Highlight

Is moderation the new "better for you" in beverages? Alex Doman, co-founder and CEO of Stiller's Sodas (formerly of AVEC DRINKS) thinks so. In a landscape where consumers are more conscious than ever, they don't want the sugar drinks of legacy brands, but they don't want the fake ingredient, zero calorie substitutes either. Listen to all of Alex's expert advice for beverage entrepreneurs in the latest episode of The Highlight Reel - Innovation on Tap: https://okt.to/hed32n

The best innovation is powered by high-quality product testers ?? That's why we're excited to attend American Food Innovate by Food Innovate Summit in Atlanta this month! Research pros Lukas Cartmell and Nathan Curtis will be repping Highlight at the event to chat about your innovation goals. Ask them how insights by Highlight's all-in-one community, insights platform, and shipping solution can answer your most burning business questions quickly & easily.

"Ultimately everybody wants to indulge, but legacy brands aren't checking the box for the next generation of consumers." John Herman, co-founder and CEO at BERO would know. As an entrepreneur with decades of experience in the better-for-you beverage space, he's seen "better for you" take on many different shapes and forms over the years. But what does that mean for product innovators looking to deliver on consumer expectations for today's #BFY beverage trends? You can hear all of John's advice in the latest episode of the Highlight Reel - Innovation of Tap: https://okt.to/DHzEky

The beauty industry is changing, fast ??? ...and there's huge opportunity for the brands that are able to deliver on consumer expectations ?? According to Retail Brew, the beauty market is on a five-year growth streak, with overall beauty sales rising over 6% last year to $107.5 billion ???? Come find our teammate Dilara Sharifi on Wed-Thurs this week at Beauty Accelerate by Cosmetics & Toiletries to talk about how high-quality consumer research can give your team the insights you need to win across retail channels ????

Just when you thought private label brand builders couldn't get any more innovative...this past week saw headlines like: ?? Misfits Market Owned Brand Odds & Ends Breads are Made with Waste Ingredients ?? Oregon chain Market of Choice Launches Private Label by Local Producers ?? Target Heats Up Its Private Label Grocery Assortment Retailer private label innovation is only gaining momentum! Stay up-to-date with innovation best practices especially for owned brands with this free report: https://okt.to/p6zwrM

That's a wrap on another Natural Products Expo West for the books!! ?? The Highlight team had a blast connecting with old friends and new this week, seeing what the industry's most innovative brands are cooking up, and exploring how product testing can ensure you go to market with products people love! ?? S/O Kwame Wireko repping Suja Life, Santi Strasser repping Carbe Diem / General Mills, Tim Leavey Dana Kim Emma Steele Nathan Curtis Startup CPG and Perfy ??

Highlight is heading to #Qual360! Did you know? Highlight's community of testers average greater than 90% completion rates. They're a highly engaged bunch, fully supported by our incredible Community Team so they can give thoughtful, in-depth answers to your most burning business questions. You can learn more about how our community of testers provides high-quality qualitative feedback here: https://okt.to/lpHQdU Or you can ask our teammate Carly Shira when you see her at Qual360! Send her a connection request ahead of the event to schedule a time to meet.

Categories don't matter to your consumer. It's tempting from an entrepreneur's or product innovator's point of view to think of your product's grocery aisle or subcategory comps, but the truth is more challenging. When it comes to "share of mouth," your competition is: every beverage. All the more reason that product innovators need high-quality consumer feedback to make sure their product can win on key metrics. Hear more insights from Alex Doman, formerly of AVEC DRINKS and now of (Ben) Stiller's Sodas on the latest episode of The Highlight Reel - Innovation on Tap: https://okt.to/r2J4FG

Highlight's going to Expo West! ?? We're so excited for the #CPG event of the year ?? and to see what products the industry's best brand innovators have been cooking up ?? Our team will be on the ground to chat all things product testing. Send them a connection request ahead of next week to schedule a time to meet! Dana Kim Nathan Curtis Emma Steele Tim Leavey Can't wait to see you there!

When you're a product innovator, you have to start by asking honestly: What do consumers REALLY want? It's too easy to over-focus on the retailer perspective or think of things in terms of categories, but of course that's not how consumers think. When it comes to beverages, they want a product that makes the social ritual of drinking more enjoyable - and of course, it has to taste great, too. We were lucky enough to welcome BERO CEO and co-founder John Herman to the latest episode of the Highlight Reel. Watch the full replay here: https://okt.to/3RrKXI