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Last month, The Natural List crew took a field trip to Las Vegas for the largest SupplySide Global ever! Over 20,000 people graced the halls of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center to further their supplement business, talk innovation and, of course, learn something new.
Host Jessica Rubino was able to snag Content Director Christine Kapperman and Editor Devon Gholam off the stage long enough to chat through some of the most pertinent takeaways from the show. The conversation centered on transparency across the supply chain, from dosing to efficacy, as well as the rise in playful, sensory-driven products. I mean, who wouldn’t want to take their supplements in sprinkle format?
Jessica highlights that these speak to a broader movement of joy and fun in wellness, rather than simply a new format trend. Devon rallies for the rise of metabolic health, citing that it’s so much more than just ‘weight loss’—even suggesting it could be the next ‘longevity’ or ‘healthy aging’. Our guests and host talk about the tension between holistic, systems-based health approaches and the hyper-targeted, precision ingredient solutions, women’s health, upcycled ingredients and more.
We’ll close with this: These conversations matter because ultimately, they shape what formulators, brands and finished products on shelf look like; directly influencing what supplement, food, beverage and beauty shoppers experience and trust.
Thank you to our sponsors Sensoril, Kanbar Digital and NOW Foods. Enjoy our vodcasts here or on YouTube. Prefer to tune in via podcast? Join us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
In this episode
More than 50% of American families are celebrating Halloween this year. Does that feel low to you, or as expected? Between taste-testing natural vs. conventional Halloween candies, Host Adrienne Smith is joined by Meredith Kaufman and a very special guest, to discuss the cocoa crisis, sweet and salty Halloween-branded foods and dish on their favorite Halloween costumes.
One of our 17 forecasted trends for 2027 is ‘Acid trip,’ which highlights a departure from overly sweet flavors, and Adrienne is seeing it play out firsthand this Halloween. While protein- and fiber-heavy candies are everywhere, she's tracking a different shift: not "better for you" candy, but better candy, period. Shoppers want real ingredients, less sugar overall, and products that actually taste good, not just feel good. That same instinct for "better" is showing up on store shelves too: Adrienne noticed the Halloween seasonal set expanding beyond candy altogether, with Halloween branding popping up on savory snacks and other non-candy items, too.
Who will win the natural vs. conventional taste test? Will we ever pay $1.99 for a candy bar again? Find out on this episode of The Natural List podcast.
Thank you to our sponsors, Sensoril, Kanbar Digital, NOW Foods and Palermo Villa.
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It's our favorite time of year: trend prediction season! In this episode of The Natural List Podcast, hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith discuss the 17 trends that our team at New Hope Network released earlier today. These are more than just trends, though; they're market forces shaping the entire CPG and natural products industry. Plenty of these ideas have made their way from one category to another, finally earning themselves a spot on this year's trends prediction list as true pillars of the year to come.
From a back-to-basics movement redefining how we think about protein and heritage ingredients to a wave of trends built around the idea that wellness should actually feel good, this year we’re digging into the forces reshaping shopper behavior across food, beverage and personal care.
A few numbers hint at just how much momentum is behind these shifts, like pickle-flavored snack sales jumping 30 percent and dairy projected to grow 7.3 percent in 2027. But, as our hosts share, the real story is in how these ideas are colliding across categories in ways the industry has not quite seen before. Plus, Jessica and Adrienne dish on the trend neither of them expected to be writing about.
This is our biggest trend prediction story yet, so watch the full episode now, and head to newhope.com to read the complete list of all 17 trends shaping 2027.
Thank you to our sponsors Sensoril, Kanbar Digital and NOW Foods. Enjoy our vodcasts here or on YouTube. Prefer to tune in via podcast? Join us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
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We’re stepping back in time for this episode of The Natural List! At the Natural Products Expo West Content Creation Studio, Adrienne interviewed Victoria Reyes, co-founder of Narra, a ready-to-drink tea latte brand. New Hope Editor Meredith Kaufman joins the podcast to help Adrienne introduce the brand and what we love about them—spoiler: their Ube Latte was a NEXTY Finalist earlier this year and a fan favorite around the office!
After years of walking the show floor, this is Narra’s first time exhibiting at Expo West. Victoria brings her CPG background in sourcing for Starbucks and pairs it with her brother’s: an engineer turned chef! The brand leans heavily into the siblings’ Filipino heritage, sourcing ingredients like Assam black tea from India and ube directly from farmers in the Luzon region of the Philippines. Their Strawberry Matcha is already a Whole Foods best seller and ties together the gentle caffeine and global flavors trends effortlessly.
Thank you to our sponsors Bar-U-Eat, Sensoril, Kanbar Digital and NOW Foods. Enjoy our vodcasts here or on YouTube. Prefer to tune in via podcast? Join us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
In this episode:
This week, we're getting seasonal. Jessica and Adrienne are joined by Meredith Kaufman to taste-test this year's hottest pumpkin spice products, look at the sales data and ask the big questions: Where are all of the savory treats? Watch the episode to learn more.
Thank you to our sponsors Sensoril, Kanbar Digital and NOW Foods.
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Another year, another Organic Week! Adrienne Smith is joined by returning guest Nancy Coulter-Parker, sponsored content director at New Hope Network. Nancy has been to too many Organic Weeks to count and brings us the best takeaways and themes from this year’s industry gathering in Washington, D.C.
Their conversation centers on the current state and future of the organic food industry, emphasizing the critical need to elevate organic education and support organic farmers. They discuss how we’re still fighting to make it known that the organic certification encompasses much more than just "no pesticides"—it represents soil health, animal welfare, human welfare and food transparency. Something that kept coming up during the week: The distinction between certified organic and regenerative agriculture. Nancy shared concerns about greenwashing when "regenerative" is used without proper certification.
One thing’s for sure: younger generations, particularly Gen Z and millennials, are increasingly demanding to know what's in their food and where it comes from, creating opportunities for organic products to align with broader health conversations. Nancy’s shares that organic agriculture enjoys bipartisan political support and stresses the importance of protecting farmland and rural economies.
Looking ahead to 2027, which marks the 25th anniversary of USDA certified organic, Nancy and Adrienne both advocate for retailers and companies to actively promote the organic seal, support farmer partnerships and ensure consumers understand the value and integrity behind organic certification.
Thank you to our sponsor, GnuSante. Enjoy our vodcasts here or on YouTube. Prefer to tune in via podcast? Join us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
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We’re heading back to Anaheim with this episode of The Natural List Podcast! Inside the Natural Products Expo West Content Creation Studio, host Adrienne Smith, director of content at New Hope Network, interviewed Daniel Quinones, founder of Front Page Retail. Though this episode was recorded earlier this year, the discussion offers a valuable perspective for CPG brands navigating a complex industry.
The two talk all things retail strategy, including the importance of treating retail as an ecosystem rather than merely a sales channel. Adrienne and Daniel both agree on the importance of authentic storytelling for connecting with consumers in person and online. This episode is a great resource for CPG brands navigating the complexities of retail execution. Daniel offers perspective honed from 6+ years in the industry on being strategic about where to deploy support, understanding that not every opportunity warrants investment and recognizing when walking away is the right business decision.
Front Page Retail has experience with brands of all sizes, from emerging local companies to high-growth engines like Olipop and Organic Valley. Above all else, this interview highlights the power of authentic storytelling and the value of outsourcing to experts when it really matters.
Thank you to our sponsor GnuSante!
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We welcome Erika Craft back to the podcast in this episode of The Natural List! Co-hosts Adrienne Smith and Jessica Rubino talk with Erika Craft about the evolving landscape of supplement retail channels. We know consumer shopping behaviors are fundamentally shifting across natural retail, e-commerce, practitioner channels and more, not to mention and the explosive growth of TikTok Shop.
In this episode, the trio examines why traditional channel silos are breaking down, and Erika shares insight into the "halo effect"—where sales in one channel drive discovery and purchases in others. No matter the channel, no matter the product, all three agree that trust is the most important factor to build in your brand, even as consumers increasingly research products across multiple platforms before making purchases.
This conversation isn’t all data. The hosts engage Erika in an honest discussion about what it takes for brands to succeed in today's omni-channel environment, highlighting the need for authentic influencer partnerships to the critical need for basic brand readiness (yes, including having ingredient lists on your website!)
If you’re a supplement brand strategizing your next move, a retailer wondering how to compete with digital channels or simply curious about where the industry is headed, this episode breaks down the daunting topic with our hosts' signature blend of expertise and personality. Plus, you'll finally understand the difference between having a TikTok presence and actually selling on TikTok Shop—a distinction that's more important than you might think.
Enjoy our vodcasts here or on YouTube. Prefer to tune in via podcast? Join us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Thank you to our sponsor GnuSante.
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Did someone say peptides? This episode of The Natural List Podcast features special guest Devon Gholam, PHD and editor at SupplySide Supplement Journal, to provide a comprehensive exploration of peptides in the natural products and supplement industry.
The peptide market is projected to grow from $4 billion in 2026 to $6 billion by 2030, so it’s safe to say the best time to learn about peptides was yesterday, and the second-best time is right now. Together, Jessica Rubino, Adrienne Smith and Devon Gholam will demystify what peptides are—short chains of amino acids that serve as building blocks between individual amino acids and full proteins—and examine their growing presence across pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements and functional foods.
Both peptide newbies and industry experts will find something to take away from this episode as Devon delves into the safety considerations surrounding peptides, particularly the risks associated with non-FDA-approved injectable peptides versus oral supplement forms. The discussion offers practical guidance for consumers and formulators on selecting quality peptide supplements, and industry professionals will appreciate the discussion on responsible marketing and the need for gold-standard clinical trials.
Looking ahead, our hosts also ask Devon to think about the possibilities for the peptide market’s growth. She predicts continued innovation in metabolic health applications and the potential for peptides to become a defining category in both pharmaceutical and natural products industries.
Thank you to our sponsor, GnuSante!
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In this special episode of The Natural List, new mom Jessica Rubino shares some of her favorite baby care products that made the cut as a first-time mother. Something she didn't expect? Falling in love with useful subscription-based products, being influenced by a diaper influencer (yes, they exist!) and how heavily she leaned on trusted networks and word-of-mouth. It truly takes a village to raise a baby!
Jessica and Adrienne's conversation reveals how person-to-person recommendations and strong community ecosystems have become such powerful marketing tools in baby care. New parents rely heavily on trusted networks to navigate an overwhelming landscape of options. This episode highlights how brands that thoroughly serve their customers' needs, whether it be innovative packaging solutions (like spray applicators) or developmentally appropriate delightful toys, are capturing market share and building fierce customer loyalty that translates into repeat purchases and enthusiastic recommendations.
Listen to this episode for a full download of Jessica's baby care essentials and her unexpected pregnancy and postpartum necessities!
Thank you to our sponsor, GnuSante. Enjoy our vodcasts here or on YouTube. Prefer to tune in via podcast? Join us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
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