Food and Beverage Public Relations | O'Dwyer's PR Magazine

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Profiles of Food & Beverage PR Firms:

Matthew Caiola, CEO
Ronn Torossian, Founder & Chmn.
Leigh Ann Ambrosi, Managing Partner, EVP, Consumer Lifestyle

5W Public Relations (5W) is a top independently owned PR firm based in New York City. Since 2003, 5W has partnered with emerging brands, household names, restaurants, hospitality groups, and established CPG companies to deliver strategic communications programs that build visibility, shape brand narratives, and drive measurable growth.

5W’s dedicated Food & Beverage practice specializes in elevating brands across the full ecosystem, from CPG and better-for-you startups to legacy food manufacturers, restaurant groups, wine & spirits brands, and hospitality-driven concepts. The team combines deep media relationships with industry expertise to create integrated campaigns that generate awareness, secure impactful coverage, and influence consumer purchasing decisions.

Beyond Food & Beverage, 5W serves a broad range of industries, including Consumer Products, Beauty, Apparel & Accessories, Home, Travel & Hospitality, Technology, Entertainment & Sports, Nonprofit, Corporate Communications, Crisis Communications, and Digital & Social Media. With 200+ professionals, the agency delivers an integrated, results-driven approach spanning PR, digital, branding, and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), powered by robust measurement and analytics to ensure clients connect with their audiences and drive measurable business growth.

5W was honored as one of Ragan’s Top Places to Work in Communications and recognized on Digiday’s WorkLife Employer of the Year list. The agency’s campaigns have also earned top distinctions, including Consumer Product PR Campaign of the Year, Business-to-Business Campaign of the Year, and Travel & Tourism Campaign of the Year, among others.

At 360PR+, you could say that food & beverage is our bread and butter. We’ve built CPG brands across every aisle of the grocery store, as well as across kitchen countertops, food service, publishing, and sustainable agriculture. We understand like no one else how decision makers and consumers discover, shop, eat and entertain.

We don’t just follow food trends—we help shape them. Our team works closely with the editorial leaders, social influencers, chefs, nutrition experts and entrepreneurs driving conversations and coverage about food. We also invest in the latest technologies to determine what aspects of culture and which sources matter most for our clients, informing the creation of campaigns that breakthrough. We add to that winning thought leadership in agenda-setting media and always-on storytelling that fuels brand relevance day in and day out.

It’s why some of the most beloved and innovative food and beverage brands have chosen 360PR+ as their partner—Bob’s Red Mill, Little Leaf Farms, Louis Latour Wines, Nasoya, Primo Hoagies, Vermont Creamery, Milo’s Tea Company, Slice Soda and Suja Organic to name a few. Invite us to your table and see what we can do for your brand.

360PR+ is an award-winning, certified B Corporation and PROI Worldwide partner, offering clients reach and expertise in 100+ cities across the U.S. and globally.

BLAZE is the go-to PR agency for lifestyle brands hungry for a real piece of the marketshare. Fresh and seasoned, our boutique agency is comprised of veteran practitioners who stay one step ahead of trends and will not rest on the laurels of past successes. Our media strategies are meaty, creative and on-point because they are backed by a thoughtful process that considers the particular world of each brand.

Recent Awards: PR Week, Best Places to Work; LA Business Journal, Best Places to Work; Inc., Best Places to Work.

Clients include: Boxed Water is Better, Bushwick Kitchen, Clark Foods, Electrolit, Golden West Food Group, Mary’s Gone Crackers, NadaMoo!, Pickle Juice and Skinny Butcher.

Ladd Biro, Founder & Principal
Eric Spiritas, Principal
Courtney Mazzella, Vice President, Client Services
Adam Reed, Vice President of Strategy
Chris Lueking, Sr. Director, Digital Media

Restaurant brands looking to ignite their stories, dominate the headlines, captivate through content, amp up franchise sales and drive traffic—both on-premise and online—partner with Champion.

Established in 2002 and proud to be the leading PR agency in the restaurant space, Champion is a fully integrated, omni-channel marketing firm providing best-in-class public relations, local restaurant marketing, franchise development lead generation, organic social and paid digital media, influencerNIL marketing and crisis communications support to a blue-chip roster of brands from our centrally located offices in Dallas. (By the way, we love New York and California, but our calls, texts and emails get to producers and editors there just as quickly as the high-priced agencies based on the East and West Coasts.)

We win plenty of awards for our work, but Champion’s true measures of success are forged through partnerships with extraordinary brands like Nothing Bundt Cakes, Buffalo Wild Wings GO, Wendy’s, Twin Peaks, Golden Corral, Dog Haus, Handel’s Ice Cream and JINYA Ramen Bar—to name only a few.

Don’t know Champion? Ask around. Our stellar and scrappy team has built a reputation for excellence marked by principal-level attention to every client, an outstanding network of national and local media relationships spanning the country, innovative social media content, traffic-driving digital advertising and high-quality lead generation for our franchised brands.

Carolyn Izzo-Feldman, Founder & CEO
Amy Sedeño, Vice President & Partner
Jennifer Barry, Managing Director

PR & Social Media for the food & beverage, travel & tourism, hospitality, and lifestyle industries.

CIIC PR is an award-winning, full-service public relations, social media, influencer relations, and marketing firm specializing in creating dynamic campaigns for food & beverage brands. For 30 years, our agency has been dedicated to servicing some of the top food & beverage brands with dynamic public relations campaigns and award-winning results.

CIIC PR got its start by putting Krispy Kreme Doughnuts on the map when they first launched in the Northeast. Since then, the agency has represented many leading F&B brands, including Sushi by Bou, Jov? Water, Stadacone Gin, Red Bull, Barton & Guestier Wines of France, Sovány, Florida Wine Academy, 305 Wines, The Original Soupman, Opal Apples, Bibigo Foods, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Kona Red Beverages, Coney Island Brewing Company, New Leaf Beverages, California Pizza Kitchen, Bohlsen Restaurant Group, and more.

We are adept at launches, openings, and franchisor relations, and are known for our networking expertise and extensive contacts in the trade, media, and influencer categories, which we leverage to increase the level of reach, media coverage and access for our clientele. From working with key influencers and A-list media, to arranging appearances on network television shows, managing product sampling, and planning top-level events in your key markets, our goal is to strategically and creatively deliver the best results at the best value.

CIIC is a woman-owned & operated business (WBENC Certified) and a proud member of latamPR, and Tribe Global, furthering our global reach for brands looking to expand their footprint.

For more information or to inquire about new business opportunities, contact 845/358-3920 x11 or email [email protected]. Learn more about us at www.ciicpr.com.

Thomas F. Coyne, CEO
Rich Lukis, President
Tim Schramm, Executive Vice President
Jackie Peskin, Senior Vice President

For more than three decades, Coyne PR has helped food and beverage brands earn attention, shape conversation and drive measurable business impact in an increasingly complex communications environment.

From legacy household names to emerging disruptors, Coyne’s Food & Nutrition practice helps brands navigate a nonlinear consumer journey shaped by earned media, social platforms, influencers, and increasingly, AI-powered discovery.

Our team of 135+ culturally diverse communications professionals brings together creative thinking with disciplined strategy, building attention-grabbing campaigns, integrated programs and culture-tapping moments that drive relevance, trial and long-term brand equity. Coyne’s deep industry experience in crisis and issues management helps brands prepare proactively, respond quickly, protect trust and restore confidence.

250 Hudson St., 16th Floor
New York, NY 10013
212/768-0550
Fax: 212/704-0117
www.edelman.com

Edelman is a global communications firm that partners with businesses and organizations to evolve, promote and protect their brands and reputations. Our 6,000 people in more than 60 offices deliver communications strategies that give our clients the confidence to lead and act with certainty, earning the trust of their stakeholders. Our honors include the Cannes Lions Grand Prix for PR; Advertising Age’s 2019 A-List; the Holmes Report’s 2018 Global Digital Agency of the Year; and, five times, Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work. Since our founding in 1952, we have remained an independent, family-run business. Edelman owns specialty companies Edelman Intelligence (research) and United Entertainment Group (entertainment, sports, lifestyle).

Mathew L. Evins, Chairman
Louise R. Evins, CEO
Jacqueline Long, President
David Harrison, Executive Vice President
David Abrams, Head of Media and Development
Michelle Kelly, Vice President

Evins is a marketing communications and public relations agency for travel, hospitality, wine and spirits, and premium lifestyle brands. Combining insight-driven strategy and creative activation, we elevate and help brands define their purpose at the intersection of message, community, and culture. Our creativity serves to strengthen brand relevance and perception, and the impact of our expertise is measured through data intelligence and professional knowledge. The result is work that engages and inspires audiences worldwide.

Andrea Carrothers, MS, RD, Senior Vice President, Group Lead
Allison Mikita, MS, Senior Vice President, Group Lead

FoodMinds is a leading global food and nutrition agency, providing strategic science, policy, and influencer communications programs that achieve clients’ business goals while also doing good for public health, people and the planet.

We put passion into practice across health & wellbeing, global food and nutrition affairs, and sustainable food systems, to affect change and impact behaviors. FoodMinds is a destination where talented food, nutrition, public health and sustainability experts come together to leverage science & insights, stakeholder relationships, consumer values and multi-dimensional communications to produce meaningful results. FoodMinds employs nutrition experts, policy wonks, trend watchers and storytellers—and is the only agency with 15+ registered dietitians and a Global ExpertBench™ of nutrition science, policy, and communication professionals—to help our clients tell a better story.

FoodMinds works with food, nutrition & wellness companies, leading brands, commodity boards and associations globally, including several Fortune 500 companies. FoodMinds is a division of Padilla, a full-service agency that transforms brands and organizations through strategically creative communications, advertising, digital and social marketing, investor relations and brand strategy. Contact us at foodminds.com to get started.

Rick French, Chairman & CEO
David Gwyn, President / Principal
Natalie Best, Chief Operating Officer / Principal

French/West/Vaughan (FWV) is the Southeast’s leading public relations, public affairs, advertising and digital media agency, a distinction it has held since 2001. Headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., and founded in April 1997, FWV has received 40 Global or National Agency of the Year honors over the past 29 years. Its food & beverage practice area is ranked among the 15 largest in the country.

FWV specializes in creating maximum brand exposure through integrated campaigns that include earned media, promotional partnerships, celebrity endorsements, sponsor relations, event management, social media, influencer marketing, experiential activations and trade shows. The firm has vast experience with product launches in B2C and B2B channels, as well as in strategic counsel on issues related to environmental topics, supply chain, manufacturing and product recalls.

This broad range of expertise, including the evolving communications and content technologies utilized by consumers and the industry, has enabled FWV to support some of the most sought-after F&B brands in the world, including Melitta Coffee, Moe’s Southwest Grill, BurgerFi, Certified Angus Beef, The Coca-Cola Company (NESTEA, Gold Peak, Minute Maid, DASANI, Simply Orange), 3 Loves, ConAgra (Slim Jim, Pemmican Beef Jerky), Nabisco Foods, Brinker International (Maggiano’s Little Italy restaurants), Elevation Burger, Community Coffee, Steakhouse Elite, House-Autry, Atlantic Natural Foods, Lidl, Whole Foods Market, Smithfield Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q, the N.C. Pork Council, North Carolina SweetPotato Commission and Snakkidz. Our past and present client roster in the beer, wine and spirits category includes Proximo (Pendleton Whisky), Brown-Forman (Jack Daniel’s), Diageo North America (Bulleit Bourbon), Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits (Josh Cellars, Yellow Tail, The Calling), BRAND Napa Valley, Grain and Barrel Spirits, Mother Earth Brewing, St. Michelle Wine Estates and the N.C. Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association. The agency has also produced award-winning campaigns for celebrity chefs Christine Hazel, Jeff Mauro, Lorena Garcia and Aliya LeeKong, among many others.

FWV is the parent company of fashion and lifestyle PR firm AMP3 (New York City), pet and animal health practice FWV Fetching; and Prix Productions, a feature film and documentary production company. FWV employs more than 140 public relations, public affairs, social media, advertising and digital marketing experts between its Raleigh, N.C., headquarters and offices around the country.

G&S Integrated Marketing Communications Group fuels transformation for innovative brands through our two agencies, G&S Business Communications and MorganMyers, a G&S Agency. We provide strategic communications, public relations, branding, digital marketing, creative and advertising, and reputation management solutions for businesses shaping the future.

G&S Business Communications specializes in B2B storytelling, simplifying complex topics to engage audiences. The agency serves Fortune 500, mid-market, and start-up companies across key industries: Advanced Manufacturing & Industry, Agribusiness, Healthcare, Home & Outdoor and Professional Services.

MorganMyers builds, promotes, and protects food and agriculture brands, fostering demand and trust from “field and farm to food and fork.” With deep category expertise, the agency moves companies from where they are to where they want to be.

As an independent, midsized group, we remain agile while delivering senior counsel and deep strategic insights. Our PROI Worldwide partnership provides global reach with in-language and in-time zone support across 60 countries and 165 cities, including London, Hong Kong, Frankfurt, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo.

Justin H. Wilson, Partner ([email protected])
Nancy Floyd, Partner ([email protected])

Hall Strategies has become an industry leader in hospitality PR through our award-winning strategic communications and public relations campaigns for a wide array of hospitality clients. We successfully often propel new-to-market brands and original creations to become the most sought-after experiences in Music City.

Our clients have become some of Nashville’s top destinations, including Fox Restaurant Concepts and its concepts The Twelve Thirty Club, Pushing Daisies, Doughbird, The Henry, and more; the iconic Halls Chophouse as well as Hal’s “The Steakhouse”; and Four Seasons Hotel Nashville and its signature restaurants. We have managed press for some of the largest openings in Nashville’s history such as Posty’s which drew 30,000 fans on Broadway for a Post Malone concert. We also launched Fifth + Broadway, the greatest single infusion of retail and culinary in downtown Nashville’s history to instant critical and cultural success.

For these clients, we manage all components of a successful communications campaign that compels interest, attendance, and fandom. This includes management of media relations, public relations, comprehensive communications strategies, advertising and sponsorship strategy, event management, social media management, and influencer relationships.

Samantha Jacobs, Founder & President
Michael Jacobs, Chief Operations Officer
Lacey Outten, Associate Vice President, Food, Wine & Spirits
Kayla Atwater, Associate Vice President, Travel & Hospitality

Hemsworth is a top-ranked communications strategy, PR and social media agency with a dedicated team that partners with chefs, restaurants, food/wine/spirits brands and leading global franchises to drive buzz and business. With locations in Atlanta, Charleston, Fort Lauderdale, New York City and Tampa, as well as a network of vetted freelancers in other top media markets globally, Hemsworth crafts tailored programs that encompass brand strategy, media relations, social media, influencer marketing, event programming, thought leadership and more. The agency is comprised of experts from across the industry—including former restaurant owners, operators, brand marketers, restaurant franchising professionals and industry strategists—who share unprecedented passion, insight and connections to surpass client expectations, delivering personal service and powerful results.

One World Trade Center, Floor 68
New York, NY 10007
212/679-6825
www.hunterpr.com

Grace Leong, CEO
Gigi García Russo, Chief Transformation Officer
Julie Sternberg, Managing Director, Food and Beverage

HUNTER is an award-winning marketing communications firm with a rich history of working with globally recognized food + beverage brands. With offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, and London and partnerships that extend our reach globally, we’ve earned recognition as a “Best Place to Work” and “Consumer Agency of the Year.” Our 325+ team serves renowned brands including International Delight, Häagen-Dazs Shops, Sam Adam’s, Premier Protein, Zaxby’s, the National Pork Board, and TABASCO Brand Pepper Sauce—our first client 36 years ago and still a client today.

Frequently ranked among the top three food & beverage practices in the US, our firm employs a powerful blend of marketing solutions including strategic planning, social and digital media, talent and influencer engagement, media relations, experiential and multicultural marketing, and content creation and distribution for all platforms and channels to earn consumer attention and corporate reputation.

From mouthwatering chef collaborations to exclusive first taste events to #FoodTok, food and beverage is in our DNA. Eating, drinking, cooking and dining are critical parts of every consumer’s pursuit of family connection, entertainment, self-care and happiness. Through a powerful blend of our staff’s passion for food culture, relationships with food and bev influencers, and prowess for strategic consumer marketing, we help brands show up in the cultural conversations, trends, and events that matter most to consumers when choosing what to eat and drink today.

In addition to our core competencies, we offer specialized services tailored to food and beverage clients, including recipe development and photography, strong relationships with bartenders, mixologists, chefs, and celebrity food influencers across both social and traditional media, and strategic partnerships with government and non-profit organizations that are shaping today’s food and beverage conversations.

Established in 1998, ICR partners with public and private companies to execute strategic communications and advisory programs, and manage complex transactions and corporate events to enhance long-term enterprise value and corporate reputation. The firm’s highly-differentiated service model, which pairs capital markets veterans with senior communications professionals, brings deep sector knowledge and relationships to hundreds of clients across more than 20 industry groups. With more than 400 team members, ICR is one of the largest and most experienced independent communications and advisory firms, maintaining offices in New York, Connecticut, Boston, Baltimore, San Jose, London, and Beijing. Learn more at icrinc.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and on X at @ICRPR.

Clients: Shake Shack, Authentic Restaurant Brands, Dutch Brothers, Fogo de Chao, Tom’s Watch Bar, Panera, Portillo’s, The ONE Group (STK, Kona Grill, Benihana, etc.), and more.

Hinda Mitchell, Founder & President
Hana Bieliauskas, Senior Vice President & Partner
Diane Hurd, Senior Vice President & Partner
Katie Lundy, Vice President
Emily Sword, Vice President

Inspire is a national integrated communications agency recognized for its work with food production, agriculture, foodservice and retail clients to facilitate change, create connection and accelerate progress through inspired communication.

Inspire’s strength lies in asking smart questions, crafting tailored solutions and telling engaging stories. Clients benefit from a unique combination of deep food and agriculture industry expertise and an understanding of the critical business issues affecting reputational trust across sectors.

Inspire helps clients navigate the big picture and the tactical win by aligning communications with core values and business goals. By knowing the end users¬—retail, foodservice, restaurants and consumers—and how to connect with them, Inspire knows how to tell food and farming stories in an honest, compelling and relevant way.

Client partnership is demonstrated through transparency, accountability and a commitment to measurable business results. For decades, Inspire has earned the role of trusted advisor to several leading food and agriculture organizations, including global agriculture clients, national and state checkoff organizations, farmer cooperatives, food and farm trade associations, food manufacturers, retailers, restaurants and foodservice businesses.

Independently recognized as one of the top PR and communications agencies in the country, Inspire’s mid-sized team combines passion and expertise to be the trusted partner you want in the room.

For over a decade, JPR Group Public Relations has established itself as a powerhouse in the supermarket and food retail industry. Our expertise shines in our long-standing partnership with Allegiance Retail Services and the co-op members, where we have celebrated store openings, shared the journeys of company leaders, and highlighted community initiatives that enrich and unite local neighborhoods throughout New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

As a certified Women Business Enterprise led by seasoned PR professional Jeanine Genauer, we bring a boutique agency’s personal touch with enterprise-level impact. Our team excels in crafting authentic narratives that resonate with local media, turning everyday moments into meaningful connections that build lasting relationships and positively impact the communities.

JPR Group’s comprehensive services include strategic media relations, community-focused storytelling, event management, and award submissions while also supporting conference events for the restaurant supply chain industry. Recognized as a Leading Brand Builder by Leading Women Entrepreneurs and honored with the Great Oak Award in New Jersey Monthly Magazine, we continue to strengthen the bonds between food retailers and the communities they serve through compelling communication and timely media engagement.

For more than 35 years, Marx Layne & Company has been a trusted leader in public relations, marketing, and digital communications to clients in the food and beverage industry. From fast casual restaurant groups and fine dining establishments to supermarkets and food and beverage manufacturers, we understand how to drive business growth and build lasting brand loyalty.

Whether launching a new restaurant, introducing a food or beverage product line, or managing complex communications challenges, our team consistently delivers measurable results backed by decades of specialized industry insight.

From headline-making openings, strategic influencer campaigns, and loyalty marketing to crisis communications, media relations, and community engagement, Marx Layne’s integrated approach combines creative storytelling with the power of trusted relationships. Every program we design is built to raise awareness, increase traffic, and turn first-time patrons into lasting relationships.

Drawing decades of deep category knowledge, we understand how patrons choose where to dine, how consumers select products, and what truly drives traffic, ticket size, and long-term loyalty for food and beverage brands. Marx Layne’s clients have included some of the most recognizable names in the industry—McDonald’s, California Pizza Kitchen, Morton’s, Ocean Prime, Wolfgang Puck, Kroger, Walmart, Faygo, Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters, and many others —each representing our passion for helping brands thrive in a competitive marketplace.

Padilla’s Food, Beverage + Nutrition Practice is one of the strongest and most experienced in the country. Balancing deeply rooted expertise with cutting-edge insights and technology, Padilla’s team navigates complex challenges and delivers impactful solutions.

Located in the world’s media capital—we represent beloved brands and marketing cooperatives for all audiences: consumer, foodservice, retail and beyond.

Our award-winning team of credentialed culinary, beverage and nutrition experts, food and lifestyle media specialists, and business pros are skilled in making the consumer’s decision easy by leveraging data and insights to capture the rational and emotional “why” that defines your unique value proposition.

Padilla is a full-service agency that transforms brands and organizations through strategically creative communications. Padilla operates in seven cities in the U.S. through its family of brands, which includes SHIFT (performance communications), FoodMinds (food and nutrition affairs) and Joe Smith (brand strategy). As an AVENIR GLOBAL company and a founding member of the Worldcom Public Relations Group, the agency provides services to clients through 115 offices worldwide. Transform with purpose at PadillaCo.com.

Pollock Communications is a full-service public relations agency specializing in food, beverage, nutrition and wellness. With over 25 years of experience, we partner with brands, commodity boards and industry organizations to navigate the evolving media landscape. Through science-based communications, influencer engagement and strategic storytelling, we create meaningful impact and drive consumer action.

What sets us apart is our proven ability to translate complex nutrition science into compelling, consumer-friendly messages that resonate with media, health professionals and consumers alike. Our annual “What’s Trending in Nutrition” survey, conducted with Today’s Dietitian, polls hundreds of RDNs to uncover emerging food and health trends, positioning us at the forefront of industry insights.

Our expertise extends beyond communications to public policy efforts that shape the food and nutrition landscape. We have experience working with the USDA and FDA on key nutrition initiatives, providing clients with strategic guidance on policy development and advocacy efforts.

From securing top-tier media coverage to developing innovative digital activations, Pollock Communications stays ahead of industry trends to help clients build credibility, grow awareness and drive demand. Whether launching a new product, advocating for health benefits or engaging key opinion leaders, we deliver measurable results that place your product front and center with key target audiences.

Amy Binder, Founder and CEO
Atalanta Rafferty, Co-Founder and Head of Food, Drinks & Nutrition Practice
Craig Blakaitis, Senior Managing Director, Food, Drinks & Nutrition Practice
Rebecca Binder, President

At RF|Binder, we don’t just build buzz—we drive measurable impact. From sparking social media conversations to driving headlines in top-tier outlets, our creative campaigns transform food and beverage brands into pantry staples and cultural icons. Every program we design is grounded in strategy and fueled by insight, tapping into influencers, social communities and cultural moments to spark authentic engagement, garner media coverage and deliver real business results.

Our award-winning work spans the entire food and beverage landscape, from CPG, QSR and restaurant brands to retail, B2B ingredients, wine, beer and spirits, as well as country trade groups and industry associations. As the industry continues to face inflationary prices, navigate the complex cultural landscape and determine the role of AI, we specialize in supporting category disruptors, emerging innovators in food tech and brands rooted in heritage and authenticity. Whether it’s reputation-building or a crisis response, our team has deftly managed everything from product recalls and in-store incidents to customer complaints and activist campaigns. When you partner with RF|Binder, you tap into a powerhouse of expertise that drives growth, shapes culture and protects your brand.

RF|Binder is a fully integrated communications and consulting firm, powered by strategy, creativity, analytics and purpose. We are independent, entrepreneurial and woman-owned.

Kathy Bloomgarden, Chief Executive Officer
Peggy Walsh, Chief Operating Officer
Michael Schubert, Chief Innovation Officer
Ian Glover, Chief Financial Officer
Tejas Totade, Chief Technology Officer and Head of RF TechLab
Rachel Spielman, Chief Strategy & Change Officer, North America
Eric Petersen, Managing Director, Digital
Corinne Gudovic, Managing Director, Brand Marketing
Ilana Shenitzer, Executive Vice President, CPG Food & Beverage

Ruder Finn helps food and beverage brands lead in a category undergoing seismic changes in health, technology, and stakeholder expectations. We’ve partnered with 16 of the world’s 20 largest food manufacturers, including PepsiCo Foods, J.M. Smucker, General Mills, ConAgra, and Mars, while also accelerating growth for challenger brands like Oh Snap! Pickles, Noodles & Company, and Kite Hill.

Today’s food and beverage industry extends far past its shoppers. We map the full ecosystem across growers, suppliers, retailers, regulators, creators, and more, and use AI to understand how each audience discovers and advocates for brands.

We also embed AI across the communications lifecycle by using generative engine optimization (GEO) to analyze how platforms interpret brand content, testing creative in-market before launch, consulting predictive analytics to anticipate reputational risk, and using AI-powered influencer mapping to identify the nano- and micro-voices leading the food and beverage conversations. Our teams are trained with the skills to ensure both powerful and practical innovation.

The outcome is smarter storytelling grounded in real-time insight that helps food and beverage brands lead confidently and build lasting relevance in a fast-moving, tech-driven marketplace.

Suzanne Parsonage Miller, President and Founder
Loren Rutledge, General Manager

For over 25 years, SPM has partnered with the brands shaping how America eats and drinks, from category-defining powerhouses like Chipotle to emerging category disruptors like Salad and Go, and from resurgent franchise systems like Shipley Do-Nuts to iconic CPG brands like Zapp’s Potato Chips.

We’ve built our reputation on breakthrough work that drives business results. SPM was Whataburger’s first PR agency of record, helping the legacy brand cement its cult-favorite status, and we went on to launch the Chipotle brand in Texas and support its expansion throughout the Southeast. From that foundation, our work now spans the food and beverage category, including family dining, full-service and fast casual restaurant brands, plus craft brewing, CPG and large franchise systems.

Our approach integrates the full spectrum of modern brand-building: strategic media relations, GEO and AI optimization, influencer partnerships, executive thought leadership and franchise development support, creating narratives that move markets.

When crisis hits, we’re the team client brands trust most. We’ve managed more than 7,000 crisis situations, and our battle-tested protocols are deployed in restaurant locations nationwide.

Current food & beverage clients include Chuck E. Cheese, Clean Juice, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Del Frisco’s Grille, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Karbach Brewing Co., Miller’s Ale House, Papas Bros. Steakhouse, Peter Piper Pizza, Philz Coffee, Pollo Campero, Salad and Go, Shipley Do-Nuts, Utz Brands and Velvet Taco.

Neil Alumkal, Founder and CEO
Dani Beldoch, Vice President, Hospitality
Alexandra Bruzzese, General Manager, Rome

Founded in 2010, Stuntman is a global media relations agency with a specialized client roster of culinary and hospitality practice areas. The agency’s focus is to implement all facets of traditional PR and social media as well as garner attention through highly creative and disruptive strategies. With offices in Manhattan and Rome, the agency handles U.S. publicity campaigns for legacy brands such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Balsamic Vinegar of Modena and San-J Tamari.

Tony Signore, Chairman
Maeve Hagen, CEO & Mng. Partner
Mike Costabile, Chief Client Officer & Mng. Partner
Christina Merritt, Chief Strategy Officer

Taylor is an award-winning public relations and marketing communications agency headquartered in New York City.

Named “Consumer Agency of the Decade” by The Holmes Report, Taylor partners with the world’s leading brands to unlock opportunities for growth at the intersection of culture and creativity. As “Shapers of Possibility,” the agency uses its heritage in sports & entertainment to drive measurable brand and business impact.

• Consumer insights and cultural intelligence.
• Brand strategy and planning.
• Creative development and content production.
• Digital strategy and social media marketing.
• Strategic media relations.
• Influencer and talent partnerships.
• Event creative and production.
• Measurement, analytics, and evaluation.
• Executive media training

For more than 40 years, Taylor has specialized in food and beverage marketing communications, partnering with category-leading brands to launch new products, reinvigorate iconic portfolios, and sustain marketplace momentum.

The agency has deep experience in beverage alcohol marketing through its long-standing partnership with Diageo, a global leader in beverage alcohol. Taylor has supported brands including Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Guinness, and Smirnoff, delivering integrated campaigns spanning brand storytelling, social and influencer, earned media, content production and experiential marketing.

Beyond beverage alcohol, Taylor partners with leading consumer packaged goods companies, including multiple brands within the Procter & Gamble (P&G) portfolio. The agency also brings experience working with brands such as Red Bull, Chobani, Taco Bell, and Keurig, providing strategic communications and integrated marketing support.

Trevelino/Keller continues to be a one-shop solution for its food, beverage, restaurant and franchise clients, leveraging all practices—public relations, growth marketing and creative services—to serve both iconic and emerging brands. Leading the way is the company’s franchise area of expertise which includes brands like Nathan’s Famous, KPOT, Hook & Reel, Kinya Ramen, Ugly Dumpling, Ella Cafe and more. The agency is often sought after because of its ability to support both b2b [franchise sales in the case of franchise brands] as well as consumer engagement at the grassroots level driving loyalty, delivery and in-store sales.

With a long-standing experience base in food-tech with brands like Tillster, Naranga, Ziosk, Table Top Media and more, clients benefit from having the team at the table to negotiate promotional programming with the likes of Uber Eats, Door Dash and Grubhub. Beyond restaurant and franchise concepts, the firm has a base of experience with wine and spirits, having introduced the first Spotify-enabled wine label in the US, one of the first modern art distilleries and the oldest operating distillery in Georgia since prohibition. The firm is also known for its long-running Winepreneurs club which brings entrepreneurs together throughout the year to connect over some of California and Europe’s finer wines.

Trevelino/Keller’s sweet spot is emerging brands having launched and scaled brands like Moe’s Southwest Grill, Shane’s Rib Shack, Planet Smoothie, Mama Fu’s, Boneheads, Original Hot Chicken, Doc Green’s as well as its work refreshing concepts like Johnny Rockets, Steak ‘N Shake, TCBY, Paris Baguette, Roy Rogers and Corner Bakery Café.

For brand refreshes, go to market or accelerated growth strategies or crisis communications, visit trevelinokeller.com.

WordHampton Public Relations is an award-winning boutique PR firm located in the Hamptons servicing the NY metro area. Specializing in signature hospitality, lifestyle, real estate and Hamptons businesses, WordHampton has been building client reputations and revenues for over 30 years. Our team creates a customized approach for every client utilizing strategic and creative thinking, deep media and community relationships and social media expertise.

WordHampton’s robust client roster includes several signature restaurants in the Hamptons including Nick & Toni’s, Rowdy Hall, Almond, Lulu Kitchen, Duryea’s, The Clam Bar, Arthur & Sons, Navy Beach, LUNCH Lobster Roll, Sushi by Bou and The Beacon and specializes in new restaurant launches in the Hamptons and throughout Long Island. The firm is the driving force behind the award-winning tri-annual event Long Island Restaurant Week coordinating all elements of the event. WordHampton has represented several beverage brands including Origen Holistic Spirits, Bedell Cellars winery and Diplomatico Rum among others.

Known as Hamptons Insiders, WordHampton has developed lifelong relationships with the media, government and community offering a deep knowledge of the unique seasonal market. The firm has launched countless businesses, pop-ups, products and more, resulting in success. The team is spirited, progressive and determined, the ultimate recipe for success.

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