Bhakta 1928
First came the revolution of rye. Then, the creation of the world’s preeminent House of Vintages, unearthing one of the rarest collections of Armagnac ever assembled, with vintages dating back to 1868. Raj Peter Bhakta, the driving force behind both movements, united these worlds with BHAKTA 1928, a boundary-breaking blend of straight rye whiskey, XO Calvados, and ultra-aged Armagnac that redefined what American spirits could be.
Guided by a long-term vision of revival through innovation, Bhakta has built an entirely new category at the intersection of American whiskey and historic French eaux-de-vie. His work challenges industry convention, proving that heritage is not something to preserve behind glass, but something to actively expand.
An industry maverick and true category creator, Bhakta continues to elevate classic American spirits by blending them with the finest aged distillates and establishing a new global standard for luxury spirits.
Guy Fieri’s Downtown Flavortown is redefining hospitality with a 50,000-square-foot “eatertainment” destination that blends a chef-driven menu, bowling, immersive arcade gaming and high-energy social spaces into one experience. Developed by FACE Amusement Group, the concept shifts traditional dining from a single transaction to a multi-hour, multi-generational outing designed to increase guest dwell time and engagement.
More than a restaurant, Downtown Flavortown integrates multiple revenue streams including food and beverage, gaming and private events within a single footprint, creating a scalable model for tourism-driven markets. With locations in Pigeon Forge and Myrtle Beach, it delivers an all-day destination that appeals to families, groups and travelers seeking shared experiences.
By combining recognizable branding with operational scale and immersive design, Downtown Flavortown reflects the growing demand for experience-first venues that bring food, entertainment and social connection together under one roof.
Glamti
GLAMTI, It’s Tea, Lemon and Spumanti! This blend of 55% Exotic Black Tea’s from India and Asia, Lemons from Sorrento on the Amalfi Coast and Italian Wine that Sparkles is a delicious new indulgence! It’s brightly colored innovative packaging attracts the eye immediately and tempts you to taste the liquid inside. At only 5% alcohol, this mindful beverage is perfect for today’s mindful drinking. Poured into your glass, a Light gold color with small, elegant bubbles, gives way to an enticing fruity and herbal aroma of ripe lemon and apple blossom. Glamti offers a pleasing fruity flavor of lemon drops and Fiji apple with an herbal fullness mouth feel. Refreshing, Mindful and Pleasing to drink.
Panelgea®
Panelgea® merges compliance, speed, and labeling for U.S. consumer products. The platform positions itself as a best-in-class solution for foods, beverages and dietary supplements that need guaranteed compliant Nutrition Facts or Supplement Facts panels without wasting time on repetitive reviews or re-designs. Panelgea® empowers users with cleaner workflows, private ingredient datasets, and output of panel formats that fit seamlessly into labeling and packaging artwork. Its value is especially clear for managing the most complex of formulations with integrated compliance checks, inclusive of a full botanical nomenclature library. By integrating both regulatory precision and purpose, Panelgea® speaks to those that are tired of unvalidated spreadsheets or very expensive albeit limited software that is partially compliant, often resulting in costly and preventable errors. Panelgea® is not merely generating facts panels; it is modernizing a highly inefficient but critical product development step in brand execution with uncommon clarity, transparency and credible polish.
Sierra Meat & Seafood
In a market where premiumization continues to shape consumer expectations, Sierra Meat & Seafood is reinforcing its leadership through strategic collaboration and elevated product development. Its latest launch, the Truffle Burger, brings together two respected names in quality and flavor: Certified Angus Beef and Sabatino Truffles.
Crafted exclusively with Certified Angus Beef®, the burger reflects Sierra Meat & Seafood’s more than 40-year legacy as a licensed Independent Meat Company, where consistency and quality remain foundational. The addition of authentic Sabatino Truffles introduces a rich, earthy depth, transforming a familiar format into a more refined, culinary-forward offering.
This collaboration underscores a broader industry shift toward ingredient-driven innovation, where partnerships and provenance play a central role in product differentiation. By combining trusted sourcing with bold flavor development, Sierra Meat & Seafood delivers a product that resonates with both operators and consumers seeking elevated, experience-driven dining.
As the lines between retail and foodservice continue to blur, offerings like the Truffle Burger demonstrate how legacy brands can evolve while staying rooted in craftsmanship, quality, and innovation.
Teddy’s Tallow Chips
In a snack category increasingly defined by clean labels and ingredient transparency, Teddy’s Tallow Chips is setting a new standard through simplicity, quality, and purpose-driven innovation. What began over two decades ago as a mother’s solution to her son’s severe food allergies has evolved into a family-run brand focused on delivering safe, satisfying snacks without compromise.
At the core of Teddy’s is a return to traditional cooking methods. Each chip is thin, light, and fried in premium beef tallow, creating a rich, clean flavor and a distinctively crisp texture. The formulation is intentionally minimal, free from GMOs, preservatives, fillers such as silicon dioxide, and all of the top nine allergens, while remaining fully gluten-free. This approach aligns with growing consumer demand for recognizable ingredients and functional simplicity.
The product line includes four craveable flavors: Himalayan Salt, Summer BBQ, Vinegar Vibe, and Jalapeño Heaven, offered in both 5 oz and 1.375 oz formats to meet a range of consumption occasions. By combining heritage-inspired preparation with modern dietary standards, Teddy’s Tallow Chips is redefining indulgent snacking for today’s mindful consumer.
The Manley Method
In an industry where experience often outweighs formal education, The Manley Method is redefining professional development by translating real-world knowledge into measurable, career-advancing results. Built on the foundational insights of industry leaders such as Bill Marvin and John Laloganes, the program bridges the gap between theory and execution, delivering training that is immediately applicable in high-pressure foodservice environments.
At its core, The Manley Method focuses on the factors that truly drive performance: timing, decision-making, and leadership. Participants earn certifications across critical operational areas including guest service, HACCP, beverage management, and the integration of artificial intelligence into daily operations. This multidisciplinary approach reflects the evolving demands of modern hospitality, where technical skill must be paired with strategic thinking.
What distinguishes the program is its emphasis on demonstrated application. Through a rigorous certification process, professionals are required to not only understand concepts but execute them effectively, building both confidence and credibility. Courses held in distinguished settings, including the Vice President’s Residence, further reinforce its positioning at the highest levels of leadership training.
By combining industry expertise with practical execution, The Manley Method is setting a new standard for foodservice education and career advancement.
W.NDeen Advisory
Modern CPG growth isn’t constrained by demand — it’s constrained by how intelligently brands translate demand into operational decisions. Most emerging brands are running fragmented planning processes, reactive inventory strategies, and static forecasts in a market defined by volatility and compressed cash cycles.
W.NDeen Advisory embeds directly into food and beverage brands doing $5M–$50M in revenue as a fractional demand planning and S&OP operator — not a consultant who builds and leaves, but an ongoing execution partner running the function month over month.
The results: one brand went from 58% to 87% forecast accuracy in six months — inventory down 23%, zero new hires, zero new software. A national ice cream brand faced a launch supply chain crisis across multiple SKUs. Two weeks later, stockouts dropped to 2%.
Planning isn’t a back-office function. For the brands winning in this market, it’s the competitive advantage.
