Future Food Cast

In this episode, we speak with Frank McKinney, COO/Plant Manager at Carolina Ingredients. Discover how innovation, technology, and quality drive their B2B food ingredient and blending operations. From low-sodium sea salt to a wide range of dry ingredients, including yeast extracts, Carolina Ingredients is renowned in the industry. Explore their commitment to serving diverse food manufacturers and hear about their unique use of near-infrared blend technology. Tune in to uncover their mission to make the world taste better through innovation and quality.

In this episode, Andrew Redmond, Senior Director of Product Development at Quality Candy LLC, discusses how they offer classic candies and embrace alternative confectionary products. From gluten-free to low glycemic index options, we turn specific requirements into fun opportunities. As a family-owned company, they produce over 25M lbs of candy, ensuring quality and safety with FDA inspections. They collaborate with renowned retailers and explore custom product creation.

In this episode, we dive into the innovative world of Watermelon Market with their Co-Founder and CEO, Omar AlShamsi. Omar shares his background and how he founded Watermelon to provide solutions to the challenges he faced as a cafe owner and supplier while starting up. We explore how Watermelon provides a comprehensive platform for multiple players in the food industry. The platform streamlines the process for farmers, suppliers, restaurants, hotels, and other retail food providers, offering services, quality, and pricing that buyers are looking for, all within their ecosystem. Omar discusses the challenges of implementing such a system and how Watermelon is constantly looking for ways to improve efficiencies and processes, including creating contracts that help both farmers and buyers deal with seasonality. Overall, Watermelon Market is changing the game in the food and beverage industry, offering a unique solution that benefits all parties involved.

In this episode, our guest speaker Ted McDonnell, Business Consultant of Liberty Lifehouse Group talks about his unique background in the spirit distribution industry, including his experience growing up in the liquor business and joining Seagrams in 1986. Ted shares his international perspective and how he started Liberty Lighthouse Group from scratch, helping brands gain international distribution. Tune in to hear Ted's unique approach to business, his strategy for growing distribution, and his thoughts on the future of crafted spirits. Don't miss out!

In this episode, we talk to Carla King, the Senior Marketing Director of Mary's Gone Crackers, about their sustainability efforts and commitment to quality products. Carla shares Mary's inspiring story, from starting in her kitchen to becoming the largest importer of rice in the US. We discuss their ingredient sourcing, product launches, and what sets Mary's apart in a crowded market. We also explore how consumer trust has helped Mary's grow and their community give-back, including their partnership with the Waterbird Foundation. Lastly, we talk about the importance of healthy products and Mary's role in creating a healthier environment. Tune in for an enlightening conversation with Carla King!

In this podcast episode, we speak with Trevor Self- The marketing Manager, and Rhiannon Hoeweler- the Vice President of Experience & Impact . They discuss their growth, new products, and efforts to achieve B Corp Certification. The team also talks about building inclusivity and engaging the community, particularly women, with their Ascending Women Panel and nature-focused locations. They have given over half a million dollars to the community and offer a carbon offset option with their event space. Based out of Cincinnati, Ohio, MadTree Brewing Company has always been committed to something bigger than just making beer. They celebrate and protect nature while reducing its impact on the environment. They are also proud members of 1% for the Planet, with a commitment to donate 1% of sales to non-profits focused on environmental sustainability.

In this episode, Nobu Yamanashi, President of Yama Seafood, Inc. Yama Seafood is a family-owned and run business with a worldwide reach for seafood, including sourcing in Japan from the prime market. Yamanashi talks about the journey of the seafood industry, from how his father started the company and also shares the challenges of sourcing, logistics, and weather delays. He highlights how the business requires a lot of expertise, skills, and knowledge and is more people-driven rather than systems-driven. Yama Seafood has the agility of a small company with a large volume and much better customer service than a larger company. They also discuss pivoting during COVID-19 to the direct-to-consumer market and their interest in growing this home-delivery market. Additionally, Yamanashi talks about its company culture, training, and company values.

In this episode of the podcast, our host Pam Leinmiller talks with Joshua Sanders, VP of Sea Breeze, a fourth-generation family-owned business in the concentrated beverages and syrups industry. They discuss the different aspects of their business, from providing beverage concentrates and syrups to restaurants and bars, to packing syrups like chocolate and caramel in small plastic squeeze bottles. Joshua also shares how Sea Breeze stays up-to-date on consumer trends, emphasizes the importance of transparency, and talks about the marketing strategies they use to promote their products. Listen to this episode to learn more about how Sea Breeze is thriving in the concentrated beverages and syrups industry.

This episode features Agueda Trujillo, the Head of Marketing at Waterdrop, an Austrian company founded by Henry and Martin Murray, and Kristoff. They created a new category of hydration products called microdrinks in 2016, which has revolutionized the industry. Agueda talks about the evolution of microdrinks into microenergy, microtea, and microlyte, and the company's marketing plan, including partnering with tennis players as representatives and setting up hydration stations at tournaments. Waterdrop is committed to a plastic-free tennis world and contributing to the green revolution. They have launched the LUCY Smart Cap and are soon to launch a LUCY filter pitcher for the refrigerator, which has many environmental benefits. Agueda also discusses the company's contribution to cleaning up the ocean and making a positive impact on the environment.

The episode features an interview with Newton Hoang, Director of Marketing & IT at 7 Leaves Cafe, who discusses how they optimize customer experience by blending marketing and technology. Hoang shares how the brand has been able to stand out in a crowded market through community involvement, fresh ingredients, and a limited menu that is appreciated by customers for its simplicity. He also explains how the drive-through model enables quick service time of 3 minutes or less, despite the 4-8 hours preparation time required for their products. Additionally, Huang highlights the success of the brand's digital reward program and plans to incorporate AI in the future. This episode is relevant for individuals interested in understanding how a brand can leverage technology and marketing to create a unique customer experience in the food industry.