jobTopia with Tony Moore

Restaurant Robots Coming to a Chili’s Near You and More on the Food and Beverage Report, April 21, 2022

First ever Food and Beverage report - enjoy 5 news articles that you may have missed.
About your Host Tony Moore and the Winning at Work podcast:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/differentbetterspecialbrands/
Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to stay current on the trends shaping the $1.6 trillion food and beverage industry? My totally awesome brands featured here take us deep into the world of sustainability, plant-based, food tech, CBD, and good for you. Want to learn how to grow a brand? Scale a brand? I've got you covered. 
Hi, I’m Tony Moore, expert  F&B/CPG headhunter, and I interview the best heads in the business. Discover how these executives are #winningatwork.
Episode 109 is sponsored by: Joynus Search - National Food and Beverage headhunters for sales, marketing, innovation, and operations. https://www.joynussearch.com/
Contact: Tony Moore. 404-904-9235. Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/differentbetterspecialbrands/
Music from Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/get-the-funk-inLicense code: SF3WUKBUJQULFHXE

How to Build Foodservice The Right Way with Thaddeus Thorne, VP Foodservice, My/Mochi

Thaddeus Thorne, VP Foodservice at My/Mochi, details how to build service strategy from the ground up. Thaddeus and I discuss trends in food, inflation, and why he made a strategic job change from Sambazon.  Join us for a light-hearted podcast and don't forget to subscribe if you are loving the content.
https://www.mymochi.com/ 
My/Mochi is a miraculous match of magnificent mochi dough with marvelously mouthwatering ice cream. But if you had to describe it with just one word, it’d be “Mmmmm.” These mind-blowing mouthfuls come from master mochi makers who methodically mix and meld the mushy mochi with milky, melty ice cream. The result? A majestic marriage of mesmerizing flavors that’ll make you say, “Mmmmore!”
Natural Products and Foodservice expert Thaddeus Thorne  on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thaddeus-thorne/
About your Host Tony Moore and the Winning at Work podcast:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/differentbetterspecialbrands/
Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to stay current on the trends shaping the $1.6 trillion food and beverage industry? My totally awesome brands featured here take us deep into the world of sustainability, plant-based, food tech, CBD, and good for you. Want to learn how to grow a brand? Scale a brand? I've got you covered. 
Hi, I’m Tony Moore, expert  F&B/CPG headhunter, and I interview the best heads in the business. Discover how these executives are #winningatwork.
Episode 108 is sponsored by: Joynus Search - National Food and Beverage headhunters for sales, marketing, innovation, and operations. https://www.joynussearch.com/
Contact: Tony Moore. 404-904-9235. Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/differentbetterspecialbrands/
Music from Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/get-the-funk-inLicense code: SF3WUKBUJQULFHXE

Expanding Into Foodservice with Matt Cotton, CEO, Rooted Food Sales and Thaddeus Thorne, Natural Food Expert

Matt Cotton is disrupting the old food brokerage model with Rooted Food Sales. His passion for natural and good-for-you foods inspired him to help food brands expand into the mysterious foodservice world. Let's take a deep dive into why your food brand needs to expand from retail into foodservice. 
🌳 Rooted in a ⚡fierce, 💞genuine, and 💥powerful In-house approach to pioneering #betterforyou brands.  Matt Cotton reveals his ✨#DifferentBetterSpecial✨ philosophy behind attracting new brands and maximizing exposure in helping brands make the leap from retail to foodservice.
🎯 Matt Cotton’s Strategy 🎯  VS. the Traditional Brokerage Model:
🏡 More than managing accounts → his team becomes an extension of their in-house sales team, helping them set strategy and drive business 🔝 to the top.
🔄 Making sure the product moves → Importance of Understanding the Needs of the brands that they are representing and the Complexities of foodservice in helping to bring brands and foodservice distributors together 🤝.
🏑 The Hockey Stick Model of Growth → Food Service is often an “afterthought”💬 from Retail… BUT it’s “sticky” and sustainable which makes continuous and steady growth a powerful strategy 📈.
 
Connect with Matt Cotton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewpcotton/
Rooted Food Sales: https://www.rootedfoodsales.com/
Show notes:
What is a food broker?
Pioneering a new approach to foodservice sales
Outsourced sales methods
Distributor challenges
Why should a brand expand beyond retail into foodservice?
What are consumers asking for?
Foodservice sales projections VS retail
The hockey stick
Co-Host and Natural Products, Foodservice expert Thaddeus Thorne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thaddeus-thorne/
About your Host Tony Moore and the Winning at Work podcast:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/differentbetterspecialbrands/
Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to stay current on the trends shaping the $6 trillion food and beverage industry? My totally awesome brands featured here take us deep into the world of sustainability, plant-based, food tech, CBD, and good for you. Want to learn how to grow a brand? Scale a brand? I've got you covered. 
Hi, I’m Tony Moore, expert  F&B/CPG headhunter, and I interview the best heads in the business. Discover how these executives are #winningatwork.
Episode 107 is sponsored by: Joynus Search - National Food and Beverage headhunters for sales, marketing, innovation, and operations. https://www.joynussearch.com/
Contact: Tony Moore. 404-904-9235. Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/differentbetterspecialbrands/
Music from Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/get-the-funk-inLicense code: SF3WUKBUJQULFHXE
 

Harnessing the Magical Metabolic Power of Mushrooms with Jim Ellis, Chief Revenue Officer, MYCO Technology and Thaddeus Thorne, The Natural Food Expert

Episode 108.  Jim Ellis, The Chief Revenue Officer of MYCO Technology, is commercializing the metabolic engine of mushrooms, known as  🍄 mycelium 🍄, with naturally transformative ingredients to help solve the food industry’s biggest challenges.  Listen in as we dive into the magical world of mushrooms.
Connect with Jim Ellis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sillemij/
MyCo Technology: https://www.mycoiq.com/
Trends: 
Plant-based foods are not in decline: food service providers are actually increasing their plant-based offerings by 2030 compass shifting to almost 40% of alternative proteins. 
Food Service Standpoint: Menu offerings grow by 35% by 2020 
Supporting these trends: backing out as an industry, getting away from over sensationalizing, over-relying on a small subset of data from one company, and extrapolating it to an entire industry.
Manna Tree Investors portfolio:
On an expedition discovering new things through the power of mycelia; what makes us different, better, special is just that: they are on an expedition that nobody else is pursuing like they are, especially at this scale. 
For us, it's about how nature can work its wonders, to help them better meet consumer demands. Harnessing the power of mushrooms to enrich lives around the world, all through mycelia. 
 Mycelia: root system of mushrooms that spans the entire floor of the forest. fuels the entire fermentation process. makes up a communication network, supply chain network, transfers water, nitrogen, and other elements all throughout the forest. In addition, it breaks down toxins, indigestible material 
 Provide solutions across the spectrum, tackling the most pervasive challenges of the industry: 
Salt and Sugar Epidemic: the overuse of cheap ingredients to make products taste better 
Discovered @SPECIAL solutions in nature that deliver the same, if not better, unique and great flavors, without loading products with salt and sugar. 
No need to sacrifice nutrition OR taste. 
How do we feed a growing population? If our population grows from 8 to 10 million people, as it's projected to do so, we'll need 70% more food. That means we need sustainable solutions. 
“Fermentiq,” MyCo Technology’s mushroom fermented protein: a solution that enables advances in the plant-based space that consumers crave, while also enabling better nutrition. (facilitating digestion, the breakdown of toxins, and fueling your body)   
Right now in the US, undoubtedly the richest country in the world, Only 12% of people get the required daily nutrition.
Benefits of Fermentation → Alternative to Soy
MyCo Technology provides complete proteins: a great alternative to soy, which is an allergen for many people. 
Mushroom extract: Functional and great-tasting - an important component of reducing bitterness, clarifying flavors, and driving people to repeat purchases. 
Has all the amino acids your body needs, just like beef or soy, but not an allergen. 
Meaningful and Genuine Story: Stand for causes greater than simply just corporate profitability. 
Consumers truly enjoy it, tell their friends, and this leads to more sales. 
Market Strategy: 
Focus and Responsibility. Partnership. 
Incredible growth strategy and innovation team: 
Focus on the most critical areas
Unique commercialized ingredients
Targeting areas where you want to make the best impact: 
Leveraging protein and meat alternatives 
Enabling different functionality and performance in dairy alternatives. 
Helping seafood alternatives taste better. 
Sustainability: 
Balance improvements across supplementation, wellness, functionality, through consistent performance and continued development
55 patents, 30+ pending patents. 
Impacts in both retail solutions & food service. 
What’s next? MISSION STATEMENT:
Alternatives → 
Promote Story and Cause: 
Generation that chooses to buy from companies that support a cause that they believe in. 
Dedicated to making a difference in not only plant-based space, but impacting the economy, food scarcity, and protecting our planet. 
Price parity and Inclusion: Upcharge for plant-based alternatives. 
Prices are already decreasing, lowering retail and foodservice prices by 15-20% over 20 months for plant-based food, while meat prices are increasing. 
Challenge of prices of raw materials impacting the supply chain. 
Technology Advancement and Big Business Involvement: 
Large multinationals have a deeper knowledge of market demands, broader and more advanced distribution networks. 
Help propel products and sales forward, further facilitating technological development, and helping to realize the economies of scale and reducing price gaps, increasing accessibility. 
Corporate Social Responsibility & Working with Big Business: Brandon CPG Partners → striving for realizing the next level of differentiation, unlocking what consumers want and what that requires, an ingredient that enables products to perform differently. 
Exploration: Brings Excitement, Fun, Passion, and Complexity into a newer stage company.
 
Co-Host and Natural Products, Foodservice expert Thaddeus Thorne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thaddeus-thorne/
About your Host Tony Moore and the Winning at Work podcast:
LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/differentbetterspecialbrands/
Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to stay current on the trends shaping the $6 trillion food and beverage industry? My totally awesome brands featured here take us deep into the world of sustainability, plant-based, food tech, CBD, and good for you. Want to learn how to grow a brand? Scale a brand? I've got you covered. 
Hi, I’m Tony Moore, expert  F&B/CPG headhunter, and I interview the best heads in business. Discover how these executives are #winningatwork.
Episode 106 is sponsored by: Joynus Search - National Food and Beverage headhunters for sales, marketing, innovation, operations. https://www.joynussearch.com/
Contact: Tony Moore. 404-904-9235. Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/differentbetterspecialbrands/
Music from Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/get-the-funk-inLicense code: SF3WUKBUJQULFHXE
 

Beer with Benefits! Disrupting the Non-Alcoholic Market with Jordan Bass, CEO and Co-Founder of HOP WTR

Jordan Bass had lost his "drinking buddy". His wife was expecting their first child and it was a little awkward for him to down a few double IPA's on the couch while his lovely bride was abstaining. Jordan searched through the non-alcoholic brands but couldn't find what he craved- a great-tasting and functional, non-alcoholic beer. Necessity being the mother of invention, as they say, he and his co-founder did something about it and made a beer with benefits! Using his background in eCommerce, HOP WTR was born. In this episode, we crack open his playbook and learn how he did it.
Connect with Jordan Bass on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordantbass/
HOP WTR: https://hopwtr.com/
Show Notes:
The birth of a new idea
Too good to pass up
Entrepreneurial advice - you can't look around every corner
Non-alcoholic trends
Launching a business in during COVID
Remote working challenges 
Ecommerce benefits
Market FIt
Iterations
Data comes in handy with retailers
One to One communication
Building a community
About your Host Tony Moore and the Winning at Work podcast:
Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to stay current on the trends shaping the $6 trillion food and beverage industry? My totally awesome brands featured here take us deep into the world of sustainability, plant-based, food tech, CBD, and good for you. Want to learn how to grow a brand? Scale a brand? I've got you covered. 
Hi, I’m Tony Moore, expert  F&B/CPG headhunter, and I interview the best heads in business. Discover how these executives are #winningatwork.
Episode 106 is sponsored by: Joynus Search - National Food and Beverage headhunters for sales, marketing, innovation, operations. https://www.joynussearch.com/
Contact: Tony Moore. 404-904-9235. Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/differentbetterspecialbrands/
Music from Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/get-the-funk-inLicense code: SF3WUKBUJQULFHXE

Investing in the Future of Health, Wellness and Longevity with Brent Drever, President Manna Tree Partners and special co-host Thaddeus Thorne E106

Brent Drever and his co-founders at Manna Tree Partners invest in and actively partner with growth-stage companies. Brent takes us into the world of private equity decision-making and his deep desire to scale successful companies to a higher level of performance to maximize Manna Tree's mission. They believe the future of health, well-being, and longevity is attainable through innovation in food.
Connect with Brent Drever on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brentdrever/
Manna Tree Partners: https://www.mannatreepartners.com/
Portfolio companies: https://www.mannatreepartners.com/investments
Need Fundraising help? https://www.mannatreepartners.com/investment-inquiry
To date, Manna Tree’s portfolio includes Evolve Biosystems, Gotham Greens, Health-Ade, Mycotechnology, Nutriati, The New Primal, Urban Remedy, Verde Farms, Vital Farms, Cheetah & Good Culture.
Co-Host and Natural Products, Foodservice expert Thaddeus Thorne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thaddeus-thorne/
Show Notes:
Consumers want health and wellness products 
About Manna Tree and their mission to improve health and well-being
Manna Tree assesses ~300 companies annually in need of fundraising and selects 2-3
Transparency 
Sustainability
Challenging the behavior of consumer buying habits
How to scale a successful business?
"You can't get there with how you got here"
Stop saying yes to everything
Too many SKUs
The hidden cost
Coaching
Add talent - even though it is expensive!
Coaching and elevating the leadership team
What prevents this transition?
Chief EVERYTHING Officer 
Control
Fear
Mental attitudes
How Manna Tree evaluates a prospective company
They assess ~300 companies annually in need of fundraising
Talent discussion
Stop gravitating to C players
Invest in your best players
Looking back on General Electric and Jack Welch
About your Host Tony Moore and the Winning at Work podcast:
Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to stay current on the trends shaping the $6 trillion food and beverage industry? My totally awesome brands featured here take us deep into the world of sustainability, plant-based, food tech, CBD, and good for you. Want to learn how to grow a brand? Scale a brand? I've got you covered. 
Hi, I’m Tony Moore, expert  F&B/CPG headhunter, and I interview the best heads in business. Discover how these executives are #winningatwork.
Episode 106 is sponsored by: Joynus Search - National Food and Beverage headhunters for sales, marketing, innovation, operations. https://www.joynussearch.com/
Contact: Tony Moore. 404-904-9235. Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/differentbetterspecialbrands/
Music from Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/get-the-funk-inLicense code: SF3WUKBUJQULFHXE

Getting Naked, Sustainable and Functional with Niall Phelan, Founder The Naked Collective E105

Niall Phelan, Founder of The Naked Collective, joins me and special guest host, Kevin Scott the beverage expert, to get naked and expose how hard it is to put fewer ingredients into a beverage. TNC is powered by plants, people, and purpose as they aim to be the most transparent drinks company in the world. Check out their two new brands MUDE, a healthy functional drink with active ingredients to benefit your mood and SO. BEER, a non-alcoholic beer with benefits that supports your immune health with natural vitamins and minerals. 
You don't want to miss this thoroughly entertaining episode with Niall (10 bonus points awarded if you knew his name was Gaelic).
Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to stay current on the trends shaping the $6 trillion food and beverage industry? My totally awesome brands featured here take us deep into the world of sustainability, plant-based, food tech, CBD, and good for you. Want to learn how to grow a brand? Scale a brand? I've got you covered. 
Hi, I’m Tony Moore, expert  F&B/CPG headhunter, and I interview the best heads in business. Discover how these executives are #winningatwork.
Episode 105 is sponsored by: Joynus Search - National Food and Beverage headhunters for sales, marketing, innovation, operations. https://www.joynussearch.com/
Contact: Tony Moore. 404-904-9235. Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keepclimbing/
Connect with Niall on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niallphelan1976/
TNC: https://thenakedcollective.com/en-us/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mudedrinks/
Show Notes:
Less is really bloody hard
Brewing has its advantages
Fundraising do's and don't
Taste is subjective so beware of feedback
Be very clear on your core principles
The trouble with ingredients
Sampling programs
Brand loyalty is a THING in beverages
Drinks are rituals
Beer companies play by a different set of rules - and you thought beer was just water, hops, barley, and yeast
non-alcoholic is the fastest-growing segment
You have nothing to hide in your birthday suit
Brands mentioned #poppi # olipop
Music from Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/get-the-funk-inLicense code: SF3WUKBUJQULFHXE

Driving Sales in a Hot Niche Market with John Stech, Chief Chipotle Officer and Bernie Domingo, CMO, Co-Founders, Left Lane Pepper Company E104

What happens when a local restaurant shuts down and with it, the famous local hot sauce? You start your own brand, of course! Drawing on his passion for cars and his automotive experience, John Stech and his co-founder Bernie Domingo the Chief Taste Officer are driving headlong into the niche world of hot sauce. Join us in the left lane as we speed ahead on uncharted roads.
Listen in as they discuss the $1.6 billion industry and what makes Left Lane Pepper different, better, and special.
John Stech on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-stech-drive-electric/
Bernie Domingo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernadette-domingo/
Left Lane Pepper Company: https://www.leftlanepeppercompany.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leftlanepeppercompany/
 
🏆 Winning at Work has just been named one of the top 45 Learning and Development Podcasts! 🏆 Thank you Feedspot.https://lnkd.in/e8WAt4d5
Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to stay current on the trends shaping the $6 trillion food and beverage industry? My totally awesome brands featured here take us deep into the world of sustainability, plant-based, food tech, CBD, and good for you. Want to learn how to grow a brand? Scale a brand? I've got you covered. 
Hi, I’m Tony Moore, expert  F&B/CPG headhunter, and I interview the best heads in business. Discover how these executives are #winningatwork.
Episode 104 is sponsored by: Joynus Search - National Food and Beverage headhunters for sales, marketing, innovation, operations. https://www.joynussearch.com/
Contact: Tony Moore. 404-904-9235.
Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keepclimbing/
Music from Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/get-the-funk-inLicense code: SF3WUKBUJQULFHXE