JPG Resources - Food & Beverage Innovation

Like many of us in the food and beverage community, we are in recovery mode from #2025ExpoWest. It was an incredibly energizing week, from spotting slight movements in #innovation with brands like LaCroix Water and its newest Sunshine SKU with a tropical essence and the taste of “wonder”, to the new first ever kombucha line for kids by TIM TAM TUMMY, there was a lot to take in. ?? Here’s our take on five key trending themes from this year’s show.??? 1?? Dates are having a moment ?? Joolies Dates date pops made it cool to be a date. And date-based chocolate bars, peanut butter and snacks from French Squirrel, True Co. and Date Better Snacks are interesting and yummy, even if they’re perhaps not really much lower in sugar. ?? They make us feel better about our choices and put the power of taste into play. ?? 2?? Gut check for the win! ?? From gut-healthy granola clusters and belliwelli to TIM TAM TUMMY kids kombucha and clean digestive health formulas like Wonderbelly, everyone in the family is covered. Not only that, gut health is prevalent in nearly every form factor we could spot. The trend is only continuing to get hotter and more widespread throughout various food and beverage categories. ?? 3?? ?? Beans, lentils and chickpeas, Oho! my. From lentil bowls from Lentiful to the frozen entrees from Blue Zones Kitchen, food innovators are continuing to lean into alternate forms of plant-based protein. This includes many lentil-based snacks and chips from brands such as Oho!. And check out the new chickpea high protein hot cereal, ChiChi, gluten free and hearty for your soul. ?? 4?? Puffery ?? is where it’s at ?? All the veggies, dogs and eggs whites are in agreement on this trend, including brands like Todd's Foods and Pupitos from Wholly Pup (which could be a puff for pups or Doritos for pups, not to be mistaken for pepitas for pups). Also in the mix, puffs made from legumes, lentils, chickpeas (see above), broccoli and cauliflower. Hats off to grain free and flavorful puffy SKUs also from Siete Family Foods. With brands like Snack'in For You, puffs are pervasive. 5?? Finally, FUN! ?? Matching and memorable was a common theme. We saw a tremendous amount of spirit, color and camaraderie among teams and brands throughout our time at Expo West. Cheers to brands like GOODLES and its conveyor belt, belliwelli and its photo booth, and the SKU jumpsuit crew too for adding zest, flair, creativity and a bit of soul in your people as well the surroundings. We spotted fun attire and vibrantly designed booths everywhere. The bar was set high! Thank you ????.??You made our time at #2025ExpoWest downright interesting and proud to be a part of the #cpg, #foodandbeverage, #naturalproducts and #innovation community. Julie SuntrupJeff GroggD'Anne HaymanMarc HalperinVeronica LehmanAimee Leigh DavisRobin PuskasAmy UsiakJanina GreenwoodGreenwoodMichelle BreyerJPG Resources - Food & Beverage Innovation

The MISTA #Symposium #Healthy #Nutrition is next week - March 12 in San Francisco - Check out the amazing line up! Over 20 start-ups will present their latest technologies and advancements: Akarso Bio, AnaBio Technologies, ārepa, Ayana Bio, Biolumen Inc., BiomeSense, Digestiva, FitBiomics, Future Biome, Hydrosome Labs LLC, Koralo, Kresko RNAtech, @Metabologic AI, Olfactive Biosolutions, Oobli, Pairwise , Phenotap, Phynova Group Ltd, Rivalz?, SCO2, Shiru, Suggestic, The EVERY Company, Tulua. Experts from the MISTA #Ecosystem, including large corporations, universities, and NGO will also share their points of view on stage: Givaudan, Danone, Bühler Group, Ingredion Incorporated, SIG Group, CJ CheilJedang, AAK, JPG Resources - Food & Beverage Innovation, The Good Food Institute, Mintel, Stanford Department of Medicine, The March Group, University of California, Berkeley, The Gut Punch.

?? Resiliency in R&D: Key Takeaways from Panel Discussion The food industry is evolving at breakneck speed, and R&D professionals are at the forefront of navigating regulatory shifts, cost pressures, and corporate restructuring. At our latest Females in Food panel discussion, industry leaders shared their insights and strategies for staying resilient in an unpredictable landscape. ?? Top Takeaways: ? Change is the only constant – Strong change management skills are essential for leading teams through industry shifts. ? Balance technical expertise with leadership – Innovation isn’t just about science; great R&D leaders empower teams and drive results. ? Clear brand guardrails are key – Defining non-negotiables around cost, ingredients, and brand identity streamlines decision-making. ? Broaden your skillset – The days of hyper-specialization are fading. Cross-functional expertise makes R&D professionals more adaptable. ? Innovation must thrive despite constraints – Whether it’s regulatory hurdles or budget cuts, creative problem-solving is the key to sustaining progress. A huge thank you to our expert panelists: Debbie Yaver (CSO at Nature’s Fynd), Cherie Floyd (VP of R&D J.M. Smucker Co.), and Amy Usiak (Head of R&D - JPG Resources) for sharing their insights! ?? Missed the discussion? Find the replay in the members' lounge. Not a member yet? Join today for access to our exclusive leadership development programming. ?? https://lnkd.in/gcpd8zcR #FoodInnovation #R&DLeadership #FemalesInFood #ResilientR&D #FoodIndustry

Celebrating 3+ years with our Founding Partners! ?? Since day one, our Founding Partners have been the backbone of Naturally New York, championing our mission to support and elevate the CPG community. We want to extend our many thanks for their ongoing partnership, dedication, and belief in our community. These partners have been with us from the very start, helping us grow, connect, and create meaningful opportunities for brands and founders in the natural products space. Thank you for being part of the journey, Anchin, Bank of America, BeyondBrands, BFY Capital, Dwight Funding, Emil Capital Partners, Foa & Son Insurance, ForceBrands, Giannuzzi Lewendon, LLP, GoodSAM, PBC, Gotham DSD, JPG Resources - Food & Beverage Innovation, Kerry, MWNY, New Fare, New Hope Network, NielsenIQ, Norinchukin Bank, RCV Frontline , RIND Snacks, Sircle Media, SIX60 Partners, Mondelēz International, & Sun Noodle. #naturallynewyork #nny #partners #foundingpartners #cpg #support #community