Post by Steven Cosgrove

The sun has set on Expo West and I’m filled with gratitude for the opportunity to be surrounded by the Sol-ti® team and 70,000+ of my closest friends :) Seriously though, we were fortunate to have so much of our team attend in person. Sol-ti was represented by the C-Suite, Sales, Finance, Operations, Marketing & Innovation teams (our largest turnout yet - subset featured below). In the early days, walking expo felt like we were playing a different game. The brand wasn’t as widely distributed as it is today, and competing against large incumbents backed by “Big Plastic” with massive trade budgets is no small undertaking. But this year, it felt like our hard work has paid off. That momentum was unmistakable on the show floor. Nearly every 10 feet, someone stopped to say hi, congratulate me on the new role, or share how inspiring it is to see Sol-ti sold at Starbucks and major retailers across the US. I also checked out several booths in the wellness shots segment. Most brands were gracious and sampled their latest innovations. One shot brand preferred that I purchase their innovation in-store, even though we’ve always prioritized innovation through differentiation: e.g., glass bottles, slow hydraulic cold-pressing, and UV light filtration to ensure purity, maximize flavor, and preserve delicate nutrients. Regardless, happy to support the category :) I also learned a lot and had some great conversations: Charlie from Whole Foods Market shared insights on perimeter store priorities and ways to innovate. Ben from SPINS shared the latest data on consumer preferences. Gary V on channel specific marketing tactics and hiring A-Players. SPINS Team (Emily/Caleb/Evonne) on how Ai is changing the way consumption data is used. Rosey from Target shared how she championed Sol-ti early on and her excitement for the brand’s growth trajectory. Robert Johnson on how Buyer’s prioritize their time and why that unanswered email might not mean what you think. Rebecca and Vinnie on best in class ways to support third-party field teams. Godwin Retail Group on the latest priorities at Walmart. Edge Sales (Jeff/Debi/Michele) + Tommy on innovation & ACI. National Retailer (SW US banner) on expanding Sol-ti's distribution. Thank you to all of our partners for making it memorable!