DAY 2, THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2021
SALES & MARKETING

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

FIRESIDE CHAT - THE FUTURE OF FOOD IS SUSTAINABLE, ETHICAL, AND JUST
Glean insights on conscious capitalism and ways food companies - and consumers - can be more sustainable, ethical, and just in their practices.
Peter Pappas, Chief Sales Officer, Vital Farms
Laura Howell, Chief Client Officer, CA Fortune

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

PRESENTATION - CONSUMER TRENDS AND PRODUCT ATTRIBUTES THAT ARE DEFINING CATEGORIES
Dive deep into COVID-19’s impact on category growth and explore the latest consumer trends and product attributes in the food industry.
Jessica Schmidt, VP Business Intelligence, CA Fortune
Brandon Casteel, VP Channel Sales, SPINS

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

PANEL - NAVIGATING THE NEW RETAIL LANDSCAPE
Explore the new retail landscape and some of the strategies that CPG brands can leverage to successfully get into retail, engage their audiences, and increase in-store purchases.
Jaime Frye, Chief Sales Officer, CA Fortune
Eric Braun, Sr. Director of Innovation, Retail Business Services
Patricia Courville, National Director of UpNext, UNFI
Hugh Holman, Co-Founder & CEO, Observa

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM

FIRESIDE CHAT - BLENDING NATURAL AND CONVENTIONAL CHANNELS
Consumers are increasingly health-conscious, seeking better-for-you foods and beverages made with clean ingredients. What does this mean for new product innovation?
Laura Merritt, VP Marketing, New Ventures & Innovation, KIND
Will Grubb, Manager of Business Development & Investor Relationships, Nutrition Capital Network

12:45 PM - 1:15 PM

PRESENTATION - BEST OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE CUSTOMERS IN AN OMNICHANNEL WORLD
Dive deep into the omnichannel marketplace and learn ways you can efficiently engage your target consumers across a variety of channels.
Devon Snider, Director of E-Commerce, CA Fortune

1:15 PM - 2:00 PM

PANEL - CONSUMERS’ GROWING APPETITE FOR SHOPPABLE CONTENT
Learn about e-commerce strategies for brand growth and grasp key insights on how to engage your customers in every stage of their journey and across multiple channels.
Joy Tucci, SVP E-Commerce, CA Fortune
Cable Dill, Ahold Delhaize US Strategy Team Manager, Peapod Digital Labs
Jeff Grossman, VP Sales & Brand Development, YumEarth

REPLAY NOT AVAILABLE

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM

PRESENTATION - BUILDING OUTSTANDING BRANDS FOR LONG TERM SUCCESS
How can entrepreneurs build brands that answer current consumer needs, engage their target audience, and strike in an omnichannel marketplace?
Stephen Gaither, Chief Marketing Officer, CA Fortune

3:45 PM - 4:30 PM

PANEL - CAPITALIZING ON THE WHITE SPACE IN THE FOOD & BEVERAGE INDUSTRY
Delve deep into the world of product innovation with 3 entrepreneurs who successfully identified their niche and have been continuously growing their companies.
Gretchen VanEsselstyn, Director of Education, Specialty Food Association
Ahmad Yehya, President, Nabati Foods Inc
Rachel Moore, VP, Marketing, Clio Snacks
Christopher Hunter, Co-Founder & CEO, Koia

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

FIRESIDE CHAT - HOW TO PIVOT YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS
Explore the inspirational journey of an artisanal brand that successfully pivoted its model and adapted it to the normal.
Meera Dhingra, VP / Co-Lead Transaction Advisory, Propeller Industries
Bill Deacon, Co-Founder & CEO, Eastern Standard Provisions

5:00 PM - 5:45 PM

PANEL - INVESTING IN HIGH-GROWTH BRANDS DEFINING THE FUTURE OF FOOD
Panelists share their perspectives on how to identify high-growth at an early stage, revealing the various paths that entrepreneurs can undertake in their fundraising journey.
Mary Ellen Shoup, Senior Correspondent, FoodNavigator
Marcia Hooper, Co-Founder & Partner, Branch Venture Group
Gil Horsky, Director of Innovation Snack Futures, Mondelēz International
Will Lisman, Chief Commercial Officer, HumanCo