Judie Bizzozero, content director, Food & Beverage Insider, and Alex Smolokoff, associate editor, Food & 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 & 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 & 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 rosehips and what benefits do they provide as a functional ingredient?
• What is the immunity market like in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic?
• What is next for NADI in 2021 and beyond?

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, RCD Packaging Innovation, talks about the Redefining Flexible Films Innovation Workshop that she led, including the big packaging lessons learned and the next steps industry will embark on to further sustainable packaging solutions. 

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 and Wildwonder’s brand, and how they plan to fight for them. 

In this podcast, Smolokoff and Li discussed: 

• Why Li and Wildwonder are so passionate about amplifying the “get out and vote” message; 
• The issues important to Li – both on a personal and business level; 
• and, regardless of the election outcome, what Li hopes to see more of the next four years and beyond.  

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.
• Why the company selected the suite of “performance spectrum” cannabinoids in addition to CBD.
• How quality concerns up and down the decision tree led the company to its present position

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 transition to dynamic agroforestry, a method of regenerative agriculture with many positive environmental, economic, and social benefits. This next-generation approach to farming is already showing significant potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

Key insights include:

• The need for more ethical and sustainable cacao farming, especially in light of COVID-19 and recent environmental disasters;
• The tangible efforts being made my Alter Eco to improve both the planet and the lives of farmers globally;
• How Alter Eco plans to extend its own efforts industry-wide.

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.