Business
Les Hine is the CEO and Executive Vice President of Global Brand Strategy and Planning at Otsuka Nutraceutical Emerging Ventures (ONCE Ventures). He joined ONCE Ventures in 2016, starting out with a focus on corporate strategy and M&A. Before joining ONCE Ventures, Les was the Chief Strategy Officer of Pharmavite, spent four years as the President and CEO of Mxi Technologies, and two years as CMO and Regional President of Molson Brewery. He was also sharpening his skillset in general management at Procter & Gamble for 21 years. Les is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University with a BBA in business. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: Les Hine talks about his work and some of the brands ONCE Ventures has invested in What are some of the future plans for ONCE Ventures? Current trends in the nutraceuticals industry and how changes in dietary habits have impacted food marketing What CPG entrepreneurs need to know before seeking venture funding Les talks about ONCE Ventures’ regular business operations and their contact details How awareness around healthy living has been influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic Les shares his advice for entrepreneurs on building a great business In this episode... Over the last couple of years, there has been a growing emphasis on healthy living as more people choose to pay attention to what they consume. Innovation in the nutraceuticals industry is at an all-time high, and as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, there is even more need to eat — and feel — better. With an increased demand for healthy food alternatives, entrepreneurs need to seek capital funding to grow their businesses. This is where venture capital firms like ONCE Ventures come into play. The ONCE Ventures team helps provide the capital and advisory resources that brands need to grow and scale. But, according to the CEO of ONCE Ventures, there are some key things CPG brands need to know before looking for their venture funding. Les Hine, the CEO and Executive Vice President of Global Brand Strategy and Planning at ONCE Ventures, is Steve Cleere's guest in this episode of the NexxtLevel Brands Podcast. They discuss current trends and innovations in the nutraceuticals industry and venture fund investments in CPG brands. They also talk about some of the brands ONCE Ventures has invested in and how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted lifestyle habits. Stay tuned. Subscribe and Listen on: iTunes Spotify Stitcher Google Play Deezer iHeartRadio TuneIn Amazon Music Resources Mentioned in this episode Kitchen2Shelf NexxtLevel Marketing ONCE Ventures Les Hine on LinkedIn Daiya Nature Made Uqora Mid-Day Squares DSM Nutritional Products Chivas Cool News: The NexxtLevel Brands Podcast has just been named as one of the Top 15 CPG-Themed Podcasts on the web!!! We're at Lucky #7 and you can get more information about Feedspot and how you can watch more of your favorite shows here: Top CPG Podcasts – Thanks to Feedspot, Rise25 and our Production Team! Sponsor for this episode... Our podcast today is sponsored by Kitchen2Shelf, the educational arm of NexxtLevel Brands. Kitchen-2-Shelf provides online and in-person courses and workshops for CPG entrepreneurs at any stage of growth. Whether you're an early-stage startup, a local growing business, or if you want to just expand your distribution to a national level, Kitchen-2-Shelf can help you learn what you need to know to grow. Visit their website to get access to some free tools that can help you understand where your business stands. Contact them today to find out how they can help you grow your brand and expand your business to reach its full potential.