In this episode:

NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg,Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman and reporter Lukas Southard kick off the podcast with a discussion about what to expect this winter at NOSH Live, before turning their attention to hot news in chili peppers and the difficulties natural brands sometimes face in the c-store channel. Later, Lukas talks with Wilde Brands founder and CEO Jason Wright about how the brand broadened its positioning via a branding change, and how that's brought about new growth opportunities.

Show Highlights:

2:45 - The NOSH Team begins to prepare for NOSH Live in Marina Del Rey this winter by discussing some of the guest speakers and the 1-on-1 meetings with The Fresh Market, Kroger and Thrive Market.

5:00 - Pepper X set a new Guinness World record for the hottest chili pepper, and the team talks about if we'll see it head to CPG. Then Jeff shares some of his insights from this year's NACS convention in Atlanta.

18:10 - Sometimes small changes in branding can have a big impact. Wilde Brands CEO and founder Jason Wright joins the podcast to discuss the long road from meat bars to protein chips and how tweaking its positioning unlocked new consumers and retailer interest.

29:15 - How do you maintain investors buy in while juggling product, production and positioning changes? Wright explains that good relationships can only go so far, it takes a lot of self-assurance in one's product to keep partners invested.

31:45 - Wright discusses why broadening Wilde's retail channels and pack sizes has paid off.

"You can't build a pier, you need to build a bridge...The big game changer for Wilde was building the bridge to Protein Chips, where the customer immediately knew why they should eat it and what the benefit was."

-Jason Wright, Wilde Brands CEO and founder

About the NOSH Podcast

The staff of NOSH.com takes listeners inside the business of natural, organic, sustainable and healthy food during the NOSH Podcast. Using interviews and discussion, the team illuminates the news, brands, people, trends, and money affecting the world of packaged food.

New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected].

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