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CPG Industry News Roundup: November 1 – November 7

The consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry continues to evolve, with brands capitalizing on targeted investments, innovative product launches, and strategic partnerships to capture consumer interest and market share. This roundup highlights notable activity across various CPG categories, including functional beverages, active nutrition, snack foods, and craft brewing, showcasing how established and emerging brands alike are adapting to meet dynamic consumer preferences. With a particular focus on beverage and active lifestyle brands, we’ll examine how companies are leveraging strategic acquisitions and brand refreshes to drive growth.

Nosh One Trick Pony Funding

One Trick Pony Secures Seed Funding

One Trick Pony, a plant-based snack company known for its innovative, nutrient-dense products, has secured seed funding from Collaborative Fund. This investment will allow the company to expand its product line and distribution channels, meeting the rising demand for plant-based and sustainable snack options. The funding highlights the growing interest among investors in brands that prioritize health, sustainability, and unique snacking experiences.

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Celsius Reports Q3 Financial Results

Celsius Holdings, a leader in the functional beverage market, has reported strong third-quarter financial results, reflecting robust demand for its energy and health-focused drinks. The company’s revenue growth highlights the accelerating consumer shift toward functional beverages that promise both performance and health benefits. Celsius continues to build on its success with new product innovations and expanded retail partnerships, signaling its ambition to dominate the active lifestyle beverage space.

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BeatBox Breaks Another Record

BeatBox Beverages has achieved a new sales milestone, reflecting the sustained popularity of ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails among younger consumers. Known for its vibrant packaging and bold flavors, BeatBox is capitalizing on the RTD trend, which has seen significant growth in recent years. With this latest record, the company reinforces its position as a top choice for consumers seeking convenient and flavorful cocktail options, especially within the millennial and Gen Z demographics.

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1440 Foods Acquires FITCRUNCH

1440 Foods has acquired FITCRUNCH, a brand known for its protein-rich snack bars, to bolster its active nutrition portfolio. This acquisition aligns with 1440 Foods’ strategy to deliver high-protein products tailored to health-conscious consumers, meeting the demand for convenient, nutritious snacks that support active lifestyles.

Barrilitos

Coca-Cola Relaunches Barrilitos

Coca-Cola has relaunched Barrilitos in California and Texas, aiming to attract nostalgia-driven consumers. This non-carbonated beverage, known for traditional flavors, appeals to consumers seeking authentic cultural products, reflecting Coca-Cola’s strategy to diversify its portfolio and connect with consumers on a more personal level.

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High Bank Coffee Roasters’ New Packaging

Onmi Design has collaborated with High Bank Coffee Roasters for a packaging refresh that emphasizes storytelling and quality. By investing in a visually compelling redesign, High Bank aims to strengthen its brand identity and connect with consumers who value both sustainability and authenticity.

Backpocket Brewing Peace Tree Opengraph

Backpocket Brewing Acquires Peace Tree Brewing

Backpocket Brewing has acquired Peace Tree Brewing to expand its craft beer portfolio. This acquisition allows Backpocket to leverage Peace Tree’s established presence and enhance its product offerings, highlighting a trend among regional breweries to consolidate and expand their reach in the competitive craft beer market.

Beeyond Snacks Bars

Beeyond Snacks Debuts Greek-Inspired Snack Bars

Beeyond Snacks has introduced a Greek-inspired snack bar, blending Mediterranean flavors with health-focused ingredients. Known for its wellness-driven approach, Beeyond targets consumers seeking exotic, nutritious snacks that align with their active, health-conscious lifestyles.

Implications for the CPG Industry

This week’s developments highlight ongoing shifts within the CPG sector as brands prioritize consumer-centered strategies to achieve growth. The investment in One Trick Pony underscores the strength of the plant-based snack market, where consumers increasingly favor unique, quality-driven products. Similarly, Celsius Holdings’ impressive financial performance reflects the surging popularity of functional beverages, reinforcing that consumer interest in health- and wellness-focused drinks is far from slowing down.

The acquisition of FITCRUNCH by 1440 Foods and Backpocket Brewing’s acquisition of Peace Tree Brewing both exemplify how companies are using acquisitions to enhance brand portfolios and tap into established consumer bases. These moves not only expand product offerings but also underscore a trend toward consolidation within the CPG space as brands look to build resilience in a competitive landscape.

Coca-Cola’s Barrilitos relaunch and High Bank Coffee Roasters’ packaging redesign signal a renewed emphasis on brand storytelling and heritage. As consumers seek more culturally resonant and visually engaging brands, established companies are blending tradition with modern marketing strategies to stay relevant. Meanwhile, the launch of Beeyond Snacks’ Greek-inspired bars demonstrates the continued appeal of functional and globally inspired snacks.

Conclusion

CPG brands are navigating an industry that demands both tradition and innovation. From craft and functional beverages to healthy snacks and nostalgic rebrands, companies are exploring diverse avenues to capture consumer interest. As consumer preferences evolve, CPG brands are finding creative ways to stand out, blending authenticity with modern appeal to drive future growth.

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Brent Albertson

CEO, Zing Zang LLC

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“ Our experience with Protis Global has been very positive. They have strong multi-industry CPG experience and understand our business model and standards. They know the difference between an “A-player” and a “B-player” in several functions, and the honesty around that standard helps us move faster. Mike and team set up a great process, especially in early canvassing and vetting that helps our leaders engage at the right time and make decisions fast. ”

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Colin Nolan

Executive Vice President, Mark Anthony Brewing Inc.

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“Protis Global’s approach to talent acquisition is marked by diligence, transparency, and a genuine dedication to client satisfaction. Their strategic insights and personalized service have made a substantial impact on our organization, ensuring that we always have the best professionals driving our initiatives forward. The team at Protis Global demonstrates a keen ability to identify individuals who not only possess the requisite skills but also align seamlessly with our company culture.”

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Hilal Tabsh

Chief Revenue Officer, Glass House Brands

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“Over the last 10+ years my experience with Michael Bitar and the Protis Global team has been exceptional across multiple industries. Michael and his team work to get to the true needs of my hiring plan and partner with us throughout the process. They understand our business, company culture, what success looks like, and then propose candidates that will produce results while also fitting into our team dynamic. Overall it’s a great team and experience and I would recommend to anyone looking to hire top-notch quality candidates reach out to Protis Global and Michael Bitar.”

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Peter Iglesias

Chief Executive Officer, Bespoken Spirits

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“I highly recommend Protis Global as a top-notch recruiting agency. I have had the pleasure of working with them for the past 15 years, both as a candidate and employer in the Spirits and Wine industry. In my 25 years of experience, I have found Protis Global to be the most efficient and effective recruiting agency I have ever dealt with. Protis Global has consistently come through for me in the clutch, providing exceptional professionalism and execution in job searches and placements. Their dedication to finding the right fit for both candidates and employers sets them apart from other agencies. I have always been impressed by their ability to understand the needs of both parties and successfully connect them in a timely manner.”

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Soley Van Lokeren

SVP, People

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“I have been in the field of human resources for over thirty years, in executive level roles both in-house and in outsourced positions. Michael Bitar is my favorite talent acquisition professional with which I have ever worked. He cares deeply about building a relationship with his clients, learning their business, culture, challenges, and truly understanding the needs of a role requisition. His approach is mirrored by the rest of the Protis team, who are courteous, thorough, and who make you feel like you are their only client. Protis successfully delivered hires for our Chief Commercial Officer role and for three key challenging roles (in both Marketing and Sales). They are simply – the best!”

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Brian Kuz

Chief Sales Officer

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“Protis is unique in their go-to-market strategy in that they not only find the right candidate for the role, but they find the right opportunity and company for the candidate. Protis Global looks for people who are ready to make a change...I will continue to recommend Protis Global as one of the best placement agencies in the World, as I have worked on every continent and have dealt with the big executive placement firms and the boutique ones. Protis shines above all, and as long as I am hiring, I will continue to go to Protis Global first, if not exclusively.”

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Chris Hall

CEO, poppi

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“Partnering with Protis Global has been a game-changer for poppi. They understood our vision and the unique challenges we faced as a rapidly growing brand. Their expertise in executive search helped us find the right leaders who not only fit our culture but also brought the skills and passion needed to drive accelerated growth. The Protis Global team actively took our feedback and adapted the search so that we could focus on what we do best – creating innovative, healthy beverages that our customers love. They’ve truly become an extension of our team, and we couldn’t imagine achieving our success without the team members they helped us to bring aboard.”

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Chad Palma

President of Sales, Spindrift

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“Michael Bitar and the Protis team have been such a pleasure to work with over the years. Not only do they do amazing work with recruiting but we have also developed a partnership between our two companies. Michael and his team provide a crucial role in reviewing my hiring needs at the beginning of each year. Once the review is complete, Michael begins searching for quality candidates that fit the role and culture for Spindrift. He and his team do an outstanding job of finding the right candidates for the position in need. I highly recommend Michael and the Protis team for your hiring needs.”

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John Sacksteder

President, Mark Anthony Brewing Inc

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“From the start, the relationship with Protis Global was different than other recruiting firms.  The team had a deeper level of commitment and desire to learn about our business than I had experienced with other firms. Our company was experiencing a time of exponential growth and our staffing needs were complex. We needed very experienced people across every possible function in the Operation and Supply Chain Teams and we needed them in a hurry. The Protis Global Team mobilized quickly and established a methodology to identify strong candidates and work them through the interview process in a professional and timely manner. Their grit, determination, understanding our needs and culture, sense of urgency and drive to exceed our expectations set them apart from the pack.”

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Kathleen Hutchison

Senior National Account Manager at Arla Foods

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Kayla was awesome and very thorough in her vetting of candidates. She understood our brief as we were looking for candidates and helped to weed through those who were not a good fit for the role. 

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Thomas Frisch

Chief People Officer at IJW Whiskey

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“The team worked quickly and efficiently to find a unique position.”

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Kim Nguyen

VP of Supply Chain at Lallemand

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Everyone involved was extremely helpful - Gary, Michael, Ben - thank you!! The team didn't only search for candidates based on the job description, but also the qualities that I look for in candidates. 

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Shashank Gaur

VP of Product Technology & Innovation

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The interview process was smooth and extremely professional. Ben and team represented me as much as they represented the company. 

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Jeremy Schulman

Regional Business Manager - Foodservice

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Consistent communication, updates, and detailed knowledge of the client. The whole experience was top notch!

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Blake T. Bermingham

Supply Chain Manager

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Very simplistic process finding the right role for the right candidate...keep up the great work! 

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Don Stohrer Jr.

CEO, Arla Foods USA

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“We’ve been a Protis Global client for eight years, and during this time have always appreciated the thoroughness of the recruitment process, as the candidates brought to us have been well-vetted, not only from a competency perspective, but more importantly from a [cultural] fit dynamic. Mike and the team have always been highly engaged to ensure they bring us candidates that match our culture. That’s been critical to the success of the candidates that have landed here by way of our relationship with Protis.”

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