Advantage Solutions

Andrea Young, chief operating officer for experiential services at Advantage Solutions, knows a thing or two about the power of being one’s authentic self. As Advantage’s first openly LGBTQ+ executive leader, Young was a founding member of the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion board in 2020. At this week’s Kroger Wellness Festival, Young will discuss the importance of inclusion with Laurie Hernandez, a trailblazing Latina gymnast who won gold and silver medals at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Check out the full Q&A with Young on our blog to learn more about how this discussion came to be and why it matters. https://lnkd.in/dzEDkN-j

September is Hunger Action Month — a time to get involved and serve our neighbors in need. At Advantage Solutions, food security is one of the core pillars of our belonging and impact work in the community. For 12 years, we’ve proudly partnered with Feeding America, the national network of food banks, providing the equivalent of more than 5.7 million meals. Our incredible #TeamADV also supports other hunger relief organizations in communities across the country. At Advantage, we serve with heart because no one should go hungry. Please get involved at the local level and help out if you can. Click this link to find the food bank nearest to you: https://lnkd.in/eEZMQKW

Consumers are going cuckoo for cocoa this holiday season, as hot cocoa flavor is showing up in everything from beverages to snack bars, dairy products and even popcorn. That’s bad news for perennial favorites pumpkin and pumpkin spice, which have dropped from the top spot in purchase interest among consumers, according to research from Daymon, which powers private brands development for Advantage Solutions. Not to worry, pumpkin lovers! Your favorite flavors are still well represented in our holiday season survey, along with caramel, apple, peppermint and a surprisingly strong showing for cinnamon. Find out which festive flavors consumers will be seeking out this season — and how private brands can join in the celebration. Read our blog here: https://lnkd.in/ezt4zd7F #HolidayFlavors #TeamADV

Gone are the days when shoppers turned up their noses at so-called generic store brands. Consider this staggering fact: Today, 87% of shoppers buy private brands during every typical grocery trip. Private brands are scorching hot after gaining market share for three consecutive years, according to the latest Private Brand Intelligence Report (PBIR), produced by Daymon, which powers private brand development for Advantage Solutions. Check out our blog to learn more about the PBIR report, which details the latest data and insights. (Spoiler alert: School lunches are a year-round opportunity.) https://lnkd.in/gBmbySan

Halloween will be here before you can say “boo,” and while some shoppers are purchasing costumes and decorations early, the majority will buy their candy the week before the holiday. Advantage Solutions’ Kelly Ravestijn offers tips for retailers on how to attract more early-bird shoppers, while being prepared for that last-minute surge. Here’s a helpful hint: With more than half of shoppers buying candy multiple times throughout the Halloween season, retailers should strategically time their promotions, rewarding repeat visits and offering discounts on multiple purchases. For more retailer tips for this year’s Halloween — projected to be the biggest ever in sales — read our latest blog: https://lnkd.in/eMZGyRA4 #WinningHalloween #TeamADV

Last week, we unveiled a fresh new look that reflects our ongoing evolution into a unified retail solutions company. Our new brand identity captures the connections we bring to brands and retailers every day. Our CEO, Dave Peacock, shared with Progressive Grocer how this rebrand represents our commitment to simplifying, streamlining and accelerating the work we do for over 4,000 clients and over 100,000 retailers across North America. “We want to reaffirm that there are great bones to this business," Dave said, "but we wanted to do it in a fresh and new way that plays more to our interconnections and collaboration." Read more about our new look and feel, plus what's to come here: https://lnkd.in/geWaN4Ru #TeamADV

Rebranding a 37-year-old company is no small undertaking. As Advantage Solutions’ first chief communications officer, Kelli Hammersmith has helped to usher in a new era at the company. Over the past year, she’s led the rebrand to modernize and humanize the Advantage story — a process that began with “recruiting and re-recruiting our teammates as players on the same team,” she said. “These aren’t easy changes,” Hammersmith said. “Once we believe in ourselves and know our story, it becomes that much easier for others to believe in us and embrace that story.” Check out the full Q&A with Hammersmith to learn more about what’s behind the rebrand. #TeamADV https://bit.ly/47qho8D

Each day, more than 70,000 Advantage Solutions teammates are hard at work behind the scenes of your shopping experience. They build in-store displays, stock shelves, track inventory and offer product samples. They produce events, solve problems and provide insights. They help retailers attract new shoppers, and they work with brands to build loyal followings. In good times and in bad, they are the unsung heroes that keep commerce and life moving. We are so grateful to have such an incredible team. Thank you, #TeamADV, for being the inspiration behind our new brand.

The numbers don’t lie. Advantage Solutions has unparalleled reach and impact in stores across the country, partnering with brands and retailers to provide shoppers with products and experiences that enrich their lives. And yes, we’re still celebrating our new brand! Check out this graphic – the alphabet at the bottom shows off our fresh new font. Every bit of our brand reimagining is intentional, as we go to market as a unified solutions provider that keeps commerce and life moving. #TeamADV

The excitement never ends at Advantage Solutions! Just one day after launching our rebrand, we were thrilled to receive the Gartner Marketing & Communications award for Excellence in Change Communications, which recognizes “world-class achievements” from leading companies worldwide. Gartner honored our team for rebuilding our corporate culture, restructuring our communications team and refreshing our brand while creating a new mission, values and purpose simultaneously. “It’s amazing to see all that we’ve accomplished, and so gratifying to be recognized for those efforts,” says Chief Communications Officer Kelli Hammersmith. “Our story won’t be one we tell, but one we live and prove in how others experience us as a people-first organization — and our teammates will continue to shape that story together.” Read more at https://bit.ly/3TkUh9o #TeamADV #WinningTogether