In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we discuss the growing trade war between the U.S., China, Canada, and Mexico. 

FI Fast Break News - March 5, 2024

More about Dorothy Carlow:
Dorothy Carlow is the Chief Executive Officer of Mother’s Market and Kitchen, a leading Southern California-based grocery retail chain known for its commitment to elevating the health  and wellness of the communities it serves. With more than 20 years of experience in corporate leadership, strategic growth, and operational innovation, Dorothy has played a pivotal role in transforming Mother’s Market into a dynamic, neighborhood-focused health destination. Under her leadership, the company has embraced cutting-edge technologies, forged strategic partnerships, and optimized its store formats to drive significant growth and enhance shareholder value.  

Prior to her appointment as CEO, Dorothy served as Chief Merchandising Officer at OTG and Fairway Market, both New York City based, where she was instrumental in driving revenue, profit, and margin growth. Notably, she played a key role in turning around Fairway Market, reinforcing her reputation as a results-oriented leader with a proven track record of delivering measurable business outcomes.  

Dorothy is also deeply committed to empowering women in the retail sector, leading mentorship programs that support the advancement of women into leadership roles across operations, merchandising, and marketing.  

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology from George Washington University. Outside of work, Dorothy is an avid endurance athlete, having completed 12 marathons, numerous half-marathons, and triathlons. She enjoys spending time with her two daughters and staying active, whether running or pursuing other outdoor activities.

More about Mother’s Market:
Mother’s Market was founded in 1978 by a passionate group of yogis who believed: health begins with what you eat. They believed that organic eating was not just better for your body, but also better for the planet. Their vision was to create a store that prioritized organic, plant-powered foods along with fresh juicing and delicious organic prepared meals. 

The first Mother’s Market, a 2,500-square-foot space in Costa Mesa, became a hub for like-minded individuals seeking better food choices and a healthier lifestyle. People traveled from all over Southern California to experience this health oasis where happiness, organic, delicious foods and sustainability were front and center. 

Fast forward to today, and Mother’s has grown into 11 locations across Southern California, but the heart of the brand remains the same: empowering people to live healthier lives through better food. 

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

More about Justin D’Affronte:
Justin D’Affronte is a managing director with City National Bank’s Food & Beverage Group. Based in Irvine, CA he supports food and beverage industry executives with creative financing solutions and industry intelligence. Working with City National’s team of experts, he provides the bank’s full range of financial solutions to food and beverage businesses nationwide. 

More about City National Bank:
City National Bank, a subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), is the largest bank headquartered in Los Angeles. Founded in 1954, City National is a regional bank specializing in Consumer Banking, Wealth Management and Private Banking, Commercial Banking, Entertainment and Sports Banking with branches in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, Nashville, Atlanta, Delaware, Las Vegas, Washington D.C. and Miami.* 

For more information about City National, visit the company’s website at cnb.com.

*City National Bank does business in Miami and the state of Florida as CN Bank.


Charting Natural Grocery Growth with Mother's Market

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine the latest debate over SNAP limits on soda. 

FI Fast Break News - March 11, 2025

This Episode is Sponsored by: CBIZ

Tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and inflation are all weighing on the food and beverage industry and consumers alike, but what can industry leaders do to persevere amid uncertainty? Lou Biscotti from CBIZ’s Food and Beverages Services Group shares his insights on The Food Institute Podcast.  

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. He also serves on the advisory boards for many of his clients, where the cumulative experience of his 40 years in practice and work with nearly 1,000 companies gives those clients an invaluable edge.  

More about CBIZ:  
As of November 2024, Marcum LLP is now a part of CBIZ. Our Food & Beverage Services group has the perfect recipe of knowledge and service capabilities to help you stay flexible. Our professionals provide the accounting, tax, and consulting services so that you can concentrate on the growth of your business.    

Just as our service capabilities are diverse, so, too, are the types of food and beverage clients we serve, including distributors and manufacturers, importers, restaurant chains, processors and packaging, agribusinesses, and retailers.   

CBIZ, Inc. (NYSE:CBZ) is a 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. 

Learn more: https://www.cbiz.com/accounting-tax/industries/retail/food-beverage

How Food and Beverage Can Contend with Uncertainty

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine the restaurant industry's increasing acceptance of AI to increase efficiency. 


FI Fast Break News - March 19, 2025

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine the outlook of vertical farming in the wake of a noteworthy bankruptcy filing. 

FI Fast Break News - March 26, 2025

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine pay increase demands by restaurant workers ... and why they show no signs of slowing. 


FI Fast Break News - April 2, 2025

This Episode is Sponsored by: RSM US LLP 

It’s tariff time, and companies the world over are working to better understand how their operations will be impacted. Jodi Ader from RSM US LLP joined The Food Institute Podcast to discuss which products and inputs are currently subject to tariffs, and how to best mitigate supply chain risks. 

More about Jodi Ader: 
Jodi Ader is an international tax senior manager with over 25 years of experience in international trade. She is well-positioned to assist corporations in planning and creating world-class compliance operations and food safety programs. She has substantial experience in import, export control and sanction matters, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. 

E-mail Jodi: jodi.ader [at] rsmus.com 
Find Jodi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-ader-ba05b23/ 

More about RSM US LLP: 
RSM US LLP, has a robust practice supporting food and beverage brands across worldwide with a wide range of audit, tax and consulting services. The clients we serve are the engine of commerce and economic growth, and we are focused on developing leading professionals and services to meet their evolving needs in today’s ever-changing business environment. RSM US LLP is part of RSM International, a global network of independent firms with 64,000 people across 120 countries. For more information, visit https://rsmus.com/, or follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/rsmusllp)  and/or connect with us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/rsm-us-llp/).

Tariff Time: Unraveling the New Normal in Global Trade

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine the surprisingly strong U.S. spending that's occurring ahead of the Easter holiday. 

FI Fast Break News - April 9, 2025

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine Gen Alpha's favorite current brands, according to a new survey. 

FI Fast Break News - April 16, 2025

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

How Food and Beverage Can Contend with Uncertainty

The Food Institute Podcast

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