Upcoming CFBN Events:

Switch to Calendar View

• Quarterly Distillations (Free Virtual Series)

  • Start
    2 Feb 2021
  •  
    (CST)
  • End
    2 Nov 2021
  •  
    (CDT)
  • 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: 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  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!

  Show details
• Stirring Up Cocktail Trends (An Innovation Series Event)

  • When
    17 Jun 2021
  •  
    4:30 PM - 5:30 PM (CDT)
  • Location
    (VIRTUAL CONFERENCE)

  Register

  Join us for our next event in the 2021 Innovation Series.  The Innovation Series is the longest running series in CFBN's programming and we are very excited to feature this special interactive cocktail event to get your summer off on the right foot!  Join us to sample, shake, and dive into the world of cocktail trends with the experts!

  
  

  STIRRING UP COCKTAIL TRENDS

  Join the experts from Exberry, Datassential and Koval to shake up the world of cocktails and explore what we will be drinking in 2021 and beyond!  After all of the challenges of 2020, we have all stepped up our at-home mixology game, but perhaps it is time to explore what the professionals have in store, as restaurants and bars across the country re-open and welcome customers back!  This is an interactive webinar - so pre-register now to reserve your at-home custom designed cocktail (and mocktail) kit to stir along with our experts!

  OuR Agenda for HAPPY HOUR (4:30 - 5:30 pm CT):

  • General Welcome (Alan Reed, CFBN)

  • Shaking Up Cocktails (or mocktails) with Exberry & Koval

  • Cocktail Trends & Innovations with Datassential

  • Discussion on Cocktail Trends with our Featured Guests

  • Q&A

  Our conversation features:

  • Ashley Pruett, Technical Applications Specialist, Exberry
  • Mike Kostyo, Senior Managing Editor & Trendologist, Datassential
  • Emily Williams, Koval's Mixologist 

  
  

  Joining Options!

  This is an interactive event offering a custom mixology box (be sure to order your box by June 10th - boxes ordered after the 10th will arrive post event) with all the ingredients needed to stir one cocktail and one mocktail along with our panel of experts!  You can elect to tune into our event just for content, or to reserve your box - but hurry, these were designed just for this event and we are offering a limited number!

  • Content Only:  this event content is FREE to view and join us to explore all of the trends and insights our experts have to offer!  
  • Content + Mixology Box:  pre-register now to reserve your custom mixology box and have it shipped to you in time for the event for a flat fee that includes the box and access to content!  *All boxes must be pre-ordered by Thursday, June 10th to guarantee arrival in time for the event.  **All boxes contain all the ingredients to make one (1) cocktail and one (1) mocktail (glass ware not included).  **You must be 21+ to choose this option, and an adult signature will be required at delivery.

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

  

  
  

  
  

               

  Upcoming Events & Conversations:

  • Thursday, July 8th:  Taste & Trends
  • Thursday, September 9th:  Technology Innovations
  • Thursday, November 11th:  State of the Industry (Next Generation Leaders)

  
  

  Missed an Event?

  Don't worry!  All previous events in the Innovation Series are available for viewing in our Virtual Content Library - FREE to all CFBN Members!

    

  Show details
• Innovation Series: Taste the Trends - Rebuilding & Reinventing

  • When
    8 Jul 2021
  •  
    11:00 AM - 1:00 PM (CDT)
  • Location
    (VIRTUAL CONFERENCE)

  Register

  Join us for our next event in the 2021 Innovation Series.  The Innovation Series is the longest running series in CFBN's programming - originated in partnership with Fifty Gazelles as our opening offering via the "Innovation Breakfasts" originally hosted at Blue Dog in the West Loop.  Today, this virtual series tackles a series of innovation topics of interest to all of us in the food and beverage industry.  Our attendees join us every other month on the second Thursday to explore where food is headed, what companies are making a true impact in the market, and who is helping to change the way we all do business!

  UPCOMING EVENTS & CONVERSATIONS:

  • Thursday, July 8th: Rebuilding & Reinventing
  • Thursday, September 9th:  Technology Innovations
  • Thursday, November 11th:  State of the Industry (Next Generation Leaders)

  Taste the Trends: 2021 - Rebuilding & Reinventing

  Our Master Agenda for the CONFERENCE:

  • 11:00AM - 11:45AM Welcome & Opening Conversation 
  • 11:50AM - 12:30PM  Fireside Taste and Chat - Farmer’s Fridge Lunchbox
  • 12:30 - 1:00PM Breakout Sessions (session run concurrently)

  Breakout Session 1:  Innovation by Collaboration

  
  

  Breakout Session 2: Taste of Trends

  
  

  Breakout Session 3: What's Happening Away From Home

  
  

  OPENING CONVERSATION:

  We all know that the food & beverage industry was directly impacted by the rapid and unexpected changes in restaurant and at-home consumption over the past year.  As we continue to recover and re-engage in our day to day lives, the full re-opening of restaurants, cafes, and related foodservice businesses is at the heart of our cities and communities. Join us to explore how evolving tastes, changing menus, and innovation across companies will help foodservice and the larger food industry rebuild in 2021 and beyond! Join us for Taste the Trends: 2021 - Rebuilding & Reinventing. 

  • Featuring: 
  • • Panelist from KeHE - coming soon.
    • Kelley Fechner, MBA, Director of Customer Solutions, Datassential
    • Additional panelist and moderator - coming soon!

  
  

  FIRESIDE "TASTE ALONG" & CHAT FARMER'S FRIDGE: 

  One trending food company who didn’t miss a beat and took the challenges of the pandemic head-on was Farmers Fridge. From securing their space in Target and Jewel-Osco throughout Chicagoland to their partnership with Dunkin Donuts, the team at Farmers Fridge is taking innovation and trends to a whole new level.

  Join us for this exclusive Fireside "Taste Along" and Chat with CEO and Founder Luke Saunders. Enjoying a sample lunchbox including the recently launched Red Chile Braised Pork Bowl by Chef Rick Bayless and tasty chips and guacamole. 

  • Featuring:  
  • • Luke Saunders, CEO & Founder, Farmer's Fridge
    • Moderator - coming soon

  
  

  featured breakout presentations:

  SESSION 1:  innovation by collaboration

  It’s incredible what can be accomplished when leaders of food and beverage companies collaborate for the good of others. Hear from the experts at Edlong about how industry partners recently joined forces to create an innovative philanthropic path to donate consumer-ready products throughout Illinois to community members who needed it most and what future projects are on the horizon. 

  • Featuring: 
  • • Lisa Drawer, Global Marketing Director, Edlong
    • Lourdes Mato, Dairy Research Scientist, Edlong
    • Monica Gotomo Kapoor, Product Development Manager, Edlong
    • Brendan Kitt, Director of Food, Greater Chicago Food Depository
    • Alan Reed, Executive Director, CFBN & Bigger Table (Moderator)

  
  

  SESSION 2:  taste the trends

  With Chicago fully re-opening and the beautiful summer weather here, people are eager to dine out and excited to try unique flavors and food trends. This pent-up consumer excitement to try new menu items and innovative products and flavors will surely encourage restaurants and the larger foodservice sector to think outside the box. Find out what tastes and trends are the ones to crave!

  • Featuring: 
  • • Sherry Gorsich, Director, Business Development & Strategic Partnerships, CSSI
    • Valerie Cansler, VP, Client Service South, Curion Insights

  
  

  SESSION 3:   WHAT'S HAPPENING AWAY FROM HOME

  Many away-from-home (AFH) channels were essentially shut down during the pandemic, but innovative companies found a way.  Hear about trends like ghost kitchens, curated snack boxes, and exciting direct-to-consumer pop ups that accelerated in the past year, and how other AFH locations are coming back as the world reopens.

  • Featuring: 

  • • Zach Ramos, Vice President and General Manager, Foodservice, Kellogg’s Away From Home

    • Panelist from JPG Resources - coming soon.
    •  Joel Warady, President, Catalina Crunch (Moderator)

  
  

  REGISTRATION OPTIONS & INFORMATION:

  This is an interactive virtual event featuring multiple content sections and a "taste along" sample box for those interested! All pre-registrants have the following registration options:

  • Content Only:  FREE to CFBN members or $5 for non-members, access to the event day-of and the recording post event only.

  • Content + Sample Box: FREE to CFBN members, $10 non-members
  • • Pick up your delicious Red Chile Braised Pork Bowl by Chef Rick Bayless and tasty chips and guacamole lunchbox at 2000 W Fulton St F-310, Chicago, IL 60612 on Wednesday, July 7th between 2-5PM CT
    • Please note:  Registrations must be received prior to 6/30/21 to reserve your lunchbox

  
  

  NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY!

  We also offer the opportunity for 1:1 networking with your peers - choose this feature to be able to be randomly paired with another attendee for a 10 minute engagement session!

  
  

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

  

   

  

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

  .          

  We also appreciate the support and collaboration of participating companies:

   
  

  Missed an Event?

  Don't worry!  All previous events in the Innovation Series are available for viewing in our Virtual Content Library - FREE to all CFBN Members!

    

  Show details
• Founders Series: Quarter 3 - Production and Operations

  • When
    22 Jul 2021
  •  
    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CDT)
  • 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-imaged 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.

  *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!

  Upcoming Event Dates:

  • Quarter 3 (July 22):  Production & Operations
  • Quarter 4 (TBA):  Finance

  
  

  Join us for the Next event of the series:  July 22nd

  With the enhancement of technology and continued innovation in the production and operations sector,  food and beverage owners and founders have lots of factors to consider. Leadership in growing companies can incorporate smart processes freeing up time to focus on other aspects of their business.  Join us for the third event in the 2021 Founders Series to talk Production and Operations. Don’t miss the in-depth conversation ranging from third-party logistics, greater investment in automation, safety standards, and consumer requested transparency of the supply chain.

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

  MASTER AGENDA (CT):

  • 11:00 AM:  General Welcome (Alan Reed, CFBN)

  • 11:05 AM - 12:00 PM:   Featured Conversation and Q&A

  
  

  FEATURED SPEAKERS & GUESTS:

  

  William Madden, Senior Partner/Co-founder, Whole Brain Consulting

  Senior partner, William Madden Ph.D., has worked in the food industry for the past 20 years. He specializes in big-picture operations and supply chain management and contract negotiation between food companies and contract manufacturers.  Madden has helped everything from start-ups to multimillion-dollar businesses find perfect-match contract manufacturers, setting them up for long term success. He is also the author of “Separating the Con Man From the Co Man – A Guide to Contract Manufacturing" (Train of Thought Press, available at Barnes and Noble and Amazon).

  
  

  Natalie Shmulik, CEO, The Hatchery Chicago

  Natalie Shmulik is The Hatchery’s CEO, and go-to resource for launching a successful food and beverage business. After successfully operating her own restaurant, Natalie was hired as a specialty consultant for one of Ontario’s largest supermarket chains where she enhanced consumer experiences through educational initiatives. Discovering her passion for innovation, Natalie was brought on as a brand strategist for the first cold brew tea company and later moved to Chicago to run The Hatchery Chicago. With over six years of food incubation experience, Natalie has gained a unique perspective on the industry and what it takes to launch and grow a successful business. 
  

  Additional speakers coming soon...
  

  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.

  
  

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

        &       
  

  
  

  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!

  Show details