It’s time to reveal the finalists for the Nosh Live Pitch Slam, presented by Vdriven. The business pitch competition showcase for the industry’s most promising food brands. Finalists will compete during Nosh Live 2025, taking place on December 4 + 5 in L.A.

The packaged food landscape is becoming more diverse, more inclusive, and more creative than ever, and this year’s Nosh Live Pitch Slam finalists embody that shift. From founders bringing their cultural heritage to new audiences, to innovators redefining familiar categories with fresh ingredients and perspectives, these brands represent the vibrant future of food.

A panel of expert judges will offer participants and attendees valuable insights on what makes for a successful food brand. They’ll evaluate the emerging brands, business plans and innovative products presented by our contestants, which include:

• Djablo Sauce: A small-batch, Filipino-American hot sauce brand that blends ginger, garlic and bold peppers to bring authentic Visayan-inspired heat and flavor to any dish.
• Keya’s Snacks: A snack brand founded by a Food Network baking champion, turning Indian-American heritage into potato chips seasoned with single-origin Indian spices and bold flavor.
• Oddball: A snack brand offering low-calorie, plant-based jiggly fruit treats made with 100% real fruit juice and natural gelling agents to bring back childhood fun with clean ingredients.
• Oh So Easy!: A globally-inspired baking-mix brand launching Summer 2025 that promises to bring “the classics you haven’t tasted yet” to home bakers.
• Rotten: A candy brand positioning itself as fun, bold and relatively guilt-free—with treats featuring 60 % less sugar, prebiotics, and vibrant flavors from natural colors and ingredients.
• Xinca Foods: A family-owned brand bringing authentic Salvadoran frozen foods—like pupusas and curtido—to the US market, driven by cultural heritage and culinary roots.

In addition to recognition, the brand that receives the winning title also receives a Nosh advertising package valued at $10,000 as well as featured coverage on Nosh.com.

The Pitch Slam champion will join a lineup of past winners including Mochi Love, Lentiful, Sunnie, Ruani, Kokada, Savorly, Creation Nation, and Small Axe Peppers (formerly Bronx Hot Sauce).

Nosh Live: More Than a Pitch Competition

The Pitch Slam is just one part of Nosh Live 2025, a two-day event designed to educate, connect, and inspire the food industry’s rising and established leaders. Beyond the competition, attendees gain access to:

• In-depth discussions and interviews with the industry’s top founders, investors, and strategics on scaling, innovation, and navigating growth in a competitive landscape.
• Networking sessions and community-building opportunities to meet buyers, retailers, service providers, and fellow entrepreneurs driving progress in CPG.
• Product tastings and experiential showcases featuring the latest in better-for-you, culturally inspired, and category-defying food innovation.

Whether you’re looking to discover emerging trends, connect with top talent, or position your brand for what’s next, Nosh Live is where the future of food takes shape.

Be in the room to witness the next generation of food brands, sample the products, and meet the founders transforming the industry.

Register now for Nosh Live 2025 >>

If you haven’t yet registered, now is the time. There are less than 30 days until the event!