CPG Week Podcast

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

On this week’s show, NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg, Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman and reporter Adrianne DeLuca run down the shifting priorities and narrowing focus of large CPG corporations including B&G Foods, Kelloggs and Beyond Meat. Later, Adrianne sits down with Arturo Elizondo, co-founder and CEO of alternative egg protein food tech operation, The EVERY Company, to discuss his experience at the UN’s COP27 summit last week. Show Highlights: 01:20: The NOSH team runs through a host of recent corporate restructurings including B&G which is seeking to divest snack brand Back to Nature and Beyond Meat’s shifting growth strategy. 06:13: Carol explains the cause of layoffs at merchandising firm Dirty Hands. The team then discusses the challenges of the plant-based protein category’s growth and how Jeff is honing a true flexitarian diet with his plant-based preferences. 16:45: Arturo runs through his key takeaways from COP27 including how leaders from around the world are approaching climate change mitigation, where government support is needed and how natural food brands can help implement and execute the goals of the conference. 24:36: Although plenty of climate change mitigating ideas, innovations and solutions were presented at COP27, Arturo outlines the path, and challenges ahead, for international leaders and food companies to have an impact. “There’s a lot of interest by [large] companies that want to be able to [say] they’ve committed and achieved something. Companies in our space can help them achieve those targets…especially now that there are solutions – it’s no longer a deficiency issue.” – Arturo Elizondo

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.    

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