Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
How can CPGs modernize iconic brands for a new generation without losing the magic?
J&J Snack Foods says the answer lies in evolving heritage brands and products but not the emotional experiences consumers associate with them
Podcasts
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
What it takes to earn a place in today’s snack cart
Economic pressure, growing health awareness and AI-powered product evaluation are making shoppers more selective, forcing snack brands to prove their value beyond price, says NielsenIQ’s Chris Costagli
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Can regenerative agriculture become food’s next big growth story?
Kiss the Ground CEO Evan Harrison and FOND Regenerative founder Alysa Seeland explain why rising consumer awareness is attracting retailers and what must happen before regenerative products can scale
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
From barn to breakthrough: How Danone is rethinking food innovation
Danone argues tomorrow’s nutrient-dense foods will be shaped first by healthier soils, smarter farming and stronger supply chains, creating new opportunities for protein- and fiber-rich products with lasting consumer appeal
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
What happens when apple growers spend more on labor than their crop is worth?
That question, and concerns about nutrition programs, food safety oversight and packaging mandates, was at the center of the produce industry’s lobbying push on Capitol Hill last week
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Are marketers misreading women?
Women drive 85% of consumer spending, but new research from NIQ discussed in the latest episode of Soup-to-Nuts podcast suggests outdated assumptions about women shoppers are giving way to more individualized ‘micro-realities’ that are influencing the...
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Inside the race to create the next viral flavor in snacking
Executives from Just Born, Hawaii Host, SNAX-Sational Brands and Xaca Cantina share how they use heat, global flavors, strategic collaborations and accessible formats to turn consumer curiosity into repeat purchases
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Why consumers pay more for certain brands even in a tight economy
Kantar BrandZ’s Ellie Thorpe explains why brands like Coca-Cola, Red Bull and Walmart continue gaining loyalty, pricing power and market share despite inflation, cautious spending and growing consumer uncertainty
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
‘Regenerative agriculture is alpha to your bottom line’
Rodale Institute’s Jeff Tkach and former Goldman Sachs executive Matthew Grand explain how finance, certification, procurement and farmer economics are reshaping regenerative agriculture into a mainstream commercial strategy for food and beverage brands
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Better-for-you foods face rising trust challenges
Shoppers want proof, retailers want performance and better-for-you products must deliver both to win in a more skeptical, value-driven market, according to new research from Eat Well Global
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Hershey’s new sustainability strategy offers blueprint for balancing business & ESG needs
Hershey breaks lofty ESG ambitions into practical, data-driven strategic steps that help embed sustainability into sourcing, operations and product innovation
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
3 strategies to help CPG marketers drive breakthrough results with less money
Tighter budgets, fragmented media and shrinking attention spans are forcing brands to rethink marketing success
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Peptides move from fringe biohacks to functional food frontier
As demand surges for targeted health solutions, Nuritas’ Nora Khaldi discusses how AI is transforming peptide discovery, and why food and beverage may be the industry’s next big play
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Is there room for CPGs under the new Dietary Guidelines and RFK’s ‘eat real food’ mantra?
Amy’s Kitchen President Paul Schiefer says the call to “eat real food” should recognize the role packaged products play in accessibility, while pushing the industry toward cleaner labels and better ingredients
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Chocolate at a Crossroads: Inside the industry’s response to supply shocks
Climate change, disease pressure and record cocoa prices are forcing the chocolate industry to rethink ingredients, processing, and the future role of cocoa – but how will potential solutions impact farmers and consumers?
Soup-to-Nuts Podcast
What will it take to rebuild plant-based and cultivated meat?
As protein demand rises and consumers grow choosier, Good Food Institute Founder Bruce Friedrich outlines how plant-based and cultivated meat can move beyond hype and become investable, scalable industries
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
3 steps to future-proof the food system and CPG industry in a ‘critical decade’
As population growth, soil degradation and climate pressures converge, BSI’s Todd Redwood explains why the next 10 years will determine whether the global food system can deliver enough high-quality nutrition, strategic opportunities and next steps for...
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
6 food trends giving consumers more of what they want
At the Winter Fancy Faire, the Specialty Food Association revealed six emerging trends reshaping how consumers engage with food and beverage as they seek more value as inflation and GLP-1 use cut into volume and dollar sales
Soup-To-Nuts podcast
The hidden costs of chocolate — and what real solutions actually look like
Industry leaders unpack how climate change, poverty and fractured supply chains collided — and what it will take to fix cocoa for good
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Consumers are ready to say ‘yes’ to ingredients again – if brands give them a reason
New insights from Cargill reveal a shift from fear-based food decisions to a more intentional, benefits-driven mindset that is reshaping how consumers consider health, indulgence and value when buying food and beverages
Trendspotting 2026
Trendspotting 2026: Why shoppers are ditching extreme diets and embracing balance
Mintel dives into the food trends of 2026 — where perseverance, playfulness and practical products meet at the grocery aisle
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
The GLP-1 effect: How 2026 will look for food and beverage
From shifting grocery habits to new product opportunities, Circana’s insights reveal how brands and retailers can adapt to the rise of GLP-1 users
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Danone reveals what is next for protein
With demand for protein climbing but understanding about different types and benefits lagging, Danone unveils how it is helping consumers move beyond grams per serving to understand quality, digestibility, differences in plant- and animal-based options...
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
What will the M&A landscape look like in 2026 for CPGs?
Seasoned deal advisors share the emerging trends shaping valuations, investor expectations, and what founders must do now to stay competitive
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
40% of grocery shoppers will use AI by 2030 – How will this transform CPG marketing?
As more shoppers hand off purchasing decisions to AI, PwC’s Carla DeSantis shares how brands can win in an era where algorithms – not aisles – drive discovery and purchase
Staying true while scaling up: The evolution of breakfast bar brand Olyra
After finding early success in the natural channel, Olyra revamped its packaging, flavors and formulation to resonate with mainstream consumers while preserving the ancient Greek roots at the heart of its story
Soup-to-Nuts Podcast
Finding comfort in chaos: How food will help consumers cope in 2026
After a year marketed by rising prices, food safety confusion and supply chain fears, ADM predicts consumers in 2026 will gravitate toward nostalgic, sensory-rich foods and beverages that help restore their resilience
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Inside Kellanova’s clean room: How a new AI data strategy drove 36% gains for Special K
Kellanova’s pilot offers a blueprint for using data clean rooms to bridge gaps between brands and retailers, unlock deeper shopper insights and rebuild brand value amid inflationary pressure
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Gen X steps into spending power: Why marketers cannot overlook the middle generation anymore
After decades of being overshadowed by Boomers and Millennials, Generation X is poised to become the dominant global consumer group and are projected to spend $15.2 trillion 2025 and $23 trillion worldwide in 2035, according to new research from...
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Organic industry rallies on Capitol Hill to protect $71B market and fuel growth
Organic Trade Association members championed policies that would expand domestic production, protect against fraud and strengthen the workforce powering the organic industry
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Pork rinds reimagined: Rudolph Foods on snack trends and brand growth
From blue-collar roots to fitness fans, VP Mark Singleton explains how the family-owned brand innovates to stay relevant and offers tips for new founders
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
5 trends driving specialty cheese sales towards $9.2 billion by 2030
Friesland Campina, Cypress Grove and The Melting Pot unpack how they balance consumer demand for health, indulgence and value to drive sales of specialty cheese, despite its premium pricing, in a difficult economy
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Investors return to CPG, but with caution and only for the right kind of growth
Pitchbook reports a modest rebound in private equity deals in Q1 of 2025, and JPalmer Collective’s Jennifer Palmer sees reasons for optimism for mission-driven brands and women-owned and -led brands. But both warn the current uncertainty is the new norm
IFT FIRST 2025
4 trends at IFT FIRST sending food formulators back to the drawing board
Consumers want it all – nutrient-density, satiety, clean-label and fun – and ingredient innovators at IFT FIRST are helping brands meet their myriad demands with new options and boosted production
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
What is driving pasta’s resurgence in the US?
Despite more than a decade of demonization of carbs and grains, pasta sales in the US continue to climb as brands break free of commodity constraints and offer more nutrient-dense and premium products that deliver an elevated experience that still is...
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Beyond sober-curious: How long is the runway for non-alcoholic beverages?
While sales of non-alcoholic beverages are growing double-digits year-over-year, new research from NielsenIQ shows most NA consumers still buy alcohol – upending assumptions and forcing brands to rethink their outreach strategy
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Conscientious chocolatier Alter Eco’s secret to sustainability success: ‘Show your receipts’
Hear how Alter Eco is growing faster than the market by giving conscious consumers what they demand: climate action, clean ingredients and full transparency
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
From microalgae to macro impact: Arborea harnesses sunlight to create ‘food without the footprint’
Climate-tech food startup Arborea’s proprietary BioSolar Leaf system promises to produce nutrient-dense proteins and superfoods by “industrializing photosynthesis” and using a fraction of the land, water and carbon footprint of conventional agriculture
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
What is behind the uptick in milk consumption and dairy sales more broadly?
Dairy milk’s long winter may be ending with sales and units increasing for the first time in decades thanks to consumer demand for products that support their wellness goal and offer more nutritional bang for the buck
Soup-to-Nuts
The war on sugar: Are better-for-you options unfairly caught in the crosshairs?
Republican leaders are amping up the war on sugar by taking aim at categories historically laden with the sweet stuff, but are better-for-you products accidentally getting caught in the crossfire?
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS
RTC pastes: Culture and convenience combo crucial to entice young Asian consumers
Ready-to-cook (RTC) pastes can tap the rising at-home cooking boom in Asia by including a combo of heritage and convenience in their innovations.
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Prop 65 pushback: Landmark ruling curbs cancer warnings for dietary acrylamide
A landmark federal court decision to block mandatory cancer warnings for dietary acrylamide under California’s controversial Prop 65 is a major win for food manufacturers – and could offer protective precedence for compelling warnings based on shaky...
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Eat well, age better: How a subtle shift from wanting longevity to vitality is reshaping the food landscape
Consumers want more than a long life – they want a good one, and to get it they are changing what and how they eat, including adding or avoiding specific nutrients, seeking products that support health conditions and foods and beverages that ‘nourish,...
Founders' Fundamentals
Surviving tariffs: How CPG startups can prepare for whatever comes next
CPG founders must think on their feet to work around tariff-induced supply chain disruptions, collaborating with co-manufacturers and ingredient suppliers on innovative solutions to business obstacles
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
5 strategies to boost share as geopolitical tensions and inflation constrict consumer spending
CPG sales and volumes are slipping among persistent inflation and tariff fears, but Circana uncovers how food and beverage manufacturers are maintaining – and gaining – share despite the shaky market
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Where is the line for ingredient bans and when should companies comply vs pushback?
FDA’s sweeping plan to eliminate synthetic colors from the US food system announced last week marks a turning point in the war on food dyes that has long been fought at the state level and which before that pitted big food against outspoken consumer...
Founders' Fundamentals
VC fundamentals: CPG startup lawyer shares tips for securing the best fundraising deal
CPG founders on the hunt for venture capital should consult a lawyer first to ensure they get the best possible deal, without giving too much of their company away
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Better tasting better-for-you beverages: Bold flavors and improved mouthfeel drive growth of functional drink sales
Consumers increasingly are unwilling to compromise taste or health when buying beverages – opening the door for innovative brands that deliver both functional benefits and refreshing experiences
NutraCast: Axiom Foods tackles heavy metal contamination in plant proteins
Los Angeles-based Axiom Foods recently debuted Oryzatein 2.0, the first patented plant protein with no detectable levels of lead, according to independent lab tests.
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
5 trends reshaping chocolate: From clean label to flavor innovation to cost containment
Up and coming chocolate brands are rethinking how they make – and package – chocolate to meet rising consumer demand for better-for-you and clean-label options, while simultaneously navigating rising costs