What's plant-based, gluten-free, and of South African origin? Turns out, chakalaka is just that, but what is this product? Chakalaka Brands founder Leeto Tlou joined The Food Institute Podcast to explain his pivot from the finance world to the food industry, the South African cuisine's history, and how its flavors could be perfect for the American palate.

More about Leeto Tlou:
Leeto Tlou is the Founder & CEO of Chakalaka Brands. He learned about Chakalaka while visiting South Africa and wanted to introduce the dish to American audiences. He was amazed by the taste of the dish and the fact that it aligned with his family’s history and culture.

He is passionate about sharing the vibrant flavors and cultures of the world through food, and believes that food has the power to connect people and awaken their senses. Chakalaka's products are designed to enliven the palate and inspire people to explore cuisines from different cultures and regions.

Prior to starting Chakalaka Brands, Leeto had a successful career in financial services, where he gained valuable experience in business development, marketing and leadership.

More about Chakalaka Brands:
Our mission is to awaken and enliven your senses, through experiencing the vibrant flavors of the world and our cultures. We celebrate fully living life. Mixed with happiness. Chakalaka is a vibrant and spicy bean dish that is traditionally served at South African barbecues or braai. A heritage blend of beans, vegetables and hints of curry and peppers, Chakalaka makes it possible to taste the flavor of life fully. Chakalaka’s products enliven the palate and awaken the senses to bring us together through global cuisine. Prepare and share with your friends & family!

Learn more about Chakalaka Brands:
https://chakalakabrands.com/

Sign up for the Plant-Based Insider:
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/JNdPe1u

Boom Chakalaka - a Conversation with Chakalaka Brands

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine if the tide is turning on consumer confidence heading into the summer of 2024.

FI Fast Break News - May 30, 2024

The State of Early-Stage Food Brands
Funding sources are drying up and inflation is making it harder and harder for higher-priced food brands to compete - what's an early-stage food company to do? Dr. James Richardson, owner of Premium Growth Solutions and author of Ramping Your Brand, joined The Food Institute Podcast to discuss what types of food companies are succeeding under current industry dynamics.

More About Dr. James Richardson:
Dr. Richardson is the founder of Premium Growth Solutions, a strategic planning consultancy for early-stage consumer-packaged-goods brands. As a professionally trained cultural anthropologist turned business strategist, he has helped more than 75 CPG brands with their strategic planning, including brands owned by Coca-Cola Venturing and Emerging Brands, The Hershey Company, General Mills, Kraft Foods, Conagra Brands, and Frito-Lay as well as emerging brands such as Once Upon a Farm, Mother Kombucha, Bobby Sue’s Nuts, Rebel Creamery, Zaca recovery, and others. He also hosts his own podcast—Startup Confidential. His thoughts appear regularly in industry publications such as Foodnavigator.

To learn more about Dr. Richardson and his book, Ramping Your Brand, please visit:
www.rampingyourbrand.com

The State of Early-Stage Food Companies

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine a recent occurrence that seems to prove the business value of leaning into sustainability.

FI Fast Break News - June 5, 2024

This Series is Sponsored by BMO

In the first episode of the “Foodservice Gamechangers” series, Food Institute advisor Pat Mulhern speaks with UniPro Foodservice CEO Bob Stewart who shared his thoughts on the foodservice industry’s future, including the impact of consolidation and succession planning. Additionally, Stewart emphasizes the importance of hard work, technical skills, and networking.

More about Bob Stewart:
A seasoned executive with 38 years of diversified experience in professional services, retail, manufacturing and distribution.  His distribution experience included 20 years at US Foods.  Bob began his professional career as a CPA in Pittsburgh, PA and worked several years in the Audit Departments of Deloitte and Grant Thornton.

Joining Kraft Foodservice in 1991, Bob advanced at both the local operating plant and HQ  levels where he held roles as a SVP of Finance and Operational Strategy, CFO of US Food’s North Region, VP of Purchasing and Marketing, Reg. VP of Finance as well as a Division President.  Bob also led US Foods large-scale business transformation project to redesign and functionalize parts of the business. 

Bob has been the CEO of UniPro since 2015, leading the cooperative through an organizational rebranding and resurgence, significantly increasing Member and Supplier participation and engagement.   
He is a native of southwestern Pennsylvania, has six children and now resides in Atlanta with his wife Maria along with their seventh child, Missy the English Bull Terrier. 

More about UniPro:
With 460 members with over 1,000 locations, UniPro Foodservice, Inc. is the largest foodservice distribution cooperative in the United States. They provide nationwide access to exclusive purchasing opportunities with the country's premier suppliers. Learn more: https://www.uniprofoodservice.com/

Thanks to Our Sponsor: BMO
Whether you’re a producer, processor, retailer or distributor every company throughout the food continuum needs a financial partner that understands the factors that impact their business. From emerging consumer trends and industry consolidation, to commodity fluctuations and economic cyclicality, BMO’s Food, Consumer, and Agribusiness Group understands the issues affecting your company and are dedicated to serving the entire food industry – from farm to consumer. To learn more about how they can help, visit commercial.bmo.com/food.

Foodservice Gamechangers - Bob Stewart

This Series is Sponsored by BMO

In the second episode of the “Foodservice Gamechangers” series, special guest host and Food Institute advisor Pat Mulhern welcomed Dot Foods president George Eversman to talk about his career journey and leadership style. Additionally, the pair discuss workforce management strategies and supply chain logistics for the foodservice distribution industry.

More about George Eversman:
George Eversman is President of Dot Foods. He came up through the business in both Sales & Business Development.  In George’s 30 year career with Dot he has spent time in managing various aspects of Dot’s retail and foodservice businesses.  

George has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Iowa, and an MBA from Arizona State University.

George’s family consists of wife Michelle, and 4 children ranging in age from 26 to 15 years old.  His two older children now reside in Austin and Dallas Texas respectively, while his two younger daughters are still at home in Quincy, Illinois.

More about Dot Foods:
Robert and Dorothy Tracy founded our company in 1960, with big dreams of starting a family business and streamlining the food supply chain.

Sixty years later, we make more products more accessible to more people than ever before. We do this by purchasing large quantities of product from the supplier and storing it in our 13 distribution centers across the country. Our distributor and food processor customers then order our food and non-food items in less-than-truckload (LTL) quantities, which we deliver in as little as two to four days.

Our business model, the talents of more than 4,000 employees, and the Tracy family's ownership have helped our company become the largest food industry redistributor in North America. 

But even more importantly, the dream that took shape all those years ago is still driving our partners' businesses forward. Learn more at: https://www.dotfoods.com/.

Thanks to Our Sponsor: BMO
Whether you’re a producer, processor, retailer or distributor every company throughout the food continuum needs a financial partner that understands the factors that impact their business. From emerging consumer trends and industry consolidation, to commodity fluctuations and economic cyclicality, BMO’s Food, Consumer, and Agribusiness Group understands the issues affecting your company and are dedicated to serving the entire food industry – from farm to consumer. To learn more about how they can help, visit commercial.bmo.com/food.

Foodservice Gamechangers - George Eversman

This Series is Sponsored by BMO

In the third episode of the “Foodservice Gamechangers” series, Independent Marketing Alliance president and CEO Rob Mould speaks with special guest host and Food Institute advisor Pat Mulhern about selecting and managing suppliers, and the need for more suppliers in certain categories. The pair also discusses how leadership styles have adapted to a changing workplace, and the need for purposeful and proactive leadership in the foodservice distribution workplace.

More about Rob Mould:
Rob Mould believes in fostering a strong, collaborative company culture focused on people and solutions that deliver outstanding results. He was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, and attended Washington and Lee University for his undergraduate education. He later attended the University of South Carolina where he earned an M.B.A.

Rob spent 20 years in the grocery retail industry focused on category management and all merchandising elements followed by eight years in foodservice. He began his career in private brands and moved into category management working for various top tier grocery retailers, spending the last ten years in senior level positions in center store and produce.

Rob Mould joined Independent Marketing Alliance (IMA), a foodservice buying group headquartered in Houston, in 2015 as its President and CEO.  The primary company focus is “exclusive brands” or “private brands”, but a total category growth mindset is the goal. 

More about Independent Marketing Alliance:
Independent Marketing Alliance (IMA) is an exclusive network of the highest producing foodservice distributors, delivering better business through its exclusive alliance. For over 20 years, members have benefited from expert category and supplier management, exclusive brands marketing, business planning, quality assurance, and more. Learn more here: https://imafoodservice.com/.

Thanks to Our Sponsor: BMO
Whether you’re a producer, processor, retailer or distributor, every company throughout the food continuum needs a financial partner that understands the factors that impact their business. From emerging consumer trends and industry consolidation to commodity fluctuations and economic cyclicality, BMO’s Food, Consumer, and Agribusiness Group understands the issues affecting your company and is dedicated to serving the entire food industry – from farm to consumer. To learn more, visit commercial.bmo.com/food.

Foodservice Gamechangers - Rob Mould

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine the trendy Planetary Health Diet and more.

https://www.premiumbeat.com

FI Fast Break News - June 12, 2024

The Food Institute Podcast leverages the Food Institute's 90-plus-year history to provide actionable information and insight to food industry professionals.

Boom Chakalaka - a Conversation with Chakalaka Brands

The Food Institute Podcast

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