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Retail Insights & Intelligence

Practical content on food brokerage, retail channel strategy, go-to-market execution, and Gulf South market intelligence. No trend pieces. No generic growth advice. Just what works, what does not, and why it matters for your brand.

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Brokerage & Operations
Retail Channel Education
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Category & Market Intelligence

Gulf South Consumer Trends: What Sells in This Market and Why

Flavor profiles, pack sizes, and category preferences in the Gulf South differ from national averages. Here is what the data shows and what it means for your assortment.

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Category & Market Intelligence

Gulf South Grocery Chains: A Practical Guide for CPG Brands

Winn-Dixie, Rouses, Brookshire's, and other Gulf South chains each have unique buyer structures and promotional calendars. Here is what brands need to know.

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Category & Market Intelligence

How Regional Buying Decisions Differ from National Programs

Regional buyers have different authority, different priorities, and different timelines than national category managers. Here is how to navigate both.

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Category & Market Intelligence

Louisiana Retail Landscape: Chains, Independents, and What Drives Distribution

Rouses, Breaux Mart, and regional independents operate differently than national chains. Here is how Louisiana retail works and what it takes to win shelf space.

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Category & Market Intelligence

Gulf South Market Overview: What CPG Brands Need to Know Before Entering the Region

The Gulf South has distinct consumer preferences, retail dynamics, and distribution networks. Here is what national brands miss when they treat it like everywhere else.

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Go-To-Market & Launch

New Item Forms and Retailer Setup: What Happens After the Yes

Getting the yes is one thing. Completing item setup, UPC registration, and distributor authorization is what actually gets product on shelf. Here is the process.

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Go-To-Market & Launch

How to Build a Retail Buyer Pitch: What Buyers Actually Want to See

Most brand decks lead with story. Buyers lead with velocity data, margin math, and promotional support. Here is how to structure a pitch that holds up in the room.

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Go-To-Market & Launch

Trade Spend Strategy: How to Allocate Promotional Dollars Without Destroying Your Margin

Trade spend is one of the biggest line items in retail. Here is how to build a promotional plan that drives velocity without giving away the whole margin.

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Go-To-Market & Launch

Slotting Fees Explained: What They Are, What They Cost, and How to Negotiate Them

Slotting fees catch new brands off guard. Here is what retailers charge, why they charge it, and what leverage emerging brands actually have at the table.

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Go-To-Market & Launch

The Retail Launch Checklist: What Needs to Be Ready Before Your Product Hits the Shelf

A failed launch is expensive and hard to recover from. This checklist covers packaging, pricing, promotional planning, and distributor alignment before day one.

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Retail Channel Education

Drug Channel Retail: Why It Is Underestimated and How CPG Brands Can Win There

Walgreens and CVS move serious volume in specific categories. Here is how the drug channel works and what brands need to compete for shelf space.

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Retail Channel Education

Mass and Club Channel Strategy: What the Volume Expectations Actually Look Like

Getting into Walmart or Sam's Club sounds like a win until the volume requirements hit. Here is what to model before committing to mass and club.

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Retail Channel Education

How the Convenience Channel Works for CPG Brands (And Where Most Get It Wrong)

C-store buyers think differently than grocery buyers. Turns, pack size, impulse placement, and distributor alignment are what drive wins in this channel.

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Retail Channel Education

Grocery Channel Requirements: What CPG Brands Need to Know Before Pitching a Buyer

Slotting fees, item authorization, planogram placement, and promotional compliance. A practical breakdown of what grocery buyers actually require.

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Retail Channel Education

What Is Retail Velocity and Why Do Retailers Care So Much About It

Velocity is the number retailers watch most closely. Here is what it measures, how it is calculated, and what low velocity actually signals to a buyer.

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Brokerage & Operations

How Food Brokers Get Paid (And Why It Matters for Your Budget)

Commission structures, retainer models, and hybrid arrangements. What each means for your margin and what to negotiate before you sign.

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Brokerage & Operations

The Difference Between a Broker and a Distributor (And Why Confusing Them Costs Brands Money)

Brands lose placements, strain partner relationships, and waste trade dollars because they do not understand where a broker's responsibility ends and a distributor's begins. This is the clearest breakdown you will find.

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Brokerage & Operations

When to Hire a Food Broker: Signals Your Brand Is Ready

Hiring a food broker too early wastes money and goodwill. Hiring one too late costs you placements you cannot get back. Here is how to read the signals that tell you the timing is right.

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Brokerage & Operations

Regional Broker vs. National Broker: What CPG Brands Get Wrong

Bigger does not mean better in food brokerage. Most brands assume a national broker gives them an advantage. What they actually get is a smaller share of attention inside a very large portfolio.

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Brokerage & Operations

What a Food Broker Actually Does (And What They Cannot Do)

Most brands come into their first broker relationship with the wrong expectations. Here is an honest breakdown of what a food broker actually does, and where their responsibility ends.

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