Co-founder and former CEO of Suja Juice, Jeff Church, has joined the Cheeky Cocktails team as the latest investor, member of the management team and Strategic Advisor to company CEO April Wachtel. Church, a former Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award recipient and the BevNet Person of the Year Award winner, has many years of experiencing working with consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands. The Harvard Business School graduate is a seasoned entrepreneur with expertise navigating growth and invest opportunities for successful ventures in the beverage industry. "Jeff’s expertise in building and scaling CPG brands is unparalleled," said April Wachtel, Founder and CEO of Cheeky Cocktails. "His strategic insights and experience will be invaluable as we continue to expand our footprint and bring high-quality cocktail ingredients to a broader audience."

Doctor Mark Dewis has been named General Manager of Sirio Americas Business Unit. With three decades of experience in the food, beverage, and nutritional supplement industries, Dr. Dewis has worked with many global B2B ingredient and solutions manufacturers including privately held firms, private equity backed organizations, as well as publicly traded entities. In his new role, he will oversee all aspects of Sirio's operations in the Americas, including strategic planning, customer partnerships, regional business development, and innovation initiatives. “Sirio Pharma has an outstanding reputation for quality and innovation, and I’m excited to be joining at such a dynamic time for the business,” explained Dewis. “I look forward to working with the talented team across the Americas to build on our strong foundation, expand our regional capabilities, and deliver exceptional value to our customers.”

TraceGains appointed Michelle Henry as Director of Sales for its European team. Henry joins the company from Esko and will focus on rapidly expanding regional sales coverage and scaling European revenues. She will be based in the UK and look to help the company comply with regulations like EUDR, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. “This is a very exciting time for TraceGains, and we are delighted to have Michelle join us in this important position,” commented Mike Hubbard, Senior Vice President of Revenue with TraceGains. “Her passion for innovative solutions, knowledge of the sector and attitude to customer service combine to make Michelle a great fit with our business as we continue our growth across the European F&B Sector. Her many years’ international experience and achievements are a perfect complement to our objectives, and with Michelle now heading up our European sales team we are confident and excited to embark on the latest step in surpassing our own ambitions as part of our planned growth across the continent.”

The Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) held its 2025 Annual Meeting and Leadership Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. During the event two executive officers were re-elected for second one-year terms:

• Mark Cheney, Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc., as First Vice Chairperson
• Anthony Biggers, Simmons Pet Foods, as Second Vice Chairperson

Additionally, seven new Directors were elected for three-year terms, from 2025-2028:

• Tarick Gamay, DreamPak LLC
• Thomas Kennedy, Rema Foods Inc.
• Jennifer Mills, Garcoa, Inc.
• Sue Predmore, Red Gold
• Josh Sowell, SunTree Snack Foods, LLC
• Jason Gucwa, Private Brands Sales & Marketing, Inc., as the broker member
• Erik Gosh, Döhler, as the supplier member

“This success has been made possible through the strong partnership between retailers and manufacturers, working together to meet evolving demands,” said Sevcik. “As we continue to adapt to changing consumer preferences and sustainability goals, we are setting the stage for an even brighter and more prosperous future ahead."

Mary Beth Vultee is now the Senior Vice President, Membership, for the Specialty Food Association (SFA). With a Master's in Food Studies from New York University, the former chef was most recently the Executive Leader of Design at Whole Foods Market. In the newly created position, Vultee will look to cultivate strong partnerships to help with the organization's growth, increase memberships, address specific needs and provide year-round support for community building, education, and supply chain.  "I’m driven by the opportunity to help SFA members thrive at every stage of their journey,” said Vultee. “By building strong, collaborative relationships and creating tailored, actionable strategies, we can empower our members to overcome challenges and seize growth opportunities.”

Stratum Nutrition has appointed Marie Parks as its Ingredient Science Specialist. Parks will collaborate directly with the company's Director of Product & Brand Strategy, work with the commercial side of Stratum's operations, and provide technical support to the sales and marketing teams. “I am incredibly excited and honored to be part of a company that values integrity and fosters a genuine, family-like culture,” said Parks. “With Stratum’s commitment to rigorous quality standards and science-backed ingredients, I’m proud to stand behind our unique and innovative portfolio designed to help both humans and animals thrive. I look forward to contributing to this trailblazing company, whose dedication to sustainability and innovation—without cutting corners aligns closely with my own values.”

Todd Runestad is the newest member of the NXT USA team. As the new Chief Storytelling Officer, Runestad will help identify opportunities within supplement companies' portfolios that can significantly benefit from the company's ingredients. Prior to joining NXT, Runestad held positions with New Hope Network and SupplySide, now part of Informa PLC. “My entire career has been about quality. How CPG brands can build a better supplement. The value in sourcing branded ingredients whose quality differentiator over commodities includes clinical validation, intellectual property protections and marketing support. What’s trending — and what the next trends will be. NXT USA rings all the bells. Its mighty and growing pipeline of functional bioactives are on trend and fulfill the idea of bringing more health to more people. And Eric Anderson is innovation incarnate. This is a supplier I can get behind and wave the flag for. Color me stoked," said the CSO.

Jose Sanchez

Jose Sanchez is the newest Technical Sales Representative for Amano Enzyme. A former Chemist at AbbVie and Biological Sciences graduate from the University of Chicago, Sanchez will help customer crate new and re-imagined products and provide technical sales support for the company's enzyme-based ingredient solutions. "I am pleased to introduce Jose Sanchez as our new Technical Sales Representative,” said Viet Ha, Technical Sales Manager. “His addition further strengthens our ability to provide exceptional technical service and support for our customers. He will utilize his industry experience, education and Spanish fluency to further enrich our sales efforts, customer relationships and the development of new opportunities as we work to expand Amano Enzyme’s market presence within Latin America.”

On September 1, 2025, the Institute of Food Technologists Student Association (IFTSA) will welcome its newly elected Board of Directors for the 2025-2026 cycle. “Spanning from undergraduate to doctoral students, each member of the IFT Student Association Board contributes key expertise and experience to help shape not only the future of IFTSA, but also the future of our global food system at large. IFT is excited to welcome these gifted students who are already making significant contributions to food science,” said Christina Ginardi, Director of Academic Engagement at IFT. New Board of Directors inductees include:

• New President-Elect, Chamali Kodikara from the University of Manitoba in Canada
• Sebastián Garzón, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (Vice President of Chapter Engagement)
• Stefhanie Loaiza Sanchez, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Vice President of Competitions)
• Akshara Nair, University of Massachusetts Amherst (Vice President of Digital and Social Media)
• Rania Marie Buenavista, Kansas State University (Vice President of Membership Engagement)
• April Huang, Cornell University (Vice President of Events and Experiences)
• Chenge (Charley) Wang, Rutgers University (Member at Large)
• Josiah Muriuki, University of Pretoria, South Africa (Member at Large)
• Ikenna Okehie, Texas A&M University (Member at Large)
• Divine Eche, University of Massachusetts Amherst (Member at Large)

Greg Bradley

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) has elected Greg Bradley as Chair of Board of Directors. Bradley, a 34 year consumer-packaged goods (CPG) industry veteran, is the President and CEO of Foundation Consumer Healthcare (FCH) and has been a member of CHPA's Board of Directors since 2016. "Now more than ever, consumer healthcare – and particularly self-care – plays a uniquely critical role in empowering individuals and strengthening our collective public health. Our industry’s success depends on broad access to safe and effective OTC medicines, medical devices, and supplements," said Bradley. "I am thrilled to collaborate with Scott, the entire board, and all CHPA members and staff to focus on our shared mission and advance this incredibly important work. I also want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Lisa Paley for her exemplary leadership and commitment as CHPA’s immediate past chair. She has set a high bar, and I look forward to building on the strong foundation she has established."

Adam Orr has joined EAS Consulting Group as an Independent Consultant. A Certified Professional Animal Scientist and an Animal Nutritionist, Orr spent time with the FDA Center of Veterinary Medicine and the Division of Animal Food Ingredients. He has expertise in label reviews, claims, regulatory study design, compilation and review of regulatory submissions including: animal Food Additive Petitions (FAP), Investigational Food Additives (IFA), Food Use (Slaughter) Authorizations (FUA), Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) Notifications, Animal Food Ingredient Consultations (AFIC), forthcoming Zootechnical Additives, and Feed Ingredient Definitions of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

Daniel Pompeu

Daniel Pompeu is now North America Sales Director for Kemin Food Technologies. Pompeu will develop, lead, and oversee the sales organization in North America while observing market trends, providing strategic assistance and support to regional teams. His role includes introducing new technologies and solution to customers, enhancing customer satisfaction through Kemin products and services, and leading efforts to ensure collaborative and long-term relationship to support market development. 

“We are excited to have Daniel Pompeu join our North America team as Sales Director,” commented Marc Scantlin, President, Kemin Food Technologies – North America. “We’ve seen his success firsthand through his decade of contributions with Kemin in South America. He has proven success leading sales and technical services teams, significantly contributing to company growth. We are confident that Daniel’s leadership, strategic vision, and robust set of skills will drive further innovation and market growth for Kemin and our customers.”

Christian Barker

Barentz has announced Christian Barker as its newest Chief Commercial Officer, Global Head of Human Nutrition and Executive Board Member. The former Executive Vice President of Health & Nutrition of a leading global biosolutions company, Barker spent over a decade at a leading management consultancy and has advised top management and boards across the consumer, food, life sciences, and private equity sectors. Derk Jan Terhorst, CEO of Barentz, spoke on the appointment of the new CCO, "We are delighted to welcome Christian to Barentz. His strategic expertise and deep industry knowledge make him an excellent addition to our leadership team. His proven track record in driving sustainable growth and innovation will be instrumental in advancing our Human Nutrition division and reinforcing our market position. It will also advance the next phase of our commercial organization."

Health and wellness brand, BelliWelli, has a new SVP of Sales, Nathan Underwood. With a plethora of experience scaling retail and DTC businesses in the wellness space, Underwood will focus on driving the company's expansion into new markets and expand their omni-channel presence. Prior to joining BelliWelli, Underwood held positions at Ritual, Nuun Hydration, and Talking Rain Beverage company. 

Linda Ohr

ColinKurtis Advertising has named Linda Ohr as its Senior Copy and Content Marketer. With a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Food Science and Human Nutrition from the University of Illinois, Ohr spent twenty years covering food ingredient technologies and innovations nutraceuticals, and health and wellness trends for leading publications including Prepared Foods magazine and Food Technology magazine. “We are proud and consider ourselves very fortunate to have Linda Ohr join the ColinKurtis team,” shared Colin Kampmier, President, ColinKurtis Advertising. “Given Linda’s extensive food industry career, it speaks volumes of the work we’re doing at ColinKurtis that she has chosen to become a part of our team. She is the perfect addition to our arsenal of amazing writers, and we are already seeing how she skillfully applies her extensive industry insights and writing talents to take our work to an even higher level.”

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) welcomed its new and re-elected trustees for 2025. Industry leaders chosen to serve three-year terms on the organization's board included:

Newly Elected Trustees

• Nate Brennan (Foster Farm Botanicals)
• Matt Dybala (Pacific Botanicals)
• Keri Marshall (Kokora)

Re-elected Trustees

• Nils Mueggenburg (Mueggenburg USA)
• Alessandra Storzini (Indena)

Additionally, board officers and executive committee members were also elected for 2026:

Board Officers

• Chair: Kristina Tucker (The Republic of Tea)
• Vice Chair: Katie Banaszewski (NOW Foods)
• Secretary: Steven Yeager (Mountain Rose Herbs)
• Treasurer: Mitch Coven (Vitality Works)

Executive Committee

• Staci Eisner (Cortex Scientific Botanicals)
• Beth Lambert (Herbalist & Alchemist)
• Nils Mueggenburg (Mueggenburg USA)

Dr. Rob Sinnott 

Journey by Radicle Science has welcomed Dr. Rob Sinnott as Senior Strategic Advisor. A former Chief Scientific Officer and CEO for Mannatech Inc., and Chief Scientific Officer for USANA Health Sciences, Inc., Dr. Sinnott is an active investor with Park City Angels, board member and the co-chair of the Senior Scientific Advisory Council for the Council of Responsible Nutrition (CRN). With over 25 years of experience in biotechnology, life sciences and nutrition, he will look to help fuel the company's growth trajectory. "I believe scientific proof and validation are the most important sustainable advantages for wellness products that stand the test of time and create a growing, loyal consumer base. When products work as promised, it drives consumer trust and repeat purchasing," shared the new Senior Strategic Advisor.

Awards & Honors

The American Botanical Council (ABC) held its 20th annual ABC Celebration and Botanical Excellence Awards Ceremony on March 4th in Anaheim, California during the 2025 Natural Products Expo West trade show. This year's awards presentations included:

• Herbalist Michael Moore posthumously receiving the 2025 Mark Blumenthal Herbal Community Builder Award
• The 2025 ABC Champion Award being presented to Chris Kilham
• Naturopathic Physician and Midwife Mary Bove, ND, accepting the 2025 Fredi Kronenberg Excellence in Research and Education in Botanicals for Women's Health Award
• The 2025 Norman R. Farnsworth Excellence in Botanical Research Award presentation to Ghulam Nabi Qazi, Ph.D.

Moore, an esteemed educator and the founder of the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine, represents the first time ABC has given its Mark Blumenthal award posthumously. Former students, friends, and colleagues including ABC's Founder and Executive Director Mark Blumenthal all remembered Moore's teachings and influences, “I first met Michael Moore in his small herb shop, Herbs Etc., in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1970s, and I attended some of his lectures over the next 30 years,” said Blumenthal. “I consider him a strong and positive influence on not only my own interest in and dedication to herbal medicine, but as one of the most inspirational and powerful influences in the modern herbal and herbalist movement.”

The 2025 American Botanical Council Champion Award honors individuals who have donated considerable time and/or funds to support ABC's Science-based nonprofit research and education mission, publications, and programs. Kilham, a botanical medicine hunter, author, educator, and yogi has donated his time, ethnobotanical experience, and support for over 25 years. “It is my great delight to be awarded the 2025 ABC Champion Award,” shared the award recipient. “It means a great deal to me. For many years, I’ve had the good fortune and privilege to contribute to some of the publications and programs of ABC. This is not only an organization, but it is also a mission — a mission that brings together many people from around the world with diverse abilities, experience, and visions, all moving to help establish botanicals in their rightful place. I’m delighted to be part of the mix, and I can’t adequately express how much this honor means to me.”

Created in 2018, the ABC Fredi Kronenberg Award was presented to Bove recognizing her 30 plus years of experience in naturopathic family medicine, herbal medicine, and midwifery. “I am grateful and honored to receive this award recognizing my commitment to my work, women, and the plants,” wrote Bove. “As a naturopathic physician, midwife, medical herbalist, and teacher, my message has reached many ears. I hope to see this message carry on and reach many more ears, and receiving this award will help achieve that.”

The 2025 ABC Farnsworth Award recognized Ghulam Bani Qazi, Ph.D., Director General and CEO of Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (HIMSR). Presented to individuals who have made significant research contributions in the fields of pharmacognosy (the study of drugs of natural origin, usually from plants), ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology, or other scientific disciplines related to medicinal plants, Qazi has been a part of several educational or scientific committees in India and chairman of both the Drugs and Pharmaceutical Research Programme and the Unani Phamacopeia Committee of the Government of India and a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission. “In the past decades Dr. Qazi has been one of the key Indian scientists who have been a formative and driving force in the development of modern research on Indian medicinal plants. If he were still alive today, I am quite certain that Norman Farnsworth would wholeheartedly approve of ABC’s recognition of Dr. Qazi’s immense body of scientific research with the ABC Farnsworth Award,"  shared ABC Founder and Executive Director Mark Blumenthal.