Grocery Run (& Pitch Slam) with Fresh Thyme Market - October 2025

Join us for a special Grocery Run and Pitch Slam with Fresh Thyme Market this October! This event is your chance to get to know Fresh Thyme as they look to fill their innovation pipeline with exciting brands from our Startup CPG community and foster vendor partnerships. The two-day event features a store tour, intimate networking sessions, educational panels, buyer roundtables, and an exciting pitch competition. You'll get to meet the entire Fresh Thyme Merchandising team, representing fresh department(s) categories and center store department(s) categories.

Key activities include:

• Store Tour: Explore Fresh Thyme stores to inspire product innovation – separate invitation on October 14th.
• Sampling: Showcase your products to attending buyers and VIPs to get face-to-face and realtime feedback on your products while making connections.
• Networking Events: Connect with merchants and buyers in one-on-one and small group meetings.
• Pitch Slam: A competition where 5 pre-selected finalists pitch their brands to a panel of category managers for real-time feedback.

The Pitch Slam winner receives a sponsor prize and guaranteed shelf placement in Fresh Thyme’s “Try Something New” program, showcasing innovative products in-store and via digital marketing.

To apply for the Pitch Slam,

Agenda:

• 9:00 AM–9:50 AM: Vendor Coffee & Sampling Session
• 10:00 AM–10:30 AM: State of the Day Address
• 10:45 AM–12:00 PM: Buyer Round Tables
• 12:15 PM–1:00 PM: Lunch (provided)
• 1:15 PM–2:30 PM: Pitch Slam
• 2:30 PM–4:30 PM: Closing Remarks & Mocktail Networking

• Scott Caro, GVP: Merchandising, Marketing, & Merchandising Services
• Sergio Garcia, Director of Deli & Bakerty
• Bri Chin, Category Manager: Bakery
• Jared Anderson, Category Manager: Deli
• Joe Sánchez, Category Manager: Speciality Cheese
• Chris Mannel, Category Manager: Meat
• Celena Ruiz, Category Manager: Seafood
• Kristen Ready , Director of Grocery
• Don Minnick, Category Manager: Dry Grocery
• Ellen Brucher, Category Manager: Dry Grocery
• Kasey Mrkvicka, Category Manager: Frozen
• Robert Abdee, Category Manager: Dry Grocery & Bulk Foods
• Sarah Parker, Category Manager: Alcohol
• Tracy Pernatozzi, Category Manager- Dairy
• Katrina Tecmire, Director of Marketing, Loylaty, & E-Comm
• Christine Monitcelli, Senior Manager, Loyalty & Marketing Campaign Strategy
• Erika Polus, Manager, Digital, Marketing, & Merchandising
• Ryan Jarrard, Director of Merchandising Services
• Kenneth Hausmann, Director- Natural Living
• Ellie Moline, Category Manager: Supplements
• Isabel Quinn, Category Manager: Body Care
• Kayla Pinto, Category Manager: Vitamins
• Savia Gordon, Category Manager: GM & Non-Foods
• Don Robinson, Category Manager: Fruit
• Jason LaRocca, Category Manager: Floral & Dry Goods
• Thomas Hanyzewski, Category Manager: Vegetables
• Tom Hartman, Director of Operations Mid-West

More Featured Guests attending the event:

• To be announced!

• Coming soon

Want an opportunity to sample at the event?

(Opportunities are limited, but as always, all brands are encouraged to bring samples in their backpack to share).

About

We have a simple mission at Fresh Thyme: to improve the way our communities eat by offering fresh and healthy food at amazing values.

We pride ourselves on our wide selection of fresh, local, and organic produce and meat alongside a variety of trusted, national brands and local favorites.

Startup CPG is the biggest community in the world for emerging brands. We have 28k+ 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!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

1415 W Diehl Rd, 1415 West Diehl Road, Naperville, United States