Cottage cheese’s curious climb to coolness can be arguably traced back to one person. Nearly a decade ago, Jesse Merrill spotted an opportunity to reinvent the sad salad bar staple into a premium, protein-rich superfood with the launch of his brand Good Culture.

In 2015, Merrill, alongside co-founder Anders Eisner, debuted a line of certified organic cottage cheese, sourcing pasture-raised dairy from family farms and using no gums, thickeners or stabilizers that are common in standard cottage cheese.

Over the past year, the category – and the company – entered a boom period, driven by America’s insatiable appetite for protein and a countless number of social media influencers scooping the stuff into viral recipes for bread, ice cream, cookie dough and more.

As an entrepreneur, how do you identify opportunities for disruption? And how do you keep pace when demand rapidly outstrips supply? How do you keep investors patient when a seeming slam-dunk product takes years to catch fire?

At Nosh Live Winter 2024 in Marina del Rey, Calif., Merrill will dish out the details of his journey from a former beverage marketer and first-time food entrepreneur to the so-called Big Cheese – with all the curds he encountered along the whey, er, way.

Attendees will gain perspective on how to design and market a disruptive product, challenge consumer perceptions and ride the wave of success, all while protecting brand values.

Early registration pricing goes through Friday, October 25. Save $100 when you register for Nosh Live Winter 2024 >>

About Nosh Live

Nosh Live is the premiere event for packaged food brands, distributors, service providers, retailers, and investors to connect and discuss what’s next for the industry. With top-notch speakers and the Nosh Live Pitch Slam, the event attracts hundreds of attendees.