It has been an unbelievable year in so many ways! Join CFBN for our last event of the calendar year, and celebrate with us (virtually!) all of the trends and changes that make this a year we will never forget.
Join us as we hear a keynote talk from Mike Kostyo, Datassential’s Senior Editor and Trendologist, on the trends that influenced us in 2021, and what will drive us all in 2022.
BOXES ARE SOLD OUT FOR THIS EVENT
Then, make sure you’ve ordered your Sample Box, and join a panel of experts tasting a variety of new products from incredible start-ups and emerging brands from around Chicagoland and the country. Products range from crunchy keto snacks, savory nutrition bars, to-go cocktails, CBD infused delights, alternative flour cookies, superfood toppings, uniquely flavored coffees, and more!
*Please note that sample boxes are limited and products may contain/have come in contact with common food allergens. Shipping available to US addresses only. Deadline to order boxes in time for the December 7th event is November 29th at noon.
Sample Box Highlights:
Bigger Table: Healthy Chocolate Almond Protein Bars
Catalina Crunch: Delicious Low-Carb Keto Cinnamon Toast crunchy cereal
Field + Farmer: Pressed Juices & Plant Based Dressings/Dips (Product Information Only)
Golden Made Kafe: Gourmet Coffees from US, French, and African Cultures
Hello Cocktails! Balanced & Refreshing Pre-Mixed To-Go Alcoholic Cocktails
Lil Bucks: Clusterbucks Matcha Cookie Crunch Buckwheat Granola
Red Belly Honey: Nutrient Rich Full-Spectrum Hemp Honey Infused by Bees
Rumi Spices: Flavorful & Exotic Persian Gulf Baharat Spice Blend
Simple Mills: Crispy Seed & Nut Flour Mint Chocolate Sweet Thins
Sweegen: Refreshing non-alcoholic cocktail prototype featuring the ingredients Bestevia® Ultra stevia for sweetness and L-TeaActive® L-Theanine for relaxation.
The Jali Fruit Co.: Natural & Empowering Sun-Dried Fruit
Undressed Bars: Savory On-The-Go Green Salad Snacking Bars
*Please note - Sample Box product contents may change based on availability.
Master Agenda:
4:00 - 4:05PM Welcome by Alan Reed
4:05 - 4:45PM Presentation by Mike Kostyo
4:45 - 4:50PM Q&A for Mike Kostyo
4:50 - 5:20PM Tasting & Discussion Panel
5:20 - 5:30PM Q&A and Closing
Keynote Speaker:
Mike Kostyo, Senior Editor and Trendologist, Datassential
Mike is the resident Trendologist and Senior Managing Editor at Datassential, the food industry's leading market research and trends company. At Datassential, Kostyo oversees the company's seven TrendSpotting magazines, custom client publications, Future of Drink and SIPS reports, and he leads trend immersion tours and ideation sessions across the country. Kostyo was a recurring guest on Fusion TV's "The AV Club Show"; has been featured on WGN Radio, CBS Radio, and Gimlet Media's "Why We Eat What We Eat" podcast; is regularly featured in newspapers and magazines; speaks at numerous conferences across the country annually; and he was a judge on Food Network's "Eating America." He has a master’s in gastronomy from Boston University, plus certificates in the culinary arts, baking arts, wine, and artisan cheese production. In his spare time he teaches cooking classes and co-founded a monthly food swap in Chicago.
Tasting & Discussion Panel:
Joining Mike on the Tasting & Discussion Panel are:
Donna Berry, Editor, Consultant and Food Guru, Dairy & Food Communications
Donna is the owner of Dairy & Food Communications, a company that specializes in business-to-business writing, speaking and consulting projects in the dairy, beverage and food industries. Donna has been tracking consumer behaviors and food trends, with an emphasis on dairy, for more than 25 years. She currently writes for numerous trade publications, including Food Business News, Meat & Poultry, Baking & Snack, Culinology and Pet Food Processing. After 18 years on Dairy Foods, she decided it was time to share her knowledge via other publications and media channels. Almost immediately she started her own website, aptly named BerryOnDairy.com, which includes an email newsletter called Daily Dose of Dairy that focuses on innovations in dairy products and related beverages.
Joline Rivera, Founder, Kitchen Toke Media & Red Belly Honey
Joline has been breaking barriers since childhood. She defied the odds of her background, becoming financially independent by 18, becoming the first person in her Mexican-American family to earn a BA in graphic design and a master’s degree in advertising design, both while working full-time. As the definitive source for culinary cannabis, Kitchen Toke afforded Joline the opportunity to review many infused food brands. Her trend alarm bell went off when she discovered an infusion method unlike anything on the market – instead of the standard methods that rely upon lab-created infusions, Red Belly Honey allows the bees to infuse naturally, standing alone as the only product of its kind.What’s ahead? Joline awaits the social equity lottery draw in Illinois hoping to create the first health-focused culinary cannabis dispensary aimed at leveling the playing field for underrepresented minorities.
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Joel Warady, President, Catalina Snacks
Joel is President of Catalina Snacks, Inc., a leading brand in the Keto-friendly snack category and serves as a strategic advisor to a number of emerging and established brands. Prior to this, Warady was the General Manager (CEO) of Enjoy Life Foods, a leading brand in the North American CPG industry. The brand experienced 18 consecutive years of growth under his guidance, achieving $100 million in North American consumption in 2019. In 2015, Warady was part of the two-person management team that successfully negotiated an acquisition of Enjoy Life Foods 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 one of Twitter’s Most Influential Marketers by AgencySpotter.
We appreciate the support and collaboration of participating companies:
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