In this episode of Chill & Chat, Tricia Greyshock, President & CEO, NFRA, is joined by Eva Goulbourne, Founder & CEO, Littlefoot Ventures, and Marty Steinmetz, Chief Commercial Officer, RealCold, for a conversation on how waste reduction is transforming operations, retailer expectations, cold chain performance, and category growth.

The episode explores the findings and implications of NFRA’s Food Loss & Waste Insights Report, diving into why food waste has become a defining issue for the frozen and refrigerated foods industry. Our guests highlight the built-in waste prevention advantages in the refrigerated and frozen food industry such as extended shelf life, lower shrink, and stronger forecasting value while detailing how NFRA is helping members meet rising regulatory, consumer, and retailer demands.

Listen to this episode for actionable insights on how to integrate food waste reduction across every step of the cold chain. For more information on NFRA’s Food Waste Insights Report, members can access the exclusive research here:

https://nfraweb.junolive.com/main/food_waste_insights.

In this episode of Chill & Chat, Mark Tarzwell, Adjunct Instructor, Saint Joseph’s University, sits down with Food Marketing students Nate Muraski, Nicolette Miranda, and Christian Palermo to share their perspectives as emerging leaders in the food industry.

Recorded following their experience at the NFRA Convention, the conversation highlights what stood out to them on-site, from category trends to the evolving roles of brands, retailers, and the cold chain. They’ll discuss how today’s classroom learning, early career interests, and exposure to real-world industry dialogue are shaping how they think about the future of food marketing.

The episode offers a compelling look at how the next generation views innovation, consumer expectations, and the opportunities ahead for frozen and refrigerated foods, and how NFRA's industry ecosystem helps prepare young talent to enter the field.

In this episode of Chill & Chat, Matt Point, Senior Vice President of Strategy & Operations, NFRA, is joined by members of the NFRA Executive Committee: Tracy Aquila, Vice President of Business Development, CROSSMARK, Neil Ritchey, Vice President of Sales, InnovAsian, and Matt O’Hare, President & CEO, JOH.

Take a listen from these leaders as they discuss how NFRA connects every corner of the industry — from manufacturers and retailers to logistics providers and suppliers — and how membership goes far beyond dues to deliver real value, visibility, and impact. Participants also dive into how PR, promotions, and Easy Home Meals amplify consumer demand, the importance of active member engagement, and the strategic priorities shaping NFRA’s future.

Listen now and learn how to elevate your business and maximize your company’s presence in the frozen and refrigerated foods industry by leveraging NFRA membership and resources. For more information on joining the NFRA community, visit us at https://nfraweb.org/membership/.

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.