We’ve just come back from the Natural Products Expo East, marking the second Expo East for PBFA. We spent our time at the show visiting with our members, connecting with plant-based industry leaders, and hosting a variety of successful educational events.
From left to right: Jenna Blumenfeld (New Hope Network), Michele Simon (PBFA), Barbara Sphizner (Mattson), and Minh Tsai (Hodo Soy).
Dr. Mitchell (middle) of Elmhurst Milked dives into the details of plant-based milk making for the crowd.
We were thrilled to partner with New Hope Network to put together the Plant Revolution Track, featuring four robust panels on different aspects of the plant-based foods sector. Our Executive Director Michele Simon served as a panelist and then a moderator on two of the panels.
We were proud to host Jenna Blumenfeld of New Hope Network, Barbara Sphizner of Mattson, and Minh Tsai of Hodo Soy alongside our Executive Director Michele Simon for this discussion on product innovation.
Michele presented our newly released data that we commissioned from Nielsen in partnership with The Good Food Institute. The data showed that overall growth in plant-based foods was 8.1 percent since last year, as compared to a decline of 0.2 percent of all foods sold in the same channel.
You can see our full press release here, and watch our ED’s portion of the panel here.
Our second panel focused on the booming plant-based milk sector, and in addition to our executive director, the panel featured Dr. Cheryl Mitchell of (our newest member) Elmhurst Milked as well as Doug Radi of PBFA member Good Karma Foods. Michele gave an update on our work fighting the Dairy Pride Act, which would bar any plant-based dairy alternatives from using words like milk, cheese, or yogurt. Doug discussed the plant-based revolution from a consumer-perspective, noting that “the consumer is changing the world at an unbelievable pace.”
To view more photos from our trip to Expo East, see our media page here.
Our Executive Director Michele Simon addresses the plant-based community gathered at our breakfast.
We hosted an educational breakfast for members and special guests. The event attracted numerous leaders in the industry. Attendees got the chance to listen to David Benzaquen of Plant Based Solutions, Miyoko Schinner of Miyoko’s Kitchen, Chris Kerr of New Crop Capital, and Victor Friedberg of S2G and Lavva as they thoroughly discussed how to prepare your company for investors.
From left to right: David Benzaquen (Plant Based Solutions), Miyoko Schinner (Miyoko’s Kitchen), Chris Kerr (New Crop Capital), and Victor Friedberg (S2G & Lavva).
PBFA Gives Plant-Based Foods a Voice on Capitol Hill
Our Executive Director Michele Simon, Treasurer Martin Kruger (COO of Follow Your Heart) and PBFA lobbyist Shannon Campagna visited members of Congress to lobby against the Dairy Pride Act.
ED Michele Simon and Treasurer Martin Kruger (Follow Your Heart) outside of Sen. Al Franken’s office.
Lastly, we attended a lovely reception in the Kennedy Caucus Room, where we met Tom Stenzel, CEO of the United Fresh Produce Association.
From left to right: Michele Simon (PBFA), Tom Stenzel (United Fresh Produce Association), and Martin Kruger (Follow Your Heart).
To view more photos from our recent trip to DC, browse the gallery on our media page here.
Thanks, as always, to all of our supporters for helping us grow the plant-based foods industry!
PBFA’s Michele Simon, Noelle Callahan, and Annika Heilman at founding board member Miyoko’s Kitchen’s booth.