This SupplySide Fresh course offers online educational sessions plus virtual and in-person networking opportunities for new people — or people in new roles — in the food and beverage industry. It is designed to help newcomers fast-track onboarding, navigate industry pain points and build community.

This SupplySide Fresh course offers online educational sessions plus virtual and in-person networking opportunities for new people — or people in new roles — in the food and beverage industry. It is designed to help newcomers fast-track onboarding, navigate industry pain points and build community.
Module 1: Welcome

Welcome to SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage

Let’s kick off your SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage learning experience by…

Sonja Thompson – Community content manager, SupplySide

SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage overview

An education course wouldn’t be complete without…

SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage​

Module 2: Industry resources

Food and beverage industry acronyms and initialisms

FOMO? Or maybe you just want to CYA? We’ve got you covered! Keep this downloadable food and beverage industry acronym guide handy in your workspace so that…

SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage

Trade shows and conferences: Differentiating their value proposition

Industry trade shows and conferences may have different value…

Jon Benninger – VP and market leader, SupplySide 

Trade shows and conferences in the food and beverage industry

Are you thinking about going to a trade show or conference, but you’re not sure which one…

SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage

Trade media: How to keep current in the industry

Are you staying on top of the industry news, innovations and trends? If not, you might be left behind in business processes and…

Sandy Almendarez – VP content, SupplySide 

Trade associations and charitable organizations: What, why and how?

Trade associations and charitable organizations provide many benefits, such as helping…

Karin VanSlyke – Strategic partnership manager, SupplySide

Jon Benninger – VP and market leader, SupplySide

Trade associations and charitable organizations in the food and beverage industry

A lot of trade associations and charitable organizations serve the food and beverage industry. This directory highlights…

SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage

Working with mentors and sponsors

Having a mentor or a sponsor is invaluable, as they not only give you guidance but also provide you with a sense of…

Katrina Tolentino – Executive director, Naturally Network

Where to find mentors and sponsors in the food and beverage industry

Navigating the food and beverage industry as a newcomer can be challenging, but…

SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage

Colors and flavors in the food and beverage industry

One of the best kept secrets in the industry is flavoring, because it’s usually only something you learn about within a company. And the science…

Kristen Sparkman – Culinologist, CuliNEX

Pet food formulation: Information for newcomers

This SupplySide Fresh session on pet food delves into the dynamic and expanding market for food products designed to…

Austin Therrell – Executive director, Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)

Continued learning for food science and innovation

There are incredible food science programs in universities across America, as well as other sources of education to continue…

Randy Kreienbrink, CFS – Randal Brink CFS Consultants

Certifications in the food and beverage industry

Many certifications are available for brands to pursue. Here are 10 common certifications…

SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage

Module 3: Running a business

Supply chain processes and considerations

Understanding the different processes involved in the supply chain can improve…

Brandon Hernandez – Senior partner, Whole Brain Consulting ​

Amazon and e-commerce in the natural products industry

The arrival of Amazon and ecommerce has…

Haley Palmer – Brand strategist, MarketPlace Branding

Nicole Hill – Executive director of strategy, MarketPlace Branding

Marketing: Tips and best practices

This SupplySide Fresh session delves into the unique opportunities and challenges of marketing within the nutrition industry. Discover how…

Todd Pauli – Managing director, 24 Stories​

SEO primer for business

Want to boost your online visibility and attract more customers? This SupplySide Fresh session will provide practical strategies for…

Jane Phelps – CEO, Know Agency

Insurance and risk management 

Insurance is not just a “set it and forget it” transaction; it’s a key part of managing risks and protecting your assets when…

Chris Morey, CLCS – Senior VP, IMA Financial Group, Inc.

Business management: Overview of functions and activities

Having a better understanding of how to manage your business will improve the…

Eric Schnell – Founder, BeyondBrands

Important partnerships: Regulatory and contract manufacturers 

Third-party partners can be beneficial in many ways, such as…

Sonja Thompson – Community content manager, SupplySide

Jon Benninger – VP and market leaders, SupplySide​

The big debate: Co-man or no co-man?

As a finished product brand, this is one of the most difficult decisions that you’ll face. Should you make sizeable upfront investments in…

Scott Miller – Staff writer for Food and Beverage Insider, SupplySide

Self-manufacture or hire a contract manufacture? A quick pro/con comparison

If you’re unsure about whether you should manufacture your products in-house or..

Sam Kressler – Founder, Stir Innovation

Accelerator programs: How to boost your startup

If you’ve already launched your supplement or food and beverage business but need it to scale quickly, you might consider an accelerator…

Jon Benninger – VP and market leader, SupplySide

Module 4: Due diligence

The role of food testing labs​

Food labs play a critical role from end-to-end in the value chain of the food industry to help prevent food safety…

Kantha Shelke, Ph.D., CFS – Sr. Lecturer, Johns Hopkins University | Founder/principal, Corvus Blue

Identifying adulteration risks in the food and beverage industry

Food adulteration poses significant risks to product quality, safety, and consumer trust. In this SupplySide…

Angela Anandappa Ph.D. – CEO and president, Alliance for Advanced Sanitation

Foreign Supplier Verification Program

Food adulteration poses significant risks to product quality, safety, and consumer trust. In this SupplySide…

Larisa Pavlick – Regulatory program manager, Informa Markets​

Food lab directories: Innovation, research and testing

Food innovation labs perform research and provide expertise to address the challenges and opportunities in the…

SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage​

Market research sources for the food and beverage industry

Businesses use market research to collect data that helps them identify opportunities and risks that drive effective decision-making. But finding detailed…

SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage​

Module 5: Legal and regulatory

FDA, USDA, FTC and other considerations

This SupplySide Fresh session on legal and regulatory issues is focused on providing an overview of the…

Justin Prochnow Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig LLP

cGMP and HARPC 

This SupplySide Fresh session on legal and regulatory issues is focused on Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs), which were…

Joy Joseph President and CEO, JOYS Quality Management Systems LLP

Food labeling and allowable claims

This SupplySide Fresh session on legal and regulatory issues is focused on providing an overview of the history of…

Ivan Wasserman Managing partner, Amin Wasserman Gurnani LLC

Ingredient safety: GRAS and other considerations

This SupplySide Fresh session on legal and regulatory issues is focused on generally recognized as safe (GRAS) ingredients and when…

Ashish Talati Founding member, Talati Law Firm

Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA): Overview 

This SupplySide Fresh history lesson is focused on the passing of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in 2011. Learn about the rules and…

SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage​

Module 6: Looking ahead

Trends in food and beverage

Staying informed about consumer-driven trends in food science and technology is essential for newcomers in the food and beverage industry. In this session, you will learn…

Julie Johnson President, HealthFocus International

Sustainability in the food and beverage industry 

What does sustainability mean in the food and beverage industry? This SupplySide Fresh session takes a broad look at…

Udi Lazimy Principal, Lazimy Regenerative Impact Partners 

Technology in the food and beverage industry

You can’t put the genie back in the bottle! Technology is continuing to advance, and the food and beverage industry will benefit from…

Hillary Hughes Attorney | partner, Foster Garvey

Key political figures and thought leaders in the food and beverage industry

Come learn about thoughts leaders and key political figures in the food and beverage industry, who to follow most closely…

Jaclyn Bowen MPH, MS Executive director, Clean Label Project

Past, present and future: Functional foods and beverages in the U.S.

To better understand the current state of the functional food and beverage industry, it’s important to take a look at where…

SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage​

Module 7: Networking events

Who’s who? SupplySide Rockstars – virtual networking session

Early awareness of key industry leaders can accelerate professional onboarding and provide a roadmap on who to follow digitally. And if…

SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage​

Who’s who? SupplySide Rockstars: Directory

Early awareness of key industry leaders can accelerate professional onboarding and provide a roadmap on who to follow digitally. This downloadable resource…

SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage​

Meet the researcher – virtual networking session

Come meet professional researchers who are excited to share about current projects and who want to help new food and beverage innovators learn how to…

SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage​

Network with SupplySide Fresh peers – virtual networking session

Meeting others who are learning to navigate a new industry can turn into valuable, lasting relationships….

SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage​

Network with SupplySide Fresh peers: IRL – in-person networking session

Level-up on the opportunity to meet other SupplySide Fresh members by joining our in-person networking events in…

SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage​

Module 8: Reflection and recognition

Feedback about the course

Thank you for participating in SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage! Your feedback will…

SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage​

Session and industry expert evaluation

Your insights are important to us! Please take a few moments to evaluate the sessions and…

SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage​

Certificate of completion 

If you have completed the requirements to receive the SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage certificate of completion, congratulations! To review the…

SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage​