The Malin Chelsea 270 7th Avenue New York
NY 10001
Overview
Join us for an evening of mingling and sampling with buyers and retailers all in town for Summer Fancy Food 2026, off the floor!
New York City, Startup CPG is back and we’re hosting Grocery Run Off the Floor during Summer Fancy Food 2026!
We’ll have brand samplings (of course!), networking with your favorite CPG community, and VIP guests walking the floor.
Join us for buyer introductions and networking while enjoying samples and refreshments. Even if you aren’t sampling, bring product with you to show buyers!
Featured guests:
Cortney Brown – Category Manager @ Earth Fare
Mara Reitzfeld – Category Manager, Dairy, Frozen @ Earth Fare
Wes Hollamon – Category Manager, Dairy, Frozen, Bulk @ Earth Fare
Katy Ludwig – Program Director, Natural, Organic & Specialty @ Northwest Grocers
Mishka Aminov – Director of Business Development @ Gold Coast Distributors
Dee Charlemagne – Sr. Director, Emerging Brands @ Wal-Mart
Nick Auzenne – Director of Promotional Programs @ INFRA
Jared Peterson – Purchasing Promotions Manager @ INFRA
Kate Fletcher – Senior Category Manager @ INFRA
Kim Route – Senior Category Manager @ INFRA
Hailey Craig – Events and Education Specialist @ INFRA
Mason Webb – Foraging Manager @ Sprouts
Brody Burk – Senior Foraging Manager @ Sprouts
Jane Arbogast – Associate Category Manager, Alcohol @ FreshDirect
Amber van den Deijssel – Category Manager Grocery & Snacks @ FreshDirect
Abby Wizel – Category Manager, Freezer @ FreshDirect
Jullian Goncalves – Sr. Category Manager, Dairy @ FreshDirect
Jonas Mendoza – Category Manager, Non-Alcoholic and Alcoholic Beverages @ FreshDirect
Karla Goris – Category Manager, Non Foods & Baby @ FreshDirect
Katie Andrew – Director of Merchandising @ FreshDirect
Russell Heiman – Director of Category Management @ Erewhon
Sara Weinreb – Founder @ Little Nosh
Patti Bauer – Senior VP, Customer & Supplier Success @ UNFI
Emma Padden – Senior Manager, Natural Supplier Programs @ UNFI
Grace Lachona – Partner Manager @ UNFI
Jack Kenneally – Category Buyer, Bulk & Coffee @ The Fresh Market
Pilar Ariztia Lavin – Director of Merchandising, BCC, Seasonal, Gift Center @ The Fresh Market
Adam Yee – Food Scientist @ UmaiWorks, Host of Startup CPG’s R&D Radio
Uribe Valverde Ramirez – Senior Analyst, Amex Centurion Lounge Partnerships @ American Express
Here are the amazing brands sampling at this event:
A Little Nutty created bold, seriously crunchy, grain-free almond flour crackers made with simple, real ingredients.
Afternoon Toast makes ready-to-drink roasted barley and ginger tea bottled to elevate hydration and digestion. No caffeine. No carbonation. No sugar.
Aveyo Avocado Mayo is a plant based condiment made from over 80% fresh Hass avocados not avocado oil and because avocados are the main ingredient it is 75% less fat and calories than traditional oil based mayo.
Ayurvedist makes organic, longevity-focused, functional teas.
Better Together Foods makes Maple Pop! – a clean-label, organic maple caramel popcorn made with pure maple syrup and extra-virgin coconut oil — delivering indulgent flavor without refined sugar or seed oils.
Casa Virgin we make Nonna’s favorite condiments, crafted in Italy for the American table.
Croutinis are the “better-for-you” croutons that are made from tofu!
Dawnbreaker Oats is redefining the breakfast ritual with high-protein, organic, gluten-free oats made from clean, great- tasting ingredients.
Drink Hippie creates clean, functional beverages designed to deliver steady energy and elevated daily rituals without the crash.
Eddie Pao Gourmet is the first to offer premium shelf-stable Asian soups in glass to market.
Esspo crafts espresso soda – sips like cold brew, caffeinates like coffee.
Flutter Effect is a sparkling collagen-infused beauty beverage that makes glowing skin from within a delicious, effortless daily ritual.
Greek Superherbs brings premium Greek herbal teas to the U.S, with sourcing rooted in regions like Ikaria and Mount Olympus. Founded by Eleftheria Karakatsina, the brand combines origin-rich botanicals, whole-leaf quality, and a modern wellness ritual for customers seeking something more special than conventional tea.
HEYDOH is redefining soy sauce as a single-origin pantry staple.
Honeymoon Chocolates makes organic craft chocolate and confections sweetened with raw honey, delivering a rich, distinctive indulgence unlike anything else.
Kruda makes premium Argentine-style, clean-label full size empanadas made in the USA, convenient comfort food, ready in minutes from freezer to plate.
Little Inca offers Ancient Quinoa. Modern Science. Superior Nutrition.
Loom Wipes are natural vinegar and citrus cleaning wipes made without harsh chemicals, fumes, or residues.
NAMS Snacks makes outrageously crispy Asian-inspired wonton crisps.
Oddball’s first product, the Jiggly Fruit Cup, reimagines the classic jiggly gelatin cup from childhood – this time made with real fruit, free from gelatin, added sweeteners, and artificial ingredients.
Oh My Okra is a wholesome crunchy better-for-you okra crips that is non-gmo, gluten free, vegan, very high and fiber and with simple ingredients.
Oh So Easy is a dessert brand bringing global flavors to your kitchen conveniently and deliciously.
Original Henry Lambert’s Beer is the first Mid-Strength Beer company dedicated to celebrating the heritage of beer and updating it for the modern consumer.
Party Of, founded by 4 Thai-American sisters, puts a bolder, better spin on snacks—like Pad Thai & Thai Chili Lime popcorn.
Plonty is a new kind of protein, powered by hemp hearts and sweetened with dates!
Prest makes shelf-stable hummus for fresh hummus whenever you want it.
Sweeter Collective is redefining hard candy as an intentional, everyday indulgence designed to fit seamlessly into modern routines.
Syren Spreads makes a spoonable chocolate hazelnut spread. That also happens to be a beauty supplement!
More featured brands coming soon!
Want to sample at this event? Apply here!
Sampling space is limited! You must apply to sample.
Title Sponsor:
About Albertsons Media Collective
Albertsons Media Collective is a tier-one growth partner built on trusted local connections you can’t buy, only build. We unite 22 iconic grocery banners to turn reach, loyalty, and relevance into measurable results for brands. By combining merchandising and media, we use real shopper insights to help you show up where and when it matters most.
Co-Sponsors:
About Faire
Faire is the one-stop shop for wholesale, connecting independent retailers to thousands of specialty food and drink brands. From trending snacks and craft beverages to everyday pantry staples, Faire makes it easy to discover and stock the products your customers are looking for.
About Kaizntree
Kaizntree automates manual workflows for CPG brands by connecting existing tools and handling tasks with agentic AI.
Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Email partnerships@startucpg.com
About Startup CPG
Startup CPG is the biggest community in the world for emerging brands. We have 36k+ Slack members, produce the #1 podcast in CPG, host 100+ events per year, and are the #1 education hub for brands trying to improve our CPG ecosystem. It’s free — join today!
Instagram: @startupcpg
Read less