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5 Critical Formulation Considerations for Emerging Beverage Brands

 5 Critical Formulation Considerations for Emerging Beverage Brands 1024 683 sku

Bringing a new beverage to market requires more than a great idea. It takes a thoughtful balance of creativity, technical expertise, and commercial awareness. For emerging brands, formulation is often where momentum is either built or lost. At Vibrant Ingredients™, we gathered insights from our internal experts across tea, cold brew coffee, flavor creation, product…

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Beau Bergman Named SKU Executive Director

 Beau Bergman Named SKU Executive Director 500 300 Michelle Breyer

SKU is pleased to announce the appointment of Beau Bergman as the new Executive Director. Bergman is a seasoned innovation strategist, mentor and business development leader with extensive experience bridging the gap between emerging startups and enterprise corporations. Bergman takes the reins from Buff Greebe, who announced earlier this month he was leaving to pursue…

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Innovative Pet Lab Redefines Pet Health

 Innovative Pet Lab Redefines Pet Health 700 500 Michelle Breyer

Before Innovative Pet Lab (IPL) became a nationally recognized name in pet health and wellness, it began with a moment of frustration and a question that wouldn’t let go. “Why is it so hard for pet parents to understand what’s really going on inside their pets’ bodies when we know the science exists?” asked Jamie…

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Springland Redefines the Modern Dog Parenting Experience

 Springland Redefines the Modern Dog Parenting Experience 700 500 Michelle Breyer

Springland Pets began with a moment of clarity that founder Shannon Ross couldn’t shake: dogs had evolved into full-fledged family members, but the products designed for them hadn’t kept pace. As a design-minded dog parent herself, she saw a major disconnect between what modern consumers wanted and what the industry offered — uninspired products that…

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From Stockouts to Success: Inventory Tips for Emerging Brands

 From Stockouts to Success: Inventory Tips for Emerging Brands 700 500 Cin7

For emerging brands, inventory management can be both an opportunity and a challenge. The ability to manage stock effectively can mean the difference between delighting customers and losing sales. To help SKU brands navigate this critical piece of the business, we spoke with partner Cin7 to provide an overview of inventory management — why it…

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CPG Startup Guide to Addressing MAHA

 CPG Startup Guide to Addressing MAHA 700 500 Hillary Hughes and Jake Riggs

As the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement gains momentum, companies face uncertainty in a changing landscape as new regulations are being passed at the state and federal level that will require label review, potential modification and possibly reformulation to ensure compliance. For example, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has taken action to…

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From Crunch to Conquest: The Daily Crunch Story

 From Crunch to Conquest: The Daily Crunch Story 700 500 Michelle Breyer

When Laurel Orley co-founded Daily Crunch in 2020, she left behind more than a decade at Unilever to pursue something deeply personal. The inspiration came from her Aunt Diane Orley, who had discovered an ancient sprouting technique while living in India more than 20 years ago. By pairing it with a unique dehydration process, Orley…

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Brewing a Better Cup of Coffee with Waka Coffee

 Brewing a Better Cup of Coffee with Waka Coffee 700 500 Michelle Breyer

For Waka Coffee, what began as a caffeine fix in a cramped New York City kitchen has grown into a mission-driven brand reimagining what instant coffee can nd should be. In 2018, while balancing a full-time undergraduate program and a full-time job in New York, founder David Kovalevski struggled with cramped kitchen space and expensive…

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DUDE Wipes Lands Major Investment to Accelerate Growth

 DUDE Wipes Lands Major Investment to Accelerate Growth 1024 537 Michelle Breyer

SKU celebrates an investment in DUDE Wipes by TSG Consumer a global leader in consumer-focused investing Founders Sean Riley  (Chief Executive Dude), Jeff Klimkowski (CFO) and Ryan Meegan (CMO) will retain significant ownership stakes and will continue to lead the company in their current executive roles. DUDE Wipes is an alumnus of SKU (then Incubation…

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Vegan Jerky Brand Balances Purpose and Profitability

 Vegan Jerky Brand Balances Purpose and Profitability 1024 576 Michelle Breyer

Like many of the best brands, All Y’alls Foods emerged from a deeply personal journey. Through careful research, he realized founder Brett Christoffel could address the protein demands of humans through plants. In 2018, he launched All Y’alls Foods, which makes plant-baed proteins and snacks.

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Chief Executive Dude Gets to the Bottom of DUDE Wipes’ Success

 Chief Executive Dude Gets to the Bottom of DUDE Wipes’ Success 700 500 Michelle Breyer

DUDE Wipes has become a household name through grit and a strong determination to differentiate the brand from everything else in the $10 billion toilet paper market.

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How to Get the Most out of Expo West ’25

 How to Get the Most out of Expo West ’25 700 500 Michelle Breyer

Here are some top tips to get the most out of Expo West – the nation’s largest show for the natural product industry.

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The Meaning of the FDA’s New “Healthy Claim” Rule

 The Meaning of the FDA’s New “Healthy Claim” Rule 700 500 Michelle Breyer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently finalized its long-awaited rule for the use of “healthy claims” on food labels. The final rule brings welcome clarity for food companies but has broad legal and business implications for their products, particularly regarding how these healthy claims are presented. SKU mentor Hillary Hughes, Brian Fink and…

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SKU Fall ’24 Brands Shine at Showcase CPG Pitch Event

 SKU Fall ’24 Brands Shine at Showcase CPG Pitch Event 700 500 Michelle Breyer

The Fall ’24 Showcase on Nov. 19 was an overwhelming success. The founders of the seven brands shared their compelling founder stories and their growth strategies in front of a standing-room only crowd at Rowling Hall at the Texas McCombs School of Business. CPG leaders and investors from around the country flew to Austin for the…

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The 5 Biggest Mistakes Brands Make When Launching on Amazon

 The 5 Biggest Mistakes Brands Make When Launching on Amazon 700 500 Adrien Petersen

Ryan Flynn, CEO, ExpertCPG For emerging brands, building a multi-channel strategy alongside Amazon can further bolster success. It offers vast reach, powerful tools and a user-friendly experience. But launching on Amazon is both a strategic opportunity and a formidable challenge for brands. While the Amazon marketplace offers immense reach, it’s also highly competitive and complex.…

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How will Siete deal impact CPG startups? Experts weigh in.

 How will Siete deal impact CPG startups? Experts weigh in. 500 300 Michelle Breyer

The big news that PepsiCo, Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire SKU alum Siete Foods for $1.2 billion rocked the CPG world. It was some much-needed positive news at a time when CPG investment and M&A activity have been slow. Alex Bodney, Midnight Ventures Many founders hope the Siete deal will jump start…

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Two Smart Cookies Redefine Sweet Gluten-Free Indulgence

 Two Smart Cookies Redefine Sweet Gluten-Free Indulgence 700 500 Michelle Breyer

Two smart cookies team team up to launched Meli’s Cookies, aiming to bring the joy of great-tasting, naturally gluten-free cookies to everyone.

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Top Tips for Maximizing Trade Promotions

 Top Tips for Maximizing Trade Promotions 700 500 Adrien Petersen

For emerging brands in the competitive CPG landscape, understanding and leveraging trade promotions can be the key to unlocking rapid growth and market success. As brands navigate the challenging waters of retail partnerships, shelf space battle and consumer attention, mastering the art of trade promotions can be a necessity. Stuart Kennedy, co-founder of SKU partner…

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How To Avoid Getting Sued: The Most Common Claims Against Emerging Brands and How to Avoid Them

 How To Avoid Getting Sued: The Most Common Claims Against Emerging Brands and How to Avoid Them 700 500 Michelle Breyer

Brands can wrack up huge legal fees as well as the expense making the changes needed to comply with these regulations. We spoke with attorney and SKU mentor Hillary Hughes, chair of the business group of Foster Garvey, about the most common claims and the best ways to protect your brand against them.

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Three Drivers of Growth for Emerging CPG Brands

 Three Drivers of Growth for Emerging CPG Brands 700 500 Michelle Breyer

SKU mentor provides insights some of the key ways that emerging brands can drive growth – from focusing on niche markets to embracing social platforms.

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Rebranding Case Study: From Niche to NuSkool

 Rebranding Case Study: From Niche to NuSkool 700 500 Michelle Breyer

Ugly Wolf’s rebrand of NuSkool is a case study in how to build a brand that can engage and scale.

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SKU Spring ’24 Track Showcases Innovation

 SKU Spring ’24 Track Showcases Innovation 1024 537 Michelle Breyer

Each of seven brands in the SKU Spring ’24 Track brings innovation to their category. They include a line of lightweight, packable meals created by an adventurer, a pet wellness brand developed by a veterinarian and a beauty brand born from the founder’s  personal struggle with psoriasis.

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Experts Share top Consumer Product Trend predictions for ’24

 Experts Share top Consumer Product Trend predictions for ’24 700 500 Michelle Breyer

SKU experts share their trend predictions that will shape the consumer product industry in 2024 – from pet to beauty to food.

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Deduction Management for CPG Startups: The Five Keys to Success

 Deduction Management for CPG Startups: The Five Keys to Success 700 500 Adrien Petersen

When it comes to deductions management, there are some key areas that can provide more consistency between the amount invoiced and amount you’re paid.

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Top Tips for Managing Trade Spend TO Maximize ROI

 Top Tips for Managing Trade Spend TO Maximize ROI 700 500 Vividly

Managing trade promotions is vital for CPG brands like yours. Here are some tips for how to manage trade spend to maximize ROI.

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Raeka Beauty Blends Ancient Ingredients with Modern Science

 Raeka Beauty Blends Ancient Ingredients with Modern Science 700 500 Adrien Petersen

Raeka Morar has built Raeka Beauty into a fast-growing brand that merges ancient South Asian ingredients with modern science.

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CPG Veteran Buff Greebe Named Executive Director of SKU

 CPG Veteran Buff Greebe Named Executive Director of SKU 700 500 Michelle Breyer

SKU has hired veteran consumer-product leader and SKU mentor Buff Greebe as Executive Director of the nation’s leading CPG accelerator.

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Springer Pet is Top Dog in Growing Accessory Category

 Springer Pet is Top Dog in Growing Accessory Category 700 500 Adrien Petersen

Springer Pets has done for travel dog bottles what Yeti has done for coolers.

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How to Get the Most out of Expo East ’23

 How to Get the Most out of Expo East ’23 700 500 Michelle Breyer

Here are some tips on how to get the most out of Expo East ’23.

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SKU Mentors share top trends from SuperZoo ’23

 SKU Mentors share top trends from SuperZoo ’23 700 500 Michelle Breyer

SuperZoo showcases the latest trends and gives a peek at the products and services available to pet owners now and in the future.

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The Crucial Role of Cash-Flow Forecasting for Emerging Brands

 The Crucial Role of Cash-Flow Forecasting for Emerging Brands 700 500 Michelle Breyer

Cash-flow forecasting helps businesses anticipate the best way to scale or manage their companies in the short and long term.

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Bookkeeping: What Can and should Founders Take on Themselves

 Bookkeeping: What Can and should Founders Take on Themselves 700 500 Adrien Petersen

But bookkeeping can be frustrating for a business owner to manage properly while running a business. Knowing what you can and should take on yourself as you begin your founder journey will be important to understand to maximize effective accounting practices going forward.

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The Willy Wonkas of Marshmallows Redefine Indulgence with Plant-based Funky Mello

 The Willy Wonkas of Marshmallows Redefine Indulgence with Plant-based Funky Mello 700 500 Adrien Petersen

The founders of Funky Mello are living out their dream of indulging in clean, nostalgic, better-for-you desserts.

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The Power of Consumer Insights for CPG Startups During Economic Uncertainty

 The Power of Consumer Insights for CPG Startups During Economic Uncertainty 700 500 Michelle Breyer

Consumer insights have the power to help your brand better connect with consumers.

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Taking the Emergency out of Tax Time

 Taking the Emergency out of Tax Time 700 500 Adrien Petersen

When you run a business, taxes are no longer a last-minute activity but needs to become a year-round process .

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Pet Parents and Investors are Gobbling up Pet Startups: Mentor Niti Patel Explains why

 Pet Parents and Investors are Gobbling up Pet Startups: Mentor Niti Patel Explains why 700 500 Michelle Breyer

Consumers and investors are gobbling up emerging pet brands.

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Innovation and Surging Dog Food Industry Drive a Pup Above’s Growth

 Innovation and Surging Dog Food Industry Drive a Pup Above’s Growth 700 500 Adrien Petersen

A Pup Above has brought a fresh perspectives, providing an overdue shake-up to an industry hungry for innovation.

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From Honey to Nuts, key trends from Expo West ’23

 From Honey to Nuts, key trends from Expo West ’23 700 500 Michelle Breyer

Several food and beverage trends emerged at Natural Foods Expo West ’23

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Staying Present: What the Silicon Valley Bank Collapse Can Teach Founders

 Staying Present: What the Silicon Valley Bank Collapse Can Teach Founders 700 500 Adrien Petersen

Even as many CPG startups are impacted by the Silicon Valley Bank collapse, founders must not lose sight of the optimism and camaraderie that helped them get to this point.

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Topo Chico’s Leader Grows Brand Without Losing Authenticity

 Topo Chico’s Leader Grows Brand Without Losing Authenticity 700 500 Michelle Breyer

With its effervescent bubbles, iconic glass bottles and simple, bold logo, Topo Chico has carved out a unique identity in the crowded sparkling water category.

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HElla Cocktail lands investment To Further Fuel Growth

 HElla Cocktail lands investment To Further Fuel Growth 500 300 Michelle Breyer

Pronghorn, a company dedicated to expanding diversity within the spirits industry, announced a capital investment in SKU alum Hella Cocktail

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SKU Applicants Reflect Hottest Food & Beverage Trends

 SKU Applicants Reflect Hottest Food & Beverage Trends 700 500 Michelle Breyer

These brands who applied to SKU’s Food & Beverage Track are a microcosm of the hottest trends in the food and beverage industry.

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NOSH Best of ’22 Awards Showcase Innovative Emerging Brands

 NOSH Best of ’22 Awards Showcase Innovative Emerging Brands 700 500 Michelle Breyer

NOSH announced the winners of the Best Of ’22 Awards to honor the individuals, brands and products that demonstrated excellence and innovation.

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Popsicle Kings of Atlanta Help Emerging Brands Scale

 Popsicle Kings of Atlanta Help Emerging Brands Scale 700 500 Michelle Breyer

Steven and Nick Carse have built an iconic popsicle brand called the King of Pops as well as a distributor for emerging brands

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From Coffee to Skincare, More Brands are Offering Subscriptions

 From Coffee to Skincare, More Brands are Offering Subscriptions 400 286 Michelle Breyer

A growing number of emerging brands are offering their DTC customers the option of subscribing to automatically receive regular shipments.

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CPG Leaders Share Top Trends from Expo East

 CPG Leaders Share Top Trends from Expo East 700 500 Michelle Breyer

SKU surveyed some top CPG experts in the SKUniverse to find out what stood out most to them at the show. There were some common themes, includung a focus on sustainability, a boom in ethnic food offerings and a growth in the number of non-alcoholic brands.

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Eatable: A Packaging Update that Pops

 Eatable: A Packaging Update that Pops 700 500 Michelle Breyer

A gourmet popcorn company needed a marketing and packaging update that would help support its retail expansion.

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Fundraising in an Uncertain Market: Tips for CPG Startups

 Fundraising in an Uncertain Market: Tips for CPG Startups 700 500 Michelle Breyer

Early-stage fundraising isn’t easy, especially in an uncertain market. But many CPG startups are getting money.

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Help Wanted: Tips for Building a Successful Team

 Help Wanted: Tips for Building a Successful Team 700 500 Adrien Petersen

When it comes to building a successful CPG brand, you’ll need to build a top-notch team.

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