May 22 | Farm Fresh Rhode Island
Celebrate the Next Wave of CPG Innovators in our Second Annual Pitch Slam Competition
Get your early bird tickets by May 1st!
Thank You to Our Event Sponsors
Meet Our Finalists
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Alex Strauch
CONZA
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Alison Elliott
FARMER FOODIE
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Holly Arbuckle
SINGING PASTURES
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Kai Lim
REPRISE
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Alex Yale
UNCLE TODD’S
These five founders were selected from a competitive pool of applicants to pitch live at Naturally Rising New England.
They’ll take the stage to share their brand stories, their innovative ideas, and their vision for the future.
All for a chance to win our $47,000+ prize package, including $5,000 in cash and a spot at the national Naturally Rising competition in Colorado.
Meet Our Judges
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Nancy Sacco
Senior Director
BJ’s Wholesale Club
Nancy Sacco is a passionate brand builder and strategic leader with experience in both CPG and retail. She has held leadership roles at BJ’s Wholesale Club, Newell Brands, and General Mills, where she has scaled businesses, launched breakthrough products, and unlocked new market opportunities. With a sharp focus on strategy, innovation, and consumer insights, she helps brands differentiate, grow, and succeed in competitive markets. -
Denise Lambertson
Founder & Managing Partner
Constellation CapitalDenise Lambertson is a consumer marketing expert, angel investor, and founder of Constellation Capital. She pioneered the celebrity-startup partnership model in 2009, helping build brands like Core Water, Thrive Market, and Therabody. Now, she focuses on early-stage CPG investments through Constellation Capital, backing brands like Magic Spoon and poppi.
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Elizabeth Eddy
Category Analyst HBC-Beauty
STOP & SHOPLizzy Eddy Harris currently oversees Beauty at Stop & Shop, with previous experience in Coffee, Tea, and Juice. She specializes in curating product assortments and optimizing promotions to bring the best products to customers while helping both emerging and established brands grow. Outside of work, she enjoys beach days, exploring state parks with her Bernese Mountain Dog, Hank, and cozy movie nights with her cats, Shady and CeCe.
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John Lawson
Forager for Local & Emerging Brands
Whole Foods MarketJohn Lawson has worked at Whole Foods Market for more than 20 years, as a team leader, regional buyer, and local forager.
John’s current role allows him to support fledgling CPG suppliers & entrepreneurs in the food space. John is based in New York. -
Karen Farrell
Vice-President - Brand Services
PRESENCE MarketingWith 28 years in the Natural Products Industry, Karen Farrell has led sales, brokerage, and brand strategy. She founded Topline Marketing, later acquired by PRESENCE, where she now oversees go-to-market strategies for emerging brands. Passionate about herbalism and sustainability, she’s also restoring endangered native medicinal plants on her Maine property.
Meet The Mentors
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John Maggiore
Maggiore Sales
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Vanessa White
Jaju Pierogi
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Jacqueline Grady-Smith
Not Just Co.
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Jean Lizotte
Shameless Pets
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Maria Dubuc
Marketing By Design
Each of our five finalists has been paired with an experienced mentor.
They will work closely with the brands to help refine their pitch, strengthen their story, and show up with confidence on event night.
Their insights and support are a key part of what makes Naturally Rising such a powerful experience.
Meet our MC
Melissa Traverse
Director of Community, BevNET
Melissa Traverse has spent nearly 20 years in the CPG industry, building expertise across retail, brand, and consulting roles. She spent a significant portion of her career at Whole Foods Market before joining a startup brand and later Rodeo CPG, where she worked with emerging brands on retail strategy and sales.
Now, as Director of Community at BevNET, NOSH, and Brewbound, Melissa creates content and fosters connections that help industry professionals grow their businesses, navigate challenges, and accelerate success.
Brand Showcase
Explore products, make connections, and get inspired by our great lineup of brands showcasing at the event.
Plus, Ray Latif from BevNET Taste Radio will be onsite, interviewing showcasing founders and capturing the energy of the night.
Event Schedule
4:00 pm
Doors open – Brand Showcase begins, networking, light bites
5:00 pm
Main event kicks off – welcome and introductions
5:30 pm
Pitch #1
5:40 pm
Pitch #2
5:50 pm
Pitch #3
6:00 pm
Pitch #4
6:10 pm
Pitch #5
6:30 pm
Dinner is served, judges deliberate, Showcase reopens
7:30 pm
Winners announced (brief regathering)
7:45 - 9:00 pm
Showcase, networking, dinner & drinks continue
8:00 pm
Last call for dinner
8:50 pm
Last call for drinks
9:00 pm
Event Wraps
This Year’s Prize Package
Brought to you by these wonderful companies who consistently support the Natural CPG Industry and the Naturally New England community
$5000 Cash Prize
Newtopia Now Booth
NIQ Trend Analysis Data Package
3-hour Corporate/IP Focused Legal Consultation
SEO & PPC Package - 1 Month
Natural Products Field Manual, Ninth Edition By Bob Burke and Rick McKelvey
10-Hour E-commerce Consultation
Junapr Incubator Program
30 Day Customized Project
JPG Founder Cohort Seat
Whipstitch Fundraising Consultation
This event is a celebration of the entire New England CPG community, bringing together founders, makers, and industry leaders from across the region and beyond.
Whether you’re local to Providence or traveling in from out of state, we’ve made getting here as smooth as possible.
Venue: Farm Fresh RI
Address: 10 Sims Ave unit 103, Providence, RI 02909
Getting There:
Commuter Rail & Amtrak: The nearest rail stop is a 30-minute walk or an 8-minute Uber ride from the venue.
Flying In: Several attendees are flying into Providence, Rhode Island (PVD) — just a 15–20 minute Uber ride to Farm Fresh Rhode Island and the nearby Hilton hotel.
Driving In: If you’re driving from out of state, we encourage carpooling to make travel easier, more sustainable, and more fun. There is plenty of FREE parking. Both street parking and the Farm Fesh parking lot will be available to our attendees.
Where to Stay:
We’ve secured a discounted room block at the Hilton, located just half a mile from the venue and an easy walk.
Plus, the Hilton’s lobby bar will be the site of our unofficial after-hours gathering, making it a central hub for later evening connections and conversations.
Booking Link: https://group.hilton.com/btixie
Hotel: Hilton Providence 21 Atwells Ave, Providence, RI 02903
Group Name: Naturally New England Room Block
Important Note: Our discounted room block is limited and must be reserved in advance. If you’re planning to stay overnight, we recommend booking by May 1 to secure the reduced rate.