Nosh Staff

Ian Wishingrad is the co-founder of Three Wishes Cereal, a brand looking to innovate in the stale cereal category, crafting a healthier choice compared to traditional offerings in the set. The company aims to provide families with a familiar and easy breakfast option that’s grain-free, low in sugar and features protein-packed ingredients.

In this highlight episode culled from interviews with six of the leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs who joined us on the podcast during the second half of 2019, we examine the role that relationships play in the development of great businesses.

In a presentation at NOSH Live Winter 2019, Jessica Lukas, research firm BDS Analytics’ SVP of commercial development, addressed the state of cannabis, “a major disruptor across the CPG industry, across every consumer product category,” she said, with edibles playing a major role.

2019 saw brands take a step beyond better-for-you, seeking to infuse healthy products with additional (functional) benefits. The year also featured acquisitions, investments and product launches as brands both large and small try to better align themselves with an increasingly engaged consumer base.

Dinesh Tadepalli is the co-founder of Planeteer, a company that is helping to solve the plastic pollution problem by replacing plastic cutlery with edible cutlery. The brand’s first products are non-gmo, all natural spoons that stay firm for 25 minutes in hot soups and 45 minutes in ice cream.

In this presentation at NOSH Live Winter 2019, Junea Rocha, Brazi Bites’ co-founder and CMO, described the company’s five year-long “epic grind” — which eventually led to an appearance on Shark Tank and a big boost for the brand.

This week, members of the BevNET and NOSH editorial teams joined us for a discussion of some of the major news stories, trends and innovation from 2019. Among the topics of conversation were developments in the burgeoning cannabis CPG segment, explosive growth in the oat milk and sparkling water categories and the evolution of frozen food and plant-based meats.

In a presentation at NOSH Live Winter 2019 this month, Brigette Wolf, SnackFutures’ head of innovation, and Mel Gaceta, Mondelez’s director of ventures, shared how the CPG giant is addressing the future of snacking.

Nadeem Srouji is the founder and CEO of Kips, the maker of dehydrated kale chips seasoned with flavorful spices and ingredients. The company is looking to expand beyond kale chip consumers, reaching the average snacker through farmers’ markets, bars and coffee shops, as well as offering options for vegan, keto and gluten-free eaters.

Bryan Crowley, CEO of Soylent, spoke about how his career experience shaped his leadership style and helped frame his vision for the future of the fast-growing “complete food” brand. He also how the brand’s mission and growth strategy have each evolved, why it has embraced GMO ingredients and what the notion of “better for you” means for modern consumers. This episode is presented by Flavorman, the beverage architects.