Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023

Wednesday is the first day of the Expo Hall, open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

From an education session focused on the sports nutrition industry going mainstream to an event focused on industry newbies and insights from a foodborne illness attorney, Natural Products Insider has identified five learning and networking opportunities on day 3 of SupplySide West.

For the full schedule, download our digital magazine about the trade show and conference.

Sports nutrition quits the gym and goes mainstream 

9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Islander Ballroom C  

by Todd Runestad 

Are you ready for some footbaaaaaall? The NFL season is underway, and we are going to re-create some of the excitement of the pro football season with a big fun draft—just like between college and the pros! Two industry heavyweights, Douglas Kalman, Ph.D., co-founder of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), squares off against our favorite formulator Blake Ebersole, Ph.D., president of NaturPro Scientific. The two will go through six rounds of the draft, selecting quarterback ingredients, defensive ones, some sure things and other risky fliers with high ceilings. And just to make it interesting, there might even be a trade happening!  

We’ll also get an in-depth survey of the sports field with the experts at Nutrition Business Journal (NBJ).  

Rick Kreider, a longtime sports nutrition researcher, literally wrote the book on creatine, which is experiencing unexpected market growth because of new science that has revealed new applications for this classic superstar beyond old-school muscle building. Learn what these new mainstreaming initiatives are all about here.  

And you know what just sounds crazy for some of us here? Teenagers who used to run home from school to while away the day on computer games are now positioning themselves as esports athletes. Before you scoff, know that esports is now an official Olympic event. And there’s opportunity aplenty because these athletes are looking for nutrients to provide sustenance, concentration, focus and eye support. Speaker Jason Chung, the director of the esports and gaming initiative at NYU’s Tisch Institute for Global Sport, will expound.  

We will finish up with a comprehensive discussion featuring major ingredient suppliers and finished product brands—from Balchem and Kyowa Hakko to Nestlé, Unilever and Nutrabolt—looking at the science, market penetration and state of innovation in the hydration market. 

This session is underwritten by Maypro. 

SupplySide Studio: New to the industry? SupplySide Fresh is here to help

10:00 a.m. to 12 p.m., Booth #4519 

by Sandy Almendarez 

I’ve been kicking arounds the halls of SupplySide and the industry for nearly 15 years, and it is often difficult to remember what it was like to be new, to not have a group of friends, or to walk into a massive show like SupplySide West/Food ingredient North America knowing few others. Yet, hundreds if not thousands of people in our industry are new, and thank goodness for that! We welcome the new ideas, innovation and freshness of people who have joined us recently. We treasure our newer industry members and want them to feel welcome. We certainly don’t want to lose all that brilliance to another industry. In our visitor lists since that one year when we couldn’t have a show (pssst 2020), upward of 40% of visitors at SupplySide in-person shows are attending for the first time. Potentially, that means new people in the industry could be looking to accelerate their careers—thankfully, several industry members and organizations have stepped up to provide mentoring programs and other offerings that help people onboard to the supplement and food industries. Not to brag, but SupplySide itself offers educational opportunities and fun networking events aimed at this target group. At the SupplySide Studio, I will be talking with some of the experts who are helping newer industry members better connect in the industry. I’ll also talk with people who are attending SupplySide West/Food ingredients North America for the first time to get their perspective on the industry and learn what help they need to better innovate (and acclimate!) in their areas of expertise. 

FiNA Theater: The great debate: A battle for the generations 

11:15 to 11:45 a.m., Booth #1350 

by Fran Schoenwetter 

Join us for a lively debate about generational preferences and trends in food and beverage products. What drives Boomer priorities and what are they most likely to purchase? Is Gen Z more focused on sustainability than prior generations? How much of a priority is upcycling? Do Millennials feel the same way, or are other factors like economics and kids driving their choices? Two market research professionals will present informative generational data from varied perspectives to provide insight into what each generation looks for in terms of taste, texture and viability, and how their value drive purchase priorities. For brands, understanding generational priorities, values and differentiators helps define how to optimally formulate for your target consumer. And for suppliers, these same demand forces help you plan longer-term pipeline and innovation strategy for supply chain preparedness.  

Stay ahead of the curve with key consumer insights to assure you hit the target with food and beverage ideation for specific generational consumer demands, and join the debate with your questions for our data and insights experts. The speakers include Sophie Côté, client success manager, Innova Market Insights; and Amanda Hartt, former senior manager of data and insights, NEXT, New Hope Network. 

SupplySide Stage: SupplySide celebrate Natural Products Week 

12:00 to 12:30 p.m., Booth #5670 

by Jon Benninger 

In February of this year, U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) introduced a resolution (S.Res. 35) to declare Oct. 22-28 “Natural Products Industry Week.” Among other reasons, this is significant because it acknowledges the important role that dietary supplements and the natural products industry play in the U.S. economy and public health. The dates coincide with SupplySide West 2023, so we found it appropriate to discuss and celebrate this moment during the show. I invited a couple of longtime industry advocates to join me on our SupplySide Stage to do just that. Heather Granato, Informa’s VP of partnerships & sustainability, and Loren Israelsen, executive director of United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA), will share their historical perspectives, contemporary views, and hopes for the future as we continue the industry mission to bring more health to more people. 

FiNA Theater: Legal survival guide for food brands: Insights from a foodborne illness attorney on staying lawsuit-proof in a risky world 

12:45 to 1:15 p.m., Booth #1350 

by Amanda White 

Join us on a heartfelt learning journey to experience a session that's not just informative, but deeply personal, too. 

Picture this: The speaker, Bruce Clark—partner at Marler Clark Law Firm—was my family's attorney after an E. coli outbreak eight years ago. My three kids were sickened with E. coli O157: H7 infections (the deadly strain), and it led to my infant son's kidney failure, subsequent dialysis and permanent kidney damage. Yes, life took a sharp turn there! But here's the thing … Clark helped us navigate that nightmare and ensured the parties involved were held accountable, sparking changes in protocol at our local school and in our community.  

In this 30-minute presentation, Clark shares how to shield your food business from potential lawsuits. You'll peek into the world of regulatory rules, risk evaluation, recalls and supplier crosschecks. Don't miss this opportunity to empower your brand and shape a more secure future for the food landscape. And my personal hope is that attendees take away a few key tips to help keep their families safe from foodborne illness at home, too.