Scramblers, Cerebelly, and Kashi by Kids to take center stage at the FoodNavigator-USA FOOD FOR KIDS summit as our 2019 trailblazers

By Elaine Watson

- Last updated on GMT

Scramblers, Cerebelly, and Kashi by Kids to take center stage at the FoodNavigator-USA FOOD FOR KIDS summit as our 2019 trailblazers

Related tags Food for kids trailblazers Baby food

From protein bars for kids, to healthy finger food, nutrient-packed ice pops and a new take on Lunchables, entrants to our 2019 trailblazers challenge are creating innovative new products, brands, and routes to market for healthier options for babies and kids. But we could only pick three winners …

The three brands​​​ picked by the FOOD FOR KIDS team and the editorial staff at FoodNavigator-USA to take center stage on the opening night (November 18) of the FoodNavigator-USA FOOD FOR KIDS summit​ in Chicago this year are: Deliciously Different (d.b.a. Scramblers),​ which make shelf-stable omelet bars for breakfast; Cerebelly​, which seeks to give babies the key nutrients their growing brains need, exactly when they need them; and Kashi​, ​which took an innovative approach to developing its new 'Kashi by Kids' range of cereals and snacks.

The runners up – who also impressed us with their innovative products – are: lil'gourmets, Little Pickins, Nurture Me, Else Nutrition, Healthy Height, Square Baby, Zeek Bar, Feel Better Pops, Nuttee Bean Co, Lunchies, and Beautiful Biosolutions.

Our three trailblazers​ will be invited to present on stage to three industry experts after our consumer panel on the opening night of FOOD FOR KIDS​​ ​(Nov 18-20). The three-day conference shines a spotlight on the companies, large and small that are doing most to drive innovation and champion change in the kids’ food market.

The panel (pictured below, left to right):

  • Lauren Jupiter, managing partner at early stage venture fund AccelFoods
  • Matthew Sade, founder and CEO at new kids' food brand Freeli Foods
  • Barb Stuckey,​ president and chief innovation officer at product innovation consultancy Mattson​​
trailblazers panel 2019

The three trailblazers​​​ will receive:

  • A place on the FOOD FOR KIDS program: participation in the trailblazer session
  • Access to the full program including all presentations and networking sessions
  • Accommodation at The W Chicago​ (November 18 & 19)
  • Coverage in FoodNavigator-USA​
  • Video interviews with the FoodNavigator-USA editorial team
  • Inclusion in the 2019 FOOD FOR KIDS video
  • 50% discount on registration for colleagues (standard registration, does not include accommodation)
  • The runners up will receive a 50% discount on their registration (not including accommodation)

TRAILBLAZER: Cerebelly​ 

Based on research from Canadian neurosurgeon Dr Teresa Purzner, Cerebelly​​ seeks to give babies the key nutrients their growing brains need, exactly when they need them.

The organic certified, plant-based brand, which launched a direct to consumer business in September and rolled out nationwide at Whole Foods in October, is backed by $6.2m in funding, and has a ‘veggie first’ approach to formulation, in order to keep sugar levels down.

Cerebelly _ Whole Foods

TRAILBLAZER: Scramblers​ (Deliciously Different)

The brainchild of founder Matt Tolnick, Scramblers patent-pending omelet bars deliver great taste and superior nutrition to families’ hectic mornings.

The first brand to create a shelf stable ‘egg bar’ that is healthy and delicious without refrigeration, Scramblers list family-farmed, certified-humane eggs as the #1 ingredient.

Scramblers-Lifestyle-Pack cropped

TRAILBLAZER: Kashi by Kids​ 

Kashi’s new 'By Kids' line, featuring chickpeas, lentils and purple corn, was developed in collaboration with five Gen Z leaders - the ‘Kashi Crew’ – with skills in culinary arts, healthy eating and sustainability, says VP Jeanne Wilson, who acknowledges that Kashi is the “poster child for what happens when a big brand buys a small, growing, innovative natural food brand​.”

She adds: “We have had our share of growing pains through the relationship but importantly, since our acquisition in 2002, we have continued to pioneer and incubate innovation that has subsequently become mainstream.”

Kashi by kids

FOOD FOR KIDS: What are you feeding yours?

We’ve got an amazing lineup of speakers​ at this year’s FoodNavigator-USA FOOD FOR KIDS summit​​​, from new brands such as Freeli Foods, Brainiac Kids, Yumble and Serenity Kids; to established players, from Chobani and Kraft Heinz to Ocean Spray and Mondelēz.

Building on feedback from last year's event, we've also included sessions on kids' palates, the science of epigenetics, and the challenges of product testing with kids.

Held at Chicago’s W Hotel November 18-20, FOOD FOR KIDS 2019​​​​ will include:

  • KIDS AND THE PLANT-​​BASED TREND:​​ How are parents incorporating plant-based alternatives into their children’s diets? And what are the nutritional implications? With Michele DeKinder-Smith at Linkage Research.
  • CONSUMER PANEL:​​​ We will open with a panel of local parents, who delegates can quiz about everything from pester power to beverage choices for kids, favorite retailers and restaurants to what they look for on food labels.
  • TRAILBLAZERS:​​​ Three emerging brands that have developed innovative new products or business models in the kids’ food space will present their innovations live on stage in front of our expert panel featuring Lauren Jupiter at Accelfoods, Matthew Sade at Freeli Foods, and Barb Stuckey from Mattson.
  • YOU ARE WHAT YOUR MOTHER ATE:​​​ Explore the science of epigenetics with Dr Robert Murray from Ohio State University.
  • ARE WE MAKING PROGRESS ON CHILDHOOD OBESITY? ​​​The latest stats and insights from the CDC.
  • YUCK OR YUM:​​​ Product testing with kids with Keren Novack from Curion Insights and Emily Kimmins from Kraft Heinz.
  • CAN YOU TRAIN YOUR KIDS TO LOVE BROCCOLI?​​​ How are kids' flavor preferences developed? With Dr Catherine Forestell from William & Mary.
  • CASE STUDIES:​​​ From Gimmies (Chobani) to Freeli Foods, Mondelez SnackFutures, and Brainiac Kids, learn from companies building dedicated kids' food brands.
  • THE SIZE OF THE PRIZE​​​ Hear from SPINS and Euromonitor about the market opportunity for kids' foods and beverages.
  • FORMULATING FOR KIDS: ​​​From sweetness to texture to flavor, what do kids like? With Yummy Spoonfuls, Peekaboo Ice Cream and KidFresh.
  • KIDS BEVERAGES IN FOCUS: ​​​What are kids drinking? With Ocean Spray, Rethink Brands Euromonitor, and more.
  • THE FUTURE OF BABY FOOD:​​​ Is the future fresh? And should babies eat more meat? With Serenity Kids, Fresh Bellies, lil' gourmets, and Raised Real.
  • CLEAN LABEL IN FOCUS: ​​​Beyond the ingredients list with the Clean Label Project.
  • FAST CASUAL FOR KIDS: ​​​Can fast-casual for kids be healthy and fun? Learn how Bean Sprouts Café found the sweet spot.

Find out more and register HERE.​​​

Check out the latest speakers HERE​.​​​

Find out more HERE​​​​ ​​​​about the event, which is sponsored by DSM​​​​, Beneo​​​​​, ​​Cargill​​​​, ​​​​Curion​​​​, the American Egg Board​​​, IFF Health (Frutarom​),​ Lil'Gourmets​​​, Sweegen​, Ardent Mills, ​and Farbest Brands.​​​

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