Hey, it's Chef Mike

Big CPG companies don’t reshuffle leadership without a reason. When someone new takes the reins, it usually signals where the business sees its next phase of growth, or survival. Post’s latest appointment is a reminder that even the most familiar categories are being rethought.

Are you diversifying your portfolio, or doubling down on your core category? Hit reply and I’ll help you think through the trade-offs.

Contents:

🏷️ Post Taps CPG Veteran to Lead Consumer Brands

🌱 How Organic Certification Builds Trust and Shelf Appeal 

🍸 How the OFI Helped Hella Cocktail Co. Grow Locally and Sustainably

📅 Event Highlight: Fresh Ideas Organic Marketplace 2026

Leadership changes at major CPG companies often signal deeper strategic shifts, especially as legacy categories adapt to new consumer pressures.

Here’s what you need to know:

🔹 New Leadership at Post
Post Holdings appointed CPG veteran Greg Pearson to lead its consumer brands division, which includes both cereal and pet food businesses.

🔹 Experience Across Categories
Pearson brings leadership experience from companies like General Mills, Conagra, Chewy, and pet food brands, giving him familiarity with both grocery and pet categories.

🔹 Cereal to Pet Food Evolution
Post’s consumer division has shifted from a cereal-focused portfolio to a more diversified business, especially after major investments in pet food.

🔹 Challenging Consumer Environment
The leadership transition comes as sales face pressure from inflation and reduced consumer spending across both food and pet categories.

📢 Bottom Line:
The appointment reflects Post’s continued pivot toward a diversified portfolio, with leadership experience across both legacy cereal brands and faster-growing pet food segments seen as critical to navigating a tougher consumer environment.

📖 Read the full article 

Organic certification is becoming a strategic tool for food brands looking to build trust, differentiate products, and meet evolving consumer expectations.

Here’s how brands can benefit from organic certification:

🔹 Stronger Consumer Trust
Certified organic labels provide third-party verification, helping shoppers feel more confident about ingredient quality and production standards.

🔹 Clear Market Differentiation
Organic certification gives products a recognizable point of distinction on crowded shelves, especially in health-focused and premium categories.

🔹 Access to New Retail Opportunities
Many natural and specialty retailers prioritize or require certified organic products, opening doors to additional distribution channels.

🔹 Alignment With Sustainability Values
Organic standards often resonate with consumers who prioritize environmental responsibility and more transparent farming practices.

🚀 Chef Mike’s Take:
Organic certification can do more than check a box. When it aligns with your product and values, it becomes a powerful signal of quality, integrity, and long-term brand positioning.

 📖 Read the full article

Hella Cocktail Co. (formerly Hella Bitters) began its partnership with the OFI in 2012, starting with just three SKUs and quickly expanding to eighteen. This growth was fueled by the OFI’s reliable co-packing services, expert guidance, and fair, scalable infrastructure designed to help emerging brands succeed.

“From the very beginning, Mike Schwartz and the team at the OFI have been an invaluable resource for us. Not just a co-packer, they have helped us solve challenges often faced by new food companies.”
—Tobin Ludwig, Co-Founder, Hella Cocktail Co.

By relocating their manufacturing and headquarters to the OFI in 2013, Hella Cocktail Co. was able to grow efficiently while keeping production local—a testament to the OFI’s critical role in sustaining jobs and nurturing innovation within New York City’s food and beverage community.

The Fresh Ideas Organic Marketplace offers a unique opportunity to connect, discover, and network in a setting designed for food and beverage innovators.

This one-day, outdoor marketplace combines the energy of a farmers market with the business focus of a trade show. Every product featured is certified organic, making it an ideal stop for CPG founders, product developers, and established brands looking to explore emerging organic trends before the main Expo West floor opens.

Why attend?
🔹 Preview new organic product launches in a more intimate, networking-focused environment
🔹 Connect with brands and retailers focused on functional, health-forward innovation
🔹 Spot early trends and build relationships with peers and potential partners

📍 Location: Anaheim Convention Center (outdoor marketplace)
📆 Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2026
🕛 Time: 12:00–5:00 PM

📖 Explore the event details

“A recipe has no soul. You, as the cook, must bring soul to the recipe.”

— Thomas Keller

Thank you for reading!

Contact me via our contact form or at mikes@organicfoodincubator.com

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