The Natural List

In this episode of The Natural List, co-host Jessica Rubino shares highlights from the Nutrition Capital Network (NCN) Fall Investor Meeting, where entrepreneurs and investors gathered to explore innovations and business strategies in the health and wellness industry. Jessica discusses the shift in the investment landscape, with investors now focusing on profitability over fast growth. Plus, how can brands balance capital efficiency with ESG and sustainability commitments? 

As for trends, Jessica recapped NCN's top picks: women’s health, multi-functional products and science-backed ingredients and technologies. While some may question the possibility of innovation today, advancements in regenerative practices, new-to-market solutions and AI show ingenuity are thriving.   

Jessica also highlights key concerns for CPG CEOs, including rising tariffs, labor challenges and the high costs of retail partnerships. Despite these hurdles, optimism is strong, with Newtopia Now a proven hub for innovation and the Natural Products Expo West NEXTY Awards just around the corner. Brands, don’t forget to submit your NEXTY nominations by Dec. 2! 

In this episode of "The Natural List," Erika Craft, market research analyst for New Hope Network’s Nutrition Business Journal, joins the discussion to share insights from her recent visit to SupplySide West 2024. Erika highlights some of the industry’s most promising trends, including a growing focus on women’s health, longevity and opportunities with pharmaceutical innovations such as GLP-1 and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). 

As the conversation progresses, Erika offers predictions on which ingredients may gain or lose popularity in the next three years and introduces lesser-known ingredients making waves in categories like beauty-from-within. Tune in to get a firsthand look at the trends and innovations shaping the future of supplements and wellness. 

Ever wonder what it takes to win a prestigious NEXTY award? In this episode of The Natural List, co-hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith are joined by New Hope Network's Douglas Brown, senior retail reporter, and Nancy Coulter-Parker, content marketing director, to discuss the essential dos and don’ts for submitting nominations leading up to Natural Products Expo West. With the final submission deadline on Dec. 2, the team divulge can't-miss tips and insights to help brands make the most of their applications. 

Judges from diverse backgrounds, including retailers and investors, will assess entries based on the "3 Is"—innovation, inspiration and integrity. To set themselves apart from the competition, brands should think holistically about their scalability, financials and long-term goals when submitting their application to truly stand out. Plus, don't forget to share your story! The New Hope Network team shares why to make your product's mission  central to your application. While NEXTY judges expect great taste, they’re equally drawn to a brand's unique narrative and potential impact. Want to hear some of the more unexpected tips? Tune in to this week's episode. 

In this episode of The Natural List, co-host Jessica Rubino is joined by Bill Giebler, content and insights director for Nutrition Business Journal (NBJ), to discuss the upcoming documentary The DSHEA Effect. Produced by New Hope Network and NBJ, the documentary celebrates 30 years of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), passed on Oct. 25, 1994, which transformed the dietary supplement industry into the $67 billion powerhouse it is today. Bill and Jessica explore how DSHEA shaped the industry, allowing companies to make structure and function claims without delving into disease claims, and the opportunities ahead as we look forward to the next 30 years. 

The conversation touches on the challenges of updating DSHEA, with experts debating whether changes are needed or if opening it up could introduce unwanted risks. The episode also explores key themes from the documentary, including the rise of personalization, advancements in AI and the blending of ancient wisdom with modern science. Tune in for insights on how DSHEA continues to shape the industry and what the future holds for dietary supplements. 

In this week's episode of The Natural List, co-hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith dive into the rapidly expanding healthy beverage space, highlighting products that blend convenience with functional ingredients. From ready-to-drink beverages with supplement panels to products such as Bloom Nutrition’s colostrum and collagen peptides—focused on gut health and skin, hair and nail health—functional beverages are growing fast. Jessica and Adrienne’s UNBOXED picks include ÖRLÖ Nutrition's Icelandic Ultra Spirulina Women’s Vitality Mix, a carbon-negative, nutrient-packed product, and The Peachie Spoon Protein Powder, a versatile supplement combining grass-fed whey, MCT oil and acacia fiber. 

Our hosts also explore health span and how it’s reshaping the longevity market, with consumers prioritizing not just living longer but living healthier. Findings from Nutrition Business Journal’s Longevity Report reveal generational concerns around health, from Gen Z's focus on insomnia to Gen X and millennials’ concerns about Alzheimer's and dementia. Jessica and Adrienne wrap up this week with a look at Amazon’s new grocery strategy, which integrates Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and Amazon.com with the intention of making it easier for consumers to shop across platforms. Tune in for more insights, and don’t miss next week’s discussion on NEXTY do’s and don’ts!

In this episode of The Natural List, co-host Adrienne Smith is joined by Jenna Fitch, senior conference content director, to discuss the latest topics shaping Natural Products Expo West 2025. The conversation kicks off with an update on the speaker application window, open until Nov. 1, and the call to bring impactful conversations to the table, specifically on topics such as artificial intelligence, food access and sustainable agriculture. With 20 breakout sessions, a full day of Climate Day programming and an expanded Business School program, Expo West 2025 will address critical industry issues, helping brands scale purposefully and maintain profitability. 

Adrienne and Jenna also talk about the growing influence of AI in the natural products industry and how brands and retailers can use it to boost efficiency and creativity, among other things. The episode explores key topics like purpose-driven business collaboration, the significance of regenerative agriculture and the increasing emphasis on longevity and women’s health. Jenna offers tips on creating a strong session proposal and shares the topics she’s most excited to see at the event. Tune in for more insights, and don’t forget to rate and subscribe to the vodcast! 

In this episode of The Natural List, co-hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith explore the latest news and trends in the natural products industry, starting with the excitement of the 2025 Natural Products Expo West NEXTY Awards. For the first time, nominations are open early, running until Dec. 2, and cover 35 categories, including new favorites like non-alcoholic beverages, beauty and packaged produce. Jessica and Adrienne dive into noteworthy trends from Newtopia Now, highlighting the rise of artisanal, chef-crafted brands; the growth of clean beauty; and the increasing influence of science-backed ingredients in supplements and wellness products. 

Our hosts also discuss GLP-1s and their impact on natural retail, the new collaboration between Naturally Boulder and Colorado Food Works to make Naturally Colorado and the 30th anniversary of DSHEA. Don’t miss our favorite product picks: Adrienne highlights Milkadamia’s eco-friendly oat milk, while Jessica spotlights Enroot’s Unwind non-alcoholic sparkling wine for its functional benefits. Tune in for more on these exciting developments! 

In this episode of The Natural List, co-hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith sit down with The Angel Group’s Founding Member Adam Spriggs and Managing Partner Chris Robb for an informal crash course in today's angel investing landscape.  

Founded just under five years ago, The Angel Group is a  community of investors who are passionate about the food and beverage industry and supporting CPG’s most promising emerging brands. Built on a community-driven model, this investment syndicate partners with early-stage companies and offers far more than funding. In fact, Adam and Chris assert that “bringing in the right intelligence, social capital and communal value is as important if not more important than the financial capital.” 

Tune in to hear about The Angel Group’s success stories, the importance of supporting companies in the early innings and actionable advice for investors and brands. 

In this episode of The Gist, Nutrition Business Journal’s Content and Insights Director Bill Giebler joins co-host (and fellow co-chair of the NBJ Summit, alongside Tom Aarts) Jessica Rubino to pull back the curtain on the upcoming NBJ Summit. 

The NBJ Summit is a premier event for the dietary supplement and global nutrition industry and its top CEOs and executives. The theme for 2024 is “Empowered Leadership: Illuminating the Path from Foundation to Future,” and this year celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), which established a regulatory framework for dietary supplements. 

Over four days, attendees will experience destination networking at its finest. With keynote speakers like award-winning comedian, author and speaker Katie Goodman and best-selling author Marcus Buckingham, combined with content spanning key topics like AI, women’s health and Ayurveda, this year’s agenda is sure to surprise and delight. Tune in to learn what's in store for 2024 attendees.

In this episode of The Natural List, co-hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith welcome Food and Beverage Insider staff writer Scott Miller to weigh in on the functional beverage category.  

What makes a beverage “functional?” How do retailers, brands and consumers define this emerging category? And who is ultimately responsible for ensuring consumers are informed about a product’s ingredients and efficacy? 

This timely conversation identifies current challenges in the functional beverage space and the problems of “pixie dusting,” plus offers insights into the class-action lawsuit against prebiotic soda brand Poppi and highlights the importance of ingredient transparency and accuracy.