGG PRODUCER CAL-MAINE ACQUIRES VAN’S WAFFLES Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. a $4.3B dollar egg provider, acquires Van’s breakfast brands from Sara Lee Frozen Bakery. Cal-Maine continues to expand beyond its core egg business building out a breakfast portfolio growing in the prepared foods segment. The acquisition is said to add the prepared foods annual sales by 10%. Last April, Cal-Maine acquired Echo Lake Foods, LLC, a manufacturer of breakfast foods for $258M with $240M in revenue, at ~1.1x sales. This March, Cal-Maine acquired another egg producer Creighton Brothers for $128.5M whose portfolio includes ready-to-use egg products such as pre-cooked egg patties, omelets and scrambled eggs. PE Fund Kohlberg acquired Sara Lee from Tyson Foods in 2018.

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Hiring a VP of Sales or Marketing isn’t always the right first step. For many beverage alcohol companies—especially emerging and mid-sized brands—the challenge isn’t ambition, it’s execution, focus, and cost discipline. That’s where fractional Sales & Marketing leadership makes sense. At James Hume Beverage Alcohol Consulting, I provide senior-level Sales & Marketing leadership without the long-term cost, risk, or ramp-up time of hiring a full-time executive. With 25+ years in beverage alcohol and CPG—working with organizations like MLSE, Nike Canada, LCBO, Central City Brewers & Distillers, and Beau’s All Natural Brewing—I help brands: • Build and execute realistic sales strategies • Optimize pricing, trade spend, and promotional ROI • Navigate LCBO / provincial retail systems with confidence • Align Sales, Marketing, and Operations around growth priorities • Put structure, accountability, and KPI discipline in place Why fractional vs. full-time? ✔ Senior expertise at a fraction of the cost ✔ Immediate impact—no onboarding lag ✔ Objective, experience-driven decision making ✔ Scales up or down as the business evolves ✔ No long-term employment commitment Fractional leadership is ideal for brands that are growing, restructuring, preparing for expansion, or simply need experienced hands on the wheel. If you’re a beverage alcohol founder or executive asking, “What would a great VP do right now—without hiring one full-time?” that’s usually the right moment to explore a fractional model. Happy to connect and share how this approach has helped brands unlock growth while protecting cash flow. #BeverageAlcohol #FractionalLeadership #SalesStrategy #MarketingStrategy #CPG #LCBO #CraftBeer #Spirits #WineBusiness #GrowthStrategy

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No duh... ...this is so basic - first day MBA and assumed you already know when you start at a CPG company of any standing... ..."I'm thirsty - do I want water or a beer or a cola - a cola - I want a Coke (or a Pepsi)..." The need happens first, then the category to address the need, then the brand within the category, which many times is a preferred but then a short list of acceptable substitutes. Brands are a combination of functional benefits (the "product") and image benefits - both play a role in a given consumer choosing that brand - but the brand choice can only come after the category choice, driven by the need state. My gosh - if this is news in rec cannabis, it's operating at grade school level... https://lnkd.in/gxK-Zijp

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MM Brands Inc. are excited to share that we have entered into a strategic partnership with StateHouse Holdings to significantly expand the presence of our legacy cannabis brands, Mary's Medicinals and Dixie Brands, Inc., across California. Under this agreement, StateHouse will leverage its vertically integrated platform to assume full sales & manufactuing responsibility for both Mary's Medicinals & Dixie Brands, Inc. statewide. The collaboration aims to streamline production and increase retail access by utilizing StateHouse’s extensive cultivation, manufacturing, and dispensary infrastructure. Ultimately, this partnership combines iconic brand recognition with localized operational expertise to ensure consistent, high-quality cannabis experiences for all California patients & consumers. #cannabis #californiacannabis #hemp NABIS #cannabisculture Megan Gordon Allie Greenstone KEY Investment Partners

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Dairy Foods reports: On Jan. 7, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030. Sugar and sugar reduction definitely took center stage among these guidelines. “American households must prioritize whole, nutrient-dense foods — protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains — and dramatically reduce highly processed foods. This is how we ‘Make America Healthy Again,’” Kennedy noted in a statement. The report advises Americans to prioritize protein at every meal; consume full-fat dairy with no added sugars; and limit highly processed foods, added sugars, and artificial additives. Hence, it is perhaps fair to say that the need for reduced sugar products has never been higher and will likely remain so for the foreseeable future. “The new guidelines are stricter than previous approaches, stating that no more than 10 grams of added sugar should be consumed at any meal. And even sugar substitutes that offer no nutritive value should not be included in diets for adults and children. In many dairy products, sweeteners, both natural and artificial, are used. According to Mintel’s ‘Better for you Eating Trends’ for the US (January 2025), manufacturer’s emphasis should be on natural sugar reduction to promote their products best,” says Kyle Krause, regional product manager, Functional Fibers and Carbohydrates, North America, BENEO, Parsippany, N.J. Dairy is in a sweet spot to meet consumer needs, notes Malcolm Greenberg, chief sweetener specialist at Adallen Nutrition, East Windsor, N.J. "Being that dairy products naturally contain little to no added sugar, they offer valuable reformulation opportunities that leverage dairy proteins and fats to maintain taste and texture with less sweetness. Their high nutrient density also allows dairy foods to replace more sugar-laden options while supporting overall dietary quality,” he states. “Fermented dairy products further reduce natural sugar content through the fermentation process. Additionally, the inherent creaminess and flavor of dairy help satisfy consumers without the need for added sugar.” “The focus on reducing added sugars while increasing protein content creates a substantial opportunity for full-fat dairy formats, such as coffee creamers, ice cream, or yogurts. Full-fat dairy already delivers smooth and rich mouthfeel, minimizing the need to rebuild texture when replacing or reducing sugar in these applications,” Stuart Braid, director of technical solutions, ADM, maintains. “This means the indulgent creamy textures expected of dairy products can still be achieved while meeting sugar reduction objectives with fewer bulking agents. Plus, higher fat content makes emulsions easier for formulators to manage in these applications since the majority of the desired texture comes from the dairy fat.” #dairymanufacturing #dietaryguidelines

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Cannabis education is key to understanding its benefits and the nuances between different growing methods. There's space for all types of cannabis—indoor, mixed light, and sun-grown—as long as quality and organic practices are prioritized. Currently, sun-grown farmers in California need support through consumer education. Many consumers and bud tenders lack the knowledge to differentiate products beyond THC levels. Just like starting with a beer instead of hard liquor, cannabis exploration should begin with understanding terpenes and cultivars to find the right fit. We're here to help bridge that gap. #CannabisEducation #SunGrown #Terpenes #CannabisCommunity #Wellness

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Where are California’s “Weed Deserts”? 🤔 More than half of cannabis sales in California still occur in the illicit market. One key driver? Consumer access. In partnership with researchers at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, ERA Economics developed the California Cannabis Access Map (CCAM) to identify communities with limited access to licensed retail cannabis. Key insights:  • 30.5% of Californians live in areas with low access to licensed storefronts  • Nearly 1 in 5 live in Low-Income, Low Access tracts  • Counties with lower access show significantly higher illicit market share Access matters — local prohibitions effectively push consumers to the illicit market. Supported by a Cannabis Academic Research Grant from the California Department of Cannabis Control. Explore the map and connect with us to learn more! https://lnkd.in/gcd-JmWQ

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Looking back over the last 8 years in the California cannabis industry, here are three things I learned 1.) This is a policy driven industry. Decisions are being made that impact your business whether you’re in the room or not so you absolutely have to get in the room. When we opened our storefront, we had to go through a public hearing because of a nearby sensitive use. That use later moved out, but a new one moved in. Now as new policies are being shaped, I’ve been advocating hard for protections so cannabis businesses aren’t impacted by sensitive uses that move in after them. Policies can shape your entire business if you’re not paying attention. 2.) Capital is the biggest barrier and it doesn’t comes easy at all. We didn’t take outside investment because it would have cost us too much ownership and protecting our equity was a priority. So we went to Plan B and leveraged our own assets to open our doors. There is a path, but it might not look how you expected. 3.) You have to build your brand before people believe in it. In the beginning, no one knows who you are. When Crystal Nugs entered the industry we had no clientele and no network. We focused on marketing using billboard campaigns, SEO, showing up in the community, and in the press until people started paying attention. You have to believe in your vision first before anyone else will see it.

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This is what maturity in a market looks like. New High Functioning Podcast episode drops this week with Benjamen Mccabe McCabe, COO of Sweetgrass Botanicals ➡️ Full episode goes live Friday, Sept 12th at 11 AM EST In this clip, Ben explains how every new market starts with low-end products, then shifts as people demand higher standards. That shift makes solventless the natural evolution, the cleanest process that gives the most direct expression of the plant. 👇 Links and more are in the comments.

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California cannabis is maturing. Margins matter. Consistency matters. Operational alignment matters. High Supply is built for licensed operators who understand that growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens through supply chain control. Exhibiting: The companies that build, pack, and scale product. Attending: Brands, MSOs, retailers, founders, and operators with purchase intent. April 29–30, 2026 The Future of the Cannabis Supply Chain.

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