Best of The Food Institute Podcast

Food for Thought Leadership

How does a coffee brand pivot into honey? The answer might make more sense than you originally believed. Jessica Padula, Nespresso USA’s vice president of marketing and head of sustainability, returns to discuss the company’s sustainability efforts and how her dual roles in marketing and sustainability inform each other and improve the company.  

More About Jesssica Padula: 
Jessica Padula is the Vice President of Marketing and Head of Sustainability at Nespresso USA, leading the brand in its marketing, communications, advertising and sustainability efforts to further its mission of leveraging coffee as a force for good.   

As VP of Marketing, Jessica oversees Nespresso’s product and portfolio, brand campaigns and activations, customer relationship management and B2B shopper marketing in the U.S. market. Jessica led the rollout of an expanded iced portfolio and the brand’s smallest and most affordable Vertuo machine ever, the Vertuo Pop+, to reach a new generation of coffee drinkers.    

As the brand continues its regenerative agriculture efforts, Jessica recently spearheaded the pilot of the Nespresso Bloom range, including Nespresso Coffee Blossom Honey and Master Origins Colombia Ready to Drink Coffee.    

As sustainability lead in the U.S., she advances circularity, climate and community-centered efforts aligned with Nespresso’s B Corp certification and brand values. Jessica has overseen the brand’s expansion of curbside recycling across the five boroughs of New York City and into Jersey City. She also facilitates meaningful nonprofit partnerships with local organizations aligned with issues important to Nespresso employees and customers, including The Ali Forney Center, American Forests and Project Healthy Minds.   

Jessica joined Nespresso USA in 2016 as Social Media Manager. When she joined, she brought a unique combination of luxury, CPG and F&B experience, having worked on brands such as Swarovski, Horizon Organic, Pantene, COVERGIRL and Downy. She’s a consistent champion of digital innovation, implementing tools such as the Opal CMS and Comms Hub, and bringing a branded Nespresso presence to platforms like Twitch and Reddit for the first time.     

Jessica received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing & Business Law from Boston University. 

More About Nestle Nespresso SA: 
Nestlé Nespresso SA is a pioneer and is widely regarded as one of the top references in the field of high-quality portioned coffee. The company works with more than 157,000 farmers in 18 countries through its AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program to embed sustainability practices on farms and the surrounding landscapes. Launched in 2003 in collaboration with the NGO Rainforest Alliance, the program helps to improve the yield and quality of harvests, ensuring a sustainable supply of high-quality coffee and improving livelihoods of farmers and their communities.   

In 2022, Nespresso achieved B Corp™ certification – joining an international movement of over 9,000 purpose-led businesses that meet B Corp’s high standards of social and environmental responsibility and transparency.  

Headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nespresso operates in 93 markets and has 14,000 employees. In 2023, it operated a global retail network of 791 boutiques. For more information, visit the Nespresso corporate website: www.nestle-nespresso.com.

Success in Sustainability – A Deep Dive on Nespresso

Amid inflation, restaurants need to get more creative to help bring customers through the door. What exactly can they do to improve traffic? André Moraes of PepsiCo Digital Lab shares how experiences, microinfluencers, and the Local Eats program can help propel restaurants in 2025.

More About André Moraes:
André leads Digital Marketing in PepsiCo’s Global Away from Home division, across all beverage, snack, and food brands. Prior to joining PepsiCo, André worked at both the tech and agency sides of the marketing world - leading consumer strategy and marketing intelligence at Google within the CPG food and beverage sector, as well as heading up some of OMD’s global Marketing Sciences efforts. André is also an Adjunct Professor at NYU where he teaches Marketing Analytics to students in the Integrated Marketing masters program. He holds a BS in Finance from Fairfield University, an MS in Digital Marketing from Full Sail University, and is a Fulbright Scholar.  

More About PepsiCo:
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $91 billion in net revenue in 2023, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.

Visit the PepsiCo Foodservice (now known as Away from Home) LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pepsico-foodservice-/ 

More About PepsiCo Digital Lab:
The PepsiCo AwayFromHome Digital Lab is a first-of-its-kind group built to connect foodservice operators with exclusive PepsiCo solutions and services as well as the companies, services, insights, and solutions best suited for their specific digital growth needs. Powered by extensive proprietary and partner solutions, the Digital Lab is the first offering of its kind from a foodservice manufacturer directly helping operators of all sizes drive traffic, build check size, and develop their digital business – serving everyone from local single location restaurants, to the largest global QSRs.

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Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFoodInstitute

How to Empower Local Restaurants Through Technology

This Episode is Sponsored by: City National Bank

Several economic headwinds indicate the consumer is being financially stretched, but we all need to eat – so what are consumers actually buying at the grocery store? Nik Modi of RBC returns to The Food Institute Podcast to discuss channel differentiation, consumer product selection, and other macro trends.

More About Nik Modi:
Nik Modi is a Managing Director at RBC Capital Markets, where he has responsibility for coverage of Beverage, Household Personal Care, Packaged Food and Tobacco industries. The companies under Nik’s coverage total over $1 trillion in combined market value.

Nik has consistently been ranked as one of the top analysts across the consumer space by Institutional Investor’s All Star Analyst Survey. He has also been top rated across various analyst polls, including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune and Forbes.

More About City National Bank:
City National Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada since 2015. RBC’s Market Cap of $174 Billion is one of the Top 15 largest global banks with $1.1 Trillion in assets and Moody’s/S&P Ratings of Aa1/AA-. As a subsidiary of one of the largest and strongest financial institutions in the world, City National Bank offers a unique combination of highly personalized services with a full range of tailored financing solutions. CNB’s Food & Beverage Group is a national vertical that supports owners and c-suite executives and is a proud sponsor of the Food Institute. Learn more at http://cnb.com/foodandbeverage.

Grocery Grit: What’s in the Cart When Money’s Tight?

Is the future of flavor increasingly borderless? Valda Coryat, vice president of marketing for condiments and sauces at McCormick, reveals how curiosity powers McCormick’s flavor foresight, why segmentation by “flavor personality” matters, and how flavors are becoming more culturally driven.

More about Valda Coryat:

More about McCormick:
McCormick & Company, Inc. is a global leader in flavor. With our diverse and balanced flavor portfolio, we are ideally positioned to meet the increasing demand for flavor around the world. Learn more at https://www.mccormickcorporation.com/.

The Future of Flavor: McCormick’s Recipe for Innovation

This Episode is Sponsored by: Performance Foodservice

How important is it as a food distributor to build a brand for foodservice – especially since consumers may never see or recognize it? Mike Seidel, vice president of procurement at Performance Foodservice Corporate, shares how the company views the development of its existing foodservice brands, including Roma and Contigo, and how they helped in the creation of its most recent Mediterranean concept Zebec. 

More about Mike Seidel:
Michael Seidel is the corporate Vice President of Procurement for Performance Foodservice, one of the largest broadline foodservice distributors in the country. “Mike” brings to his role 28 years of sales, procurement, and leadership experience within the foodservice industry. In 2025, Mike is celebrating his fourteenth year with Performance Foodservice.  

Over the course of 14 years from 1997, Mike held multiple sales and procurement roles at a Sysco operating company including Marketing Associate and Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing.  

Mike served as a member of the Executive Board of Directors for the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) and was recently reappointed to the Board of Directors for NFI, to a term ending in late 2027. Mike currently serves as a board member of Circana Supply Track. Mike is an elected Manager of NFI’s Better Seafood Board and is on the planning committee for the Global Seafood Market Conference (GSMC). Mike, annually, co-hosts or participates in GSMC panelist discussions. Mike is a delegated member of the Procurement Council for the Independent Procurement Alliance Program (IPAP).  

During his career, Mike has testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission, on three occasions, regarding certain ripe olives and shrimp. Mike is an active speaker/presenter for various foodservice industry events. 

He is married, lives in the Richmond, Virginia area, and has four children and one grandchild.  

More About Performance Foodservice:
Performance Foodservice is one of the nation’s largest foodservice distributors, delivering quality ingredients, reliable service, and on-time consistency. With 125,000+ products and 67 distribution centers, we serve over 100,000 customers coast to coast. From restaurants and hotels to schools and healthcare, operators trust us for both food and non-food essentials that keep kitchens running. Backed by a best-in-class fleet and passionate associates, Performance Foodservice is more than a distributor—we’re your partner in growth and success. 

Learn more: http://performancefoodservice.com/  

More About Zebec:
Zebec is Performance Foodservice’s exclusive brand of specialty Mediterranean foods and ingredients, inspired by the 16th-century sailing ships that once carried flavors and traditions across the sea. Just like those fast, agile vessels, Zebec delivers authentic spices, bold flavors, and versatile ingredients that make it easy for operators to bring the Mediterranean to their menus. From falafel to grilled chicken skewers, every item is crafted with quality and convenience in mind—helping passionate restaurateurs, whether inspired by global traditions or family roots, add an exciting Mediterranean twist to their offerings. With Zebec, a bold upgrade to the menu is always within reach. 

Learn more: https://www.performancefoodservice.com/Products-and-Services/Our-Family-of-Brands/Zebec

The Art of Building a Brand for Foodservice

In this episode of Food for Thought Leadership, Food Institute vice president of content and client relationships Chris Campbell sits down with Barry Thomas, senior thought leader at Kantar, to unpack the rapid rise of agentic AI — a new class of AI systems that don’t just generate information, but take action on behalf of the user. Thomas explains why agentic AI represents a foundational shift in how consumers discover, evaluate, and shop for products. He explores how AI-powered shopping apps, answer-engines, and agentic browsers are reshaping the digital journey, and why businesses should prepare now for changes that will accelerate through 2026.

The conversation also dives into how this technology impacts retailers, CPG manufacturers, and foodservice operators — from the rise of metadata marketing and AI-optimized product visibility to the growing influence of user-generated content in agentic shopping environments. Thomas outlines the challenges ahead: data governance, shifting retail media dynamics, consumer trust, and the delicate balance between authenticity and automation. With younger demographics adopting AI at record speed, the companies that invest in upskilling and AI-readiness today stand to gain the strongest competitive advantage tomorrow.

More About Barry Thomas:
Barry is one of Kantar’s foremost global commerce experts with a distinguished history of serving customers, partners, and people throughout his more than 30 years in the retail, food service, and FMCG industries. His 25-year career with The Coca-Company featured landmark achievements in the areas of customer leadership, customer marketing, ecommerce, innovation, consumer insights, category management, and future strategies. Before joining the Coca-Cola system, Barry worked for Pfizer (formerly Wyeth-Ayerst) for seven years in commercial, customer, marketing, and insights roles. Barry earned a bachelor's degree in business from the University of North Florida and an MBA from Mercer University. He is currently on the advisory boards of the Digital Marketing Institute, George Washington University Digital Marketing Program, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

More About Kantar:
Kantar is a data and evidence-based agency providing insights and actionable recommendations to clients, worldwide. We combine the most meaningful attitudinal and behavioral data with deep expertise and technology platforms to track how people think and act.

To learn more, visit https://retailiq.kantar.com/.

Food for Thought Leadership: AI Agents Are on the Rise in the Food Industry and Here's Why

Adam Michaels, CEO of Mama’s Creations, joins Food Institute Vice President of Content and Client Relationships Chris Campbell to discuss how the deli category is evolving and why this rapidly growing segment is primed for innovation. A veteran of global CPG and strategy roles at Booz Allen Hamilton and Mondelez, Michaels shares how Mama’s Creations has transformed from a regional meatball company into a national, full-service deli solutions provider serving retailers across all 50 states.

During the conversation, Michaels explains how the company is addressing some of grocery retail’s most pressing challenges, including labor shortages, changing consumer meal preferences, and the need for greater efficiency in the deli case. He outlines how Mama’s Creations supports retailers with a wide range of prepared foods, proteins, sides, and globally inspired flavors — all designed to simplify in-store execution while maintaining quality and consistency for shoppers.

Michaels also details how strategic acquisitions, vertically integrated manufacturing, and a disciplined focus on metrics are fueling the company’s growth. As the only publicly traded deli company in the U.S., Mama’s Creations is leveraging scale, operational rigor, and data-driven decision-making to compete in the $40+ billion deli prepared foods category, while continuing to expand its national footprint and product capabilities.

More About Adam Michaels:
Adam Michaels is an experienced food industry executive and former management consultant with broad experience transforming consumer-focused companies. Previously, Adam served with Mondelez International, a multinational food and beverage company with operations in over 150 countries. Over the past nine years, he has held numerous roles with increasing responsibility at Mondelez across Supply Chain, Commercial Sales & Marketing and Strategy. Adam led Mondelez’s North American Insights & Analytics organization and was most recently responsible for M&A and Commercial for North American Ventures – a business unit comprised of high growth brands including Perfect Snacks, a refrigerated snacks brand, Hu, an ultrasimple multi-category lifestyle brand, and Tate’s Bake Shop, a premium cookie brand, among others. Before joining Mondelez, Adam was a Principal at Booz & Company, a management consulting firm, for seven years where he specialized in the Food & Beverage sector. He started his career at Capital One Financial and holds an MBA in Marketing & Management from Columbia Business School, as well as a BSE in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania. Adam has lived and worked in the US, England and France. He lives with his wife and their two boys in New Jersey.

More About Mama's Creations:
Mama’s Creations is your ultimate destination for fresh, easy-to-prepare dishes that capture the essence of grandma-quality food. Built off the authentic Italian heritage of Mama Mancini’s, our name pays tribute to the treasured kitchens of grandmothers worldwide, where each meal is crafted with passion and care. At Mama’s Creations, we understand the value of convenience without compromising on quality. We bring together a diverse range of culinary traditions and flavors, offering you an unforgettable taste experience. With fresh ingredients and our simple preparation methods, we ensure that every dish is a celebration of authentic homemade goodness. Learn more: https://mamascreations.com/

Food for Thought Leadership: How Mama’s Creations Is Reinventing the Deli Case

This Episode is Sponsored by: Koelnmesse

Snacking in the U.S. has been on the rise for many years, but is this a global phenomenon? Sabine Schommer, Director, ISM, and Guido Hentschke, Director, ProSweets Cologne and ISM Ingredients, explore European and global snacking trends, and how the trio of ISM, ISM Ingredients, and ProSweets Cologne serve as a meeting place for the global snacking industry. 

More About Sabine Schommer:
Sabine Schommer loves the energy on the show floor, the excitement of the sweetest of all industries and the joy of being part of a team striving to create the perfect surrounding for both business opportunities and memorable moments. She has been in the trade fair business for more than 30 years, having led the ISM team as Director since 2015. For her, being Director ISM is a unique opportunity to shape the customers' trade fair experience, introduce new features, liaise with experts, watch trends and developments and realize every year the best possible version of the world’s largest trade fair for sweets and snacks – ISM in Cologne, Germany.

More About Guido Hentschke:
Guido Hentschke has been the Director of ProSweets Cologne since January 2021. With more than 25 years of experience in the international trade fair industry, he brings extensive expertise from roles in Europe, the U.S., and Brazil. At ProSweets Cologne, he has continuously developed the show in line with market needs, positioning it as a content leader within the sweets and snacks sector. Building on these insights, he successfully launched ISM Ingredients — the new platform for suppliers of raw materials, ingredients, and semi-finished products — which will debut as a new format starting in 2026. His goal: to unite all key players along the entire value chain through close alignment and integration with ISM.

More About ISM:
The ISM in Cologne is the world's leading trade fair for confectionery and snacks and offers impulses, innovations, exciting networking, top-class exhibitors and expert visitors in a combination that is unique in the world. There you will find the world's largest range of private labels in the sweets and snacks sector. From 2026, the new trade fair ISM Ingredients will offer a platform for innovation, expertise and networking around raw materials, ingredients and semi-finished products as part of ISM - with the aim of strengthening the value chain and promoting sustainable solutions.

More About ProSweets Cologne:
ProSweets Cologne is a trade fair for the entire industry-specific supply spectrum of the confectionery and snack industry. This ranges from confectionery and snack packaging and packaging technology to the raw materials and ingredients required specifically for confectionery and snack production and process technology. Secondary areas such as refrigeration and air conditioning technology, operating and auxiliary equipment, and the topics of food safety and quality management for the confectionery and snack industry round off the profile.

Relevant Links:

https://www.ism-cologne.com/

https://www.instagram.com/ism_cologne/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/ism-cologne/

https://www.ism-cologne.com/newsletter/

https://www.prosweets.com/

https://www.instagram.com/prosweets.official/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/pro-sweets-cologne/

https://www.prosweets.com/newsletter/

Unwrapping the Global Snacking Scene

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine the numerous CEO roles that changed hands at major CPG brands in 2025. 

FI Fast Break News - Dec. 18, 2025

In the first Food for Thought Leadership episode of 2026, hosts Chris Campbell and Rebecca Fryer lead an editorial roundtable focused on the 2026 food industry outlook. They are joined by The Food Institute’s Kelly Beaton, George Hajjar, and Anna Kinder to unpack early signs of a potential foodservice rebound, the rise of fiber as the next major wellness focus, and how GLP-1 medications are reshaping consumer behavior, menu strategy, and product innovation across the food industry.

The discussion dives deeper into 2026 food industry trends influencing culture and consumption, including the continued growth of non-alcohol beverages, increasing demand for clean labels and transparency, and a consumer redefining value through the lens of price, quality, and convenience. Global flavors remain a key driver, evolving toward hyper-regionality and third-culture cuisine as consumers balance authenticity with experimentation.

Rounding out the episode, the team explores how 2026 food industry trends are accelerating change in technology and retail. Artificial intelligence and automation are moving from experimentation to essential tools for efficiency and food safety, while private label and challenger brands continue to reshape retail shelves. Together, the episode delivers a clear, forward-looking perspective on the forces shaping the food industry in 2026.

Food for Thought Leadership: 2026 Food Industry Outlook

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine the minimum wage hikes that recently took effect, impacting more than 8 million American workers.  

FI Fast Break News - Jan. 6, 2026

It's undeniable that restaurants were challenged heavily in 2025, but what does that mean for 2026? Foodservice industry veteran John Inwright discusses the prospects for a new year, what's working for successful operators, and the headwinds and tailwinds that could define the year. 

More about John Inwright: 
John Inwright was recruited to lead the creation and development of Wendy's Quality Supply Chain Cooperative, Inc. (QSCC) in November 2009. John reported directly to Wendy’s QSCC Board of Directors and worked closely with Wendy's brand leadership and its trading partners, ensuring that QSCC accomplished all member and brand objectives. He accomplished a stellar record of high performance with outstanding documented results.  

John has worked in the restaurant and foodservice industry for most of his career, beginning as a 12-year-old fry cook at a New Jersey boardwalk restaurant. His executive experience range -- including supply, distribution, logistics, procurement, and operations -- gives him powerful insight into every link of restaurant operations and supply chain. 

Prior to joining QSCC, John served for almost three years in the supplier and manufacturing community as EVP & General Manager for the Commercial Division of Nice-Pak/PDII, a global expert providing infection control products and prevention methods for the foodservice and healthcare industries.  

John previously served as EVP & Chief Procurement Officer of U.S. Foodservice, one of the country's largest broad-line foodservice distributors. During that time, he restructured the company's procurement team following a massive investigation of fraud centered in its procurement and finance functions. 

Before that, as SVP of Purchasing for Unified Foodservice Purchasing Co-op, LLC (the supply chain co-op for Yum! Brands and its franchisees), John served the procurement, distribution, and logistics interests of the franchise and corporate restaurants across A&W, KFC, Long John Silver's, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. 

John is an exceptionally well-respected thought leader throughout the foodservice industry. His significant strengths include innovation, integrity, relationship-building with franchisees, and supplier/distributor trading partners. Maybe most important, he is recognized by his peers as a breakthrough leader in developing high-performance associates and teams. 

John served for 10-year on the Board of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, most recently as Chairman of the Investment Advisory Committee. He previously served Chair for the Supply Chain Sub-Committee of the National Council of Chain Restaurants and is a past member of the Institute of Supply Management (ISM), the National Restaurant Association (NRA), the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA), and the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA). 

John previously served as a board member for the NRA's Foodservice Purchasing Executive Group. Via invitation, he was a member of two of the world's leading corporate think-tanks, the Conference Board and the Corporate Executive Board. 

Today, John serves as Chairman of the Board for GS1 US. He previously served as Vice Chair and as Chairman of the GS1 US Audit & Finance committee. He has been a member on various boards, including private companies, trade associations, and charitable foundations, since 1993 

Foodservice in Focus for 2026

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine the so-called "burger boom" that has hit chain restaurants' menus. 

FI Fast Break News - Jan. 14, 2026

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine the trend of diners demanding absurdly spicy foods at restaurants. 

FI Fast Break News - Jan. 21, 2026

This Episode is Sponsored by: PwC

The era of the GLP-1 is upon us – and with household penetration approaching 20%, the food and beverage industry needs to take notice. However, as PwC’s Alison Furman and Paul Leinwand explain, these drugs are impacting more than just food purchasing behavior. 

More about Alison Furman: 
Alison Furman is PwC’s US Consumer Markets Industry Leader across PwC’s three lines of service: Advisory, Assurance and Tax. Her portfolio includes PwC’s Retail, Hospitality, CPG, Travel, Airlines and Restaurant sub-sectors. Leveraging her extensive industry experience and the PwC network she works closely with senior leaders to grow, transform and take advantage of disruption, in the constantly changing landscape of Consumer Markets.​ 

A nationally recognized thought leader on consumer behavior, Ali shapes the conversation on how consumers think, spend, and engage with brands. She is an expert featured in Top Tier broadcast and written media including CBS, NPR, Harvard Business Review, Bloomberg Live Radio, Good Morning America, CNBC, The TODAY Show and more, where she provides clear analysis on trends including generational trends, GLP-1s, and AI. ​ 

Ali serves as an active sponsor and strategic collaborator to the Consumer Brands Association (CBA) and sits on the NRF Foundation Board. She has delivered keynotes at NRF’s Big Show, CBA leadership forums, and other premier stages, where leaders consistently describe her perspective as actionable.​ 

Prior to her current role, Ali served as the Managing Partner of PwC’s US Transformation Consulting business, overseeing a ~$4B P&L and leading management consulting capabilities across strategy, customer, operations, M&A, finance, workforce, and technology. She is also a longtime PwC Deals Partner, having advised on hundreds of transactions — including many of the largest Consumer Markets mega-deals valued at more than $5 billion.​ 

More about Paul Leinwand: 
Paul Leinwand is a thought leader on strategy, growth, and capability building for Strategy&, PwC's strategy consulting group. Based in Chicago, he is a principal with PwC US Paul advises clients on the topic of strategy, growth, and capability building, with a focus on the consumer product and retail sectors. 

Recent Publications 

•Co-Author of four books, Beyond Digital: How Great Leaders Transform Their Organizations and Shape the Future, Strategy That Works: How Winning Companies Close the Strategy-to-Execution Gap (Harvard Business Review Press, 2016), The Essential Advantage: How to Win with a Capabilities-Driven Strategy (Harvard Business Review Press, 2010) and Cut Costs and Grow Stronger (Harvard Business Review Press, 2009), as well as several articles in the Harvard Business Review and strategy+business. 

•“Create a System to Grow Consistently” – Five elements can move you beyond episodic success, a Strategy& study. 

•"Pay Attention to Revenue Growth. But How?", which appeared in strategy+business. 

•"The Power of Operational POS – From Managing at the Mean to Managing the Meaningful", a Strategy& study. 

•"The End of Trade 'Spending'? Two New Approaches Can Recoup This Investment", a Strategy& study. 

Mr. Leinwand earned an MBA with Distinction from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Washington University. He currently teaches at Kellogg as an Adjunct Professor of Strategy. 

More about PwC:  
At PwC, we help clients build trust and reinvent so they can turn complexity into competitive advantage. We’re a tech-forward, people-empowered network with more than 370,000 people in 149 countries. Across audit and assurance, tax and legal, deals and consulting we help clients build, accelerate and sustain momentum. Find out more at www.pwc.com.

The Era of the GLP-1

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we discuss the recent bankruptcy of FAT Brands, the owner of approximately 2,200 restaurant locations. 

FI Fast Break News - Jan. 28, 2026

In this episode of Food for Thought Leadership, host Chris Campbell is joined by food and nutrition expert Marie Molde to explore how health and wellness trends are reshaping the food and beverage industry heading into 2026. Drawing on her background in consumer insights and nutrition, Molde unpacks why today’s wellness landscape feels overwhelming for consumers despite unprecedented access to information. Together, they discuss the need for simpler, more holistic health messaging that considers mental, emotional, and physical well-being as interconnected.

The conversation dives into the growing influence of GLP-1 medications, evolving protein and fiber priorities, and how brands are adapting to changing eating behaviors. Molde also highlights emerging areas like peptides, personalized nutrition, and the intersection of food, beauty, and functional benefits. Throughout the discussion, she emphasizes practical ways the industry can support healthier habits without adding complexity for consumers.

More About Marie Molde:
Marie Molde, RDN, is a consultant to the food and beverage industry. Most recently, she spent eight years at Datassential helping foodservice and retail companies turn emerging trends into strategic menu and product innovations, often with a focus on better-for-you. Marie has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning and quoted in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and BuzzFeed.

Food for Thought Leadership: The Paradox of Health & Wellness in 2026

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine the growing number of bankruptcies hitting the F&B world lately. 

FI Fast Break News - Feb. 4, 2026

This Episode is Sponsored by: City National Bank

In summer 2025, Nik Modi of RBC Capital Markets warned that consumers were in a “spending recession,” but is that still the case in early 2026? Modi discusses the potential impacts of GLP-1s, price cuts, agentic commerce, and more on the food and beverage sector for the rest of the year.

More About Nik Modi:
Nik Modi is a Managing Director at RBC Capital Markets, where he has responsibility for coverage of Beverage, Household Personal Care, and Packaged Food industries. The companies under Nik’s coverage total over $1 trillion in combined market value.

Nik has consistently been ranked as one of the top analysts across the consumer space by Institutional Investor’s All Star Analyst Survey. He has also been top rated across various analyst polls, including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune and Forbes.

More About RBC:
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 100,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our more than 19 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at www.rbc.com/peopleandplanet.

Checking in with the 2026 Grocery Consumer

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine the job cuts that continue to ravage F&B companies. 

FI Fast Break News - Feb. 11, 2026

In this episode of Food for Thought Leadership, Rebecca Fryer sits down with William Grand, founder and CEO of NutriFusion, to examine the growing health crisis tied to ultra-processed foods—and what it will take to fix it. Grand shares striking data on American eating habits, including the overwhelming reliance on ultra-processed products and the widespread deficiency in fruit and vegetable consumption. He argues that while consumer education is essential, meaningful progress may ultimately require federal legislation, clearer front-of-pack labeling, and even policy tools like sugar taxes to shift behavior at scale.

The conversation also explores the evolving food pyramid, the global differences in food systems, and the role manufacturers can play in reformulating everyday staples. Grand explains how NutriFusion works with brands across categories—from snack bars to mac and cheese—to restore nutrients lost in modern processing without compromising taste or texture. Looking ahead, he outlines a vision for a more transparent, nutrient-dense food system—one where better formulation, smarter policy, and informed consumers work together to improve public health outcomes.

More About William Grand:
Bill Grand has over 40 years' experience in corporate management, sales and marketing. Areas of expertise include food retail, distribution, product development, logistics and administration. Formerly President of Mackay Specialties, a manufacturing business providing health and beauty products to retail customers in Canada and the US.

Food for Thought Leadership: How the New Food Pyramid is Reshaping Nutrition at Scale

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine the rise in grocery prices that appears to be on the horizon. 

FI Fast Break News - Feb. 18, 2026

This Episode is Sponsored By: Tibersoft 

Foodservice manufacturers might develop option paralysis with all the data available in the current day, but what kind of focus can really help drive marketing returns? Suzanne Cwik of Tibersoft and Eric Anderson of Conagra help break down data best practices to develop a foodservice marketing engine for food away from home manufacturers. 

About Suzanne Cwik:
Suzanne Cwik is the Vice President of Commercial & Client Services at Tibersoft. With over two decades of foodservice experience, Suzanne understands the friction between data complexity and sales execution. She is passionate about helping organizations move from reactive reporting to proactive strategy, empowering teams to transform fragmented supply chain data into clear, actionable growth plans.

About Tibersoft:
Tibersoft delivers trusted go-to-market intelligence for food and packaging manufacturers navigating the complexity of Food Away From Home. Our platform empowers Sales, Finance, Marketing, and IT to act faster, recover trade spend, and grow smarter. By bringing transaction-verified accuracy and clarity to operator-level performance, we align manufacturers with their partners, turning data complexity into shared confidence. To learn more, visit: tibersoft.com.

More about Eric Anderson:
Eric Anderson is a Senior Director of Category Marketing at Conagra Foodservice, leading both the shelf-stable product portfolio and the marketing activation team. With 30+ years of foodservice experience—from marketing pizza in K-12 to leading category strategy today—Eric believes data is most powerful when it answers specific questions and supports clear, compelling storytelling rather than chasing perfection. Known for his practical, operator-grounded mindset, he enjoys helping teams translate insights into action while fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement. 

More about Conagra Foodservice:
Conagra Foodservice is an innovative, leading supplier to the Foodservice industry, offering a broad range of trusted brands. Conagra brings a rich heritage of making great food to satisfy consumers’ ever-changing food preferences. Operators have come to depend on brands such as Hebrew National®, Healthy Choice®, Angela Mia®, PAM®, Gilardi®, Slim Jim®, and Reddi-wip® to stay on-trend and provide the best products and service to their patrons. 

Learn more at: https://www.conagrafoodservice.com/. 

Clean Data, Clear Direction: Building a Foodservice Marketing Engine for Sales

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine the rash of recalls that has hit the food and beverage industry over the past year.

FI Fast Break News - Feb. 25, 2026

Private label isn’t a “cheaper alternative” anymore—and that outdated framing is leaving brands exposed. In this episode of Food for Thought Leadership, Chris Campbell is joined by Hunter Thurman, Founder of Alpha-Diver, to break down how the market has shifted from a simple private label vs. national brand debate into a three-lane landscape: value brands, owned brands, and national brands. Hunter shares why owned brands are increasingly competing on innovation and sensory discovery—not just price—and why younger shoppers, including Gen Z, are rewarding these products on their merits.

The conversation also digs into what national brands are getting wrong as they try to defend share—especially the instinct to lean on price cuts and promotion-heavy strategies. Hunter explains why consumer decision-making in this environment is often emotional, not rational, and how brands can regain momentum by reframing the competition: owning rituals, occasions, and end-benefits rather than feature-to-feature comparisons. Plus, Chris and Hunter explore where challenger brands still fit, and why the winners over the next 3–5 years will be the teams that start shopper-back, invest in the “last mile,” and win the emotional face-off at shelf.

More About Hunter Thurman:
Hunter Thurman is the founder of Alpha-Diver, the behavioral science firm Fortune 500s turn to when they need to know not just what consumers do, but why. Blending psychology, neuroscience, and AI-powered data, Hunter decodes the hidden forces driving consumer behavior—translating human instinct into bold strategy and bottom-line growth. He’s a sought-after advisor, author and speaker known for making complex behavior actionable, and for helping brands see what others miss.

Food for Thought Leadership: Beyond Trade-Down - The Psychology Powering Private Label Growth

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we discuss how the Iran conflict could impact supply chains for corn, sugar, soybean meal, and more. 

FI Fast Break News - March 3, 2026

This Episode is Sponsored by: CBIZ

While many food industry professionals were hoping that the Supreme Court ruling on tariffs would elucidate the current global trade environment, it appears that it may have added more uncertainty than before. CBIZ’s Lou Biscotti and Mark Baran, and former Customs expert Michael Contino, all join The Food Institute Podcast to provide clarity and actionable insights.

More about CBIZ:
From farm to fork, optimize operations, control costs, and prioritize profits. CBIZ teams work across the supply chain—supporting agribusinesses, manufacturers, distributors, processors, importers, restaurants, retailers, and hospitality concepts in achieving their goals. 

CBIZ, Inc. (NYSE:CBZ) is a publicly traded, leading professional services advisor to middle market businesses and organizations nationwide. With unmatched industry knowledge and expertise in accounting, tax, advisory, benefits, insurance and technology, CBIZ delivers forward-thinking insights and actionable solutions to help you anticipate next steps and accelerate growth.

We help your organization navigate challenges, turn risk into opportunity and drive sustainable, long-term excellence — where you are today and wherever you want to grow. Our 9,500+ team members across 23 major markets provide top-tier industry expertise with local delivery, relationships and support. To learn more, visit https://www.cbiz.com/.

More about Louis Biscotti:
Louis Biscotti is the national leader of CBIZ’s Food and Beverage Services group. He has been an entrepreneurial leader in accounting for over 40 years. Mr. Biscotti has focused his efforts on improving his clients’ growth and profitability and has guided many companies in their development from small emerging entities into organizations worth hundreds of millions of dollars. While his clients represent a variety of industries, he is particularly well known for his work in manufacturing and distribution, especially with food and beverage companies.

An active member of many local chambers of commerce, Mr. Biscotti served as a trustee for the Foundation for Accounting Education and was a board member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA). He is a former president of the Accounting Circle and an Executive Advisory Board member of St. John’s, his alma mater, and Molloy College.

More about Mark Baran:
Mark Baran is a Managing Director in the National Tax Office. He has more than 25 years of tax, transactional and legal experience advising publicly-traded and private companies, regulated financial institutions, investors, high net worth individuals, and government agencies.

Mark’s practice areas include providing tax consulting and transactional services to a broad spectrum of clients and industries including the public sector. He routinely provides tax opinions on the tax implications of proposed transactions, products, services and initiatives, and serves as a firm resource in the areas of financial services and products, regulatory compliance and planning, lending transactions and payment obligations, tax information reporting, expert witness support, asset management and tax controversies.

More about Michael Contino:
Mike began his career with U.S. Customs in 1973 and concluded more than three decades of service in 2007, serving under seven Presidential administrations and working across three major U.S. tariff frameworks: the Hawley-Smoot Tariff of 1930, the Tariff Schedule of the United States (TSUSA) of 1968, and the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) of 1986, which now underpins the global tariff system adopted by more than 160 nations. Over the course of his career, he held numerous leadership and technical roles, including Import Specialist, Assistant to the National Import Specialist, Supervisory Import Specialist, Division Director, Operations Officer, Field National Import Specialist, and ultimately National Import Specialist.

Unraveling Uncertainty in Tariffs and Global Trade

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine how GLP-1 usage could be a boon for manufacturers of sauces and spices.   

FI Fast Break News - March 11, 2026

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine the factors leading to a major strike at a JBS facility in Greeley, Colorado. 

FI Fast Break News - March 18, 2026

Distributing hope in a pandemic became a new business requirement during the past year, and DMA President and CEO Pat Mulhern recently shared how the foodservice and food distribution industries pivoted to contend with stay-at-home orders across the nation. 

Additionally, Mulhern shared his viewpoint on the revival of the American restaurant scene, how public-private partnerships could help in the face of future shutdown orders, and how menu options may continue to evolve in the years to come.

Hosted By: Chris Campbell
Recorded: Feb. 8, 2021
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More About Pat Mulhern:
Pat Mulhern is the CEO and President of DMA in Schaumburg IL. DMA is the multi-unit foodservice distribution sales and marketing arm for 13 of the largest, regional foodservice distributors in North America. Prior to DMA, Pat spent 17 years at US Foodservice, his last two positions as President of Monarch Food Group and President of the North Star Foodservice. He also served on the Board of US Foodservice from 2006 - 2011. From 2002-06, he was a founding partner, Executive Vice President and member of the Board of Directors of Vistar Corporation. Earlier in his career, Mulhern held senior leadership positions at both Kraft Foodservice and Alliant Foodservice, eventually acquired by US Foodservice. Mr. Mulhern is actively involved in the fight to end hunger in this country and in Chicago. He is a past Chairman of the Board and for the past 12 years he has served as a Board member at the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

To learn more about DMA, please visit:
http://www.dmadelivers.com/

Distributing Hope in a Pandemic

The Food Institute Podcast leverages the Food Institute's 90-plus-year history to provide actionable information and insight to food industry professionals.

The Food Institute Podcast

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