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 reviewing this video from…

Sonja Thompson
Community content manager,
SupplySide

SupplySide Fresh Food & Beverage overview

An education course wouldn’t be complete without a syllabus! This PDF will outline the coursework…

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…

SupplySide Fresh
Food & Beverage

Trade shows and conferences: Differentiating their value proposition

Industry trade shows and conferences may have different value propositions, but they all provide…

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 you…

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…

Sandy Almendarez
VP of content,

SupplySide

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

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

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…

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…

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 the right mentor…

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…

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…

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…

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, listed alphabetically…

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 product quality and reduce…

Brandon Hernandez 
Senior partner,
Whole Brain Consulting ​

Amazon and e-commerce in the natural products industry

The arrival of Amazon and e-commerce has dramatically changed consumer purchasing of natural products…

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…

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…

Jane Phelps
CEO,
Know Agency

Insurance and risk management: Who, what, when and why 

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

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 growth of your company and…

Eric Schnell
Founder,
BeyondBrands

Important partnerships: Regulatory and contract manufacturers 

Third-party partners can be beneficial in many ways, such as protecting your investments and bringing your…

Sonja Thompson
Community content manager,
SupplySide

Jon Benninger
VP and market leader,
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…

Scott Miller
Senior staff writer
SupplySide Food & Beverage Journal

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 use a contract manufacturer…

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…

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, IFT Fellow
Sr. lecturer, Johns Hopkins University
Founder and 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

Identifying adulteration risks: Checklist (PDF)

SupplySide Fresh
Food & Beverage

This digital checklist will help you identify adulteration risks in the food and beverage industry and learn how…

Foreign Supplier Verification Program

According to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) data, one of the fastest growing deficiencies for food

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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)…

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

Key political figures and thought leaders in the food and beverage industry: Overview (PDF)

This digital directory, provided by Jaclyn Bowen, executive director of Clean Label Project & Clean Label Project Baby Coalition…

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, evaluation and certificate of completion

Session description: In this final module, participants are invited to reflect on their learning experience and provide valuable feedback to help shape future editions of the program. You’ll have the opportunity to: 

  • Share your feedback about the course. 
  • Evaluate the sessions and industry experts. 
  • Request your certificate of completion, if you’ve met the program requirements outlined in Module 1.
     

Your insights will help us improve SupplySide Fresh and continue supporting growth and innovation across the nutrition industry. 

SupplySide Fresh
Food & Beverage