Judie Bizzozero, content director, Food and Beverage Insider, and Alex Smolokoff, associate editor, Food and Beverage Insider, break down the trending ingredients, formats and messaging that stood out on the Natural Products Expo East show floor.

Jordan Buckner, founder of Foodbevy, joins the Food and Beverage Insider podcast to discuss reducing obstacles and creating more opportunities for BIPOC and women-led entrepreneurs.

Rosehips—the berries of the rose plant—may not yet be a well-utilized ingredient in North America, but they are a staple in the country of Georgia. Nina Tickaradze, the founder of NADI, a line of rosehip juices, joins the Food and Beverage Insider podcast to discuss how she brought this mainstay Georgian ingredient to America, why rosehips may be posed for explosive growth in the United States, and how she is using her business and her platform to give back. Key insights include: What are...

Food and beverage brands that offer flexible film packaging for their natural and organic foods joined forces in 2020 with the goal of reducing ocean plastics. In this Healthy Insider podcast Reyna Bryan, president, https://www.rcdpackaging.com/ (RCD Packaging Innovation), talks about the https://www.rcdpackaging.com/innovationcolab (Redefining Flexible Films Innovation Workshop) that she led, including the big packaging lessons learned and the next steps industry will embark on to further...

The 2020 election is just weeks away; its ramifications are sure to be felt country- and industry-wide. That’s why Wildwonder sparkling beverages and its founder, Rosa Li, are getting the message out there however they can: Vote.  Food & Beverage Insider assistant editor spoke with Li about the brand’s recent push to encourage and assist people to vote, including a recent event in which 100% of the weekend’s profits went to a voter fund. Li also explained the causes central to her...

Gatorade started it all, but sports drinks continue to evolve. Defy is a sports drink startup company using a hall of fame athlete on the label (and financier). The beverage replaces electrolytes, supplements with B vitamins—and uses “performance spectrum” cannabinoids—CBD and others. Senior editor Todd Runestad gets off the sidelines and into the action with Defy CEO Megan Bushell as they discuss: How to navigate distribution, bioavailability concerns, consumer appeal and celebrity backing....

Alter Eco, a chocolate-centric food company and Certified B Corp, announced recently it is launching a new charitable arm, the Alter Eco Foundation. This foundation will help promote regenerative and sustainable farming practices industry-wide, as well as better conditions for farmers and workers globally. According to Alter Eco’s press release, “As the new charitable arm of the company, the Alter Eco Foundation will work directly with cacao farmers to provide resources to help them...

Mikael Bengtsson, Industry and Solution Strategy Director for Infor’s food and beverage sector in North America, and Judie Bizzozero, editor in chief of Food & Beverage Insider, discuss how ingredient suppliers and CPG brands can use technology to improve traceability and food safety standards.

With the growing popularity of plant-based alternatives to both meat and dairy, the dairy industry must be ready and willing to meet consumers where they are. That means improvement in the sustainability of dairy production that can match or surpass that of nondairy alternatives. With Food & Beverage Insider assistant editor Alex Smolokoff, this podcast addresses: • The current and future steps taken within the dairy industry to improve sustainability; • Novel and exciting ways...

Trends on display at the 2020 IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo, held virtually due to ongoing COVID-19, as discussed by Food & Beverage Insider editors Judie Bizzozero, editor in chief, and Alex Smolokoff, assistant editor.

The old saying “Let food be thy medicine” rings especially true today as people continually look to maintain and even improve their health through the food and beverage they consume. This trend of better-for-you eating, which also encompasses diets such as vegan and keto, even extends to indulgent treats. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the Barry Callebaut Group is among the world's leading manufacturers of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, and recently announced the launch of...

The natural products industry is less diverse than the general population in terms of the consumers we serve and the individuals that lead our companies. Yet, this market is full of people who want to improve the justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (J.E.D.I.) makeup of our cultures, customers and consumers. The first step in education, especially for those who are just becoming aware of the privilege they hold in society and the ways they operate within an unjust system. This podcast...

Every business’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic will be different, and some will respond better than others. In this edition of the Food & Beverage Insider podcast, Mike Forbes, CEO of sustainable and Certified B Corp. chocolate company Alter Eco, discusses how his business has responded to these strange times, and why following the B Corp. model has helped inform that response. According to the official B Corp. website, “Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest...

Brandon Hernandez, co-founder of Whole Brain Consulting, and Jon Benninger, vice president of the Health & Nutrition Network for Informa Markets, discuss how COVID-19 is providing food brands with the opportunity to take a hard look at supply chains, business plans and manufacturing processes.

The COVID-19 pandemic, even as local and national governments begin easing social restrictions, continues to plague the food and beverage industry. Now nearly three months into this “new normal,” social distancing and increased sanitization efforts continue, all while millions of Americans remain out of work or otherwise struggling financially. The question for food and beverage brands is, how is this affecting consumers? How have shopping and eating habits been adjusted, and what are...

A la Carte Connections owner and food scientist Rachel Zemser spoke with Food & Beverage Insider editor in chief Judie Bizzozero to discuss how product developers are adopting a new at-home R&D model during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting businesses throughout the food and beverage industry, from upstarts to established giants. Issues with supply chains, retailers, manufacturing and more have forced brands to adjust on the fly to keep their businesses thriving during these unprecedented times. Go Big, an energy and wellness shot company launched in February, is experiencing the turbulence brought on by COVID-19 first-hand. From reprioritizing distribution channels to ensuring a stable supply...

PepsiCo is tackling gender-based investment disparity through its Frito-Lay inaugural WomanMade Expo West Challenge that awarded $100,000 in business grants to three female entrepreneurs. Listen to Ciara Dilley, vice president of marketing, transform brands and portfolio innovation for Frito-Lay, and first-place winner Sashee Chandran discuss challenges and opportunities facing female entrepreneurs in the food and beverage industry.

Soñar! Foods’ organic Grain Free Tortilla Chips take a classic Latin food staple, but increase the nutrition, cut the empty calories and give back to the community. These organic-certified, nutrient-dense, grain-free tortilla chips were named a finalist in the Best New Mission-Based Product category for the 2020 NEXTY awards. They are made from garbanzo beans, cassava, hemp, chia, flax and expeller pressed sunflower oil sourced from the Americas. The chips offer 5 g of fiber, 3 g of protein,...

Sun & Swell’s Foods’ Clean Cookie Bites is a finalist for the Best Environmentally Responsible Packaging category at the 2020 NEXTY Awards because they come in composable pouches that fully decompose within 180 days. Product integrity is found inside the package too, with a product that’s made with whole-food, plant-based ingredients, half of which are sourced from California. In this podcast, Kate Flynn, CEO and founder, Sun & Swell Foods, talks with Sandy Almendarez, content...