Nosh Notables 2024
The founder of a media company-turned-natural products investor. A lending expert. A personal trainer reforming gas station nutrition. A couple of VC investors, several repeat entrepreneurs, and an intrepid, conscious community leader. A longtime salesman-turned-guitarist-turned-salesman.
What brings this diverse slate of industry players together? They’re just a few of the names in this year’s esteemed class of 2024 Nosh Notables, our annual list of people who are eminently worth knowing within the dynamic, interconnected food business ecosystem.
And we know they’re worth knowing because, in large part, you nominated them: this year, we opened up selections to the industry at large, and the broad nature of the group of nominees helped us to understand better what the community values.
What we found is that, for many, industry leadership and community development is as important as big dollar investment, while certain key employees are as deserving of recognition as famous founders.
Perhaps reflecting the financial realities of the past few years, sales took precedence over marketing, and lenders and first-call retailers seemed to be more front-of-mind than the big chains. But at the same time, as you’ll see, some of the most reputable established leaders and entrepreneurs continue to attract admiration, along with newer swashbucklers who are battling in vital new ways.
We hope the list is one you look at, talk about, disagree with, and fight over. We welcome your notes, just as we hope you welcome the Notables comprising the Class of 2024:
Most Likely To Bring Breakfast For The Whole Class: Ayeshah Abuelhiga, Founder and CEO, Mason Dixie Foods
Most Homework: Annie Streit, Chief Commercial Officer, Daily Harvest
Player-Coach: John Foraker, Co-Founder, and CEO Once Upon A Farm
Crunchiest Class Clown: Lewis Goldstein, CEO, Maine Crisp Company
Most Likely to Quote Michael Corleone in Godfather III: Steve Wangler, Senior Vice President of Sales, Better Sour
Most Ready to Move on From Bean Jokes: Sarah Wallace, Founder, The Good Bean, Vitamin B
Homecoming Queen: Emily Schildt, Founder and CEO, Pop Up Grocer
Class Treasurer: Genevieve Gilbreath, Co-Founder and General Partner, Springdale Ventures
Most Likely to Speed Date: Karen Ivanis-Rogers, Senior Director of Ventures, Albertsons Companies
Most Likely To Cosplay As Willy Wonka: Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson, Founder, Feastables
Best Terms: Keith Kohler, President, K2 Group
Most Popular: Allison Ball, Founder and CEO, Food Biz Wiz, Retail Ready
Head Cheerleader: Natalie Shmulik, Chief Incubation Officer, The Hatchery, ICNC
Most Likely To Show Founders How to Stretch A Buck: Rachel Hirsch, Founder and Managing Partner, Wellness Growth Ventures
Best Track Record: Jane Miller, CEO, Rudi’s Bakery
Gutsiest Founder: Marc Washington, Founder and CEO, Supergut
Most Likely to Be Your One Phone Call: Ryan Lewendon, Partner, Giannuzzi Lewendon
Most Likely to be Really, Really Busy: Scott Romano, Vice President and Forager, Sprouts Farmers Market
Most Likely to Succeed… Again?: Peter Rahal, Founder, RXBAR, David
Empire Builder: Norma Chu, Founder and CEO, DayDayCook
Hottest Nerd in the Freezer: Dionne Laslo-Baker, Founder and CEO, DeeBee’s Organics
New Bucks on the Block: Matt Leeds, Managing Partner, Forward Consumer Partners
Most Likely to Ignore Conventional Thinking Around a Crowded Category: Pete Maldonado + Rashid Ali, Co-CEOs, Chomps
Band Leader: Amrit Richmond, Founder, IndieCPG
About Nosh
A product of BevNET.com, Inc., Nosh is your go-to resource for comprehensive coverage of the dynamic world of packaged food. Through daily reporting, expert interviews, Q&A sessions, and live events, Nosh offers food industry news, insights, and education for the CPG community.
Our community encompasses entrepreneurs, brand leaders, suppliers, distributors, retailers, investors, and service providers looking to learn, network, and stay updated on the evolving trends shaping the packaged food industry.