Industry A-Listers & Innovators Provide Actionable Insights for Your Business
Natural food businesses succeed in the current market when they have both sustainable financial growth and a story and a mission that resonates with consumers. At NOSH Live Summer 2022 our speakers will help our audience to better master these business skills. With more speakers coming from the industry’s top brands, investors, retailers, and service providers, NOSH Live will provide attendees with two days of learning and networking opportunities designed to help you grow your business.
NOSH Live Summer 2022 Agenda
Print the agenda for Tuesday, June 14
Please note: All times US Eastern Time
- 8:00 AM9:00 AM
Breakfast & Registration
- 9:00 AM9:30 AM
Data Dive: A Look at Consumer Trends
Lu Ann Williams, the Co-founder & Global Insights Director at Innova Market Insights and a frequent guest on our Category Closeup videos, will discuss current consumer behaviors and trends, which can in turn be used for more robust brand building. - 9:30 AM10:00 AM
Followers and Friends: Using Social Media to Drive Sales
We’ll hear how these consumer insights are used by one brand in particular, with a look inside the social media machine that is MidDay Squares. The Canadian chocolate brand has blasted into the U.S. market with a brash, no-holds-barred approach to social media. At NOSH Live the brand’s three co-founders will discuss how showing consumers the good, the bad and the ugly of running an emerging business on social media has paid off in terms of building a customer base. - 10:00 AM10:30 AM
One Big Change: Problem Solving to Move Forward
Telling your story is only one part of the equation - sometimes it needs an edit. Sweet Loren’s founder and CEO Loren Castle’s battle with cancer inspired her to start the cleaned-up cookie brand. But it took Castle looking at the key differentiators in her product line, and rebranding to make them more defined, that caused the business to truly take off. Brill’s advice will help attendees take a deeper look at their own brands, finding out what part of their strategies truly resonate with shoppers. - 10:30 AM11:00 AM
Networking Break, Sampling & Taste Radio Studio
- 11:00 AM11:30 AM
- 11:30 AM12:00 PM
When the Investor Becomes the Operator: Lessons from Both Sides
Returning to the lessons of the day, Jason Karp, the co-founder of Hu Kitchen and a former hedge fund manager, will take to the stage. Following the sale of Hu Products to snack giant Mondelez in 2021, Karp started HumanCo, a holding company that acquires, incubates and reinvents brands in “sleepy categories.” At NOSH Live he’ll provide attendees with an inside look at how his experience as an investor has influenced how he creates, develops and runs brands, including Snow Days, Cosmic Bliss and Against the Grain. - 12:00 PM12:30 PM
Naturally Notable: Pitching and Winning in Whole Foods Market
For any brand, landing on the shelves of natural products retailer Whole Foods Market is a great way to build an audience, and at NOSH Live we’ll have insight into how to get it done. Two of the category executives from the brand’s center store set, David Lafferty and Dan Epley, will share with attendees what they are looking for in brand partners and how even during challenging times, win/win partnerships can be achieved for all parties.
David Lafferty
- 12:30 PM2:00 PM
Lunch Break, Sampling & Taste Radio Studio
- 2:00 PM2:30 PM
- 2:30 PM3:00 PM
Thinking Critically About Portfolio Management & Product Assortment
The day will end with a presentation by John Becker, the CEO of Pamela’s and Ancient Harvest. After the quinoa company acquired the baking and pasta brand in 2020, Becker and his team had to decide how each brand should push ahead, and what it could offer consumers. Fresh off a rebrand of Pamela’s, Becker will share with the audience how they can turn a critical eye to their own portfolios, building an array of products that can lead them into the future.
John Becker
- 3:00 PM3:30 PM
Weathering The Storm: How to Prepare for Choppy Conditions
Saffron Road CEO and Founder Adnan Durrani will share with attendees how he, and his team, worked tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to fight against supply chain, operations and labor struggles, ultimately growing the brand even during that a tumultuous time. Durrani will then turn his attention to the future, providing insight into some struggles he believes the industry may face in the near future, and how brands can best prepare. - 3:30 PM4:00 PM
Pitch Slam Winner Announcement + Interview
Sponsors
NOSH Live Summer 2022 Speakers
Duane Cheers
Co-Founder, Everything Legendary
David Lafferty
Executive Leader, Whole Foods Market
Chris Kirby
Founder & President, Ithaca Hummus
Jason Karp
Founder and CEO, HumanCo
John Becker
CEO, Pamela’s/Ancient Harvest
Jeff Klineman
Editor in Chief, BevNET
Two Days of Food Industry Insights, Advice & Partnership
Members of the natural food industry attend NOSH Live to collaborate, connect, and come up with innovative solutions. This June, NOSH Live is heading to the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City on June 13 + 14. After two years off, we’re excited to make up for it with more knowledge, more collaboration, and more fun.
All-stars will take to the stage to provide actionable insights that help food businesses grow responsibly. Off-stage there will be plenty of time for sampling and discussion with potential partners from the supply, investment, retail, and services community who have answers and solutions for some of the industry’s toughest challenges. Leave the event with new partnerships and actionable insights that will materially impact your business for the better.
Pitch Slam 12: Watch Emerging Food Brands Pitch Live
NOSH Live Pitch Slam puts up-and-coming food brands in the spotlight. Semifinalists craft their perfect pitch and present to our audience of investors, retailers, distributors and other influential industry partners. Participating brands gain a certain celebrity status among attendees during the show, sparking conversations with experts, investors and potential partners.
After the pitch, our panel of expert judges provides instant feedback on market opportunity, packaging, viability and the presentation. The winner receives the title of Pitch Slam Champion, an interview on the livestream, and an awareness package valued at $10,000.
Boot Camp: Education to Get You Started on Day 1
On the morning of Day 1 industry newcomers that are attending NOSH Live can learn the basics of running a food business and jumpstart their networking. Experts will present on the 5 topics early-stage food brands need to know, including finance, sales, marketing, design, and operations.
Following the presentations, attendees will have the opportunity to sit down with the experts and ask them their toughest questions. Here are the details:
Monday, June 13th - Morning Session
- 90 mins of presentations
- 30 mins of roundtable networking
Boot Camp helps lay the foundation for success. If you're just getting started in the natural packaged food industry, we recommend you attend the 90 minute segment.
Make Your Product the Snack of Choice at NOSH Live
You know your product tastes good, so let it speak for itself! Innovative, single-serve, products and prepared-food packaging from attending brands are showcased in sampling stations throughout the event to facilitate more productive conversations. This makes it easy for brands to initiate conversations with potential partners, see the latest innovations in the industry, and talk shop with their peers. Providing samples allows you to move beyond the rehearsed pitch and dive deeper with industry investors, retailers, suppliers and service providers.
Where the Magic Happens
NOSH Live attracts a group of decision makers who are ready to collaborate, solve problems, and open doors, and the stories we hear illustrate that. Food brands find key industry partners at NOSH Live. Gwen Burlingame, the co-founder of Beckon, says it best:
“There has been at least one connection every single time that has progressed our business forward."
Here's another example: Karen Nation, the founder of Creation Nation, approached the Walmart team with her pitch, inspired by their NOSH Live presentation. Just four months later, Creation Nation products were in Walmart nationwide. The magic happened at NOSH Live. And it can happen for you too.
Join These Companies at NOSH Live on June 13+14
You Have Questions. We Have Answers.
COVID-19 Policy
We will be actively monitoring local, state, and federal guidelines with regard to vaccine and mask requirements, as well as current COVID conditions, and will advise our attendees regarding those policies at our events as our event dates get closer. Our top priorities are for the well-being and livelihoods of our attendees, exhibitors, vendors, and staff.
