Acosta

We’ve loved partnering with Wild Planet & now Bolton U.S. for the past 14 years — and it keeps getting better. Great products, great people, and a shared focus on getting it done. From helping Wild Planet Foods grow to bringing Rio Mare to market in the U.S., we're seeing strong results across all channels and retailers, and we're celebrating new placements and expanded footprints. Bolton North America's Regional President Chris Barnsdale and Bolton US Vice President of Sales Dana (Winer) Daszczuk share how our partnership creates win-wins for brands, retailers, and shoppers. Here’s to strong teamwork and even more growth ahead.

What earns a place in the basket is shifting. Clean ingredients still matter, but now value has to be crystal clear. Price scrutiny is rising. Label clarity is essential. Digital tools are putting product information at shoppers’ fingertips. Our Impact Natural team shares a closer look at what’s changing — and what it means for brands. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/eTa6ewD4

83% of CPG executives aren’t fully confident they’ll hit their 2026 revenue and profit plans. That’s one of the headline findings from our latest CPG Confidential survey of leaders across 90+ top CPGs. Why the concern? 👉 Consumer value is being redefined 👉 Retailer margin pressure is intensifying 👉 Private brands are accelerating One thing is clear: growth exists, but it’s concentrated. Some channels are winning with consumers while others are falling behind. And speed matters. 38% of leaders say their biggest strategic risk is moving too slowly to keep up with changing consumer demand. We’re in the trenches with our clients every day — using strategic insights, bold joint business planning, and real-time execution to help them stay ahead of the market. Wherever it takes us.

Our St. Louis team shows up for our clients and in the community. 🏃♀️🏃♂️ Alongside teammates from the 618 office, we laced up for our annual 5K last week, a tradition we’ve kept going for 5+ years. The race benefits the St. Louis Sports Foundation, which champions sportsmanship, kindness, and respect. We are grateful to be part of something that brings the community together, and gives us the chance to spend time together as a team.

Only 4 of 14 departments are projected to grow both dollars and units in 2026. That’s the reality. True growth is scarce. Thanks to our scale across categories and retailers, we can see the full picture. Our 2026 Category Outlooks show the same signal everywhere. Growth is concentrated, not widespread. Seafood, Baby Care, and Bakery are leading. Most other departments are posting dollar gains while units decline, meaning price and promo are doing the work, not demand. For brands and retailers, the message is simple: 👉 Be far more selective about where you chase growth 👉 Stop relying on price and promotion to prop up results 👉 Rebuild base velocity and fix promotional inefficiency now The edge goes to teams that know where real demand is forming and move early.

Huge congrats to NOMMM Inc and founder Lisa Sohanpal, winners of the IGNITE Sales Services Pitch Slam at Natural Products Expo West. They're bringing bold, globally inspired flavor to fresh frozen with high-protein, high-fiber wraps and snacks that live up to their motto: Bland is Banned. We’re excited to team up with such an inspiring founder and brand that's pushing the category forward. Let’s go!

Sandra Kuo is a standout Business Manager on our Impact Natural team, known for her collaborative spirit and adaptability for two of our largest natural clients. Based in Hawaii, Sandra starts her day at 4:30 a.m. to stay aligned across time zones, ensuring seamless support and execution with partners nationwide.  Her leadership has earned repeated client recognition for navigating constant change at scale and delivering strong outcomes on complex initiatives.  As Shii Stickler shared, “Her adaptability and resilience exemplify embracing change at its best.” 

Hispanic consumers continue to shape where and how growth shows up across retail. As that influence expands, the brands that win are the ones willing to operate with intention at the local level. That is where our Hispanic Selling Team does its most impactful work.     We partner with brands — Hispanic and non-Hispanic — inside the independent retailers that Hispanic shoppers rely on every day, bringing cultural fluency and deep market knowledge to inform decisions store by store. We've built this expertise through years of hands on work inside Hispanic retail, not from the outside looking in. 

GLP‑1s are changing more than what’s in the grocery cart. From ripple effects across beauty, health, and hydration to the importance of clean labels and easy in‑store and digital navigation, shopper expectations are shifting fast. In this Chain Drug Review interview from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Annual Meeting, Megan Rand breaks down key implications from Acosta Group’s recent GLP-1 shopper study. Watch her conversation with Retail Media IQ Editor‑in‑Chief Jeffrey Woldt to see what this means for your brand and your shelves. https://lnkd.in/eCn4wGEV

Lindsey Korrect is a high-impact leader and an Acosta Group Aspire Award winner. As Director of our Dollar General team, she takes ownership of every challenge and opportunity. Her clients adore her, and for good reason. The results speak for themselves: Growing one client’s business by +15%  Driving +9% growth and +1 SKU for another  Securing new Dollar General distribution with a 2-month endcap in 20K stores on top SKUs  Gaining +2 SKUs after adding 4 last year Beyond the numbers, Lindsey leads critical initiatives without missing a beat. She’s empowered team transformation while maintaining high performance and ensuring zero client disruption. She’s a generous teammate, quick to share ideas, insights, and encouragement, and she pours her heart into everything she does.  Lindsey, thank you for your leadership in the value channel!