Naturally San Diego

What's Naturally San Diego all about? ?? Hear straight from our Executive Director?Kierstin Rielly and President?Ari Raz about what you can expect from joining our local network of CPG professionals. Video credit: Greg Helton with?Larimore Production Company

There’s no crew I’d rather raid the Perfect Snacks fridge with than my fellow Naturally San Diego board members. ?????? Such a joy getting together IRL for our last meeting of 2024, celebrating what a winning year it’s been for our beloved community and growing network of natural products brands and providers. We’re going on year SIX of #NSD and I couldn’t be more proud nor inspired by every single human who has helped to make it the magic it is today. Here’s to more moments and Perfect Bars shared together, Leigh Keith, Ari Raz, Kierstin Rielly, JR Simich, Julie Sweet, Julie Tally, Sara Brooks, Matt Clifford, Thad Benshoof, Sid Mikhail, Jason Potolicchio, CPA, Rebecca Evangelou, Adam Hertel, Darcy Shiber-Knowles (she/her), Sam Zaiser, Justin Jackson, Jack Peterson ??

Get your CPG products in front of holiday shoppers! To promote shopping local, we're curating a list of present ideas for this holiday season that spotlights Naturally San Diego members. ?? Brands: Submit your product details by December 2 for a feature in our 2024 holiday gift guide: https://lnkd.in/gx4CmM2a

??? Event alert: Nosh.com Live, a two-day event for the packaged food industry, is happening in two weeks on Dec 5 + 6 in Marina del Rey. Nosh.com Live, hosted by BevNET.com folks so you know it's good, is an opportunity for food company founders and operators to meet with retailers, distributors, investors, and industry partners in an intimate environment designed to form partnerships and get business done. Come learn from experts and innovators, and walk away with actionable steps to grow your packaged food business. Our friends at Nosh.com pulled some strings, and we have a discount code to save $500 per ticket here: https://lnkd.in/gYxTnXRd

Last night Naturally San Diego took a deep dive into the strategy behind CPG packaging ?? with our amazing women-led Founder panel: Kristin Fracassi of Root and Splendor and Hilary Cocalis of Sipwell Wine Co. and their respective agency partners: Julie Sweet of Purely Righteous Brands and Becky Nelson Dahl of BEXBRANDS. Julie and Becky kicked it off with a quick Packaging 101 session (did you know the average consumer looks at your packaging for 13 seconds before deciding whether or not to purchase?) and then we went right into true case studies of packaging rebrands of Sipwell Wine Co. and Root and Splendor. Our in-person activation was in tandem with the virtual Women in CPG summited hosted by Naturally Network earlier this week. Attendees last night took home samples of Sipwell Wine Co. + Root and Splendor. Cheers to women! ??

Meet Maria Covarrubias ???, your fellow Naturally San Diego member ?? Maria's role in CPG ??: Since she was a child in Mexico, Chef Maria has been feeding her passion by cooking for others. In 2020, she founded Cien Chiles, where she infuses her love into each bottle of authentic Mexican hot sauce, made with real, fresh ingredients, no artificial flavors, and zero sugars. Maria sees the sauces' heat as a celebration of heritage, adding depth and complexity to every dish. What Naturally San Diego means to her ??: This organization has given Maria opportunities to connect with the local CPG community and participate in events like our annual Pitch Slam contest in 2023. Say hello to Maria by connecting with her on LinkedIn or sending her a message in our member Slack group.

Join Naturally Network next week for their annual Women in CPG Summit ?? This virtual, two-day event is designed to inspire and connect women and non-binary CPG professionals, their supporters, and allies. Come foster meaningful connections, share and hear diverse stories, and leave with actionable takeaways. Register for the virtual summit, taking place November 12 & 13: https://lnkd.in/g-N2gMg6 And register for our in-person activation on November 14 about CPG packaging: https://lnkd.in/gGnChEM3

If you went to our Fall Fling event, you saw the 23 emerging brands who got to show off their products ?? Naturally San Diego has helped these brands start conversations with mentors, investors, buyers, and the broader Naturally community for both business connections and as consumers. Supporting up-and-coming brands is a core part of our purpose at Naturally San Diego. In fact, we call our impact "the Naturally effect." What other instances of the Naturally effect can you think of?

Take us back to Fall Fling 2024! ?? Major thanks to Jacob Swing for creating this video of the unforgettable event and making us feel nothing short of nostalgic.

Meet Madelyn Hadley, your fellow Naturally San Diego member ?? Madelyn's role in CPG ??: After years of working as a plant-based private chef, Madelyn decided to bring some of her clients' favorite recipes to the market, founding Madly Hadley . She launched her first product, plant-based coconut bacon bits, in December 2020 and began selling them at Whole Foods Market the following month. About a year later, she launched her next product, Dairy-Free Parmesan, in seven Whole Foods Market regions. Madelyn is currently working on a rebrand that provides clearer messaging on shelves, while still capturing the brand's spirit. She's also preparing for a national launch in all Whole Foods Market stores this January for her newest item, Pistachio Crumble, along with a new shaker format for the Dairy-Free Parmesan. Madelyn's roles outside of her profession ??: She enjoys gardening, cooking, sewing, painting and drawing. As well as dressing up her friends in Chameleon costumes. What Naturally San Diego means to her ??: This organization has given Madelyn access to incredible mentors, invaluable guidance and feedback, friendships, and a sense of community around a common goal of making the world a healthier and better place. Say hello to Madelyn by connecting with her on LinkedIn or sending her a message in our member Slack group.