If you're headed to Nosh Live, BevNET Live, and/or Brewbound Live, we've got a GREAT show lined up for you.  Make sure you come say hello and introduce yourself! And, if you're at home this year, catch the free livestream on Nosh.com, BevNET.com, and Brewbound.com 

BevNET started in Boston as an idea fueled by Mountain Dew and Snapple in a college dorm room, back before Mark Zuckerberg was just a twinkle in his parents’ eyes. In this episode, COO Carolyn Craven shares the story of BevNET’s 20-year journey. As we prepare for BevNET Live, NOSH Live, and Brewbound Live this December, we reflect on the trials and milestones that come with building a brand.

How do you scale a culturally rooted brand while preserving authenticity and brand identity? Kartik Das of Doosra, a modern take on Indian chai-time snacks, brought this question to our recent Community Call, where innovative brands like Nguyen Coffee Supply, Brooklyn Delhi, MìLà, and DayDayCook joined the discussion. We discussed how to balance authenticity with accessibility, use data and testing to make informed decisions, and implement scrappy, budget-friendly tactics to grow while staying true to your roots.

Sven Alwerud, founder of Celerity CPG, and Sarah Gordon, VP of Marketing at Evergreen, share their tried-and-true tactics for leveraging retail media to boost product velocity. Find out how advertising directly on retailer websites and apps can empower you to compete with big CPG on an emerging brand's budget. We'll discuss how to set up high-ROI campaigns, target the right keywords and audiences, allocate your budget wisely, and use retailer-specific tricks to help you succeed on the shelf.

Maya French, founder of HappyPop and Koia, and Kendra Bennett, CMO of Bon Bee Honey, each turned unexpected hits of PR exposure into sustained brand growth. They’ll share the key decisions they made—and wish they had made—on prioritizing accounts when you're tight on product, ramping up production for unexpected demand, and using pre-orders and customer service tactics to retain new customers, even if you can't service them immediately. They also share how to leverage viral exposure beyond e-commerce by strengthening retail partnerships.

Inclusive hiring strengthens communities and benefits your brand. Adrianne DeLuca of BevNET, Joshua Velasquez of Shire's Naturals, and Kevin McGahren of Greyston Bakery discuss how they use non-traditional hiring, share effective hiring and training tactics, and explain the positive impact on both business and communities. Find out how equitable hiring boosts loyalty, taps into overlooked talent, and creates a strategic advantage for your business

Supplement trends, such as the popularity of collagen, protein, and nootropics, often forecast shifts in food and beverage CPG trends by tracking consumer behavior. We welcome Darren Viscount, Senior Natural Living Category Manager/OTC Category Manager at Bristol Farms, to discuss these natural living trends and their impact on food and beverage products. We’ll also learn what brands need to get on the shelf, succeed at Bristol Farms, and build lasting partnerships.

Holly and John Arbuckle, founders of Singing Pastures Farms, are building a unique, clean-label, pasture-raised, woman-owned meat snack brand. They’re navigating the complexities of earned PR to gain meaningful exposure and drive brand awareness that translates into sales. Sara Brooks, from Goldilocks and Fridays digital marketing firm, joins to share the latest PR strategies, including affiliate marketing, social media tactics, and influencer partnerships, to help your brand shine.

Target may be a major retail powerhouse, but there's a unique pathway for emerging brands to get their product on shelf and be successful. Target's Director of Activation & Growth, Le'Spencer Walker, outlines the three retail-ready factors he considers for emerging brands: packaging and branding, business performance data (even for small brands), and marketing and promotion capabilities. Mazaah CEO, Yasmin Sajadi, shares her brand's 2-year journey to secure placement at Target, along with insights on marketing strategies, pricing, and the challenges of scaling production.

Casey Gaston, Executive Leader of Local and Emerging Brands at Whole Foods Market, offers key updates and strategies for emerging brands who want to partner with this key retailer. In this session, she discusses how to navigate the current category review process and provides details on the LEAP accelerator program. Casey also shares her top tips for crafting a compelling pitch, along with smart strategies for brand success—from effectively communicating your story to understanding the nuances of pricing and promotion. Whether you're looking to get your product into Whole Foods Market or you're already there, you'll find valuable insights to support you at any stage of your Whole Foods journey.