Nosh Staff

David Nussbaum, the chairman and CEO of America’s Test Kitchen, spoke about how the venerable cooking brand has maintained a remarkably loyal following amid a changing landscape for food and media, how it evaluates its role as a thought leader, and how trends, competition and technology factor into its future. This episode is presented by Flavorman, the beverage architects.

This month has seen an abundance of new flavors and innovations, from purple potato energy cups to superfood-topped fish to allulose-sweetened frozen yogurt bars. Check out the gallery below to see some of October’s notable product launches, including releases from Late July, Cece’s Veggie Co. and Tofurky.

Pork King Good is revitalizing pork rinds with new flavors and has created a unique product that serves as an alternative to breadcrumbs. Rick Koston, the brand’s managing partner, says the company is focused on serving consumers looking for low carb and low sugar snacking options.

Rachel Drori, the founder/CEO of popular direct-to-consumer food brand Daily Harvest, explained why customer service “is not just about meeting needs, but anticipating them,” why social media is “not just a one-way relationship” and how “data is just part of the story” in understanding consumer needs.

Stacie Skinner is the founder and CEO of Lopaus Point, a frozen waffle company that’s offering the taste of homemade with the convenience of toast-and-serve products. Paying special attention to ingredient choice, the brand crafts gluten-free and allergen-friendly waffles without the use of sugar.

Jeffrey Hollender, co-founder of pioneering natural products brand Seventh Generation, spoke about the company’s ambitious mission and how the company found its footing after years of stagnation. He also discussed the ways in which he supports socially responsible companies and why he urges entrepreneurs to address systemic environmental problems.

Greg D’Alessandro is the founder and CEO of D’Avocado, a company focused on offering good-for-you foods. The brand’s versatile and nutrient dense chocolate avocado snack can be used as a puddling, spread, dip or frozen dessert.

Melissa Hartwig Urban, co-founder/CEO of Whole30, explained why she describes the lifestyle program as an “experiment” and why she is staunchly opposed to the idea of moderation.

This year’s NACS trade show featured a wide range of innovation in fruit, vegetable and protein-powered snacks — including new single-serve sizes ripe for c-store placement. In this gallery, we highlight a handful of new products from the show that forecast a future of wellness-minded on-the-go snacking.

Chris Kirby, founder/president of Ithaca Craft Hummus, spoke about how he identified white space in the hummus category and what he learned during four years of operating his own production facility. He also urged entrepreneurs to be thoughtful about their retail relationships and deliberate about expenses, and discussed why he hires people that are highly self-sufficient.