Upcoming CFBN Events:

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• Quarterly Distillations (Free Virtual Series)

  • Start
    2 Feb 2021
  •  
  • End
    2 Nov 2021
  •  
  • Schedule
    4 sessions
  • Location
    (Virtual Event Series)

  

  Join CFBN & the team from Bader Rutter’s Intel Distillery for a recap of the latest happenings in food, beverage and agriculture.  These short webinars outline what you need to know to stay current with the latest in food policy, food business & marketing, and production trends.

  The Intel Distillery keeps you informed on the influential and ever-changing conversations across the food production system. Thank you to everyone who joined us in 2020 as CFBN tapped this great resource for our Monday @11 series! 

  

  We are excited to continue this great web series to keep the Network informed in its' new quarterly format!  This is a FREE series offering - all are welcome, register now to join us for the full series!

  
  

  JOINING US FOR OUR NEXT EPISODE: 

  
  

  
  

  Michelle McBride, Founder & CEO, GoodSport Nutrition

  Michelle will join our latest installment of Quarterly Distillations from food & ag agency Bader Rutter. She will discuss the unique path to market for GoodSport, a dairy-based electrolyte sports hydration beverage, in addition to our presentation of The Intel Distillery’s mid-year Top Ten Topics ranking of hot industry topics.

  Joining us for this conversation from Bader Rutter's 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.

  Upcoming Episodes: 

  • Tuesday, August 3rd (11 am CT)
  • Tuesday, November 2nd (11 am CT)

  The team behind Bader Rutter’s The Intel Distillery has partnered with CFBN to host this quarterly chat series breaking down the headlines from the headlines impacting the food and beverage industry. Using The Intel Distillery’s Friday by Noon newsletter as a guide.

  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.

  (Subscribe here for Friday by Noon weekly.)

  Tuesday @11 is a quarterly 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!

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• Founders Series: Quarter 4 - Finance in Food & Beverage

  • When
    21 Oct 2021
  •  
    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    (VIRTUAL EVENT)

  Register

  A majority of founders and leadership in growing companies in the food and beverage space have reported that they expect to see growth in 2020.  Even after the volatility and challenges of 2020, the food and beverage industry as a whole is looking forward to 2021 to see what products will impact and hit with consumers and the marketplace.  Join us to explore and examine that “growth” as part of our Founders Series for 2021 - the conversation that founders and leadership from growing companies across the Midwest want to be a part of!

  The Founders Series has been re-imagined for 2021, in partnership with Foodbevy and CA Fortune, we are looking to industry experts, a wide range of successful and growing founders, and our own partners to provide hands-on learning opportunities around each of our primary topic areas.  Join us to explore how your peers and industry can help you tackle growth in 2021.

  Join us for the FINAL event of the series: October 21st

  Founders Series: Finance in Food and Beverage                                                        Dive into the world of finance. Too often incredible companies with amazing products are unable to scale because they lack a good handle on finances. Join us to discuss the importance of finance and accounting processes in food and beverage. From e-commerce, raising funds, alternative financing, and equity with co-manufacturing relationships, we are bringing together the experts to help you navigate the spectrum of financial questions and scenarios you are bound to face

  Register for this 60-minute virtual event featuring our speakers and guests.  Join the conversation during the Q&A portion and engage with our panel of speakers.

  AGENDA: (All times CST) 

  • 11:00am:  Welcome
  • 11:05am:   Expert Panel Conversation 
  • 11:50am: Q&A
  • 12:00pm: Close

  
  

  
  

  FEATURED SPEAKERS & GUESTS 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Emily Griffith, Founder & CEO, Lil Bucks

  "It all started while enjoying a life-changing acai bowl by the beach in Sydney, Australia. The bowl had THE BEST taste and texture, and I felt amazing after eating it. Turns out the secret ingredient here, providing gluten-free protein, fiber, antioxidants, and that yummy crunch, was sprouted buckwheat! The Aussies love it. I became obsessed (obviously) and am on a mission to share the love of sprouted buckwheat with other crunch-lovin’, health-conscious cool cats, all-the-while promoting sustainable farming in the U.S.A."

  

  Shayna Harris, Co-Founder & Managing Director,      Supply Change Capitol

  Shayna is the co-founder and Managing Director of Supply Change Capitol, a Chicago-based, early-stage venture capital firm investing in food systems change. She has been an executive at venture-backed, fast-growth start-ups including Farmer’s Fridge and Sourcemap. Previously she established the sustainable procurement program at Mars. Shayna has spent her career developing sustainable food strategies in more than 20 countries. Shayna serves on the Board of Directors of Sourcemap (traceability software), Sitka Salmon Shares (DtC seafood), and Doselva (Agroforestry grown herbs & spices). A longtime advocate for equity in the food system, she founded Chicago Fair Trade in 2005. Shayna earned her MBA from MIT, was named a Fulbright Scholar, and holds her BA from Boston University with a dual degree in International Relations and Political Science. Shayna is a contributing writer at Forbes as well as a published author

  Ethan Holmes, Founder/CEO, Holmes Made Foods, LLC

  At the age of 15, Ethan Holmes launched Holmes Made Foods LLC with his grandfather’s applesauce recipe and ambitious dreams of entrepreneurial success. From humble origins in his family’s kitchen – acquiring raw materials as Christmas gifts – Holmes built his brand of all-natural applesauce through sweat equity and persistence. Over the past 10+ years, Holmes has diligently grown his operations and distribution by leveraging his personal network, pitching his product at every opportunity, and listening to the advice of business mentors. Along the way, Holmes and his company have won a number of entrepreneur pitch competitions, earning capital infusions to fuel business growth, including a spot in the 2020 Chobani Incubator.

  Our Series is Co-Moderated & Features:

  Jordan Buckner, Founder - Foodbevy & Founder - TeaSquares

  Jordan Buckner is on a mission to help food and beverage companies build successful businesses, and launched Foodbevy.com to create a pipeline for companies to grow from startup to scale by reducing the resource and network gaps.  Jordan also co-founded TeaSquares, a line of superfood energy bars designed to help people stay focused and alert so they could achieve their passions. 

  Steve Gaither, Chief Marketing Officer, CA Fortune

  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.

  *As always, Founders and CFBN Members attend these events for FREE.  Reach out by dropping us an email if you are looking to be connected!

  The Founders Series is virtual event series produced in partnership with CFBN members and partners:

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  Missed an Event?

  Don't worry, you can access all previous events from the Founders Series in our Virtual Content Library, FREE to all CFBN members!

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• Innovation Series: A Front Row Seat At The Revolution

  • When
    26 Oct 2021
  •  
    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Virtual

  Register

  The stakes have never been higher: the old rules and traditions of normal business modes - how we market, how we design our products, who our consumer is - are no longer "standard".  And making sure that we explore, study and learn from the "Disruptors" who are forging new paths in their markets is an important tool in helping each of us - and our companies - find a way to claim our own success in this new marketplace!

  We are excited to welcome Paul back to CFBN to explore these modern “Disruptors” who are finding a way to succeed.  In researching his book "A Front Row Seat at the Revolution", Paul received inside-the-ropes access to 12 notable companies and brands over a 12 month period - gaining an insider’s view of what worked and what’s next.  Join us for an in-depth look at modern disruption and what it can mean as you build and grow your own brand and company. 

  Paul Earle, Dreamer, doer, people person, optimist,  Earle & Company

  Innovation, branding professional and Northwestern/Kellogg faculty member, Paul Earle will be talking about the encore to his popular book, “Front Row Seat At The Revolution.” He will discuss the profiles of high-flying new brands which are changing the game in their respective categories. Drop in to see what makes the list, and why… and learn how you can apply these lessons of contemporary disruption to your own business.

  Introduction by:

  Keren Novack, President, Curion
  

  Keren takes complex research initiatives at all stages of the project life cycle and utilizes a research-based psychology background to apply an insightful understanding of consumer behavior behind perception. Prior to joining Curion Keren worked for L’Oreal USA as a Sensory Research Scientist. Her 12 years of sensory & consumer insights experience includes food, beverage, and personal care. She is also a trained QDA panel moderator. Keren received her B.A. from Franklin and Marshall College in Psychology and holds a Certificate of Sensory & Consumer Science from UC Davis.

  EVENT AGENDA:

  • 11:00 AM - 11:05 AM:  Welcome 

  • 11:05 AM - 11:10 AM:  Introduction

  • 11:10 AM - 11:45 AM:  Paul Earle Presentation

  • 11:45 AM - 12:00 PM:  Q&A

  • 12:00 PM - Event Closes

  
  

  We appreciate the support and collaboration of our sponsor for this event:

                                   

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