Mark Rampolla
Co-Founder
Powerplant Ventures, a private equity firm that invests in companies innovating with plant-based nutrition
While all things plant-based have been hot for a while, watch the segment further blossom and leverage the rich diverse of the green kingdom. Adaptogens are the bridge to personalized health beverages; turmeric, kava, mushrooms, vinegar and ancient ingredients work differently for each of us but will all have mainstream appeal. Move over soy, almonds, and peas; while these core sources will remain relevant and grow, watch for a new wave of ingredients, from pumpkin, sunflower, hemp and coconut to chickpea begin to flex their muscle as great and tasty sources for protein, fat and micro-nutrients. On other fronts, I’m curious to see what Coke and Pepsi do in response to DPSG’s strong move to the hoop purchasing Bai.