Mr. Brian Stevenson

Principal, B. Stevenson Associates

Member of the Food & Beverage Council

Request a consultation with Brian Stevenson

Council Member Biography

Brian Stevenson is the Principal of B. Stevenson Associates. He was previously a Senior Vice President at Interstate Bakeries Corp. (IBC). While at IBC, Mr. Stevenson was a member of the corporate senior executive management team and reported directly to the CEO. Prior to that, he managed procurement for IBC, managing $1B of annual purchasing spent. Mr. Stevenson consults to clients about the value chain from the farm gate to the center of the plate/fuel tank. He is responsible for activities such as performing sales, product analysis, strategic purchasing, and price risk management for commodities used in this industry and he also consults to the ethanol/biofuel industry. Mr. Stevenson can discuss a wide variety of topics affecting the consumer goods and ethanol/biofuel Industries. Prior to joining IBC, he worked in senior management roles at Tradigrain, Inc. (a subsidiary of British Petroleum). (This is me - Update Profile)

Employment History

2005 - Unspecified: Principal, B. Stevenson Associates
1997 - 2005: SVP, HOSTESS BRANDS, INC.

GLG News^SM Analyses by Brian Stevenson

Opinions and analyses expressed in G+ Insights are solely those of the author. See the Terms of Use for details.

GLG News is now G+ Insights

G+ is a community for professionals, academics and entrepreneurs to connect through online discussions and in-person meetings. You will continue to see G+ Insights (formerly GLG News) here as well as on the G+ website, where you can share and discuss the G+ Insights you read.

Extremely Volatile Commodity Markets Have Changed the Way even Fine Companies are Managed

September 23, 2008

Analysis of:General Mills quarterly profit declines 3.6% | www.marketwatch.com

The basic Agricultural Commodity Markets will remain Volatile as long as the U.S. uses Corn for Fuel and the world continues to experience an emerging middle class in developing countries. Hedging can be a two edged Sword. Companies should manage to margins not markets. It is the Brands that Matter.

U.S. Corn Acres needed, but Yield is most important!!

April 10, 2008

Analysis of:Corn Acres Adjustments | online.wsj.com

1. Prospective corn planted acres by USDA are at 86 million2. If realized, expected harvested acres are 79 million3. Usage of Corn continues to rise with Ethanol production plus emerging middle class diet improvement in South/East Asia4. In the end, Yields will be the most important factor for this year's crop5. Expect extremely volatile commodity markets this year.6. The markets may be forced to find a price at which corn usage is actually rationed.

Brazilian Sugar Ethanol May be a Big Player in U.S. Ethanol Supply Soon

April 10, 2008

Analysis of:Biofuel startup slow going as slow as molasses | www.chron.com

1. Corn is used in 97 pct of Ethanol Production in the U.S.2 Corn Prices are at record high levels at around $6.00 per bushel3. Expected Planted acres are below what may be needed to provide corn for all uses during the next year.4. Sugar Ethanol is much cheaper to produce than is Corn Ethanol5. Brazil has surplus Sugar and surplus Ethanol capacity6. Ethanol Import tariffs may be in question with a new administration7. Imported Ethanol may help solve some of the Food verses Fuel debate.

Dean Foods Company gets hit by Commodity Price increases. Food verses Fuel, the Dean stockholders suffer.

June 12, 2007

Analysis of:Dean Foods Cuts Profit Forcast; Stock Slumps | news.moneycentral.msn.com

1. Consumer Product Goods companies are at risk for commodity price increases even if they are not directly involved in the basic commodity businesses. 2. In this case, Milk is the Produced article which is "manufactured" by cows eating basic commodity ingredients. 3. Companies like this need to devise hedging strategies to protect shareholders from the risk of basic commodity price increases 4. Just as importantly, pricing at the retail level is hard to get. The consolidation of food retailers will only continue. These massive buying agencies are not going to allow pricing easily.

Food Verses Fuel, how does it affect Company Valuations

February 23, 2007

Analysis of:Food versus fuel: is a happy ending possible? | www.bakeryandsnacks.com

1. The demand curve for Grains in the world is shifting to the right. How much we do not know. The market has not found a place where usage is rationed.

2. Many CPG food companies will suffer in the short term while Big Box Retailers hold the line on price increases.

3. We as consumers can count on food "inflation" in the next year and as long as the market has to search for a rationing price level.

View All GLG News ^SM Analyses by Brian Stevenson

Request a consultation with Brian Stevenson