Naturally Network at SupplySide West Recap
SupplySide West and Food ingredients North America is the premier gathering of health & nutrition professionals bringing together buyers and suppliers from throughout the industry. SupplySide West events are all about the science and strategy around developing finished products driving the global business economy. This year was memorable for our hosted brands, members, partners, and supporters. Read on for a recap of our activities and the brands we spotlighted.
Hosted Brands
In partnership with SupplySide, we created more access to ingredient and sourcing education and suppliers for early-stage brands at SupplySide West through a hosted brand experience. Fifteen hosted brands were selected to received scholarships that included an airfare stipend + hotel room, a complimentary badge, an invitation to the first-time attendee reception, show prep support to maximize their time, and other facilitated events and connections with Naturally Network Partners. The scholarship is worth $3,400 per brand. Meet our hosted brands below:
Founders of our hosted brands engaged in productive dialogues with industry specialists, experts, and influential partners. Below is a reflection of some of their experiences:
I recommend this show to founders who are looking to bring creativity and innovation to their food category. The education panels at SSW were the best part of the show. There were a variety of topics that spanned from food science to sustainable packaging to consumer behavior- I now have access to resources to continue my learning and even build a connection with an expert that can impact my business at an early stage.
-Morgan Murdock, Founder, Unbothered Foods
SupplySide West was a transformative experience for both myself and Green Regimen. In the consumer packaged goods sector, ingredients form the very foundation of a brand. Having access to and gaining insights from the most influential leaders in our industry provided unparalleled opportunities. I was astounded by the generosity of these industry pioneers; their readiness to support emerging brands like ours is commendable. The event offers invaluable learning opportunities for brands at all stages. I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone who can attend. Particularly for younger founders and brands navigating the intricate paths of entrepreneurship, SupplySide West is an essential pit stop. It's a platform that can exponentially expand your knowledge and propel your business forward.
-Tyshawn Bryant, Founder, Green Regimen
Naturally Network Booth
Our presence at SupplySide West was definitely noticed in our ample booth. This space gave us a place to host brands, partners, member and influential industry leaders looking to network and connect. High-profile and well-attended events like SupplySide West allow us to push forward our mission of harnessing, accelerating, and elevating the power and impact of conscious business practices in the natural and organic products ecosystem. We also heard feedback that the comfortable and relaxing space within our booth gave quite a few attendees the bit of respite they needed before jumping back into the exciting fray.
Noteworthy Events, Gatherings, and Resources
All industry events are jam-packed, as we all try to learn from and meet with as many people as possible. We are grateful to partner with industry leaders that host incredible opportunities for our members and brands. Here is a shortlist of the most impactful events for our Hosted Brands Cohort.
The McCormick Flavor Solutions Happy Hour: The McCormick team welcomed the Hosted Brands cohort with an interactive tasting experience where we learned (and tasted) about the latest in flavor technology. This intimate gathering kicked off the cohort’s week at SupplySide West.
First-Time Visitor Reception: This event helped all of our hosted brands get acclimated to the large Expo. Geared towards first-time attendees, we loved this two-hour reception that offered a fun and intimate setting for new participants to meet with industry rockstars (including our very own Katrina Tolentino and Debi Goldman), various members of the SupplySide team, and show supporters.
WINtogether. Gender Equity Networking Reception: A special event with Women In Nutraceuticals (WIN) where we learned about WIN’s commitment to empowering women in the industry to develop their personal and professional potential.
LGBTQ+ Allies Networking Reception: SupplySide West & Food ingredients North America strives to promote diversity and inclusion within the industry for LGBTQ+ peers and colleagues. We joined their community members and allies for an evening of drinks and networking. This was hosted in partnership with Naturally Proud Network.
SPINS Data Mentorship: SPINS provided each company in this year’s Hosted Brands cohort with mentorship time in Naturally Network’s booth to enhance their strategy and conversations at the show and beyond. SPINS offered information about ingredient and flavor trends, key data talking points, and competitive insights and trends to guide decision-making.
Avery Label Solutions: Avery met with the cohort for a hands-on touch experience showcasing beautiful, custom labels printed through their WePrint service. Right now, just in time for the holidays, Naturally members can save 15% on blank labels by the sheet & WePrint custom-printed products. To access this deal, use this link and the code GET15NATURALLY (expires 11/30/23).
Regulatory and Label Q&A with Amin Talati Wasserman: The cohort connected with the Amin Talati Wasserman team on their most pressing labeling and regulatory concerns and questions. These high-impact conversations offered immediate and actionable feedback for this year’s cohort.
We can’t end this recap without a huge thank you to SupplySide Network. They allowed our team to attend, enabled access for emerging brands via the Hosted Brands Scholarship, and we are grateful for their generosity!