In this episode, we’ll explore why ice cream continues to hold such a powerful emotional connection for consumers, how evolving formats and flavors are meeting today’s snacking and portioning habits, and where premium and value positioning fit in an increasingly competitive aisle. We’ll also examine the resilience of ice cream as an indulgent category in changing economic conditions — and look ahead to the trends and innovations that could shape its future.

Discover how retail dietitians are driving nutrition, health, and ROI from an informative panel of registered dietitians: Annette Maggi of Annette Maggi & Associates, Inc.; Laura Brown, Kroger Health; Stacy Bates, H-E-B; and Yvette Waters, The Raley’s Companies. Learn how their evolving roles boost shopper engagement, influence policy, and support brand partnerships while driving impact across the retail landscape.

Sam Zien, widely recognized as "Sam The Cooking Guy;" Erin Anderson, Danone North America; Tim Heil and Phyllis Rothschild, Pete and Gerry's Organic Eggs, engage in a thought-provoking discussion about the dynamic world of food content. They explore its rapid evolution, the consumer journey across social media and in-store experiences, and how brands are leveraging creators to stand out, as shopping behaviors and trends continue to shift.

Emily Metz, American Egg Board (AEB) President & CEO, and Tricia Greyshock, NFRA President & CEO, discuss the current egg landscape, the impact of the evolving Avian flu, and what the recovery outlook entails. The AEB supports America's egg farmers in its mission to increase demand for U.S. eggs and egg products through research, education, and promotion.

NFRA Members & Retailers: For customized resources on communicating important information to shoppers regarding the current state of the egg industry (pricing, demand, bird flu, etc.), please visit https://www.incredibleegg.org/valueofeggs/ or reach out to [email protected].

Jason Smith, Managing Director USA, Shopper Intelligence, and Tricia Greyshock, President & CEO, NFRA, take a deep dive into shopper satisfaction, attitudes, and behaviors that are shaping trends for the frozen and refrigerated dairy categories. 

Frozen & Refrigerated Buyer’s Denise Leathers and George Anderson chat with a couple manufacturers on their experiences with harnessing innovation and navigating consumer expectations. John Reaves, CEO of Milton’s Craft Bakers and Louis McEneny, President of Texas Tamale share challenges they’ve faced as well as insights gained while creating and promoting their products in the frozen aisles.

Frozen and refrigerated industry veterans Mark Tarzwell, COO of Ateeco Inc./Mrs. T’s Pierogies and Kevin Shields, Director of Sales Eastern US, H.P. Hood, chat with Food Trade News’ Maria Maggio. Hear about their career journeys as well as their experiences with evolution in these categories, from packaging to product lines and the challenges and considerations along the way.

Join Chill & Chat for a deeper look into a recent research study that identifies the opportunity to meet the needs of a key consumer cohort – families with children ages 4-12. Targeting this demographic by focusing on nutrient density, veggie-forward offerings, and easy protein solutions in the frozen and refrigerated aisles can generate sales and improved shopper satisfaction. Ken Harris, Managing Partner, Cadent Consulting Group moderates a group discussion on innovation and findings with Kristen Thompson, Business Unit President for Green Giant, B&G Foods and Steve Polonowski, Chief Customer Officer, Dr. Praeger’s.

NFRA President & CEO, Tricia Greyshock; Refrigerated & Frozen Foods Editor in Chief, Kelley Rodriguez; and Penguin Pitch Emerging Brand contest winner Big Mozz's Marlon Weinberg talk frozen innovation at the 2024 NFRA Convention.

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