In this episode of Chill & Chat, Kate Landis, Senior Director of Marketing, NFRA, and Kelley Rodriguez, Editor-in-Chief, Refrigerated & Frozen Foods, sit down with Joe Nicchi, founder of CVT Soft Serve and the grand prize winner of NFRA’s 2025 Penguin Pitch Contest.

During the conversation, Nicchi shares his unique journey going from serving high-quality soft serve in ice cream trucks in Los Angeles to successfully launching a game-changing single-serve soft serve pouch that’s now available at live event venues and major retailers nationwide. Nicchi also provides background on the development process, explaining how he maintained the signature creamy texture and flavor in the new product, and highlights how impactful the Penguin Pitch experience was in connecting CVT Soft Serve to key professionals in the frozen food industry.

Whether you’re interested in innovation, entrepreneurship, or what it takes to bring a new frozen product to market, this conversation offers a sweet look behind the scenes.

For more information on pitching your new product in NFRA’s Penguin Pitch Emerging Brand Contest, visit us at

https://nfraweb.org/awards-and-recognition/penguin-pitch-awards/.

In this special episode of Chill & Chat with NFRA, President & CEO Tricia Greyshock sits down with three participants from NFRA’s inaugural First Penguin Next Generation Leadership Program — Natalie Larson(United States Cold Storage, Inc.), Kim Larsson (Painterland Sisters), and Daniel Menkens (RecorGroup, LLC).

Together, they share candid insights on stepping into leadership roles early in their careers, navigating challenges, and finding purpose in the frozen and refrigerated foods industry. Hear how the First Penguins program has shaped their professional growth, what inspires them about this community, and the opportunities they see ahead as they help drive the future of our categories.

Whether you’re an emerging professional or an industry veteran, this conversation offers a refreshing look at how the next generation is innovating, leading, and making their mark.

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.