The Natural List

We’re back from Natural Products Expo West with a wealth of expertise from some of the top innovators in the natural and organic industry!

In today’s episode of The Natural List, Adrienne Smith and New Hope Network’s Senior Retail Reporter Douglas Brown sit down with Regenified’s Co-Founder Gabe Brown and Chief Marketing Officer Kristine Root to learn about Regenified’s Regenerative Agriculture Certification, how they measure success on farms and possible roadblocks preventing more farmers and ranchers from going regenerative. 

Tune in to hear about some of the brands committed to Regenified. From a prominent American whiskey to a natural bath products company, regenerative is making its way down the supply chain! 

It’s that time of year! Natural Products Expo West, the Super Bowl of the natural products industry, kicks off tomorrow! 

In this special Expo West edition of The Natural List, hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith welcome Market Insights Director of SPINS Scott Dicker back to the podcast to unearth the top emerging trends before the show floor opens on Wednesday, March 13. From innovative attributes and careful botanical formulations to back to back-to-basics, these trends reflect the shift in consumer mindsets and foretell the “next big thing” in CPG. 

Don’t miss The NEXTY Awards Ceremony and Celebration on Thursday, March 14th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. PDT in the Grand Ballroom at The Marriott Hotel. 

Is this a good time for brands to raise capital? What are investors looking for? And what caused the drop in food tech investments? 

In this episode of The Natural List, hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith welcome Executive Director of Nutrition Capital Network Mike Dovbish to examine the investment landscape as it looks today, highlight standout categories and offer projections for the venture community in CPG. Tune in  

Attending Natural Products Expo West? Don’t miss Nutrition Capital Network’s Investor Kickoff and All-Star Pitch Showcase on Friday, March 15th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PDT. 

Can the future of meat be sustainable or equitable? Chloe Sorvino, author of "The Raw Deal," argues it depends on who gets the money. In this episode of The Natural List, we dive into Sorvino's key solution: redistributing investment dollars and aligning around sustainable meat models. Plus, hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith champion the change makers who are doing beef and poultry better.

We’re back with season two of The Natural List podcast! Hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith kick-off 2024 with a detailed recap of the Natural Products Expo West NEXTY Awards. In this episode, we invite first-time NEXTY judges Brody Burk, forager manager at Sprouts Farmers Market, and Jonathan Lawrence, vice president of center store and founding member of Fresh Thyme Market, to discuss standout trends and categories from the NEXTY awards and the future of CPG. Plus, the hosts review some of their favorite products and innovations from this year’s list of 154 NEXTY finalists.

In this final episode from season one of The Natural List, our hosts and industry experts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith share a bonus list of macro-level observations from the natural products industry. Join us as we close out another trip around the sun with these top five takeaways from 2023.  

Join hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith for an end-of-the-year review of the current trends defining the multi-billion-dollar beauty industry. In this episode, our team explores sustainable supply chains, multipurpose products and the marriage between ancient traditions and modern technology. Tune in for a highlight reel of the trends and brands to watch in 2024! 

While many brands compete for placement in large retailers, independent grocers and local coops offer flexibility and growth opportunities

In this episode of The Natural List, we welcome guests Angela Bozo and Chris Sorensen from the Independent Natural Food Retail Association (INFRA). Back in 2004, INFRA started as four retailers with an idea. Today, INFRA is a purchasing cooperative comprised of 347 retailers and 602 storefronts across the nation.  

Join us for a behind-the-retailers discussion about the launch of INFRA’s podcast The Buyer’s Desk, top challenges and opportunities natural grocers will face in 2024 and how independent natural retailers and emerging brands can create magic in the aisle.

In this episode of The Natural List, hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith explore the food, beverage and supplement trends leading the multi-billion-dollar natural products industry into 2024. Tune in for exclusive insights from our industry experts and hear which brands and products are pioneering each trend!

Why is passion a critical ingredient in your career – and how can you infuse purpose and love into your professional journey? During our exclusive sit-down-interview with Jay Shetty, host of On Purpose with Jay Shetty and author of Think Like a Monk and 8 Rules of Love, we discuss why finding and staying true to your mission can be the key to long-term career success. 

Tune into this episode of The Natural List for more on how Shetty, co-founder of adaptogenic sparkling tea brand Juni, thinks about packaging your purpose. As an entrepreneur, he offers advice for other founders and CPG professionals striving to leave a positive mark on the world, while optimizing their own health and wellness.