Jess Caven

It’s time to restock Amrita Health Foods Protein Bars after a very strong Prime Day. We may run out of inventory 😔 later today .. live and learn We have a heat advisory today for Bridgeport, CT! The dehumidifiers are just not able to keep up 95+ degrees and close to 90% humidity. But we put a heads down and get the job done and take frequent icrecream breaks! Recent protein bar improvements and relaunch are paying big dividends. Being vertically integrated is a lot of work - staffing, etc .. but it’s keeping costs down which is allowing us to be profitable and scale. So much of success is operational efficiency- the boring stuff that’s drives profit.

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If you're in the food or ag business.  If that business has any connection to nuts whatsoever. Then you need to join us, July 11, 2:00 Est for the 6 Seeds Intelligence on nut consumption. We'll cover: → Consumer Preferences → New Product Development → Industry Challenges Secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/dzdJMC9A #foodinnovation #futureoffood #fooddevelopment #foodtrends

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Shout out to Food & Beverage Insider for featuring CuliNEX - Food Development Pros in their recent article on the revolution in clean label foods driving healthier eating trends. We're proud to be a part of this movement towards better food choices. At CuliNEX, we understand that clean label formulations not only benefit our health but also the environment and the overall food system. We always consider the impact of our products on sustainable ingredient sourcing and work towards strengthening the food industry as a whole. Check out the article and join us in this journey towards a healthier future. #whatsculiNEXT, #cleanlabel, #foodsystem, # https://hubs.li/Q02wwZQ20

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And now, the surprising financial side of this innovation story. How did Vertical Harvest Farms do it? Besides grit and a willing community - the details are in the article below. In my view, Vertical Harvest Farms is leading the wave in #cea Nona Yehia Supreet Singh Manchanda Gingee Prince

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At Narrative Food, each of our gifts is designed to tell a story. We have worked with hundreds of vendors over the years, listening to their stories and sharing them with you. In this new series, we are honored to spotlight a few of our favorite small-batch makers in their own words. Read our interview with Jeanette Greenlaw, the Director of Business Development at Bona Furtuna. #bcorp #b1 #1percentfortheplanet #wethechange,#storytelling,#sustainablefood #eatkind,#sustainableshopping,#businessasaforceforgood #consciouscapitalism,#esg #environmentalsocialgovernance,#giftsthatgiveback #giftwithpurpose #impactfulgiving

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We are alternative under the adult beverage umbrella. At SōRSE Technology, we've always considered ourselves as a food and beverage ingredient technology company versus a "cannabis company". Many of our clients identify more with the general beverage industry than the cannabis industry - And many of our target customers (when it comes to low dose beverages) don't identify as a cannabis consumer yet either! The positioning of the Adult Beverage Alliance is spot on and helping us align more with alcohol and other adult beverage alternatives. If you're in Massachusetts, check out this association and how you can get involved. https://lnkd.in/euuiBaAJ #drinkcannabis Craft Collective, Inc. Atlantic Beverage Distributors Cannabis Beverage Association Hemp Beverage Alliance

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Tell me why you do what you do - without mentioning profit or your product or service (btw - those are Result of Your Why and How Your Why Shows Up , respectively). I’m always fascinated by why entrepreneurs and founders do what they do. And doubly curious when they haven’t quite yet crystallized their Why. I recently asked this question at the top of a workshop I led at the Specialty Coffee Association Expo in Chicago. There were some terrific answers (once folks had a chance to really think it through it), and a few brave souls that were willing to share their Why with everyone. During a break, a quiet attendee from Colombia (a grower & roaster) came up to me and said he wasn’t sure if his Why was any good. “Let’s hear it!” I said. “Well, I just want to show everyone the quality of what my community can produce, and the joy they put in to their work.” Speechless. I told him it was perhaps the best Why I’d ever heard. Why? Take away the product (coffee) and the results (profit, growth, etc) - and that Why still stands. If coffee production disappeared tomorrow (god forbid)- that Why could still be the North Star for whatever would come next. It’s motivation, reason, hope, and passion all rolled into the simplest expression. I just love it. Along with your unique value proposition, and focusing on your ideal consumer profile, a solid Why is one of the (maybe The?) best predictor for your business’ viability and success. It’s your bastion of strength and renewal of focus in what’s likely a merciless sea of challenges.  And my new coffee friend nailed it. 

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Yesterday, a long-term dividend-income investor sent me the following message on the Seeking Alpha platform: "Mr. Reese, "First, a thank you for your invaluable insight on The Hershey Company over the years. I have followed your commentary for nearly a decade here on Seeking Alpha. "One question, on the future of the company. I know for example that Hormel Foods has vowed to remain a stand-alone, publicly traded, company forever. Do you believe that The Hershey Company will remain a stand-alone, publicly traded, company for decades to come? Would you say that is probable? "I am a longtime holder of the stock (since 1990) and the very last scenario I want to see is the stock being taken out by an entity like Berkshire Hathaway or 3G Capital or for that matter even Nestlé. A takeover by Nestlé would mean that the company would be domiciled in Switzerland, which as you know would mean that longtime Hershey shareholders would have to pay substantially more in dividend taxes, more than double, actually. "My best to you and thank you in advance for your insight. "Charles" --------------------------------- Well, below was my response to this long-term dividend-income investor who messaged me yesterday on Seeking Alpha: --------------------------------- First Charles, you're welcome. Secondly Charles, I do not believe that The Hershey Company will remain a stand-alone publicly traded company. Thirdly Charles, The Hershey Company as well as its controlling shareholder, the Hershey Trust Company, are already being totally manipulated by Larry Fink of the BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, PDF page 49, item 4. Charles, since I helped stop the sale of Hershey in 2002, its quarterly cash dividend has increased by +736%. Thank you for your kind note. Brad #SeekingAlpha #HersheyCompany #HormelFoods #BerkshireHathaway #3GCapital #Nestle #HersheyTrustCompany #HersheyTrust #BlackRock #LarryFink

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Calling RI food entrepreneurs. Do you have a product and are ready to scale but need help? Complete our survey and we'll connect you with the best mentor(s) to meet your business needs. Tap into the amazing Branchfood network of experts and angel investors. https://lnkd.in/edWM3f9E #foodentrepreneurs #foodstartups

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In light of some.conversations I've been having in different circles about the state of plantbased foods, acceptance, perception, growth, etc. https://lnkd.in/gYQp9veN

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Everyone seems scared of the rise of Private Label. I think customers truly want to support BFY Mission driven brands - but not at a premium price. We have figured out how to be cost conscious by being vertically integrated and now we are using some of those saved $$ for sampling + story telling to gain “good brand karma” PL is here to stay and grow- as a CPG brand you have to figure out how to have a strong brand that is priced in line with PL. #cpg #brandbuilding

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💰 How Private Equity Is Losing Millions In The Pet Food Industry. I can't believe so many PE firms are funding so many bad business models. I think it's because they lack understanding of the industry. - The Customer Acquisition Cost is greater than the Lifetime Customer Value. - Churn is high pet food & customers can be gullible. - The incumbents are well established and their margins healthy (rice and wheat gluten are cheap ingredients!). Furthermore, big box retailers such as Pets at Home or Petco have limited shelf space, with thousands of old and new brands pitching for space. You only have to look at annual accounts and ROCE's to see how tough the space is. Guess what? If you want your product on their shelves you have to lower your margins. How about going B2C directly? Well, deal with a high churn and the fact that 80% of food sales are still done in situ. Unless PE is deploying capital because THEY HAVE TO, and not because a model is good, this does not make sense. You then have PE firms selling low returning investments on to other PE firms, this is literally smart money selling to really dumb money. We get between 5-10 new brands pitching us new products EVERY DAY. Most of these companies don't make money. Half of these products are pretty poor. It simply does not make sense. #privateequity #petfood #petfoodindustry https://lnkd.in/eqUci-ph

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🌿 Despite #high hopes, the #cannabis industry has faced significant challenges. Turns out, it's not as #dope as investors toked it'd be. 📉 The leading player, Curaleaf, saw its value drop from a peak of 💲11.5B in 2021 to 💲4B today, highlighting the downturn in #marijuana stocks. The #market: 💰 Total U.S. Cannabis Market (legal + illegal) is valued at 💲75B, while the the legal US TAM, currently 💲32B, expected to grow to 💲43B by 2027 (source: BDSA) 🗽Just the New York state TAM is a hefty $6 billion cannabis market (and if you've strolled through NYC lately, you'll know it's not just the hot dog vendors adding to the aroma). 🌿 🍺 In comparison, the U.S. #Alcohol Market was valued at $247B in 2021, with the beer market alone at $115 billion, a stark 8x times cannabis TAM. 💼 Diageo, the leader in the spirits market boasts a 💲76B market cap, 💲21B in revenue and over 💲4B in net income. AB InBev, the leader in beer, commands a 💲120B market cap, 💲60B revenue and 💲5B net income. Some analysts believe that if a cannabis leader emerges, it might eventually reach similar figures. A long way to go for Curaleaf and others... 🌍 Besides the US and Canada there's potential in Europe with countries like Germany, Poland, and the UK that loosening cannabis regulations. More are expected to come. The #issues: 💸 Profitability hurdles include prohibitive taxes, with cannabis businesses unable to deduct common expenses, resulting in significant tax burdens despite losses in net income. 🤝 Fragmentation plagues the industry, with no player holding substantial market share, signaling a potential need for consolidation through mergers. 📊 Data on major companies: 📈 Revenue (2023) Curaleaf - $1.35B Trulieve - $1.22B Green Thumb Industries (GTI) - $1.02B Verano - $879M Cresco Labs - $825M 💹 Gross Margin (2023): Trulieve Cannabis Corp. - 52% Verano Holdings - 51% Green Thumb Industries Inc. - 49% Cresco Labs Inc. - 48% Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. - 45% 💼 EBITDA (2023): Green Thumb Industries Inc. - $291M Verano Holdings - $284M Trulieve Cannabis Corp. - $263M Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. - $239M Cresco Labs Inc. - $125M 👥 Total Employees: Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. - 5,650 Trulieve Cannabis Corp. - 5,400 Green Thumb Industries Inc. - 4,561 Verano Holdings - 3,900 Cresco Labs Inc. - 2,760 💼 Market Cap (may 3rd 2024): Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. - $4.17B Green Thumb Industries Inc. - $3.13B Trulieve Cannabis Corp. - $2.33B Verano Holdings - $1.75B Cresco Labs Inc. - $1B Fast forward a decade, where do you envision the cannabis industry? Do you anticipate pharmaceutical companies making their mark in the cannabis market? Could tobacco or alcohol giants venture into cannabis diversification?

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Conventional wisdom may label the #cannabisbeverage sector as a passing fad due to its small market share. However, entrepreneurial insight suggests that #Cannabis #beverages will emerge as a dominant sector among cannabis products in the near future. The true perspective lies not in pessimism or optimism but in a deeper understanding of evolving markets and the factual data that is becoming apparent. The fact of the matter is that recreational dispensaries and the distribution model within these recreational cannabis states are not set up for the proper delivery and handling of cannabis beverages. With the segue of the hemp market allowing cannabis beverages to sit alongside alcohol, the acceptance/embracement of the players in that industry, and the availability for cannabis beverage brands to position themselves on a national level and create this footprint ahead of federal legalization, is monumental. Cannabis is and has always been a commodity; just like sugar and flavoring that go into these drinks. The value is created in the brand, its story, and the culture it creates and resonates with the audience. #DrinkMJ 🍻 ¡Salud! 👭🏽🇲🇽🇺🇸💨 #CPGMentality

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Executive Summary: Possibly some of the #wisest words ever written are below 👇 #Cannabis

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-- Podcast Teaser Alert -- "If you want to lead the consumer, you need to be the consumer." - Eric Ryan At one point, Eric Ryan and I were "frienemies". Friends personally, competitors professionally. He was the co-founder and CEO of Method Products PBC, while I led Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day. ................ But in the real world, we were always on the same team. Our collective efforts, along with the team at 7th Generation, were revolutionizing the cleaning category. At Mrs. Meyer's, our mission was clear: 'Together, we dream of a world where the better way becomes THE way.' ................ Eric Ryan shares his insights on creating method products pbc, OLLY PBC, and Welly Bandages, along with his go-to-market approach. Stay tuned for the next drop of the CEO podcast. 🎙 You won't regret it. #cultureFIRSTleadership #ceoPodcast #ChiefEternalOptimist

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Fascinating read from Alt-Meat! The resurgence of bootstrapping as a primary growth strategy for start-ups is indeed thought-provoking. We've always championed self-funding and embraced this approach in growing our brand. Not the sexy way but it is the only way. The final paragraph is particularly intriguing, "PitchBook contends that more start-up companies will be self-funded: How many credit cards does it take to buy an industrial scale fermenter or a high-volume food-grade extruder?" #PitchBook #Bootstrapping #Sustainability https://lnkd.in/gB53dxWM

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Reflecting on this monumental moment, I wanted to wait until the news was "official" before sharing my thoughts and feelings... Almost 7 years ago, a good friend now who started as a good client invited me to his new office in NJ to explore a plant-based protein company he was considering acquiring. That's when I first encountered OWYN. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to make of it initially. Plant-based, vegan protein drinks weren't in my usual "repertoire" of ideation and marketing. But after trying the product that day, I knew I wanted to be part of the journey. And what an incredible journey it has been! Throughout the last 7 years, in my capacity as a "strategic advisor," I've embraced a multitude of roles and responsibilities, working closely with a diverse array of talented leaders. From individuals who made significant contributions from the outset and have since moved on, to those who have ascended to leadership positions, such as CEO Mark O. and Chief Sales Officer Matt OConnell, as well as "more recent" additions like CMO Julia Perez, who came in and made an immediate and substantial impact, our collaboration has been characterized by passion, mutual respect, and an unwavering commitment to innovation. Now, fast forward to today. After countless hours of strategic discussions, meetings, and partnerships, we've achieved something remarkable. We've taken a niche brand, crafted with the finest ingredients, and found the perfect successor in our recent acquisition. If you notice, even as a "consultant" I always will refer to it as we. When I work with brands, especially from day 1, I consider myself a true part of the team. Being part of a brand from inception to this pivotal moment is incredibly special. As a matter of fact, it's been a huge goal of mine since that fateful day 7 years ago. I'm eager to see what lies ahead for OWYN and hopeful that I can continue contributing to a product and brand that means so much to me and countless others, especially our consumers. #OWYN #PlantBased #Acquisition #Journey #Gratitude #Business #CPG #SimplyGood https://lnkd.in/emY6UT2g

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Almost sold out of our Woodstock Products Live Nugs! Only 2 cases of each SKU left... SUPER exciting - but it was a BABY production run... We never launched with the goal of having the most expensive 8th on the NY market. We DID want to launch a unique and differentiated SKU - and I think we did just that. It's still early - but very happy with how the SKU is performing... ____________ Fret not - we just got COAs from the next batch and they’re coming out HOT 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (just like the weather in NY LOL). We’re re-upping our original 2 SKUs: PB&J 🥪 (PBB 🥜 x Grapes & Cream 🍇 ) Indica leaning - 35% THC Lemon GP (GP ⛹🏾 x Lemon Kush Mintz 🍋) Sativa leaning - 37% THC ____________ Drum roll for the newest drop: THE KING 👑 (PBB 🥜 x Banana Runtz 🍌) Hybrid - 43% THC‼️‼️ Yeah - that potency is crazy but honestly it's the TERPS on this bad boy that truly make this one special... ______________ VERY proud of the team for how quickly we got this build onto the menu - the first run took almost 3 months from production to available-for-sale. A variety of issues from labs not understanding how to test the SKU to running out of packaging to getting set-up on LeafLink etc... This go-around? Likely 2 wks from production to hitting our menu! ⚡ 🏃 . Love how this team optimized processes so quickly! Martin Mills, Cirona Labs _______________ SOOO excited to get these back in-stock - we're gonna prioritize replenishing our existing accounts, but can start to open a few more doors (that are non-competitive with current doors) with this drop! _______________ DISCLAIMER: Nothing for sale. Per 935 CMR 500: For use only by adults 21 years of age or older. This product has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and may cause impairment and may be habit forming. There is limited information on the side effects of using this product, and there may be associated health risks. Marijuana use during pregnancy and breast-feeding may pose potential harms. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. The impairment effects of Edibles may be delayed by two hours or more. In case of accidental ingestion, contact poison control hotline 1-800-222-1222 or 9-1-1. This product may be illegal outside of NY.

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