Speed to Market: How can you Align Internal Processes to Launch Products Quickly and Effectively?

Jessica Grelle has lead an extensive career in product line development and innovation for national brands. She is a food scientist and a mom, with a unique perspective on the natural food industry and its consumer. Motivated by her passion for health and wellness, Jessica created the Mama Jess line of products. Mama Jess continues to service the health conscious consumer with clean, organic pasta and ethnic sauces. Jessica continues to create products for the food industry through her work at The Safe + Fair Food Company, a Chicago based food allergy snack food company. She has developed their entire portfolio of delicious, better-for-you snack foods. Grelle studied Nutrition and Food Science at Penn State University and then went onto a successful career in the food industry. Prior to starting the Mama Jess product line, she ran a research and development lab for a private label food company. She has developed hundreds of innovative food products for companies such as Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Procter & Gamble, Annie’s and Safeway. Several of her products have won industry and tradeshow recognition and awards. As an industry expert, she taught Beverages 201 University at Flavors of North America for industry peers. Jessica has been a featured guest chef on ABC/The Live Well Network’s “Let’s Dish,” and Celebrity ‘Farm to Table’ Chef events. She was also profiled in Martha Stewarts’s Whole Living magazine. The Natural Foods Community has recognized Jessica as an influential entrepreneur with the NEXTY Award, development of the trend-forward, Mama Jess Line and being a clean eating pioneer. Jessica is fueled by her passion for healthy eating and good nutrition - especially on the healing power of diet in disease. Jessica contributes her time and knowledge to the Advocate Aurora’s Integrative Medicine Nutrition therapy and Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center diet therapy studies. One of her favorite places is in her kitchen whipping up new recipes for her family.

Leah Lambrakis is a University of Guelph (ON, Canada) Alumna, focusing her studies in the fields of Animal Science and Animal Nutrition. During her graduate program, Leah held a position at the Toronto Zoo, working as a Nutrition Research Assistant. Her research included the nutritional evaluation of diets for several exotic species, in addition to participating in diet management for species in reintroduction programs. In 1999, Leah moved into the field of Companion Animal Nutrition at Menu Foods Limited, now owned by Simmons Pet Food, Inc. Throughout her career Leah has created, commissioned and launched over 1000 pet food products in the market; across Private Brands, Pet Specialty, Organic and Veterinary platforms. During her journey in research & development, Leah gained a broad level of knowledge and experience in pet food processing, manufacturing, ingredient functionality, nutrition and food science. Today, Leah holds the position of Vice President, Research & Development and Innovation at Simmons Pet Food, leading a team of 23 scientists across Simmons Pet Food's wet, dry, and treat divisions. Leah has a passion for innovation, nutrition, health & wellness and consumer insights for both the Pet and Pet Parents!

Will Nitze is the Founder & CEO of IQ BAR, a Boston-based brain and body nutrition company. After studying psychology as an undergrad at Harvard, Will became fascinated with the human brain and how it functions. Then, in his mid-20’s Will experienced chronic failings with his own brain, including daily bouts of brain fog and headaches. The culprit, he eventually learned, was his carb-packed diet. By eliminating high-carb staples from his regimen and consuming healthy fats and anti-inflammatory compounds, he experienced an astounding cognitive recovery. Elation soon gave way to frustration, though, as Will struggled to find ready-to-eat products that matched his new regimen. Thus, he set out to create the first nutrition bar centering on brain and body nutrition. After countless iterations in his kitchen, he launched a successful Kickstarter campaign in late 2017 and launched IQ BAR! Two years later, the product has evolved substantially. Each IQ BAR contains 6 brain nutrients, 10-11g plant protein, <1-1g sugar, and 4g net carbs. IQ BARs are sold across multiple e-commerce platforms and at roughly 7,000 locations across the US!