Battles yield more than winners and losers: battles yield lessons. On the first day of NOSH Live Summer 2022 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York, NY a plethora of battle-tested investors, entrepreneurs, and executives will take to the stage to share those lessons with attendees.

Food entrepreneurs have been through enough battles in the past couple of years as to make lessons especially welcome. In the face of COVID-driven financial instability and supply chain uncertainty, our speakers will arm attendees with advice and guidance for the steps to come.

For new recruits, the day 1 agenda will start with the NOSH Live Bootcamp – an early jump into networking and the language of the business.

At 10 a.m., we hit the main stage. Vital Farms President & CEO Russell Diez-Canseco will share how he led the company through a successful IPO process, and his own ongoing battle: continuing to help the company grow profits while still maintaining its deeper purpose. It’s a can’t miss session for any company trying to marry mission with monetary success.

Switching the field from experienced executive to emerging entrepreneur, we’ll next hear from Duane Cheers, the founder and CEO of plant-based food company Everything Legendary. After bootstrapping his plant-based food company for close to four years, Duane and his cofounders recently raised $6 million in funding from investors including CircleUp Growth Partners, General Mills’ 301 INC, and Mark Cuban. At NOSH Live, Cheers will share advice for other emerging brands about how he worked with what he had in hand to endure long enough to establish the company.

Following a short break, attendees will return for a panel discussion with investors. On the table will be advice for brands looking to raise capital in the near term, as well as the ways current events are affecting CPG investing.

Next, Gabi Lewis, a co-founder of cereal brand Magic Spoon, will chat about the lessons he learned from his first endeavor, launching cricket-based bar brand Exo, and how that experience influenced Magic Spoon’s structure, fundraising and focus.

Attendees will then head to lunch with more time for networking and noshing, after which they’ll gather back together to hear insights on consumers from the team at grocery giant Kroger and its data arm 84.51. Speakers will introduce attendees to the Kroger natural products shopper, giving a view into the way the evolution of omnichannel is changing what consumers want from their shopping experience. The presentation will give entrepreneurs an edge in channel strategies amidst a changing retail landscape.

Experience will be back on stage when John Lowe, the CEO of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream, recounts his experiences leading the brand from local phenomenon to national powerhouse. Reflecting back on his over a decade of leadership, Lowe will provide attendees with stories of his success and struggles, as well as practical advice for managing the ups and downs of any CPG business.

Finally we’ll end the day with a panel of entrepreneurs, including Chris Kirby the CEO of Ithaca Hummus and Denise Woodard the CEO of Partake, about their own fundraising experiences and, more importantly, the ways they used it to fortify and grow their businesses when the check hit the account. HINT: No one bought a Porsche.

View the full agenda.

Attendees will wrap up the day watching the NOSH Live Pitch Slam semifinals, where they’ll also have a vote in selecting who goes on to the final round. They’ll then head to the official NOSH Live cocktail party, also held at the Metropolitan Pavilion, for some time chatting with each other about the day’s lessons over more snacks and drinks, before adjourning for the day.

The event is only 19 days away. Register for NOSH Live Summer 2022 >>

BevNET & NOSH Insiders save an additional $100 per registration.

We can’t wait to see you there, so sign up. Sponsorships are still available for NOSH Live Summer 2022 as well: connect with our sales team.

About NOSH Live

NOSH Live is a two-day business event for the natural food industry. The cutting-edge conference drives valuable industry connections and promotes the exchange of strategies and ideas. Specific to CPG food companies, the program explores growth strategy, sales, marketing, investment, and more through case-based presentations and panels by an all-star roster of speakers.