Deepak's musings #116: Summer is here and almost over

August 16, 2023

All things consumer & insurgent brands. What I am currently reading, thinking about, and reflecting upon. You can follow me on Twitter at @dishahdadpuri or follow DSGCP at @dsgcp.

šŸ„šŸ½šŸŒŠā˜€ļøšŸŒ“ Summer is almost over

My last musing was over a month ago on 11 July 2023 before I left for a 4-week vacation to Europe, spending time with family in London and then an amazing 8 days in Portugal between Comporta and Lisbon. Most people have visited London so not much to say but I highly recommend Portugal for its history, cuisine, rugged beauty and everything else it has to offer. In particular, I highly recommend taking surfing lessons šŸ„šŸ½ and braving the cool Atlantic ocean waters šŸŒŠ.

I am now back in Singapore and fully energised to work with our portfolio of insurgent brands and continue to look for those unique founders looking to build mission-led brands.

šŸ·šŸ¾ Portfolio update: Sula Vineyards reported a 24% rise in first-quarter profits

Strong demand for premium boosts Sula

Sula Vineyards, the biggest winery in India, reported a rise in first-quarter profits, boosted by strong demand for its premium wines.

Portfolio update: Pip & Nut secures new funding

The FSE Group looks for strong ESG credentials in the businesses with which it works. Pip & Nut became a certified B Corp in 2019, meaning it has to demonstrate in real terms how it is using business as a force for good, providing a measure of its impact on people and the planet.

Pip & Nut wins Ā£1m backing from Greater London Investment Fund

Natural nut butter brand Pip & Nut has received a Ā£1m funding boost to underpin NPD and growth.

A peek into Tata Consumer Productā€™s playbook

In a candid interview, Sunil Dā€™Souza opens up on the playbook he is using to turbo-charge growth at Tata Consumer, from acquisition to innovation to playing to win.

How Tata Consumerā€™s Sunil Dā€™Souza put product launches on steroids

The CEO tells The Ken how he tripled the rollout of new products at the FMCG company, and why he asks his team ā€œnot to play for a draw"

Oddity: The ā€œdeep techā€ of CPG?

Oddity went public last week. Oddity is a beauty and wellness technology company that uses AI to develop skin and beauty products. Everyone who closely tracks insurgent brands has been watching the phenomenal growth of the business since its inception in 2018. The best POV of the business I have come across is written by our friend Jason Stoffer at Maveron. I urge you to read his fantastic teardown and analysis.

Oddity F-1

Is it an emerging Israel beauty behemoth or a flash in the pan?

Nearly half of adults switch between alcoholic and alcohol-free drinks during any given drinking occasion - Kantar

Waitrose, my favourite UK supermarket, plans to reduce its allocated shelf space for wine to make room for more alcohol-free products in the coming months. Waitrose is known for being swift in its response to growing trends.

Waitrose to clear shelf space for more alcohol-free products

The retailer plans to give alcohol-free products 60% more space ahead of anticipated demand at Christmas.

Global CPG giants continue to acquire fast-growing brands

Campbell is paying 3.1X Mar 2023 annualised revenues adjusted for net debt.

Campbell Soup Co. to buy US peer Sovos Brands

Campbell Soup Co. has struck a deal to acquire fellow US food manufacturer Sovos Brands.

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