Join us for our next Founder Forum—bringing together Minnesota's food and beverage community for an afternoon of insight, connection, and real talk. This session will spotlight the evolving world of foodservice, featuring a founder panel and key takeaways from the National Restaurant Association Show.

Whether you're building, scaling, or simply exploring what's next in food, this is a space to learn from those in it every day.

Agenda:

2:00 – 2:15 PM | Arrive + Connect

2:15 – 2:30 PM | NRA Overview + Industry Context

2:30 – 3:15 PM | Founder Panel: Foodservice in Focus

3:15 – 3:30 PM | NRA Trends + Insights Recap

3:30 – 4:00 PM | Open Q&A with Foodservice Experts

Come ready to engage, ask questions, and connect with fellow founders and operators shaping Minnesota's food ecosystem.

Retail isn't a mystery. But most of what founders learn about it comes from the outside looking in.

This free session is different. You'll spend an hour with Kate LaBrosse — a CPG industry veteran who has spent 17 years working as a buyer, a broker, and a brand. She's been on every side of the table, and calls with her are one of the best places founders in this community get their questions answered.

What we'll cover:

• How retail actually works — and what buyers are really evaluating

• The most common mistakes early-stage brands make before they're ready to scale

• What CPG Academy offers founders who want to build their retail strategy with rigor

• A full overview of the Retail Launch Lab — Naturally Minnesota's cohort program for founders serious about getting into retail and staying there profitably

There will be time for live Q&A. Come with your questions.

This session is free. No fluff. Just real talk from someone who knows how this business works.

This is a virtual event hosted on Zoom. Registrants will receive a zoom link following their completed registration.

Naturally Minnesota invites you to join us for a Flash Happy Hour at PURIS, celebrating local connections, innovative Minnesota-made brands, and a milestone moment for one of our community partners. Hosted at PURIS, this relaxed, come‑and‑go gathering brings together food and beverage professionals for an evening of networking and vodka-forward cocktails and mocktails inspired by PURIS's 40th Anniversary Vodka. Drinks for the evening highlight creative collaboration with standout Minnesota beverage brands.

We're excited to feature the following local partners behind the bar:

Bizzy Cold Brew, whose espresso cold brew and shots will be used to create espresso martinis

So Good So You, whose functional wellness shots will be incorporated into a selection of vodka-based cocktails and mocktails, offering vibrant, flavor-forward options with both spirited and non-alcoholic choices

Willa's, providing their creamy oat milk for a plant-based take on a classic White Russian — reimagined as the "Dudette"

Whether you're looking to connect with fellow Naturally Minnesota members, celebrate PURIS's 40-year milestone, or experience how local brands collaborate behind the glass, this Flash Happy Hour is a great way to celebrate our community.

This event is free to attend, with registration required through Naturally Minnesota. We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us for a unique networking opportunity that connects local food entrepreneurs with expert resource providers, offering essential connections and knowledge crucial for building and sustaining your business.

Who should attend? This event is tailored for early-stage founders in the CPG space—whether you have an idea, are pre-revenue, sell at farmers markets, or have minimal retail presence.

Prepare by bringing your business questions. Think about areas like licensing, regulation, food safety, product development, packaging, labeling, marketing, finances, and more. The more specific your questions, the more valuable your interactions with our resource providers will be.

What to bring? Just yourself, though bringing note-taking materials and something to collect resources like business cards is recommended. If you have product samples or mockups of packaging, bring them along for feedback.

Additional details: Prior to the event, we'll send you a look book of all attending Resource Providers. Review it to prioritize your connections and make the most of your time.

Join us at NEON for an event that could make all the difference for your food business!

Headed to Expo West? So are we!

Join us for our 7th Annual Mingle at Expo West—bigger and better than ever. This year, we're excited to partner with Naturally Minnesota, Naturally Wisconsin, Naturally Chicago, and Naturally Colorado for four times the connections.

This gathering brings together the Midwest and Mountain Region food and beverage innovation community—founders, industry leaders, investors, retailers, and ecosystem supporters—for meaningful networking in the middle of the Expo West buzz. We especially encourage our Naturally "ex-pats" to join us!

📍 Where: Anaheim Convention Center -- 2nd-floor balcony outside the MN Alley (Katella Terrace), North Hall

🕓 When: Thursday, March 5 | 4:00–6:00 PM

Stop by for a break from the salty snack overload and enjoy hearty bites and beverages before heading into your evening plans.

Directions to Katella Terrace (aka 200-Level Balcony, North Hall):

Enter North Hall on the ground level and take the escalator up to the second floor, or cross over via the sky bridge from the Main ACC.

We can't wait to mingle with you!

Are you an entrepreneur looking to explore more options for funding your business?

Dive into this capital access education workshop that will cover the wide array of funding options that are appropriate for each stage of a company, from pre-revenue to over $1 Million. You'll have the chance to learn from industry experts, connect with local financing leaders, and take the next step to growing your natural product, tech, or agriculture-based business.

Lunch & Light Refreshments provided.

📍 Where: Sunrise Banks Corporate Office

🕓 When: Wednesday, February 25th | 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Join Naturally Minnesota for our February Founders Forum—a welcoming, founder-first gathering designed to spark honest conversation and meaningful connection. This month, we're excited to welcome Simon Solis-Cohen, our reigning Naturally Rising Pitch Slam Champion and founder of Huxley, who will share his journey as a founder and the lessons he's learned along the way.

Following Simon's story, founders will come together in an interactive, peer-driven discussion to share challenges, exchange insights, and learn from one another. Whether you're navigating early-stage decisions, scaling your business, or simply looking to connect with others who "get it," Founders Forum offers a supportive space to workshop ideas, ask questions, and leave with practical takeaways—and new connections—to move your business forward.

Coffee and light snacks provided, and attendees are welcome to bring their own lunch.

Naturally Minnesota Presents: Holiday Happy Hour 2025✨

Join us for an evening of celebration, connection, and cheer as Naturally Minnesota hosts our annual Holiday Happy Hour — one of the most anticipated gatherings of the year for our state's vibrant food and ag community.

This year, this festive evening will bring together founders, investors, retailers, and industry professionals to toast the year's successes and to build on our Root for Good Campaign of fundraising $100,000. Join the fun of silent auction, raffle prizes, festive food and drinks, and of course the best networking in town.

Whether you're an emerging entrepreneur or a seasoned industry leader, this is your chance to connect, collaborate, and celebrate in style. Come ready to party in your best festive holiday attire! Come for the company, stay for the sparkle — and leave inspired to start the new year with fresh connections and renewed energy.

Event Highlights:

• Mix and mingle with hundreds of industry professionals and innovators

• Sip festive cocktails, enjoy seasonal bites, and compete in our silent auction

• Celebrate another standout year in Minnesota's natural products community, while supporting Naturally MN's Root for Good Campaign

Needworking creates power by turning help-seeking and generosity into a shared practice for skill-building. Each experience ensures participants leave with both value received and value given. In the room, we will strengthen connective tissue across generations, networks, cultures, and roles.

This interactive session, designed and led by Naturally Minnesota and The Hush Collaborative, combines honest conversation with skill-building exercises that help participants name what they need, articulate what they can offer, and practice exchanging resources in real time.

You'll walk away not just inspired, but better equipped to ask clearly, offer generously, and build the kind of community that sustains growth personally and professionally.

This event is open to anybody to register to attend, but is centered around the experience of female founders in CPG.

Agenda

• 4:00 - Arrival, light bites, and intentional mingling

• 4:20 - Salon-style small group conversation

• 5:10 - Needworking, the power of help-seeking and resource sharing

• 5:55 - Reflections

Facilitators:

• Lauren Buckley, Co-Founder, Moderator, & Narrative Strategist

• Kate Meehan, Co-Founder & Experience Facilitator

• Allie Fendrick, Co-Founder, Moderator, & Systems Strategist

Join us for a half-day deep dive into building and scaling beauty and bodycare brands. From navigating infrastructure and sales channels to understanding shifting consumer preferences, this event brings together founders, retailers, and industry experts to share hard-earned lessons and emerging insights. Whether you're just starting out or ready to scale, you'll leave with practical knowledge, fresh perspectives, and new connections to help grow your brand.

Join Naturally MN as we head out to the Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed farm in Clearwater, MN and immerse yourselves into multi-species regenerative agriculture. We will be strolling through the pastures and woodlands learning all about rotationally grazed cattle, free-range pasture-raised chickens, pigs, and goats.

There will be a guided farm tour with a networking/socializing lunch at the farm's very own rustic lakeside pavilion. For lunch, Thousand Hills will be grilling up some of their delicious 100% grass fed beef products along with sides and beverages. We can't wait to see you out on the farm!

An exciting evening to celebrate conscious business!

Naturally Network proudly presents its national Naturally Rising competition show, where 11 of the brightest emerging CPG entrepreneurs from across the US will take the stage to pitch their innovative products and compelling visions. These regional finalists will compete for the crown on the national stage at Newtopia Now on Thursday, August 21, 2025! On top of that, Naturally Network will be awarding our first ConsciousCPG Awards during our judge deliberation period.

Join us to see the 11 regional Naturally Rising winners compete for the national title and celebrate the winners of the inaugural ConsciousCPG Awards!

Retail is evolving fast. From AI shopping assistants to social commerce and Gen Alpha's influence, the landscape is shifting. NIQ explores what's next for food and beverage—where innovation, personalization, and bold strategies lead the way. Discover key trends in omnichannel shopping, health-driven products, and emerging brand breakthroughs. Whether you're scaling online, testing retail media, or rethinking distribution, gain fresh insights and actionable ideas to stay ahead.

Join Naturally Minnesota, Naturally Chicago, Naturally Wisconsin, and NIQ for a data-driven webinar exploring the future of retail.

🌾 Get Your Hands Dirty with Naturally MN! 🌾

Join us on the farm at Big River Farms for a day of fresh air, sunshine, and getting your hands a little dirty as we roll up our sleeves and volunteer in the fields. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just farm-curious, this is your chance to connect with the land, meet awesome people, and support local sustainable agriculture.

🌻 This free event is open to all and no previous farm experience is required– come solo or bring a friend!

Let's dig in, do some good, and have a blast doing it. 🧤🌱

Help with:

• Bed prep/mulching

• Planting

• Weeding

• Stocking plants

• Installing row cover

Be sure to bring with you comfortable work clothing (long pants recommended), closed-toe shoes, hat, sunscreen, rain jacket, water, and any snacks you may need (snacks cannot be eaten while on the field)!

Minimum age is 18 for farming events.

Level Up Your Company's Influencer Marketing Game - Over Lunch!

Join Maccabee PR for a complimentary Lunch and Learn workshop designed to take your B2B or B2C influencer strategy to the next level.

During this interactive, 60-minute session, your marketing communications team will learn:

• Beyond the Basics: Advanced strategies for influencer identification and collaboration.

• Trend Forecasting: Capitalizing on the latest trends, including AI, shop-able live streams, and the rise of micro-influencers.

• Measurement of Optimization: Data-driven approaches to track performance and maximize results that will help you attain (and exceed) brand objectives.

• Omni-channel Integration: How to combine influencer marketing with publicity and media relations, event and experiential, social media and content curation.

• And yes, we will provide lunch. :)

Getting into retail is exciting. Staying there profitably is a strategy.

Whether you're exploring retail for the first time or already in stores and looking to grow smart, this free virtual event will deliver real, actionable insight—straight from the founders who've lived it.

What to Expect:

A sneak peek of the new Retail Launch Lab—Naturally Minnesota's premier cohort program for early-stage CPG founders kicking off in June!

Tools and strategies you can apply to your retail strategy now

A candid founder panel featuring real talk on what retail takes—from brands who:

Have successfully launched into retail

Are actively executing their retail strategy

Or have made the bold decision that retail isn't the right channel (and why)

Join us for a unique networking opportunity that connects local food entrepreneurs with expert resource providers, offering essential connections and knowledge crucial for building and sustaining your business.

Who should attend? This event is tailored for early-stage founders in the CPG space—whether you have an idea, are pre-revenue, sell at farmers markets, or have minimal retail presence.

Prepare by bringing your business questions. Think about areas like licensing, regulation, food safety, product development, packaging, labeling, marketing, finances, and more. The more specific your questions, the more valuable your interactions with our resource providers will be.

What to bring? Just yourself, though bringing note-taking materials and something to collect resources like business cards is recommended. If you have product samples or mockups of packaging, bring them along for feedback.

Additional details: Prior to the event, we'll send you a look book of all attending Resource Providers. Review it to prioritize your connections and make the most of your time.

Join us at NDC for an event that could make all the difference for your food business!

Join us for a Friday morning coffee chat on 4/25 as CBX's strategy team takes you beyond the surface of Expo West. We walked the show, captured key moments, and saw over 3,000 brands. It's not just about trends like design, products, and ingredients– we'll dive into what they truly mean for the CPG landscape and beyond. We're excited to showcase our insights and findings and share what they could mean for your business.

Who should attend? Whether you're a brand builder (big or small), marketer, creative, or simply passionate about branding – we'd love to have you join us!

Unlock the secrets to securing funding in our dynamic Grant Writing Master Course! Whether you're new to grant writing or looking to sharpen your skills, this two-part session will equip you with the tools to craft compelling proposals that capture funders' attention and bring your vision to life.

Led by industry experts, you'll gain insider insights from successful grant recipients and seasoned funders on key strategies, funding trends, and best practices. Learn how to effectively communicate your mission, structure a winning proposal, and avoid common mistakes that could cost you funding.

🚀 Bring a Laptop!

To fully engage in the exercises, we highly recommend bringing a laptop. You’ll leave with a polished draft and the confidence to tackle your next grant application with success!

Join us on March 27, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM PST at Midcity Kitchen!

Midcity Kitchen

Raymond Avenue 693

Saint Paul, MN

Get ready for an unforgettable evening at MN Mingle at Expo West 2025! Join Minnesota’s top food and CPG founders, service providers, and industry pros for a high-energy happy hour filled with great conversations, new connections, and exciting opportunities.

This event is the perfect chance to mix, mingle, and celebrate Minnesota’s thriving CPG community. Enjoy hosted appetizers and a complimentary drink, courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, as you meet fellow innovators shaping the future of the industry. Don’t miss out on this dynamic networking experience—come connect, collaborate, and raise a glass to the power of community!

Join us on March 5, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM PST at the Anaheim Convention Center’s Katella Terrace!

West Katella Avenue 800

Level 200 Balcony / Katella Terrace

Anaheim