In this episode of The Natural List, host Adrienne Smith interviews Pat Sheridan, CEO and president of the Independent Natural Retailers Association (INFRA). Our episode begins with Pat sharing his experience as a first-time judge at the NEXTY Awards, highlighting the collaborative and insightful discussions among industry experts evaluating innovative natural products, and continues into updates and news that will help members of the organization thrive.

What is INFRA? The newly B-Corp certified Independent Natural Retailers Association is a purchasing cooperative of independent organic and natural food and wellness retailers serving hundreds of communities across the U.S., the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Providing peer support, operational excellence and offering purchasing power to its members, which now includes 390 members and 650 storefronts, the organization collectively generates $3.3 billion in sales. INFRA's exclusive brand, The Good Collective, was newly launched to strengthen member stores and includes several product lines supported by new consumer marketing initiatives intended to drive awareness and support for member stores.

Pat provides an update on INFRA's strategic focus on leveraging data to empower its members and creating business intelligence dashboards, enabling independent retailers to access insights typically available only to larger chains. These tools aim to help members optimize inventory, identify top-selling products and improve profitability. He also reflects on the resilience of independent natural retailers, noting that Infra stores have consistently outperformed the broader natural channel for 36 consecutive months. Looking ahead, he envisions continued growth and innovation for INFRA, emphasizing the importance of supporting independent retailers as the heart of the natural products industry. Listen now!

Thank you to our sponsors Daabon, A Greener World, Advantage Solutions, Lakanto and FrieslandCampina Ingredients.

In this episode:

1. 0:00 - Thank you to our sponsors!
2. 0:14 – Welcome to our guest, Pat Sheridan, CEO and president of INFRA
3. 0:44 – Thank you to our sponsor, FrieslandCampina Ingredients.
4. 1:07 – Thank you to our sponsor, A Greener World.
5. 1:43 – Pat discusses his experience being a first time NEXTY Award judge.
6. 4:02 – Pat’s favorite categories surprised him with flavor evolution and taste.
7. 5:49 – INFRA’s journey to B-Corp certification
8. 6:41 – INFRA’s growth and support network
9. 7:52 – INFRA recently launched its own brand, The Good Collective, aimed at supporting INFRA stores.
10. 8:51 – 2026 goals include consumer marketing for The Good Collective brand to drive consumers to INFRA stores.
11. 9:25 – What kind of support do member stores get from INFRA?
12. 10:27 – Thank you to our sponsor, Lakanto.
13. 11:10 – Thank you to our sponsor, Advantage Solutions.
14. 11:59 – Pat’s experience in data is informing INFRA’s new business intelligence dashboards, which are designed to serve member stores with insights and suggestions to increase profits.
15. 14:18 – Where is INFRA heading in the next five years?
16. 16:15 – INFRA stores have outperformed natural channel stores every four months over the last 36 months.
17. 16:59 – Give Pat’s band a listen! The Mediocritones.
18. 17:17 – Thank you to our sponsor, Daabon.

In this episode of The Natural List, Nancy Coulter-Parker, director of content marketing at New Hope Network, sits down with Megan Mellquist, vice president of client services at Advantage Solutions, to explore the challenges and opportunities for emerging brands in the "better for you" retail space.

The conversation delves into how brands can identify and address white space on shelves, demonstrate retail readiness and leverage digital buzz to drive in-store performance. Megan shares actionable insights on building differentiation, creating value for consumers, and using cost-effective strategies like sampling to boost early velocity and repeat purchases. With a focus on navigating retail and scaling effectively, this episode is a must-listen for founders looking to break through in the competitive natural and organic products market.

In this 10-minute interview, Megan shares some of the key reasons emerging brands should consider partnering with Advantage Solutions. Their comprehensive support system that spans ideation, commercialization and retail execution ensures brands are prepared to scale effectively from pre-revenue to $100 million in sales. The brand's wide variety of tailored solutions help brands navigate challenges, differentiate themselves and achieve sustained growth in the competitive natural products retail landscape.

Learn more about Advantage Solutions here.

In this week's episode of The Natural List, host Adrienne Smith is joined by Audarshia Townsend, the content director for Supply Side Food and Beverage Journal, to discuss the exciting process of judging the Natural Products Expo West NEXTY Awards. As a seasoned NEXTY judge, Audarshia shares her insights from her fourth year on the panel, highlighting the innovative products and trends emerging in the food, beverage, supplement and clean beauty industries. The NEXTY Awards are judged on the three "I's" that define a NEXTY winner: innovation, integrity and inspiration. Audarshia and Adrienne discuss what they've seen in the categories of functional beverages, plant-forward products and sustainable packaging, as well as the growing consumer demand for transparency in sourcing and labeling. They also touch on how key ingredients such as like magnesium, collagen and botanicals are shaping the future of wellness-forward products.

This week's dynamic discussion offers a behind-the-scenes look at the rigorous judging process and the exciting trends poised to impact our industry. Audarshia shares what she's personally looking forward to seeing more of, like fermented foods, K Beauty and sexual health products. This episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone interested in the evolving landscape of health and wellness.

To hear more about the standout products and trends, and to catch the full conversation, be sure to listen to or watch this episode of The Natural List.

Winners of the 2026 NEXTY Awards will be announced at Natural Products Expo West at 6-7:45 p.m. Thursday, March 5, in the Marquis Ballroom at the Marriott. If you can't attend in person, the NEXTY Award Ceremony and Celebration will be livestreamed and recorded.

Thank you to our sponsors Daabon, A Greener World, Advantage Solutions, Lakanto and FrieslandCampina Ingredients.

In this episode:

· 0:00 - Thank you to our sponsors!

· 0:19 - Welcome to our guest, Audarshia Townsend, content director of SupplySide Food and Beverage Journal

· 0:48 - Recap of NEXTY finalist judging so far

· 1:44 – Thank you to our sponsor, FrieslandCampina Ingredients

· 2:08 – Thank you to our sponsor, A Greener World

· 3:29 - Predictions for the supplement category judging

· 3:55 – We’re excited about all of the women’s health ingredients and products

· 6:02 – Having judges from various parts of the industry leads to interesting discussions and better outcomes

· 7:09 – Sustainable packaging and values are a priority for natural retailers, consumers

· 8:05 – Thank you to our sponsor, Lakanto

· 8:47 – What changes have you seen over the last 4 years of NEXTY Judging? Transparency, clean labels and storytelling on packaging

· 10:56 – What’s next for the beverage category?

· 12:15 – So much changing with alternative sweeteners, going back to basics

· 13:00 – Global flavors are still strong, Indian flavors across categories

· 13:50 – Korean flavors and influence are strong, including K Beauty

· 14:28 – Audarshia’s outlook on what’s next: Sexual wellness, gut health and pro-, post- and prebiotics

· 16:48 – Thank you to our sponsor, Daabon

· 17:11 – Thank you to our sponsor, Advantage Solutions Enjoy our vodcasts here or on YouTube. Prefer to tune in via podcast? Join us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

In this episode of The Natural List, Nancy Coulter-Parker, director of content marketing at New Hope Network, sits down with Alex Davila Gallup, sales representative at Daabon USA, hear their how—how they got started, how they're innovating and how they differentiate themselves in the marketplace.

In this 10-minute interview, Alex shares the inspiring story of Daabon USA, a family-owned, fourth-generation business that has been a pioneer in organic and sustainable agriculture since 1914. From achieving the world’s first ROC Gold Level Certification to launching carbon-neutral palm oil, Daabon’s values of respect, responsibility and passion shine through in every aspect of their operations. You’ll also learn about their innovative AMPO (American Palm Oil), a non-GMO hybrid oil that offers superior stability, sustainability and health benefits compared to seed oils and standard palm oil.

It's clear that Daabon’s impact goes beyond sustainability. Alex highlights the company’s dedication to empowering women in their communities through job creation, entrepreneurial workshops and income diversification initiatives. This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about conscious business practices and the future of natural products.

Learn more about Daabon USA by visiting their website.

In this episode

0:26 - Welcome to our guest, Alex Davila!

0:39 - Tell us more about how Daabon got started and a little background on the company.

2:05 - Can you speak more about Daabon's value system, including its sustainable initiatives?

3:15 - Daabon was the first palm oil company in the world to achieve Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) gold-level certification.

4:44 - Daabon is 100% vertically integrated from farming to final marketplace.

9:58 - What is AMPO (American palm oil) and what are some of its key benefits over standard palm oil?

6:48 - Daabon is a strategic partner of the seed-oil-free alliance. What are the benefits of AMPO over seed oils?

8:01 - Tell us more about elevating women in Daabon's workforce.

8:32 - The key to female empowerment is diversification of family income, so Daabon prioritizes various opportunities for women to be involved in the business.

In this episode of The Natural List, hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith dive into the latest trends and developments shaping the wellness and natural products industry as 2026 kicks off. Their first big announcement? The podcast is seeking a temporary co-host while Jessica heads out on maternity leave at the end of next month! DM us on Instagram or LinkedIn if you’re interested.

The duo then discusses recent acquisitions, including Good Culture and Vitacost, exploring how the post-Ozempic economy is driving investor interest in food tech and GLP-1 adjacent categories. On a similar note, the Oura Ring and Fullscript partnership underscores the growing emphasis on holistic wellness, personalized health data and the integration of these practices into traditional healthcare systems.

Our hosts pose the question: Is “Dry January” still happening? With consumers drinking less overall, functional beverages are on the rise. These drinks not only avoid alcohol but also deliver added health benefits, reflecting a broader shift toward more mindful consumption habits.

Finally, the hosts examine the updated food pyramid, highlighting shifts in key categories like alcohol recommendations, protein, fats and carbs. They also discuss the broader implications for nutrition, food policy and the environment. Dr. Jessica Knurick, keynote speaker at Expo West, will delve into these topics and more in her talk, “The Future of Food,” sparking excitement about the evolving role of food policy and nutrition in our society.

Thank you to our sponsors, Daabon, Lakanto, A Greener World, FrieslandCampina Ingredients and Advantage Solutions.

Innovation is at the heart of the natural products industry, and in this episode of The Natural List, we explore what it means to truly innovate in the CPG space. Hosts Jessica Rubino and guest Jenna Fitch discuss what innovation means to them, new events at the 45th anniversary of Natural Products Expo West and the keynote speakers for Day 1 of the show.

New to Expo West on March 3 is the CPG Innovation Summit, a space designed to connect brands of all sizes and foster collaboration. Keynote speakers Jason Buechel, Whole Foods Market CEO, and Mark Bittman, New York Times columnist and food advocate, will share their perspectives on the future of food and retail. Workshops during the day will dive into topics like AI in marketing, the evolving retail landscape and how brands can adapt to meet consumer demands while scaling their products to reach more people.

Getting your brand in front of the right people is central to Expo West's mission, so we're bringing back Pitch Slam: Stories Rooted in Innovation and a brand new event, The Deal Room, an investment-focused pitch brought to you by Nutrition Capital Network. Programming throughout the week will cover sustainable business practices, organic systems, wellness policy and more, ensuring attendees leave with actionable strategies to drive change in the industry.

This episode is packed with insights to help you listen, learn and adapt your strategies for the future. Learn more and register for Expo West 2026.

This episode is sponsored by Advantage Solutions, Lakanto, Daabon, FrieslandCampina, and A Greener World.

In this episode of The Natural List, host Adrienne Smith is joined by Meredith Kaufman to explore the most exciting trends and surprises from this year’s NEXTY judging. The “Meat and Dairy” category saw the highest number of submissions ever; the judges were thrilled to see integrity-driven products that are as delicious as they are innovative.

One of the biggest surprises? The “Meat alternative” category is dwindling, while the “Dairy alternative” category continues to boom. Values-based categories, like “Planet-forward” and “People-forward” products, are stronger than ever, with regenerative organic and biodynamic certifications leading the charge. Meredith shares her excitement about the growth of these categories, which now span everything from sweet and salty snacks to oils and more.

This year, a new NEXTY category—Product design and storytelling—celebrates brands that excel in creating visually appealing packaging while telling compelling stories. Adrienne and Meredith discuss their excitement about the traction this category is gaining in its first year, as the Natural Products Industry has always had a strong connection to beautiful, informative packaging.

Looking ahead, the NEXTY Finalist judging panel in January will bring together the largest and most diverse group of industry experts ever, including investors, branding professionals, academics and founders of acquired brands.

Tune in to hear all the insights and surprises from this year’s first round of NEXTY judging and learn what’s next for the natural products industry.

This episode is sponsored by Advantage Solutions, A Greener World, Daabon, Lakanto, and FrieslandCampina Ingredients.

From food and beverage innovations to what’s new and noteworthy in supplements and personal care, this week’s episode of The Natural List is revisiting one of our FAVORITE episodes from the last year... where our hosts discuss the New Hope Network 2026 trend predictions!

This week's episode is sponsored by Premier Research Labs. Learn more here: https://prlabs.com/

Co-hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith walk through the 10 trends predicted to make waves in the CPG and natural products industry in the coming year. Now is the time to start thinking about your 2026 planning, and these trends aren't just predictions—they're grounded in real data from Nutrition Business Journal, hands-on observations from major industry events like Expo West and Newtopia Now and comprehensive market intelligence gathered by our New Hope Network team to help brands stay ahead of the curve.

According to New Hope Network's Nutrition Business Journal (NBJ), the industry’s size has more than tripled since 2007, reaching an impressive $325 billion in 2024—with projections to hit $343 billion this year. And with so many entries into the market, one thing is clear: The most successful brands can differentiate their offerings both on the shelf and behind the scenes through value propositions that go beyond pure profit to also support people and planet.

Watch the full episode to learn what these top 10 natural products trend predictions are and see product examples that are already bringing them to life.

In this episode:

1:10 - What’s new with this year’s trends

2:12 - The expertise behind these trend predictions

3:25 - Macro forces driving our industry inform these trends: Relationships and systems-based approaches to business models doing good

4:42 - Trend #1 Broth reimagined: Functional, delicious and oh so easy to enjoy

6:55 – Trend #2 Frozen dairy bonanza, emphasis on the dairy

8:22 – Trend #3 Condiment mania: A great way to try different flavors and get hooked

12: 16 – Trend #4 Multifunctional beverages bundle many benefits within a single bottle

13:44 – Trend #5 Nutrient-dense convenience: Bars are the OG, but innovation is happening from freezer to savory smoothies.

15:39 – Trend #6 Harnessing hormones: Products are innovating to manage hormones in new ways. Social media trends are raising awareness

17:51 – Trend #7 Primal products: Tallow renaissance, massive growth in animal-based products and consumers choosing responsible meats more often

20:32 – Trend #8 Fantastical wellness leaves space for fun and feeling good in their branding and consumer

22:30 – Trend #9 Clean beauty broadens reach, narrows focus to the unique needs of consumers

25:11 – Trend #10 Home sweet homemade products bring artisanal production techniques in convenient packaging

26:51 – Did we leave out a trend you loved? Let us know!

Enjoy our vodcasts here or on YouTube.

The beverage category is always.... bubbling... with innovation! This week, we're revisiting one of our most popular episodes of The Natural List Podcast, which covers top healthy beverage trends and products of 2025.

This episode was originally published on February 24th, 2025.

Co-hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith take listeners on a flavorful journey through some of the most exciting ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages in the natural products space. From functional sodas and sparkling waters to exotic mocktails and tea-wine blends, they sample a mélane of beverages, driving the future.

Tasting products from 2025's NEXTY Awards finalists, Jessica and Adrienne spotlight drinks that push the boundaries of flavor, function and sustainability. They dive into intriguing flavors, organic certifications and the rise of multifunctional beverages promising more than just refreshment. Sip along as Jessica and Adrienne taste-test their way through some of the most buzzworthy beverages in natural CPG—tune in now to see which drinks made a lasting impression!

This episode is sponsored by Premier Research Labs. Learn more here: https://prlabs.com/

In this episode:

1:15 – RTD beverages galore: mocktails, flavored waters, alternative colas and functional drinks.

4:20 – Fresh Fizz Sodas: Sample jalapeño limeade and date cola—spicy, subtle, and naturally sweet.

7:45 – A fermented flavor explosion: Cherry vanilla craft soda from NIRA.

10:45 – Hydrogen-infused hydration: oHy’s sparkling water claims calm confidence—does it deliver?

11:45 – Sparkling energy with a twist: heywell blends energy and hydration in a citrusy sip.

13:45 – Beautiful and bubbly: AMABIE’s Energy blends yuzu and honey with gorgeous packaging.

15:10 – Yerba mate innovation: Guayaki’s Cherry Jubilation brings nostalgic vibes with a functional flair.

17:10 – Afterglow in a can: Free AF’s Whisk#y Ginger—can an NA drink match the real thing? 18:30 – Wine and tea’s meet-cute: Enter Tethos’ Sauvignon Blanc tea.

20:25 – A tropical escape made RTD: Mocktail Club’s Bali Breeze take you to the beach.

21:45 – An adaptogenic adventure: FANKEE’S Italian Sparkling Beverage, where mango meets mushrooms.

23:35 – Meet ultra-hydration favorite: WTRMLN ADE!

In this episode of The Natural List, hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith welcome Erika Craft to discuss the latest NBJ Supplement Industry Market Update and Economic Outlook Report. They explore how this new report complements the Supplement Business Report, offering valuable insights for businesses to use either in tandem or independently. A key feature of the report is its inclusion of three forecasting scenarios—baseline, light economic pullback, and dramatic economic pullback—providing a comprehensive view of potential industry outcomes through 2028. 

The conversation delves into the factors influencing these projections, particularly the overall economy's impact on consumer purchasing behavior. Despite economic challenges, consumers continue to prioritize supplements for their health, even amid price hikes. The report also notes that the current economic climate is unlikely to mirror the drastic pullbacks seen in 2022. Erika emphasizes the importance of understanding consumer segments—general versus premium supplement users—and tailoring strategies accordingly.  

Don’t miss this insightful episode packed with actionable data and expert perspectives. Tune in now to learn how the NBJ report can help you stay ahead in the ever-evolving supplement industry!