More than 200 alumni, students, and entrepreneurs tuned in  for the 2020 Taste of Texas Virtual Showcase and Tradeshow! Hosted by the Nutrition Institute at the McCombs School of Business, the showcase featured five panels and four vendor sessions highlighting better-for-you food and beverage innovation from emerging brands and industry leaders. The event also included an online tradeshow featuring 21 vendors. Listeners were encouraged to view participating vendors on the Taste of Texas website and the first 100 registrants received a box of samples from our tradeshow vendors. See recordings of all Taste of Texas 2020 sessions on YouTube.

Throughout the day-long event, listeners heard from 25 speakers including researchers, investors, business owners, executives, nutritionists, and more. Learn more about the speakers on the Taste of Texas website.

“This event showcases the extraordinary expertise and talent driving innovation in better-for-you food and beverage products. Longhorns and friends across the country joined us virtually here at McCombs to share their wisdom on some of the most important questions facing today’s emerging brands — that community is what makes UT such an extraordinary place.”

UT Nutrition Institute Director Marissa Duswalt Epstein

The UT Nutrition Institute is a partnership across the McCombs School of Business, the College of Natural Sciences, and the Department of Nutritional Sciences. Visit us at UTNutritionInstitute.org.

Attendees had the opportunity to vote on vendors they would like to hear more about. The chosen brands were Cece’s Veggie Co., FitJoy Foods, and Real Food Bar. These three brands hosted their own “snack break” sessions throughout the showcase. Learn more about our vendors on the Taste of Texas website.

Special thank you to our partners Naturally Austin and SKU!

SHOWCASE LINEUP AND RECORDINGS

E-commerce during COVID-19: Entrepreneur responses to changes in consumer behavior
Join us for an insider look on how a few of Austin’s top CPG companies innovated and adapted after COVID-19 drastically shifted consumer behavior.

Welcome to the Austin CPG Scene with SKU, Naturally Austin, and the UT Nutrition Institute
Are you looking to get involved in Austin’s CPG seen but don’t know where to start? Don’t miss this opportunity to dive in and get to know the scene!

Boozy COVID-19 updates with Austin Eastciders: Changes in the Alcoholic Beverage Market
COVID-19 has drastically changed how alcohol is sold and experienced across the US. Tune in to learn from the experts at Austin Eastciders on how they have adapted to the changes.

Snack Break: CeCe’s Veggie Co.
Hear from CeCe’s Veggie Co.: At Cece’s® Veggie Co., we believe in simple nutrition. That’s why we make vegetables with nothing to hide. You can eat ’em raw, sautéed as an alternative to pasta, sauced, sidelined, in a salad, or as a soup.

Supply chain in the era of COVID-19: How food producers, manufacturers, and retailers are adapting
Wondering why grocery shelves were empty back in April? COVID-19 took the industry by surprise. Join us as our panelists discuss the impact of supply chain disruptions on dairy, produce, and retailers.

Snack Break with FitJoy Foods
Hear from FitJoy Foods: We are a snack company with a mission to make joyful snacks fit for all. That means amazing tasting snacks that are clean diet & allergen friendly.

New sustainable foods: What will the future taste like?
From cricket farming to eco-friendly meat substitutes, the food industry is turning over a new leaf. But, just what will sustainable food options look and taste like, and how likely are consumers to adopt these new products?

Snack Break with Real Food Bar
Hear from Real Food Bar: Real Food Bars are plant-based protein bars made with upcycled ingredients. We are committed to reducing the 80 billion pounds of food waste in the US each year, while also providing a vegan protein bar made from only natural ingredients.

Consumer behavior during COVID-19: Investor perspectives on the new normal
How we spend our dollars directs the industry—from the products we buy to the trends we follow to the retailers we patron. Everything seems to have changed since the start of the global pandemic. How are new buying patterns shaping the way investors finance new ventures?

Thank you to our tradeshow vendors!

  • Blooming Weaves LLC
  • RockIt Snacks
  • Little Bird TX Sangria
  • Crafty Counter
  • Cece’s Veggie Co.
  • NadaMoo!
  • KTonic LLC
  • Funk It Wellness
  • Pura Coco
  • FitJoy Foods
  • Grain4Grain
  • Tapio
  • Ranch Rider Spirits
  • Kibo Foods
  • Boozy Bites by Prim Improper
  • Chulitos
  • Real Food Bar
  • Snacks Partners International, Inc. dba MEDBAR
  • Ott Coffee
  • Pete’s Nuts, LLC/DBA: shār
  • Throw-A-Weigh