The Natural List

Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith

A New Hope Network podcast covering hot products, emerging trends and expert insights driving the future of CPG! Seaweed burgers and meatless meats. Mushroom elixirs and adaptogenic mocktails. Plastic-free packaging and waterless shampoos. The nearly $300 billion-dollar natural products industry is swimming in innovation. But which products and trends have staying power? During this podcast, co-hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith share the latest industry news and the most compelling and (sometimes off the wall) innovations that are primed to transform the CPG industry and support a global shift toward healthier, more sustainable living.

  1. 5D AGO

    Snacking trends for Natural Products Expo West 2026

    This week on The Natural List Podcast, we’re diving into one of the most exciting new activations at Expo West: The Snack Lab! Hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith explore the latest evolutions in snacking, highlighting how this new pavilion brings to life many of the trends shaping the CPG space. Together, they discuss how the snacking category is transforming as consumers increasingly seek options that deliver more than just empty calories. Jessica shares her optimism for the future of the snack category, which is projected to grow 5-7%, and emphasizes how The Snack Lab helps attendees stay ahead of key trends. From “Snack-ros” (macros in snacks) and freeze-dried innovations to the rise of cleaner candy that combines indulgence with nostalgic simplicity, this activation is a must-see. Located on Level 3 of the ACC, The Snack Lab & Hot Products pavilion is a vibrant hub for discovering new exhibitors and brands redefining what snacking means in 2026. Tune in to the full episode for an exclusive preview of this exciting activation and the snack trends you’ll spot on the Expo West show floor! Learn more about Expo West here! Thank you to our sponsors Lakanto, FrieslandCampina Ingredients, A Greener World, Advantage Solutions and Daabon.

    12 min

  2. FEB 13

    Sponsor Soundbyte with Lakanto

    In this episode of The Natural List, Nancy Coulter-Parker, director of content marketing at New Hope Network, sits down with Jeff Trippett, Vice President of Distribution Sales at Lakanto, to talk about their innovative sugar alternatives, commitment to sustainability and how they’re tackling America’s health crisis. Jeff shares the story of Lakanto’s beginnings in Japan, where monk fruit—a sweetener 260 to 300 times sweeter than sugar—was discovered. What makes monk fruit so unique is that it doesn’t impact glucose levels, making it a powerful tool for reducing sugar consumption without sacrificing taste. Lakanto’s mission is clear: help people cut down on sugar and make healthier choices easier. The conversation also highlights Lakanto’s investment in the southeastern China region where monk fruit is grown. Jeff explains how the company has supported the local community by improving infrastructure, adopting sustainable farming practices like reforesting and ensuring pesticide-free cultivation. These efforts reflect Lakanto’s commitment to doing business responsibly. Lakanto’s latest innovation, one-third sweeteners, combines monk fruit with cane, date and coconut sugars to reduce sugar usage while keeping the flavor people love. With products available at major retailers like Walmart, Kroger, Publix and Whole Foods, Lakanto is making it simple for consumers to take steps toward healthier living. Learn more about Lakanto’s mission and products by visiting their website.

    9 min

  3. FEB 11

    Trendspotting at Expo West 2026 – Innovations and industry shifts to watch

    This week on The Natural List, co-hosts Adrienne Smith and Jessica Rubino dive into one of the most anticipated episodes of the year: the Expo West trends special! Expo West is the premier event for the natural and organic products industry, where emerging innovations and transformative ideas take center stage. The trends that appear on the show floor influence the broader consumer packaged goods landscape for years to come. From the rise of regenerative organic certifications infiltrating everyday pantry staples to the growing sophistication of farmer-centric branding, this episode highlights the pivotal shifts redefining accessibility, scalability and storytelling in the industry, and offers a preview of what’s generating buzz ahead of Expo West. What ingredients, products and consumer shifts will take center stage this year? Jessica and Adrienne highlight the trends gaining momentum, the unexpected innovations making waves and the emerging categories redefining natural CPG. They also highlight what they’re most excited to see, from accessibly-priced ROC pantry staples and gut health innovations to clean beauty and the evolution of personalized wellness. Whether you’re attending the show or following along from afar, this episode is your sneak peek at what’s new in natural CPG. Tune in now and get ready for the biggest week in natural products—happy trendspotting! Learn more about Expo West: https://www.expowest.com/en/home.html Thank you to our sponsors Lakanto, FrieslandCampina Ingredients, A Greener World, Advantage Solutions and Daabon. U.S. state of commerce TNL mention: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/barbara-thau-487a76b_experts-share-key-trends-impacting-business-activity-7421898759254528000-I-s2?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAACjesLIBtyABmBXa-bqFnAnQJ27TIdBa65o

    20 min

  4. FEB 4

    Interview with INFRA’s Pat Sheridan

    In this episode of The Natural List, host Adrienne Smith interviews Pat Sheridan, CEO and president of the Independent Natural Retailers Association (INFRA). Our episode begins with Pat sharing his experience as a first-time judge at the NEXTY Awards, highlighting the collaborative and insightful discussions among industry experts evaluating innovative natural products, and continues into updates and news that will help members of the organization thrive. What is INFRA? The newly B-Corp certified Independent Natural Retailers Association is a purchasing cooperative of independent organic and natural food and wellness retailers serving hundreds of communities across the U.S., the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Providing peer support, operational excellence and offering purchasing power to its members, which now includes 390 members and 650 storefronts, the organization collectively generates $3.3 billion in sales. INFRA's exclusive brand, The Good Collective, was newly launched to strengthen member stores and includes several product lines supported by new consumer marketing initiatives intended to drive awareness and support for member stores. Pat provides an update on INFRA's strategic focus on leveraging data to empower its members and creating business intelligence dashboards, enabling independent retailers to access insights typically available only to larger chains. These tools aim to help members optimize inventory, identify top-selling products and improve profitability. He also reflects on the resilience of independent natural retailers, noting that Infra stores have consistently outperformed the broader natural channel for 36 consecutive months. Looking ahead, he envisions continued growth and innovation for INFRA, emphasizing the importance of supporting independent retailers as the heart of the natural products industry. Listen now! Thank you to our sponsors Daabon, A Greener World, Advantage Solutions, Lakanto and FrieslandCampina Ingredients. In this episode: 0:00 - Thank you to our sponsors! 0:14 – Welcome to our guest, Pat Sheridan, CEO and president of INFRA 0:44 – Thank you to our sponsor, FrieslandCampina Ingredients. 1:07 – Thank you to our sponsor, A Greener World. 1:43 – Pat discusses his experience being a first time NEXTY Award judge. 4:02 – Pat’s favorite categories surprised him with flavor evolution and taste. 5:49 – INFRA’s journey to B-Corp certification 6:41 – INFRA’s growth and support network 7:52 – INFRA...

    18 min

  5. JAN 30

    Sponsor Soundbyte with Advantage Solutions

    In this episode of The Natural List, Nancy Coulter-Parker, director of content marketing at New Hope Network, sits down with Megan Mellquist, vice president of client services at Advantage Solutions, to explore the challenges and opportunities for emerging brands in the "better for you" retail space. The conversation delves into how brands can identify and address white space on shelves, demonstrate retail readiness and leverage digital buzz to drive in-store performance. Megan shares actionable insights on building differentiation, creating value for consumers, and using cost-effective strategies like sampling to boost early velocity and repeat purchases. With a focus on navigating retail and scaling effectively, this episode is a must-listen for founders looking to break through in the competitive natural and organic products market. In this 10-minute interview, Megan shares some of the key reasons emerging brands should consider partnering with Advantage Solutions. Their comprehensive support system that spans ideation, commercialization and retail execution ensures brands are prepared to scale effectively from pre-revenue to $100 million in sales. The brand's wide variety of tailored solutions help brands navigate challenges, differentiate themselves and achieve sustained growth in the competitive natural products retail landscape. Learn more about Advantage Solutions here.

    17 min

  6. JAN 28

    NEXTY Award judges share insights on trends in the CPG industry

    In this week's episode of The Natural List, host Adrienne Smith is joined by Audarshia Townsend, the content director for Supply Side Food and Beverage Journal, to discuss the exciting process of judging the Natural Products Expo West NEXTY Awards. As a seasoned NEXTY judge, Audarshia shares her insights from her fourth year on the panel, highlighting the innovative products and trends emerging in the food, beverage, supplement and clean beauty industries. The NEXTY Awards are judged on the three "I's" that define a NEXTY winner: innovation, integrity and inspiration. Audarshia and Adrienne discuss what they've seen in the categories of functional beverages, plant-forward products and sustainable packaging, as well as the growing consumer demand for transparency in sourcing and labeling. They also touch on how key ingredients such as like magnesium, collagen and botanicals are shaping the future of wellness-forward products. This week's dynamic discussion offers a behind-the-scenes look at the rigorous judging process and the exciting trends poised to impact our industry. Audarshia shares what she's personally looking forward to seeing more of, like fermented foods, K Beauty and sexual health products. This episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone interested in the evolving landscape of health and wellness. To hear more about the standout products and trends, and to catch the full conversation, be sure to listen to or watch this episode of The Natural List. Winners of the 2026 NEXTY Awards will be announced at Natural Products Expo West at 6-7:45 p.m. Thursday, March 5, in the Marquis Ballroom at the Marriott. If you can't attend in person, the NEXTY Award Ceremony and Celebration will be livestreamed and recorded. Thank you to our sponsors Daabon, A Greener World, Advantage Solutions, Lakanto and FrieslandCampina Ingredients. In this episode: · 0:00 - Thank you to our sponsors! · 0:19 - Welcome to our guest, Audarshia Townsend, content director of SupplySide Food and Beverage Journal · 0:48 - Recap of NEXTY finalist judging so far · 1:44 – Thank you to our sponsor, FrieslandCampina Ingredients · 2:08 – Thank you to our sponsor, A Greener World · 3:29 - Predictions for the supplement category judging · 3:55 – We’re excited about all of the women’s health ingredients and products · 6:02 – Having judges from various parts of the industry leads to interesting discussions and better outcomes · 7:09 – Sustainable packaging and values are a priority for natural retailers, consumers · 8:05 – Thank you to our sponsor, Lakanto · 8:47 – What changes have you seen over the last 4 years of NEXTY Judging? Transparency, clean labels and storytelling on packaging · 10:56 – What’s next for the beverage category? · 12:15 – So much changing with alternative sweeteners, going back to basics · 13:00 – Global flavors are still strong, Indian flavors across categories · 13:50 – Korean flavors and influence are strong, including K Beauty · 14:28 – Audarshia’s outlook on what’s next: Sexual wellness, gut health and pro-, post- and prebiotics · 16:48 – Thank you to our sponsor, Daabon · 17:11 – Thank you to our sponsor, Advantage Solutions Enjoy our vodcasts here or on YouTube. Prefer to tune in via podcast? Join us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

    18 min

  7. JAN 23

    Sponsor Soundbyte interview with Daabon USA

    In this episode of The Natural List, Nancy Coulter-Parker, director of content marketing at New Hope Network, sits down with Alex Davila Gallup, sales representative at Daabon USA, hear their how—how they got started, how they're innovating and how they differentiate themselves in the marketplace. In this 10-minute interview, Alex shares the inspiring story of Daabon USA, a family-owned, fourth-generation business that has been a pioneer in organic and sustainable agriculture since 1914. From achieving the world’s first ROC Gold Level Certification to launching carbon-neutral palm oil, Daabon’s values of respect, responsibility and passion shine through in every aspect of their operations. You’ll also learn about their innovative AMPO (American Palm Oil), a non-GMO hybrid oil that offers superior stability, sustainability and health benefits compared to seed oils and standard palm oil. It's clear that Daabon’s impact goes beyond sustainability. Alex highlights the company’s dedication to empowering women in their communities through job creation, entrepreneurial workshops and income diversification initiatives. This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about conscious business practices and the future of natural products. Learn more about Daabon USA by visiting their website. In this episode 0:26 - Welcome to our guest, Alex Davila! 0:39 - Tell us more about how Daabon got started and a little background on the company. 2:05 - Can you speak more about Daabon's value system, including its sustainable initiatives? 3:15 - Daabon was the first palm oil company in the world to achieve Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) gold-level certification. 4:44 - Daabon is 100% vertically integrated from farming to final marketplace. 9:58 - What is AMPO (American palm oil) and what are some of its key benefits over standard palm oil? 6:48 - Daabon is a strategic partner of the seed-oil-free alliance. What are the benefits of AMPO over seed oils? 8:01 - Tell us more about elevating women in Daabon's workforce. 8:32 - The key to female empowerment is diversification of family income, so Daabon prioritizes various opportunities for women to be involved in the business.

    8 min

  8. JAN 21

    The GLP-1 economy and new food pyramid reactions

    In this episode of The Natural List, hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith dive into the latest trends and developments shaping the wellness and natural products industry as 2026 kicks off. Their first big announcement? The podcast is seeking a temporary co-host while Jessica heads out on maternity leave at the end of next month! DM us on Instagram or LinkedIn if you’re interested. The duo then discusses recent acquisitions, including Good Culture and Vitacost, exploring how the post-Ozempic economy is driving investor interest in food tech and GLP-1 adjacent categories. On a similar note, the Oura Ring and Fullscript partnership underscores the growing emphasis on holistic wellness, personalized health data and the integration of these practices into traditional healthcare systems. Our hosts pose the question: Is “Dry January” still happening? With consumers drinking less overall, functional beverages are on the rise. These drinks not only avoid alcohol but also deliver added health benefits, reflecting a broader shift toward more mindful consumption habits. Finally, the hosts examine the updated food pyramid, highlighting shifts in key categories like alcohol recommendations, protein, fats and carbs. They also discuss the broader implications for nutrition, food policy and the environment. Dr. Jessica Knurick, keynote speaker at Expo West, will delve into these topics and more in her talk, “The Future of Food,” sparking excitement about the evolving role of food policy and nutrition in our society. Thank you to our sponsors, Daabon, Lakanto, A Greener World, FrieslandCampina Ingredients and Advantage Solutions.

    23 min
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About

A New Hope Network podcast covering hot products, emerging trends and expert insights driving the future of CPG! Seaweed burgers and meatless meats. Mushroom elixirs and adaptogenic mocktails. Plastic-free packaging and waterless shampoos. The nearly $300 billion-dollar natural products industry is swimming in innovation. But which products and trends have staying power? During this podcast, co-hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith share the latest industry news and the most compelling and (sometimes off the wall) innovations that are primed to transform the CPG industry and support a global shift toward healthier, more sustainable living.

Information

  • Creator
    Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    117
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith
  • Show Website
    The Natural List