May 14 | Farm Fresh Rhode Island

Our Third Annual Pitch Slam Competition

2026 Pitch Slam

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2026 Pitch Slam 〰️

Where bold ideas meet real opportunity.

Big ideas. Big energy. One stage.

Join us for the highly anticipated Naturally New England Pitch Slam! Where emerging brands take the spotlight and pitch live in front of industry leaders, buyers, and a packed room of curious minds.

Expect bold ideas, quick thinking, and the kind of electric energy you can only get when something real is on the line. You’ll discover what’s next in CPG before it hits the shelf and be part of the momentum as it happens.

Grab a seat, bring your team, and get ready to cheer, connect, and maybe even find your next favorite brand.

This isn’t just a pitch event. It’s a show.

BUY TICKETS NOW

Meet Our Finalists

Kamaal Jarrett

Hillside Harvest
Sarah-Marie Cole

Sleet Pops
Drew Kinkade

Green Bee Honeypop
Daniel Spira

Adlai Pearl
Rodrigo Vargas

American Vinegar Works

These five founders were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants to pitch live at Naturally Rising New England.

They’ll take the stage to share their brand stories, innovative ideas, and vision for the future of CPG.

Each finalist will compete for our $50,000 first place prize package, which includes $5,000 in cash (sponsored by Keith Kohler of CPG Financing) and a spot in the national Naturally Rising competition at Newtopia Now in Colorado in August 2026.

In addition, finalists will compete for the Audience Choice Award, valued at $17,400.

Altogether, Naturally New England will award more than $67,000 in prizes to two standout founders.

2026 Prize Package Donors

Brought to you by these wonderful companies who consistently support the Natural CPG Industry and the Naturally New England community

2026 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: Sleet Pops

5:40 pm

Pitch #2: Honeypop

5:50 pm

Pitch #3: Hillside Harvest

6:00 pm

Pitch #4: Adlai Pearl

6:10 pm

Pitch #5: American Vinegar Works

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

8:30 pm

Last call for dinner & drinks

9:00 pm

Event wraps

Meet Our Judges

Kathy Sullivan

JOH Brokerage

SVP at JOH, a leading food brokerage firm
Extensive experience supporting brands in retail expansion and sales growth
Deep relationships across retail and a strong track record of bringing emerging brands to market

LinkedIn
Greg Martin

Hughes BrandMix
Principal and Chief Creative Officer at HBX Branding, with decades of experience developing and evolving brand identity, storytelling and packaging for CPG companies
Partners with emerging and established brands, helping them win at shelf and online through clarity, hierarchy and strategic design systems
Trusted for practical, business-driven creative that connects brand vision to real-world performance

LinkedIn
Jason Corriveau

Roche Bros. Supermarkets
Director of Center Store at Roche Bros. with 30+ years in retail
Experienced in leading high-performing teams and driving strong merchandising strategies
Passionate about people, products, and enhancing both customer experience and business results

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Nick McCoy

Whipstitch Capital
Co-Founder & Managing Director of Whipstitch Capital, a consumer-focused investment bank
Advises CPG brands on M&A, capital raises, and strategic transactions across food, beverage, and wellness
Deep expertise in positioning brands, connecting with the right investors, and executing high-impact deals

LinkedIn
Jeremy Isenberg

President - Chex Finer Foods
CEO of Chex Finer Foods, a third-generation specialty distributor serving leading East Coast retailers
Drove 25x company growth over 25 years through strategic brand partnerships and category leadership
Known for sourcing standout specialty brands and scaling them into top-performing retail products

linkedin
Michael Sands

The Maker Group
CPG executive, innovator, and investor with 35+ years of experience across global brands and markets
Former founder of Lesser Evil Brand Snacks, Rickland Orchards, and Smile Beverage Works
Former CMO at Ben & Jerry’s, and COO at Snapple; has helped generate $2B+ in enterprise value

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Meet The Mentor Matches

John Maggiore

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Rodrigo Vargas
Brent Sisco

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Daniel Spira
Scott Sanders

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Kamaal Jarrett
Jean Lizotte

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Sarah-Marie Cole
Barry Wilfand

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Drew Kinkade

2026 Showcase Brands

Meet the amazing brands who will be part of our Pitch Slam Showcase!

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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 Emcee

Wendi Nix

Wendi Nix is an accomplished sports broadcaster whose distinguished career spans more than two decades in sports media, including 17 years with ESPN, where she became one of the network’s most recognized and respected on-air personalities. During her time at ESPN, she served as the lead host of NFL Live and College Football Live, guiding conversations around some of the biggest moments in professional and collegiate sports with insight, poise, and authenticity. A trailblazer in sports broadcasting, she was also the first woman to emcee the prestigious Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America Awards, further cementing her place as a leader in the industry. Before joining ESPN, Wendi built her reputation across top regional sports networks throughout New England, developing the sharp storytelling and dynamic interview style that have defined her career. Known for her ability to connect with audiences and elevate live events, Wendi brings unmatched energy, professionalism, and presence to the stage. We are thrilled to welcome her as emcee for Naturally New England’s Pitch Slam, where her passion for storytelling and live performance will help make this year’s event truly unforgettable.

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

Parking: Approximately 50 parking spaces are available onsite at 10 Sims Ave. Additional free parking is available next door at 496 Kinsley Ave., Providence, RI 02909. Both lots are reserved for our event. Limited street parking is also available.

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:

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.

Recommended Hotel: Hilton Providence 21 Atwells Ave, Providence, RI 02903