Breakfast & Registration

Boot Camp Presentations & Networking

• Cybele Pascal

  Founder & CEO, Cybele's Free-to-Eat

  

  Cybele Pascal

  Founder & CEO, Cybele's Free-to-Eat

  Cybele Pascal is the Founder of Cybele's Free-to-Eat, a top selling, nationally distributed line of allergy-friendly snacks that are gluten-free and free from the top nine allergens. Cybele provides executive leadership to her team by overseeing sales and market growth strategies, product innovation, quality control, marketing and consumer relations decisions. Cybele is also the author of three best-selling cookbooks, Allergy-Free & Easy Cooking, The Allergen-Free Baker's Handbook, and The Whole Foods Allergy Cookbook. She has appeared on The Martha Stewart Show, The Food Network, the Today show, Good Morning America, PBS, NPR and most recently, QVC to launch her new line of products, Ancient Grain Pops which is her first collaboration with Free to Eat’s new partner, Awakened Foods. Cybele lives in Los Angeles with her two sons, and enjoys hiking and yoga in her spare time.

• Rob Leichman

  CEO, Lyric Group

  

  Rob Leichman

  CEO, Lyric Group

  Rob has been in the food and beverage industry for over thirty years. The Lyric Group, which he founded in 2008, provides consultative services to both emerging and established brands in the specialty food and beverage space. Rob works with pre-revenue brands to develop effective go-to- market strategies, assists established brands to navigate retailer, distributor, co-packer, and designer relationships, and helps multinationals tap into growing domestic consumer trends. The Lyric Group has established relationships with buyers across multiple channels, including specialty, natural, conventional grocery, foodservice, mass, club and export. Previously, Rob has served as EVP of Sales & Business Development at Ciao Bella Gelato, a category-leading national ice cream brand, and EVP of Sales & Marketing at D’Artagnan, a national specialty meat brand. He has ongoing relationships with buyers at retailers such as Whole Foods Market, Sprouts, Target, Walmart, Publix, Costco, Kroger, Albertsons and Sam’s Club, among many others. Rob has been a mentor at incubators like Pilotworks and Accel, and has served on the advisory boards of Crumbs Bakery, LunaPops and Southern Culture. Past and present clients include Sir Kensington’s, Glanbia, Fazer, ParmCrisps, Vosges Haut-Chocolat, Monsoon Kitchens, Irvins, High Road, Hu Kitchen, Chia Smash, Leilo and Grady’s Cold Brew.

• John Maggiore

  CEO, Maggiore Sales & Marketing

  

  John Maggiore

  CEO, Maggiore Sales & Marketing

  John started Maggiore’s Sales & Marketing in 2003 as a brokerage and consulting firm specializing in Natural and Specialty products. As a broker John represents Natural Food products to the supermarket channel in the New England region. Among the lines currently represented are Lemon Perfect Water, Siggi’s Yogurt and Red’s Burritos, previously he represented the brands of Pirate’s Booty, Bear Naked, Kind Bar and Vita Coco Coconut Water. As a consultant he primarily works with company to develop a sales strategy and drive sales, in addition to other sales management functions such as to broker selection and trade spending management. John currently is on the Board of Directors of Biena Snacks, Demer’s Food Group and Vermont Nut Free. Twice a year John works with the Natural Products Consulting in running their sales seminar “Becoming a More Effective Sales Manager in the Natural and Specialty Channel”. Prior to starting his own company, he spent 17 years working on the retail side of the business his last position was the Category Manager of Natural Foods at Stop & Shop Supermarkets. John is a graduate of Northeastern University.

• Kaitlin Morgan

  Client Insights Manager, SPINS

  

  Kaitlin Morgan

  Client Insights Manager, SPINS

  Kaitlin’s journey in the CPG industry has been marked by her commitment to using data to empower brands. Her work at Nielsen and now at SPINS has allowed her to support a wide range of brands in achieving their goals through data-driven recommendations and strategies. At SPINS, Kaitlin manages the Client Insights service across the Beverage and Snacking segments. During the past 3+ years at SPINS, Kaitlin has found a unique intersection of her professional motivations and personal passions. Her commitment to wellness, coupled with a firsthand understanding of the challenges of food allergies, has inspired her to help purpose-driven brands. Outside of work, Kaitlin loves staying active and exploring nature with her dog Louie.

• Joanie Merriman

  Client Insights Manager, SPINS

  

  Joanie Merriman

  Client Insights Manager, SPINS

  Joanie has dedicated her career to the CPG industry, concentrating on strategically leveraging data to help brands succeed. Her experience includes past roles at Nielsen, and now SPINS where she has worked for 3+ years. At SPINS, Joanie manages two services dedicated to supporting small and emerging brands in the market. Outside of work, Joanie loves to attend CorePower classes and explore new and innovative restaurants in Chicago.

• Bob Burke

  Principal, Natural Products Consulting LLC

  

  Bob Burke

  Principal, Natural Products Consulting LLC

  As a consultant since 1998, Bob Burke provides assistance in bringing natural, organic and specialty products to market across most classes of trade. This includes work in strategic planning, growth strategies, writing sales, marketing and business plans, budgeting, pricing, building distribution, broker selection and management, organizational development, strategic options, financing, branding, trade spending management and assistance around M&A, due diligence and venture strategy groups. He is also the co-author and co-publisher of the Natural Products Field Manual, Ninth Edition. Prior to consulting, Bob was with Stonyfield Farm Yogurt for 11 years as Vice President, Sales & Corporate Development and Vice President, Marketing & Sales. He has held marketing positions with Colombo, Inc. and Sperry Top-Sider. He received an MBA from Babson College.

• Cybele Pascal, Founder & CEO, Cybele's Free-to-Eat
• Rob Leichman, CEO, Lyric Group
• John Maggiore, CEO, Maggiore Sales & Marketing
• Kaitlin Morgan, Client Insights Manager, SPINS
• Joanie Merriman, Client Insights Manager, SPINS
• Bob Burke, Principal, Natural Products Consulting LLC

One-to-One Meetings with Retailers & SPINS

Networking Break, Boot Camp Round Tables & Sampling

Welcome Remarks

• Carol Ortenberg

  Editor, NOSH

  

  Carol Ortenberg

  Editor, NOSH

  Carol is the Editor of NOSH, BevNet’s media property focusing on Natural, Healthy, Sustainable and Organic food products. Carol previously worked and consulted for several consumer goods companies, many within the food space. She also was on the marketing team for Whole Foods Market in the North Atlantic region. Prior to focusing on the food industry, Carol worked at several tech companies, including HubSpot, and served as a consumer researcher at AMP Agency. A graduate of Brandeis University in Journalism, Cultural Anthropology and Theater Arts, Carol is passionate about the food, agriculture and beverage industries.

• Carol Ortenberg, Editor, NOSH

The State of the Food Industry: Reflecting on 2023 and Looking Ahead to 2024

• Wayne Wu

  General Partner, VMG Partners

  

  Wayne Wu

  General Partner, VMG Partners

  Wayne Wu is a General Partner at VMG Partners. VMG works intimately with founders and leaders of branded consumer product companies, providing the resources and guidance needed to propel them to their next level of growth and value. Beyond capital, Wayne provides a value-added investment philosophy that pulls from his decades of experience, strategic guidance, and passionate focus to help our partners accelerate growth, brand awareness, and achieve their own definition of success. VMG has worked closely and successfully with brands such as Ancient Nutrition, Drunk Elephant, Humm Kombucha, Justin's, KIND, Nature's Bakery, Perfect Snacks, Quest, and Spindrift, to name a few. Wayne is energized by the next generation of innovative, consumer product entrepreneurs, and looks forward to helping them fully realize their vision. Wayne is based in San Francisco, CA.

• Dan Epley

  VP of Dry Grocery, Whole Foods Market
• Katie Eshuys

  Chief Sales Officer, That's It

  

  Katie Eshuys

  Chief Sales Officer, That's It

  Katie Eshuys is an experienced executive in the global food and beverage industry, specializing in scaling emerging brands and delivering high revenue growth with a passion for ushering in the next wave of disruptive, innovative CPG products. She is currently the Chief Sales Officer at Los Angeles based That’s it., where she has expanded the brand internationally and driven high revenue growth in the competitive North American market, scaling the company significantly to 4X the size in a few short years. Katie was previously the General Manager of International Markets at Halo Top Creamery, where she grew the company from $5m in revenue to $60m in 24 months by accelerating disruptive entry into 8 countries and leading marketing initiatives to position the brand for long term growth. Katie is also on the board of directors for a publicly listed Australian CPG company that creates better for you products to inspire health conscious consumers, drive value for shareholders, and lead on innovation.

• Matt Parry

  CEO and Co-Founder, The Good Crisp Company

• Wayne Wu, General Partner, VMG Partners
• Dan Epley, VP of Dry Grocery, Whole Foods Market
• Katie Eshuys, Chief Sales Officer, That's It
• Matt Parry, CEO and Co-Founder, The Good Crisp Company

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Sponsored Workshop: Predicting Palates – Leveraging AI (Almond Intelligence) to Innovate for Tomorrow’s Tastes

The Immi Story: From Inception to Investment

• Kevin Lee

  Co-Founder, Immi

  

  Kevin Lee

  Co-Founder, Immi

  Kevin Lee is a co-founder of immi, which invented the world's first low carb, high protein, and 100% plant based instant ramen. He previously led better-for-you food & beverage investing at Pear VC and is an angel investor in 40+ companies. He grew up working alongside his grandparents on their produce farms in Taiwan.

• Kevin Lee, Co-Founder, Immi

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What's On the Mind of The Next Generation of Investors

• Patrick Schwarzenegger

  Co-Founder & CEO, MOSH

  

  Patrick Schwarzenegger

  Co-Founder & CEO, MOSH

  Activism, acting and entrepreneurship are in Patrick Schwarzenegger’s DNA. He thoughtfully balances each passion through his work as an Alzheimer’s advocate, actor, investor and now — food founder. As a successful entrepreneur, Patrick is known for his trend-spotting abilities in the better-for-you food and beverage industry. He’s an active investor and advisor to numerous brands in the CPG space, including the 350+ fast-casual Blaze Pizza, fastest-growing coffee company Super Coffee, the recently Unilever-acquired Liquid I.V., Simulate, and many more. Patrick is committed to helping founders scale their emerging businesses to the next level, and now he is betting on himself alongside his mother Maria Shriver to do just that with the launch of their new brain health brand MOSH.

• Elizabeth Brown

  Investor, Vanterra Ventures

  

  Elizabeth Brown

  Investor, Vanterra Ventures

  Elizabeth Brown is an Investor at Vanterra Ventures. Vanterra Ventures is a venture and growth equity fund that partners with visionary founders building disruptive branded products and technologies that will shape the Future of Consumer Health. Elizabeth is responsible for supporting deal sourcing, diligence, and post-close value-add for Vanterra's portfolio, which has backed brands like Hu Kitchen, Oats Overnight, Dose, Bombas, Quip, and Arrae. Elizabeth is energized by supporting the next generation of innovative, consumer product entrepreneurs and investors.

• Mel Li

  Investor, Offline Ventures

  

  Mel Li

  Investor, Offline Ventures

  Mel Li is an Investor at Offline Ventures, a SF-based venture fund backing early-stage companies that make the world healthier and happier. At Offline, Mel concentrates on wellness and digital health, better-for-you CPG, commerce enablement, and web3. She has been involved in consumer deals Magic Mind (the world’s first productivity drink), Try Your Best (play-to-earn platform for brands including F&B), Sunnyside (the #1 mindful drinking app), and many others. Additionally, Offline’s portfolio includes celebrity-favourite organic formula brand Bobbie and Tyra Banks’ SMiZE & DREAM ice cream. Mel also serves as a mentor and adviser at leading accelerators Techstars, Alchemist, and Springboard Enterprises with a focus on media tech and healthcare. Mel is passionate about helping creative founders tap into powerful storytelling, community-led GTM, and delightful customer experiences - especially those in F&B.

• Patrick Schwarzenegger, Co-Founder & CEO, MOSH
• Elizabeth Brown, Investor, Vanterra Ventures
• Mel Li, Investor, Offline Ventures

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Inside the TruFru Deal: Product, People and Position

• Osher Hoberman

  Former VP of Global Business Development, Mars Snacking; Chief Marketing Officer, KIND North America

  

  Osher Hoberman

  Former VP of Global Business Development, Mars Snacking; Chief Marketing Officer, KIND North America

  Osher is currently the Chief Marketing Officer for KIND® North America. He joined KIND® in September from Mars Snacking where he led M&A strategy as Vice President of Global Business Development. Osher was a key architect of Mars’ H&W Snacking Unit through the development and execution of the global KIND® partnership in 2017, Mars’ majority stake in 2020, the Nature’s Bakery® acquisition in 2020, and most recently the acquisition of trü frü® in 2023. He has also been a driver of Mars’ emerging channels strategy and a pioneer of progressive models in critical growth geographies. Prior to his role in Business Development, Osher was the Global Head of Strategy for Mars Snacking and was a brand builder and business leader in Mars Snacking North America. During his time in North America, Osher led the marketing, planning, and execution on a $1.5B multi-brand portfolio consisting of SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, 3MUSKETEERS® and SKITTLES®. Under his leadership, this portfolio experienced strong Quality Growth, adding more than $300M of Sales and 500 basis points of Earnings. Osher is widely recognized for developing and launching SNICKERS® ‘You’re Not You When You Are Hungry,’ which achieved the #1 Super Bowl ad in 2010 and is regarded as one of the most enduring and iconic campaigns in snacking over the past decade. In a career with Mars that spans 20 years, Osher is known for putting people and culture at the heart of the business to deliver exceptional results. Before joining Mars, Osher was in JPMorgan’s Retail and Consumer Investment Banking Group. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Binghamton University and an MBA from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

• Brian Neville

  CEO & Founder , Trü Frü
• Brandon Ng

  Vice President, Consumer, Food, and Retail Investment Banking, Houlihan Lokey

  

  Brandon Ng

  Vice President, Consumer, Food, and Retail Investment Banking, Houlihan Lokey

  Mr. Ng is a Vice President in Houlihan Lokey’s Consumer, Food & Retail Group, focused on providing investment banking and M&A advisory services to consumer companies, with a specific focus on the high-growth emerging branded food & beverage / active nutrition space. Since joining Houlihan Lokey in 2014, Mr. Ng has worked on a variety of engagements including sell-side M&A transactions of some of the biggest category disrupters, other corporate finance assignments, and fairness opinions, including 25+ sell-side M&A transactions in the branded food and beverage space. Some notable high-profile transactions include category disrupting brands like TruFru, Dot’s Pretzels, Tate’s Bakeshop, Kodiak Cakes, Lily’s Sweets, Cholula, Skinny Pop, Angie’s Boom Chica Pop, Vive Organics, Gardein to big name CPGs like Mars, Hershey, Mondelez, McCormick, and ConAgra. Additionally, he invests significant time in networking and assisting entrepreneurs and previously competed on the Singapore National Team in Swimming and Waterpolo.

• Osher Hoberman, Former VP of Global Business Development, Mars Snacking; Chief Marketing Officer, KIND North America
• Brian Neville, CEO & Founder , Trü Frü
• Brandon Ng, Vice President, Consumer, Food, and Retail Investment Banking, Houlihan Lokey

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NOSH Best of 2023 Awards Announced

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Lunch Break, Sampling & Elevator Talk

Digging into Digital and Getting Ahead At GoPuff

• Max Crowley

  Vice President of Merchandising, Gopuff

  

  Max Crowley

  Vice President of Merchandising, Gopuff

  As the Vice President of Merchandising at Gopuff, Max Crowley is responsible for overseeing the strategy and execution of product assortment, promotions, pricing, and digital placement to drive sales and provide a relevant, compelling assortment for customers. Max has extensive experience in creating, launching, and scaling startups. He joined Gopuff in 2020 following the acquisition of Bandit, a mobile-app-only coffee shop concept he co-founded. Under his leadership as CEO, Bandit, which integrated technology into the coffee retail experience, grew its presence in New York City before expanding to Austin, Texas. Prior to Bandit, Max spent seven years at Uber, starting as the 25th employee in 2011. He played a pivotal role in establishing Uber's operations in Chicago, the company's fourth market, and subsequently launched and led Uber for Business, which evolved into a significant division for the company.

• Max Crowley, Vice President of Merchandising, Gopuff

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How Insurgent Brands Win

• Charlotte Apps

  Global EVP, Consumer Products, Bain

  

  Charlotte Apps

  Global EVP, Consumer Products, Bain

  Charlotte Apps is the Global EVP of Bain’s Consumer Products practice and leads Bain’s work on Insurgent Brands. She has published a series of Bain studies on the impact of Insurgent Brands, with a specific focus on their unique growth model and implications for consumer packaged goods companies. She works with Consumer Product clients across related topics of brand acceleration, portfolio strategy, acquisitions and operating model, and advises Insurgent Brand diligences in both corporate and private equity settings. Charlotte joined Bain in 2006 and has worked extensively in both Europe and North America. Prior to joining Bain, she worked in investment banking at Merrill Lynch. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, and graduated magna cum laude from Columbia University with a BA in political science and economics. She currently lives in Toronto with her husband and three children.

• Charlotte Apps, Global EVP, Consumer Products, Bain

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NOSH Live Happy Hour, Presented by ForceBrands