Beyond Growth Playbook - Edition # 1
The Opening Play
This week, I’ve been thinking about how CPG brands can leverage AI to simplify regulatory compliance—a powerful mix of innovation and growth mindset in action.
Here's what's driving that shift:
- Canada will require front-of-package (FOP) nutrition symbols on most prepackaged foods starting January 1, 2026.
CPG brands can now turn to Generative AI and smart compliance tools to:
- Auto-scan ingredients
- Flag packaging for FOP requirements
- Update labels quickly — saving hours compared to manual checks
🔗 Read more: Canada.ca & Crew Marketing Partners – Canadian FOP Requirements 2026
Meanwhile, AI compliance platforms like RegAsk monitor regulatory changes and notify teams instantly — helping businesses stay ahead in both product development and labeling.
Even regulators are embracing AI: the FDA’s internal tool “Elsa” now flags labeling inconsistencies faster, underscoring that speed and data quality are becoming central to compliance.
Why It Matters
Compliance is no longer just about meeting deadlines—it's about speed to market, risk reduction, and proactive innovation.
CPG brands that bake AI into their regulatory workflows are gaining an edge: fewer reprints, smoother launches, and a scalable process that flexes with shifting rules.
🌍 The Global Play (Markets & Trade)
For CPG brands, international trade is no longer just about finding buyers — it’s about navigating tariffs, building resilience, and diversifying markets.
- U.S.–Canada Trade Reality
The U.S. remains Canada’s largest trading partner, with billions in two-way revenue flow. While recent tariffs create friction, the U.S. market is simply too critical to ignore. For Canadian exporters, the goal isn’t to replace the U.S., but to engage constructively, seek amicable solutions, and ensure critical sectors remain protected from tariff shocks. - Canada Strong vs. Global Reach
The “Canada Strong” push to support local businesses is valuable, but it must be paired with pragmatic trade engagement. Canada cannot decouple from the U.S. — instead, businesses should strengthen domestic resilience while safeguarding access to American buyers. - Tariff Diversification — The Need of the Hour
With tariff volatility on the rise, exporters must look beyond the U.S. to Asia and Latin America as secondary growth engines. Diversifying supply chains and market entry points reduces duty exposure and creates negotiating flexibility in global trade discussions. - Emerging Market Growth
Markets in Asia and LATAM are projected to account for three-quarters of CPG industry growth in the coming years. Building early partnerships will help Canadian firms capture long-term demand, even as North American dynamics shift.
📖 I explored this theme in my article: Diversifying Canada’s Trade Partnerships: A Strategic Imperative - — where I argued that Canadian businesses must proactively build resilience by entering new markets.
👉 Takeaway: The smart play for CPG exporters is dual focus — defend and deepen ties with the U.S. while simultaneously opening doors in Asia and Latin America. It’s not either/or; it’s both.
🎯 Play of the Week
FAST Channels Continue Their Breakout
FAST (Free Ad‑Supported Streaming TV) is powering ahead as one of the fastest-growing segments in streaming. Key takeaways from the latest Gracenote 2025 FAST Report and industry updates:
- Channel Growth: FAST channels surged 42% since mid-2023, now exceeding 1,600 globally — with about 74% in the U.S. (Gracenote Report).
- Recent Acceleration: In Q2 2025 alone, channel count rose 14%, representing 76% growth since 2023.
- Genre Shifts: FAST programming is no longer vintage-only — more than 70% of content has been produced since 2010. Reality is the fastest-growing genre, up 626% since July 2024.
- Live & Sports Expansion: Sports channels have more than doubled, with more replays and live coverage entering the mix.
- Discovery Challenge: With 178,000+ unique programs across FAST, platforms must invest in metadata and discovery tools to stand out.
👉 What it means for media businesses: The winners in FAST won’t just be those with the most channels, but those who master live content, personalization, and smart ad strategies to cut through the noise.
💡 Innovation Spotlight: Kodak’s Digital Downfall
In 1975, Kodak engineer Steven Sasson invented the first digital camera. But instead of seizing the opportunity, Kodak’s leaders shelved the innovation — fearing it would disrupt their lucrative film business.
By the 2000s, competitors like Sony and Canon embraced digital, launching user-friendly cameras and dominating the market. Kodak’s late and half-hearted pivot couldn’t catch up. By 2012, the company filed for bankruptcy, its market value collapsing from $31B to under $150M.
Lessons for Entrepreneurs
- Embrace disruption — even if it threatens your core business.
- Move fast on consumer trends, like Sony did with digital adoption.
- Listen to internal innovators — don’t sideline your own talent.
- Adapt or risk obsolescence, whether in CPG, media, or tech.
👉 Kodak’s story is a timeless warning: innovate boldly or fade away.
🧠 Growth Mindset Corner
Signal vs. Noise in Growth
When we evaluate ideas, feedback, or even our own self-talk, not everything deserves equal weight. The key is to filter signal from noise.
- Signal (green zone): Insights with high emotional impact that move you forward — these are the lessons, opportunities, and feedback that inspire growth.
- Noise (red zone): Inputs with low emotional impact that distract or drain energy — often negativity, irrelevant comparisons, or background chatter.
A growth mindset means focusing energy on signals (even when they’re hard truths) while ignoring the noise.
👉 Next time you get feedback, ask yourself: Is this signal or noise? Does it help me grow, or just distract me?
🤝 Let’s Collaborate
I’m an entrepreneur and business growth consultant based in Canada. I help media, consumer, and technology-driven businesses grow through:
- FAST channel distribution & media partnerships
- Digital transformation & platform adoption
- CPG international trade & market expansion (Canada & USA)
- Strategic partnerships & growth consulting
🌍 Strategic Reflection
If you're a CPG brand — which market would you prioritize for expansion in 2025 and beyond — the US or Canada, or consider diversifying deeper into Asia or LATAM? What have you done to keep your business tariff resilient?
👉 Subscribe to my newsletter on entrepreneurship, international trade & business: iamgrt.kit.com
