Upcoming CFBN Events:

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• (WEBINAR) MONDAY @11: Trending Conversations in Food Production

  • Start
    13 Apr 2020
  •  
    (CDT)
  • End
    27 Jul 2020
  •  
    (CDT)
  • Schedule
    14 sessions
  • Location
    (VIRTUAL WEBINAR)

  The team behind Bader Rutter’s The Intel Distillery is partnering with CFBN to host a weekly chat breaking down the headlines from the previous week impacting the food and beverage industry. Using The Intel Distillery’s Friday by Noon newsletter as a guide, you’re invited to participate in this weekly 30-minute on-line conversation. 

  Since 2012, The Intel Distillery has tracked the top stories from the most influential voices in the business. From farm fields to consumer plates, the Chicago-based team has diligently categorized and catalogued everything important in food, beverage and agriculture to outline a clear picture of what's happening and who's driving the conversations on our industry.

  We look forward to hearing from you Monday morning!

  
  

  Joining us for this conversation from the Bader Rutter/Intel Distillery team:

  Nick Praznowski, Team Leader - Editorial/Content – with a long background in food marketing, Nick helped start The Intel Distillery in 2011 and serves as the functional lead for strategy and content.
  

  Dennis Ryan, Executive Creative Director –  celebrating a successful career advertising and marketing CPG food products, Dennis serves as creative director, copy editor and chief promoter to translate The Intel Distillery’s analysis into actionable insights for subscribers and clients.

  Betsy Rado, Team Leader – with an extensive experience in food and ag marketing, Betsy has served as an adviser and content creator to bring clients business driving insights from The Intel Distillery since 2012.

  Kyle Church, Content Specialist has been an integral part of The Intel Distillery team since 2014 and heads up the quantitative analysis and technical functions.  Kyle researches and writes a good share of The Intel Distillery content.

  To join us for this webinar - CLICK HERE to pre-register via the Zoom link!

  And, make your plans NOW to join us on Monday, July 27th (11 am CT) for a very special episode:

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  The Intel Distillery’s Top Ten Topics Webinar  (7/27)

  Are you struggling to keep up with the ever-changing conversations across the food production system? Are you left wondering what important industry leaders are saying?  Join Bader Rutter’s Intel Distillery team, alongside key food and agriculture industry leaders, as they discuss the quarter’s hottest topics in food production. The incredibly turbulent first half of 2020 has upended the food production system from farms to factories to families, leaving many questioning what ‘s ahead. During this webinar on July 27th, we will collectively reflect on the conversations detailed in The Intel Distillery’s Top Ten Topics report.

  Join our discussion to gain relevant insights on who’s driving the food production conversation and what they’re discussing. We will cover topics like the food workforce, international trade, environmental stewardship, meatless trends, and food safety. And, the webinar will feature special commentary from industry insiders to lend their personal context and perspective on the trends!

  Featured Industry Speakers:

  • Karen Meinders, Global Sustainability Communications Leader, Corteva Agriscience
  • Jessica Wohl, Reporter, Ad Age
  • Kathiravan Krishnamurthy, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, IFSH (IIT and USDA)
  • Dallas Hockman, Vice President - Industry Relations, National Pork Producers Council
  • Brett Lutz, Vice President - Global Communications, ADM

  
  

  (Subscribe here for Friday by Noon weekly.)

  Monday @11 is a new weekly, FREE, webinar offering produced in partnership with CFBN member company, Bader Rutter!

  

  
  

  Missed an episode? 

  Visit our Virtual Library to catch up with all previous episodes!

  Show details
• (VIDEO Podcast) The F&B-45 (Bi-Weekly with Joel Warady)

  • Start
    14 Apr 2020
  •  
    (CDT)
  • End
    28 Jul 2020
  •  
    (CDT)
  • Schedule
    8 sessions
  • Location
    (VIRTUAL EVENT)

  Join us bi-weekly for new episodes of CFBN’s new lunchtime video podcast series “The F&B-45” hosted by Joel Warady.  This conversational series will provide a platform for Joel and his guests to explore pertinent topics and issues impacting F&B companies across Chicagoland, and beyond, right now.  A cross-section of perspectives from industry leaders helping to find solutions and innovations to help us all push forward and find post-COVID solutions to getting our industry back up and running.

  

  Joel Warady (Series Host), CFBN Chairman, Speaker & Strategic Advisor

  Joel Warady recently ended his tenure as General Manager, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer of Enjoy Life Foods, a leading brand in the North American Gluten-Free, Allergy-Friendly food and snack category that experienced 18 consecutive years of growth under his guidance. In 2015, Joel was part of the two-person management team that successfully negotiated an acquisition by Mondelez International.

  In the past few years, he has been ranked as one of the Top 50 CMOs on Twitter by Social Media Marketing Magazine, one of the Top 50 Most Influential CMOs on Social Media by Forbes.com, was included in Brand Quarterly magazine’s list of 50 Marketing Thought Leaders Over 50, and most recently recognized as Twitter’s Most Influential Marketers by AgencySpotter. Post-acquisition, Joel was tapped to provide valuable insights to the Mondelez management team in helping them create best practices on how best to merge the culture of emerging brands whose foundations are built on trust and transparency, while taking advantage of the global expertise that a large multinational can bring to the business. He played varying roles in Mondelez’s investments in Hu Kitchen, Perfect Snacks, and Uplift Foods.

  UPCOMING EPISODES:

  
  

  Episode #8 (7/14): Culinary Trends & Consumer Connections

  With the world going “virtual”, our conversation will explore the new consumer connection points and culinary trends with two experts, Arn Grashoff of I-Gourmet & Innovative Food Holdings and Kelley Fechner of Datassential.  From food service to multi-channel, consumer’s relationship with food is changing daily - our panel will tackle how to understand how the traditional “at home” and “restaurant” culinary trends and connections are changing and what that means for your brand.  As well as dive into innovative ways they and their clients are building stronger connections - from virtual sampling, new e-commerce models, and the buyers perspective on building “new norms” from both sides of the relationship.  Don’t miss this insightful conversation with two insiders!
  

  • Arn Grashoff, Vice President - Procurement & Marketing, Innovative Food Holdings & I-Gourmet
  • Kelley Fechner, Director of Customer Solutions, Datassential

  
  

  Did you miss an episode...

  PREVIOUS EPISODES:  View previous episodes (HERE)!

  • Episode #1 (4/1):  The panel tackled impacts on supply chain – from logistics, transportation, ingredients, sales, and beyond.
  • Episode #2 (4/14):  Marketing Sensitivity - Proper Messaging & Product Introduction Timeline
  • Episode #3 (4/28):   Pivoting to a Revised Business Model
  • Episode #4 (5/19):  Planning for the Return
  • Episode #5 (6/2):  The Chicago Phased Re-Opening Plan
  • Episode #6 (6/16):  The CheezIt Factor
  • Episode #7 (6/30): Can you really pandemic proof the food system?

  
  

  
  

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• (Virtual Event) Talent: Hired vs. Borrowed (Founders Series Event)

  • When
    30 Jul 2020
  •  
    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CDT)
  • Location
    (VIRTUAL EVENT)

  Whether you’re launching your business or scaling it, there’s no doubt you want the best team by your side. Pending your growth stage, when does it make more sense to outsource and when is the right time to bring talent in-house? Get intel from industry leaders on how and when to smartly grow your team and the effect it has on your culture.

  
  

  
  

  Stay tuned for more information on our featured panel of speakers!

  Steve Gaither (Moderator), Chief Marketing Officer, CA Fortune/CA Branding

  Steve Gaither is the Chief Marketing Officer at C.A. Fortune, and leads the C.A. Branding pillar. Founded as JB Chicago, C.A. Branding is an integrated marketing agency whose clients range from Fortune 500, middle-market, to emerging brands.  As a mentor at the Good Food Business Accelerator, ICNC, the Food Foundry, Chicagoland Food and Bev, and The Hatchery, his relationships with entrepreneurs led him to co-found the Windy City Troublemakers, an early-stage food meetup in Chicago. Steve was formerly a partner in Spiral Sun Ventures and Windy City Food Brands, where he and his fellow CPG experts provided the capital and go-to market strategies that help brands accelerate their growth. Steve graduated from Ball State University with a degree in Architecture and Planning. He resides in Munster, Indiana with his wife and three children.

  This is an interactive virtual event.  CLICK HERE to pre-register via ZOOM!

  The Founders Series is presented in partnership with CA Fortune:

                    
  

  We appreciate the support of our primary sponsor for this event, the 2112 Incubator!

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• How to Innovate Now: Speed, Agility & Big Ideas (Rescheduled Date!)

  • When
    8 Oct 2020
  •  
    7:30 AM - 12:30 PM (CDT)
  • Location
    Offshore, Navy Pier, 1000 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

  Register

  Join us for a breakthrough interactive experience that will show you and your team how to create an agile innovation process and get disruptive ideas into the market...right now!

  The beautiful new Offshore rooftop venue (the "world's largest rooftop") located high-atop navy pier will be our home-base for this HALF DAY interactive, workshop experience.  No selling & No pitching - just direct hands-on insights, trend take-aways, and introductions to new ideas and technologies that your innovations team will want to use.

  **Please note the NEW date...Thank you for your patience as we reschedule events impacted by COVID-19!

  Best in class innovation experts, from Edlong, New Edge, and Gastrograph are joining us to introduce new trends, new tools, new technologies, and new methodologies that enable agile, holistic, and robust ways to innovate within your organization....All before lunch!

  The Workshop will include the following programs/presentations:

  (Download the full agenda with all program descriptions HERE)

  • The State of Innovation:  an opening conversation with Laurette Rondenet, Joel Warady & Denny Moy
  • Trends in Innovation Today:  Challenging the “how” in innovation methods used today.

  • Driving Alignment:  Changing How Your Company Thinks About Opportunities to Drive Alignment for Speed & Success

  • Increasing Speed:  Leveraging New Technologies to Increase Speed to Market

  • Launching for Bigger Success:  Creating a holistic approach to ensure bigger, more successful launches
    

  • Final Thoughts:  How can you change how your company does innovation today and in the future?
  • Lunch!

  Accessing the Venue - Offshore is located at the end of Navy Pier - with easy access via valet parking or a direct drop-off location for ride-shares.  This is an all inclusive location with plenty of space for networking, taking a quick call, AND engaging with our day's event.  We know taking a HALF DAY off to join us can be tough with busy schedules - but this is a venue and event not to be missed!

  Joining us for this interactive, hands-on event...

  

  Laurette Rondenet, President & CEO, The Edlong Corporation
  

  Laurette Rondenet is the President and CEO of Edlong, based in Elk Grove Village, IL. Today Edlong is a global leader in dairy and dairy-free flavors, committed to helping food and beverage manufacturers innovate faster, for authentic-tasting, consumer-pleasing products. Edlong is the only certified woman-owned flavor house (WBENC).

  Under Laurette’s leadership, Edlong has experienced unprecedented growth in the highly competitive flavors category. She leads the organization with a commitment to nurturing long-term, integrated relationships with both customers and employees, and in bringing value to the customer with innovative products and attentive service that truly differentiates Edlong. The company’s mission is “To Enrich the Lives of Those We Touch.” This is accomplished everyday through the foods Edlong’s flavors are in, and the people’s lives impacted. Laurette is an exceptional leader who is passionate about every employee having a voice in our work and future, and on a greater lever, feeding the world.

  Joel Warady, Strategic Advisor; Frmer General Manager, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Enjoy Life Foods

  Joel Warady recently ended his tenure as General Manager, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer of Enjoy Life Foods, a leading brand in the North American Gluten-Free, Allergy-Friendly food and snack category that experienced 18 consecutive years of growth under his guidance. In 2015, Joel was part of the two-person management team that successfully negotiated an acquisition by Mondelez International.

  In the past few years, he has been ranked as one of the Top 50 CMOs on Twitter by Social Media Marketing Magazine, one of the Top 50 Most Influential CMOs on Social Media by Forbes.com, was included in Brand Quarterly magazine’s list of 50 Marketing Thought Leaders Over 50, and most recently recognized as Twitter’s Most Influential Marketers by AgencySpotter. Post-acquisition, Joel was tapped to provide valuable insights to the Mondelez management team in helping them create best practices on how best to merge the culture of emerging brands whose foundations are built on trust and transparency, while taking advantage of the global expertise that a large multinational can bring to the business. He played varying roles in Mondelez’s investments in Hu Kitchen, Perfect Snacks, and Uplift Foods.

  Denny Moy, Innovation Director, Enjoy Life Foods

  Denny has spent his entire career in CPG F&D industry and most of his life obsessing with new ways to tinker & reinvent new & unique food experiences. He believes that at the heart of food are relationships and finding a new way to tell an ageless story is the essence of what ignites our love for food.  An industry veteran with marketing and innovation roles across brands and companies like Lipton®(Unilever), PillsburyTM(General Mills), Tropicana®(Pepsico), Kellogg’s® and most recently served as Director of Innovation at Enjoy Life Foods (Mondelez®), where he helped multiple award-winning new products Protein Bites & Breakfast Fruit & Oat Ovals. Within each role of his career, Denny has made it a personal & professional mission to contribute back to making a positive social and or environmental change in the industry including leading efforts with Rainforest Alliance, No Kid Hungry & Feeding America among others.

  Prior to entering the CPG side of food & beverage, Denny worked for his family restaurant business at the early age of 8 as well as starting his first LLC business in food delivery at the age of 16.  In his personal life, he is married to his loving wife Bethany and enjoys seeking new adventures with his three children Clementine, Truman & Ellis who inspires his creativity as much as they test his patience.

  

  Pam Henderson, Founder and CEO, NewEdge
  

  Pam Henderson, Ph.D., is founder and CEO of NewEdge Inc., a company that acts as a growth strategy and innovation partner. Pam pioneered Opportunity Thinking™ principles, a new approach to innovation that helps organizations create sustainable growth. This methodology has been applied across industries, transforming companies both large and small, from start-ups and non-profits to Fortune 500 companies.

  Originally on the faculty at Carnegie Mellon University, Pam later worked with the national laboratory system to commercialize early stage technologies. Her book “You Can Kill an Idea…But You Can’t Kill an Opportunity!”, a Wiley publication, has been translated into Mandarin and Korean and is in its fourth printing. She publishes widely on market insight, business and innovation strategy, and design and has received recognition in the Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, NPR.

  Jason Cohen, Founder & CEO, Analytical Flavor Systems/Gastrograph
  

  Before starting Analytical Flavor Systems, Jason was the Founder and Executive Director of The Tea Institute at Penn State, which oversees 20+ researchers in 5 fields of study in traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Tea. Jason did his research in sensory science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence - eventually developing the Gastrograph system after 3 1/2 years of research.  Jason is a professional coffee, tea, and beer taster, and when he is not trying new products, he enjoys rock climbing, ice climbing, and fencing.

  We appreciate the support and partnership of our member company, Edlong, in helping us to present this event: 

  
  

  
  

  
  

           
  

  
  

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