CPG Week Podcast

On this week’s show, NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg, editor-in-chief Jeff Klineman and reporter Adrianne DeLuca discuss the ‘Pie-pline’ of Hubigs from New Orleans, elsewhere, and the changing climate around keto-branded foods. Later, we hear from John Johnson, senior counsel at law firm Shook, Hardy and Bacon, to delve into a recent report from the Reagan Udall Foundation, its implications on the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and potential solutions to systemic issues within the federal agency’s human food program. Show Highlights: 01:15: The NOSH team discusses Jeff’s favorite New Orleans delicacy, complete with a history lesson. Then the team gets into the recent sale of baking mix brand Birch Benders and what the move may mean for keto-claiming companies. 14:20: John explains that while the report highlighted many systemic issues the FDA has been grappling with for nearly a century, it failed to delineate between the two modes the agency operates within: day-to-day operations and crisis management. He suggests that if the agency wants to increase consumer confidence, it might be best to review its external communication plans. 19:44: Later, John aims to correct the narrative around the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act, which many claim was supposed to lead the agency toward preventative operations rather than reactionary when it came to food safety actions like recalls. “The deeper question [from the report] is how does the FDA effectively do its job, which gets to this metaphysical question of how does FDA know it’s doing a good job in the food space? And the answer is an elusive concept of consumer confidence.” – John Johnson, Shook, Hardy and Bacon About the NOSH Podcast The staff of NOSH.com takes listeners inside the business of natural, organic, sustainable and healthy food during the NOSH Podcast. Using interviews and discussion, the team illuminates the news, brands, people, trends, and money affecting the world of packaged food. New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg, BevNET Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman and reporter Lukas Southard debate what is considered what food products should truly be called food technology, while others are perhaps just innovation. Jeff explains why the recent news of Oatly’s decision to move into a hybrid manufacturing structure with co-packer Ya YA foods is driving a discussion on social media over the merits of vertically- integrated production models. Later, Lukas interviewed Elohi Strategic Advisors founder Stephanie Lind to discuss the successes and failures of plant-based brands in foodservice. In this episode: 1:00 – The NOSH team talks about their weekends and then unpacks what the term “food tech” actually means these days. They debate if the food tech industry is over-promising and under-delivering on innovation or if there is a need to set realistic expectations for its role in the greater CPG food space. 14:20 – Jeff discusses how Oatly’s move into a hybrid production model is creating a stir among industry leaders over vertically integrated versus horizontally integrated manufacturing. 17:35 – In this week’s interview, Lukas talks to Stephanie Lind about how foodservice could be a big winner (or pitfall) for emerging plant-based brands. About the NOSH Podcast The staff of NOSH.com takes listeners inside the business of natural, organic, sustainable and healthy food during the NOSH Podcast. Using interviews and discussion, the team illuminates the news, brands, people, trends, and money affecting the world of packaged food. New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg and reporter Lukas Southard discuss spending time and eating with family over the holidays. They then look back on the big stories of 2022 and how macro trends over the past year may provide insight as to what to expect in 2023. In this week’s interview, Carol talked to Coefficient Capital investor Natalie Borowski and Editor-in-Chief of The New Consumer Dan Frommer to discuss the most recent release of their ongoing Consumer Trends report. In this episode: 0:50 – Carol and Lukas talk about celebrating with family and their respective holiday eating traditions. 5:45 – Lukas makes some predictions about the future of plant-based meats in the year to come. 9:00 – Carol discusses how the investment landscape is expected to tighten this year but the opportunity it could provide for innovative brands. 14:40 – Carol talks with Coefficient Capital investor Natalie Borowski and Editor-in-Chief of The New Consumer Dan Frommer about their fourth quarter Consumer Trends report, which examined consumer spending, perspectives and media habits in 2022 and how brands can use this data to plan for 2023.   About the NOSH Podcast The staff of NOSH.com takes listeners inside the business of natural, organic, sustainable and healthy food during the NOSH Podcast. Using interviews and discussion, the team illuminates the news, brands, people, trends, and money affecting the world of packaged food. New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

On this week’s show, NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg and reporter Adrianne DeLuca run down NOSH Live Winter 2022, highlighting key themes and trends threaded through the discussions with industry experts. Later, we hear Carol’s NOSH Live discussion with Holly Adrien, Natural and Organic Innovation and Strategy Manager at Kroger, to learn how emerging natural product brands can strategize for success when pitching the grocery giant. Show Highlights: 01:28: The NOSH team breaks down discussions from the conference including the various approaches to brand building and community, the shifting demands of natural and organic shoppers, and what categories are seeing a spike in better-for-you innovation. 19:30: Adrien kicks off the discussion with a look into how grocery buyers work to understand consumers at every level, when they harness both internal and external data for new in-store activations, and how they view the space for natural, organic and sustainable food. 28:08: Be realistic about distribution and have a plan to drive consumers into the store. Those aspects are key for a founder to differentiate its brand from everyone else on the shelf, according to Adrien. She said that strategy starts with how it pitches the brand to buyers, “I’ve been having a lot more conversations with [brands saying] – ‘we don’t have to go everywhere.’ It is important to have someone that is that honest with themselves [and willing] to start small.” – Holly Adrien

  From the flavors of Thanksgiving in uncommon formats to priceless paintings covered in canned soup, the NOSH team talks about chaos in the food world. Then in this week’s interview NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg talks to Jason and Mia Bauer, founders of Crumbs Bakeshop, about relaunching the popular bakery brand and shifting it from a brick-and-mortar model to a CPG line of treats. Show Highlights: 0:45 – Carol, Jeff and Lukas talk about making new Thanksgiving traditions around savory soda flavors, THC gravy and turkey ice cream. 5:53 – Lukas tells the team about the trouble Tyson’s recently appointed CFO, John Tyson, has found himself in after a wild night on the town in Arkansas. 8:05 – Jeff discusses how canned soup and fine art have found their way into the discussions on climate change. 10:20 – Carol explains how the cyberattack on Maple Leaf Foods might impact meat pricing in the coming months. 14:50 – Crumbs co-founders Mia and Jason Bauer talk to Carol about bringing the brand back from bankruptcy and the differences between running a CPG business as opposed to a retail bakery. About the NOSH Podcast The staff of NOSH.com takes listeners inside the business of natural, organic, sustainable and healthy food during the NOSH Podcast. Using interviews and discussion, the team illuminates the news, brands, people, trends, and money affecting the world of packaged food. New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

On this week’s show, NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg and reporters Adrianne DeLuca and Lukas Southard discuss the possible business plans of Feastables founder and YouTube creator MrBeast and the reasons creators, influencers and celebrities are embracing the CPG industry. Later, Carol sits down with Charley Cummings, founder and CEO of newly FDIC-approved bank, Walden Mutual to dive into Charley’s plans for creating a digital bank that can be “means to an end” for a more sustainable, inclusive, locally-focused food system. Show Highlights: 01:16: The NOSH team talks about this week’s top stories including an upcoming fundraise and potential billion dollar valuation for Feastables founder and Youtube creator, MrBeast. That kicks off a discussion around the impetus for athletes and chefs to become involved in CPG, and wraps up with the team’s thoughts on chef-created vegetable brand, Row 7’s recent rollout. 13:08: How a mutual bank differs from a traditional, institutional bank and the goal Charley has for building a system that supports its clients values and uplifts local agricultural and food businesses with each deposit. 20:38: What gaps Charley sees within the current lending infrastructure and how he plans to use Walden to support strong operators so that the underlying businesses have a chance to grow. About the NOSH Podcast The staff of NOSH.com takes listeners inside the business of natural, organic, sustainable and healthy food during the NOSH Podcast. Using interviews and discussion, the team illuminates the news, brands, people, trends, and money affecting the world of packaged food. New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

On this week’s show, NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg, BevNET Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman and reporter Adrianne DeLuca discuss the latest news surrounding the Kroger/Albertsons merger, explain the challenges Instacart keeps having with going public and dive deep into some sea-faring food trends. Reporter Lukas Southard then sits down with Food and Beverage Investor Database (FABID) founder, Ryan Williams, to discuss the current investment climate and what brands should focus on before and after raising capital. Show Highlights: 01:16: The NOSH team talks about this week’s top stories including the Senate Judiciary Committee’s thoughts on the Kroger/Albertsons merger and the broader implications of a recent funding round for tinned seafood brand Scout as well as highlighting upcoming trends in other sea-based food segments. 22:45: Why Ryan believes brands need to be extremely strategic with their first move after raising capital and how those actions will likely impact the company’s ability to raise funds with each subsequent raise. 28:36: What categories Ryan believes still have room for innovation, and why he believes operating with some intellectual property or in a category with greater barriers to entry will benefit a brand when approaching investors.