CPG Week Podcast

On this week’s show, NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg, BevNET Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman and reporter Lukas Southard discussed Nancy Pelosi’s favorite snack while in lockdown at the Capitol, more personnel shake-ups in the plant-based meat industry and how brand focus plays a big role in the growth success and failure for emerging food companies. Then Carol and Jeff sat down with retail experts John Maggiore and Errol Schweizer to talk about the implications of the biggest food business story of last week: Kroger’s announcement of its intent to acquire Albertsons, creating the largest supermarket chain in the country. In this episode: 1:14 – Carol discusses what meat snack made a guest appearance during the Capitol Hearing on January 6. 3:10 – Lukas and the group talk about industry lay-offs occurring in the CPG food industry. Lukas reports on the news that Beyond Meat will be cutting another 20% of its workforce and Laird’s shutting down an Oregon production facility. The layoffs show that growing too quickly or not understanding a long term demand can force brands to restructure production models. 7:45 – Carol tells the team about her recent story revolving around Sweet Loren’s cookies bringing in a new president and how focusing growth in the right places to build a successful brand. 13:40 – Jeff and Carol host a panel discussion with CPG experts John Maggiore and Errol Schweizer to talk more about what the Kroger/Albertsons merger will look like for the grocery channel and what this means for emerging food 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

This week, NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg along with BevNET Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman and reporter Lukas Southard chatted about what trends Jeff saw in his trip to Las Vegas for the National Association of Convenience Stores’ trade show. The team also reflects back on the anniversary of a major deal and delved into the shake-ups happening in plant-based meats. Later, Carol talked with Japanese barbecue sauce maker Bachan’s founder Justin Gill about fundraising and the advantages of covert brand-building. In this episode: 01:10: BevNET Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman talks about healthy options entering the c-store space, mingling with brand mascots and the number of new products featuring caffeine coming to the convenience channel. 8:50: The team wishes RX Bar a happy five year anniversary on the company’s sale to Kellogg’s and discusses innovation through acquisitions. 11:55: Lukas discusses the dissolution of JBS’ Planterra Foods division and how the broader pullback in plant-based meats reflects the future of the category. 19:53: NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg spoke with Bachan’s founder Justin Gill about the brand’s recent capital raise as well as how the brand grew into a profitable omnichannel business. Carol asked about how the company kept a low-profile amidst its successful growth. 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, the team debriefs on its trip to Natural Products Expo East in Philadelphia and then sorts through the news around the White House and FDA’s evolving definition of “healthy.” NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg chats about Amazon’s first Prime Early Access Sale (or PEAS) with Chris Moe, the president and co-founder of the Amazon consulting group Cartograph. The two discuss how brands can utilize the e-commerce giant’s new day-long sale to build more visibility and velocity among potential consumers. In this episode: 00:58: The NOSH team discusses trends they saw among food brands at last week’s Expo East, noting an emphasis on regenerative agriculture claims as well as product innovation versus rebranding and reinvention. Then NOSH reporter Adrianne DeLuca sifts through the FDA’s proposed new food label definition of “healthy”. 07:28: NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg chatted with Cartograph’s Chris Moe about Amazon’s first Prime Early Access Sale happening on October 11. The conversation covers how some seasonal buying trends happen earlier than one might think and finding ways to reach new customers is one of the most important aspects of big e-commerce retail events. 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

  Welcome to The NOSH Podcast The NOSH.com news team that has brought you news, analysis, events, and stories focused on the entrepreneurial food business is now going to be present in your ear on a weekly basis with the launch of our brand new NOSH Podcast. Featuring discussions of the breaking news and long term trends affecting natural, organic, sustainable and healthy food brands, as well as in-depth interviews, the NOSH Podcast will bring perspective and analysis to the business in a rapid, digestible, personable pace. Led by NOSH Editor Carol Ortenberg, the podcast offers a chance for entrepreneurs and their supplier and investor universe to hear about the issues affecting their chances for growth, and the strategic and tactical options that can overcome challenges. Interviews will go beyond founder success stories and bring attention to the way current events ripple through the marketplace, the opportunities that can be generated through different sales and marketing approaches, the ways investors and retailers help build brands and the various social and economic trends that are changing the atmosphere around the CPG food business. Our first episode will be available on all of your favorite streaming platforms – and right here – on September 29, with an interview featuring leading CPG investor Kiva Dickinson. It’s a preview of the kind of work the podcast will bring – an exploration of whether investors’ unrealistic enthusiasm for the concept of D2C sales led food businesses astray, and how those brands can best use D2C tools to build strong businesses as the industry reframes that channel. In this episode: 06:55: The NOSH team talks about this week’s top stories including consolidation within an innovative meat snack category and the impact a recent court ruling for snack maker KIND could have on upcoming FDA regulations. 15:50: The D2C brand positioning, and accompanying aesthetic, have created an easy and attractive point of entry for emerging food makers, but has its value overshot the mark when longevity comes into the conversation? Dickinson believes the channel aims to solve pain points for both brands and consumers, but if not executed properly, it can often do more harm than good. 24:40: Subscription-based selling, user-friendly landing pages and continuous website evolution. These components may make D2C work for your business, but Dickinson challenges how long the runway will last and believes investors who focused solely on the channel have reached a moment of reckoning. 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