Foodservice/ Ingredients
Customer & Market And Operational Due Diligence Of Leading Processor Of Freeze-Dried Fruits: Rapid Assessment Of Technology, Competitive, Customer Concentration, And Operational Risks
Provided clarity on risks (technology, competitive, customer concentration, and operational), and growth opportunities ahead of bid. Through interviews with 30+ competitors (domestic and import), distributors, equipment suppliers, academic experts, and customers, and extensive secondary research, Gotham established: the applications and advantages/disadvantages of freeze-drying technology; the target’s positioning vs. domestic and international freeze-drying processors in South America, China and Europe; and the stability/growth of its top customers. Gotham’s analysis revealed while the market was growing and the target was well-positioned and poised for growth, it could potentially face increased competitive intensity and margin pressure. Our client accounted for all these risks and tempered growth projections in its model.
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Market Study For Foodservice Fresh Produce Distributor: Establishing Customer Buying Behavior And Competitive Positioning
Developed a fact-based market study for a foodservice fresh produce distribution company to provide clarity on market and competitive dynamics. Gotham: conducted 55 anonymous interviews with and collected 134 survey responses from foodservice buyers to determine the company’s competitive positioning and the customer buying behavior; and developed bottom-up market sizing models to pin down the addressable market size for each foodservice end-market. By identifying executional areas where the company was underperforming its competitors, Gotham guided management’s focus on sales and operational execution improvement opportunities to improve the company’s competitive positioning, reduce customer attrition, and drive growth.
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Operations Improvement At Ethnic Foodservice Products Manufacturer: Rapidly Capturing Manufacturing And Logistics Cost Reduction Opportunities
Captured $1.2MM in operations run-rate savings in 12 weeks at an ethnic foodservice and retail private label products manufacturer by implementing shop floor management best practices. Gotham worked on the shop floor to: observe operations; identify potential improvement opportunities; provide immediate guidance to client personnel; and troubleshoot and pilot solutions. We improved line through from ~225 cases/shift to ~375 cases/shift, reduced fill weight by 3-7% to minimize overfill, reduce floor scrap by 50%; and eliminated expired rework scrap. To ensure sustainability and further improvements, we: trained client personnel, put in place process changes, tools, KPIs and reporting system; and identified/planned next set of improvement opportunities. Gotham also launched logistics savings capture by developing direct ship pilot and facilitating conversation between company sales teams and foodservice distributors.
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Sales Optimization At Foodservice Fresh Produce Distributor: Assessing Salesforce Effectiveness and Developing A Commercial Operations Turnaround Plan
Conducted a 6-week commercial assessment for an entrepreneurial regional foodservice fresh produce distributor recently acquired by a PE firm, with the objectives of diagnosing financial underperformance and designing a commercial operations turnaround plan. To this end, Gotham: conducted a robust customer attrition analysis; interviewed salesforce and customers; mapped and assessed current processes; and reviewed performance measurement tools and KPIs. Gotham identified customer attrition drivers, sales process gaps, and organizational challenges, and redesigned the sales model to a hunter-maintainer structure with inside sales and improved service coordination. New KPIs, reporting dashboards, and a structured meeting cadence were implemented, unlocking 6–8% revenue and 10–12% EBITDA improvement opportunities.
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Customer & Market Due Diligence Of Premium Dessert Supplier: Establishing Consumption and Shopping Behavior Post-COVID
Conducted 3-week early Phase I customer & market due diligence to: (1) establish the U.S./Canada retail premium dessert market size/consumer trends; (2) establish the U.S./Canada retail in-store bakery (ISB) dynamics; and (3) assess the U.S./Canada foodservice premium dessert market size/dynamics – all with the look to the COVID impact. To this end, Gotham: conducted a consumer panel survey; interviewed retail bakery managers, bakery buyers/category managers, and foodservice dessert buyers; analyzed NielsenIQ data at the product and retailer level; established the business outlook of key retail and foodservice customers; and established the competitive landscape for key dessert suppliers. Our fact-based market and competitive dynamics assessment allowed our client’ deal team to reliably inform its investment committee on the opportunity.
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Customer & Market Due Diligence Of Foodservice Distributor/DTC Fulfillment Services Provider: Deciphering Nascent DTC Frozen Foods Fulfillment Market
Conducted 3-week customer & market due diligence to establish: frozen DTC fulfillment market size and the ability to sustain COVID-19 bump; the target’s competitive positioning in the frozen DTC fulfillment market; and the target’s reputation/positioning with foodservice distribution customers. Gotham: mapped universe of 350+ frozen DTC food companies; built bottom-up frozen DTC fulfillment market model; conducted 11 DTC fulfillment customer interviews; established competitive landscape of frozen DTC fulfillment services providers; and conducted 13 interviews and 73 online customer surveys of foodservice distribution customers. Gotham’s findings enabled our client to move forward confidently with the potential acquisition.
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