Just A Taste

Mark Mallardi is Executive Director of Strategic Development for the NEXT Data & Insights division of New Hope Network, which combines proprietary knowledge and deep industry expertise to help brands understand and identify opportunities within the natural food and beverage landscape. In this podcast, we get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the company’s operations, as Mark describes the steps it took when creating a comprehensive blueprint for bringing one South American super fruit to the U.S. market. We also learn how the tide is turning at major CPG companies, as they acquire natural foods startups and have outposts in Silicon Valley to keep tabs on innovation in the natural space. Finally, we are reminded that, in order to be successful in the hyper-competitive space of natural products, brands need to have a strong identity and purpose that resonates with their consumers.