Athena Marketing International

07/24/2025

The AMI team enjoyed our 3-day quarterly meeting in Seattle recently, while our team members in Asia and Latin American participated virtually. We spent time with our EOS consultant, discussed our long-term vision and quarterly goals, met with a well-known sales/motivational speaker, and focused on enhancing our customer’s experience. This amazing team is focused and aligned.

07/01/2025

It is a pleasure to welcome our new Sales Manager to the team, Kelsey Brongil. She has extensive experience in RTD beverages with such brands as Prime Hydration, Reed’s Ginger Beer and Red Bull. With over 10 years’ experience in the RTD beverage category, Kelsey will assist AMI to continue driving export sales worldwide of our RTD beverage brand portfolio.

Back to Team Kelsey Brongil Sales Manager Kelsey joined AMI in 2025 and currently serves as International Sales Manager. She is known for her strategic approach to business development and her consistent delivery of positive sales growth across multiple channels. With a core focus on communication,....

06/17/2025

Global Gen Z Food & Beverage Trends

Gen Z food and beverage consumer preferences are like U.S. consumers across key global regions, highlighting export opportunities for U.S. brands. Below AMI compiles the data to help you assess your product opportunities in global markets.

🔹 Key Regional Insights

Europe:
- Functional food market valued at $98B in 2023, projected to reach $168–171B by 2030.
- Germany's wellness food sector growing at 9.5% annually.

Asia-Pacific:
- 39% of global functional food share.
- High plant-based interest; 20% of Chinese Gen Z identify as flexitarian.

Latin America:
- Healthy snacks market was $4.21B in 2023, projected to reach $6.22B by 2030.
- On-the-go snacking rose from 14% to 18%; 67% of new snacks have health claims.

Middle East:
- 76–86% of consumers (e.g., Saudi Arabia, Egypt) consider sustainability important.
- 75% of Gen Z in the UAE show strong environmental concern.

🔹 Global Trends
1. Health & Wellness: Gen Z seeks functional, plant-based, and clean-label products.
2. Sustainability & Ethics: Transparency, ethical sourcing, and environmental values are key.
3. Convenience with Quality: The healthy snack market reached $95–101B in 2023, growing 6–7% annually.

🔹 AMI’s Role in Supporting U.S. Brands
Athena Marketing International (AMI) supports U.S. food and beverage brands by:
- Identifying top global export markets.
- Adapting product branding and packaging.
- Connecting with leading retailers and distributors.
- Offering data-backed market entry strategies.

🔹 Conclusion
U.S. brands focused on clean-label, plant-based, and sustainable products align well with Gen Z global preferences. AMI helps convert this demand into lasting export sales growth. Please contact us for a free global opportunity assessment and 30-minute consultation.

06/12/2025

🌍 Global Functional Beverage Opportunity

The global functional beverage market is surging—valued at $243B in 2024 and projected to reach $466B by 2034 (7% CAGR). Health-focused consumers are driving demand for hydration, gut health, energy, immunity, and cognitive wellness. This is a large opportunity for U.S. RTD beverage brands to gain incremental distribution/margin:

🌐 Regional Market Insights
- Asia–Pacific: Fastest-growing; interest in herbal, energy, plant-based drinks.
- Europe: Clean-label, clinical claims, mental wellness & probiotics.
- Latin America: Middle-class expansion driving demand for hydration and wellness.
- Middle East & Africa: Youth-driven growth; energy and herbal drinks rising.

🧃 Consumer Trends
- Energy drinks lead (28% market share).
- Immunity, hydration & gut-health (~27%).
- Probiotic drinks growing >35% (3-year growth).
- Plant-based & sustainable products surged 55%.
- Rise in nootropics, adaptogens, collagen drinks.

🛒 Key Retail Chains for U.S. Brands
Europe: Tesco, Carrefour, Aldi, Lidl, DM-drogerie
Asia-Pacific: Aeon, Lotte Mart, ParknShop, Wellcome, 7-Eleven
Latin America: Grupo Éxito, Cencosud, FEMSA/OXXO
Middle East/Africa: Carrefour (MENA), Pick n Pay, Shoprite

🛍️ Strategic E-commerce Channels
Global: Amazon, Global Sources
Asia-Pacific: JD.com, Tmall, Shopee, Lazada, Qoo10
Niche: Yamibuy (Asian-American audience)

💼 Why U.S. Beverage Brands Partner with AMI
AMI helps U.S. brands like Sparkling Ice, Roar Organic & Tru enter global markets. We offer:
- International retailer & distributor access
- On the ground sales and merchandising support
- Promotion & packaging support

Now is the time to go global. Contact us for a free consultation and global analysis of your brand’s export sales potential.

06/04/2025

Unlock Global Growth for Your Beverage Brand
Export Management for U.S. Beverage Manufacturers

🌍 Why Go Global?
🔹The global beverage market is projected to exceed $2 trillion by 2030.
🔹The Ready-to-Drink (RTD) segment is growing at 5.6% annually, driven by health-conscious and convenience-seeking consumers.
🔹Demand for U.S. beverage brands is especially strong in Asia, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East.

🚀 How AMI Helps You Expand End-to-End Export Management Services:
🔹Global Go-To-Market strategy
🔹Distributor selection and negotiations
🔹International regulatory compliance
🔹Sales and marketing ex*****on
🔹Ongoing management of global accounts

🏆 Proven Success
🔹20+ years' experience in international business development
🔹Network of over 150 vetted distributors and retailers worldwide
🔹Track record of success with both emerging and established brands

💼 Let’s Explore What’s Possible
If you’re ready to grow beyond borders, we’re ready to help.
📧 Contact us at info@athenaintl.com or visit https://athenaintl.com/

05/06/2025

🌍 Global E-commerce for Food and Beverage Brands

E-commerce plays a vital and increasingly transformative role in the global food and beverage industry. It offers significant benefits and reshapes how brands, retailers, and consumers interact. AMI can assist to provide access to some of the biggest global e-commerce platforms to take your brand to the next level. See below for the top reasons why you may consider offering your brand on global e-commerce platforms:

🌐 Expanded Market Reach: You can reach global audiences without the need for a physical store. This greatly benefits niche or artisanal brands looking for customers outside North America.

🛒 Consumer Convenience: With online shopping, consumers have 24/7 access to products. Home delivery and subscriptions also further add to the convenience and possibly sales.

🚚 Supply Chain Efficiency: With many digital tools, businesses can streamline logistics and manage real-time inventory.

🤝 Support for Small Brands: E-commerce can level the playing field by giving small and medium-sized food and/or beverage brands access to digital marketplaces to enable them to compete with larger brands.

There are many more benefits to taking your products global by leveraging e-commerce platforms. AMI can help if these sales channels are not currently known to your brand. If you don’t know where to start or need some help optimizing your sales, please reach out to AMI for a free initial consultation.

05/02/2025

🌍 At Athena Marketing International, we proudly represent MOCAFE®, by Innovative Beverage Concepts — a premium brand of professional café beverages crafted for the HORECA channel.

From award-winning frappes to authentic chai teas, matcha lattes, and the iconic Azteca D’Oro Mexican Cocoa, MOCAFE helps cafés, restaurants, and hotels create standout beverage experiences.

✅ Premium ingredients like Dominican cocoa, Madagascar vanilla, and Arabica coffee
✅ Foodservice formats ideal for high-volume operations
✅ Scalable blending and packaging capabilities for global partners
✅ Backed by nearly 30 years of product innovation and beverage expertise

We’re actively seeking international distribution partners with strong HORECA networks.

📩 Want to learn more or explore a partnership?
Reach out via direct message or connect with Natalia Castaño (Giefer), our Sales Manager, to start the conversation.

04/29/2025

🌍 How to Optimize Global Markets

Athena Marketing International (AMI) can elevate your food or beverage brand in the global market. Discover our strategies for finding new audiences and maximizing profits, all facilitated by AMI. Schedule a strategic consultation with us to learn how our team can simplify your global expansion.

• Expand into Emerging Markets📈: Urbanization, rising middle classes, and evolving customer tastes in countries like India, China, Vietnam, and parts of Africa are fueling demand for packaged, processed, and premium foods. Large food and beverage producers are investing in local production and distribution in these economies to capture early growth.

• Localization and Customization 🌐: Many brands are adapting global products to local tastes. Examples include halal-certified goods for the Middle East and sugar-reduced options in Japan. Localization = Loyalty.

• Health and Wellness Marketing 💪: Global consumers are embracing health-conscious trends such as high-protein snacks and immunity-boosting foods. Brands can leverage this trend to create premium product lines, resulting in higher margins.

&B

04/24/2025

🌍Changing Dietary Habits Around the World

Dietary habits and preferences are evolving globally, with nuances varying by region and socioeconomic status. Here's a breakdown that offers a global perspective and dives into the strategic implications for your business.

1. Global Health & Wellness Movement 🌱
- Developed countries (e.g., US, UK, Germany, Japan): Consumers are increasingly shifting towards plant-based, organic, and functional foods (e.g., gut health, immunity support).
- Developing nations (e.g., India, Brazil, South Africa): There's a rising interest in nutrition-rich, fortified foods, though cost sensitivity remains high.

2. Sustainability & Ethical Sourcing 🌿
- Younger consumers globally are prioritizing environmental impact—seeking locally sourced, ethically raised, and low-carbon footprint products.
- Meat alternatives and dairy substitutes are expanding globally, particularly among Gen Z and Millennials.

3. Cultural Fusion and Personalization 🍽️
- In diverse markets like the UAE, Singapore, and the US, there's demand for fusion foods and dietary options that support personal choices—like keto, paleo, halal, vegan, or allergen-free diets.

4. Digital Influence & Label Transparency 📱
- Social media, influencers, and food documentaries are accelerating change.
- Consumers want transparency: clear ingredient lists, health scores, and ethical certifications (Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, etc.).

🤝 Reach out to AMI to get started on a customized plan that will position your brand effectively and profitably in global markets.
https://athenaintl.com/contact/



Photo by Vanessa Loring

04/15/2025

📦 Consumer Trend: Smaller and Less Complicated Ingredient Lists

​Consumers worldwide are increasingly concerned about the ingredients in their food and beverages. They are now reaching for their phones and other technology to help them interpret and understand food ingredient labels, enabling them to make healthier and more informed dietary choices.

Notable apps in this space include:​

🔹 Yuka (https://yuka.io/en/): A free app that scans barcodes of food and personal care products, providing instant health impact assessments. With a database of over 5 million products, Yuka offers ratings and detailed analyses to help users comprehend each product's evaluation. For items with negative health implications, it suggests healthier alternatives. Yuka operates independently, ensuring objective reviews without brand or manufacturer influence. ​

🔹 Bobby Approved (https://www.bobbyapproved.com/): This app allows users to scan food product barcodes to determine their health suitability. It highlights harmful ingredients in red, offering explanations for each. Developed by Bobby from , the app draws from extensive research on over 100 potentially harmful ingredients, aiming to guide users toward better-quality food choices. ​

🔹 Trash Panda (https://www.trashpandaapp.com/): Designed to demystify complex food labels, Trash Panda assists users in avoiding harmful additives like Red Dye 40 or brominated vegetable oil. By scanning a product's barcode, users receive clear information about its ingredients, including scientific research links for further reading. The app also allows users to capture images of ingredient lists for analysis if a barcode isn't available.

🔹 Sift Food Labels (https://www.siftfoodlabels.com): Sift translates complex food labels into understandable terms. By scanning a product's barcode, users can see flagged ingredients that pose health risks or are banned in other countries. The app supports various elimination diets, including gluten-free and dairy-free, aiding users in adhering to specific dietary preferences. ​

U.S. and global consumers are looking for transparency when considering their food and beverage options, especially in the healthy, Better-For-You food/beverage space. With technology like the apps noted above, understanding ingredients and food labels is easier than ever. Consumers are looking for short ingredient lists and ingredients they know and don’t sound chemically formulated.

03/25/2025

🌍 We’re proud to partner with The GFB — a brand redefining what gluten-free snacking should taste like! 💥

Not only is The GFB dedicated to making delicious, better-for-you snacks, but they do it with purpose:

✔️ Certified Gluten-Free
✔️ Plant-Based & Vegan
✔️ High-Protein, Low-Sugar
✔️ Made in their own B Corp-certified, sustainable facility

Their bars, bites, oatmeal, and snacks deliver clean ingredients without compromising flavor—perfect for health-conscious and gluten-free consumers alike.

📦 At AMI, we’re on a mission to bring brands like The GFB to retailers and distributors worldwide. Looking to expand your gluten-free lineup? Send us a message or contact our Sales Manager, Natalia Castaño Giefer!

03/13/2025

The Future of AI in Food and Beverages: A Competitive Imperative for Growth

At the 2024 Institute for Food Technologists meeting in Chicago, one message was clear: AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s a business necessity in the food industry. While AI once served primarily as a tool for managing big data, it has now become essential for driving efficiency, accelerating product innovation, and optimizing workforce productivity.

For food companies looking to expand, AI isn’t just an operational upgrade—it’s a strategic advantage. Companies leveraging AI are streamlining production, reducing waste, and responding faster to evolving consumer trends.

For example, AI can monitor equipment conditions to reduce down time and sort food and ingredients to predict expiration dates to help with production and reduce waste. To respond to the ever-changing trends, AI is a great tool in analyzing customer data. In a market where agility and innovation define success, leaders must prioritize AI adoption to remain competitive.

The reality is clear: AI is no longer a "nice to have"—it’s a must for sustainable growth and market leadership.

However, AI alone isn’t enough. To truly scale and reach new markets, food and beverage brands need a partner that understands how to position their products globally. If your company is ready to expand its footprint and maximize its market potential, working with experts who specialize in global placement can provide the strategic edge you need.

Contact us at info@athenaintl.com for a consultation.