Welcome to *Chill & Chat with NFRA* – the podcast where we keep things cool as we dive into the world of frozen and refrigerated foods! Hosted by NFRA, the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association, this show is your backstage pass to the industry that brings your favorite frozen meals, snacks, and dairy aisle products to life.
Publisher
National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA)
Air Fryers Are Everywhere—Here's What That Means for Frozen & Refrigerated
In this episode of Chill & Chat, Matt Point, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Operations at NFRA, sits down with Stephen Aramburu, Senior Manager of Category Strategy for Total Frozen at Nestle USA, Debbie Curdy, Vice President of Marketing, InnovAsian Cuisine, and Howard Rosenthal, CEO of Culinary Brand Development, to discuss the growing influence of air fryers on today's frozen and refrigerated foods marketplace.
With air fryers now found in most U.S. households, the panel examines how changes in meal preparation are driving changes in shopping behavior. From increased frozen food purchases and product discovery to opportunities around packaging and air fryer instructions, this conversation explores how cooking habits are creating new pathways for category growth.
Listen in for practical insights on how retailers and manufacturers can meet consumers where they cook and better position frozen and refrigerated foods for success in the modern kitchen. For more information, visit NFRAweb.org or check out air fryer-friendly recipes on our consumer-facing website, EasyHomeMeals.com.
24 Jun 2026
How the Dairy Aisle is Evolving – And Why It Matters
In this episode of Chill & Chat, Eric Scarcella, NFRA Communications Manager, is joined by Rachel Kyllo, Dairy Farmers of America, Kimberly Dale, Giant Eagle, and registered dietitian Annette Maggi for a dynamic discussion on how the dairy aisle is evolving to meet today’s shopper needs.
Together, they explore how dairy continues to deliver trusted staples while embracing innovation—from protein-forward products to globally inspired offerings—reflecting changing priorities around nutrition, value, and versatility.
Tune in to hear how retailers and brands can better connect traditional favorites with new solutions to create a more engaging and indispensable shopping experience. For more information on June Dairy Month and the refrigerated aisle, visit NFRAweb.org or our consumer-facing brand, EasyHomeMeals.com.
19 Mar 2026
Aisle Insights: Retail Registered Dietitians and the Future of Health
In this episode of Chill & Chat, Eric Scarcella, NFRA Communications Manager, welcomes Annette Maggi, President of Annette Maggi and Associates, Molly Hembree, Dietitian Supervisor, Kroger, and Tina McGeough, Retail Dietitian, Stop and Shop, for an insightful conversation on the evolving role of the Retail Registered Dietitian and their growing influence across today’s grocery retail environment — timed in recognition of National Nutrition Month.
This discussion explores how the RD profession has expanded beyond its traditional clinical roots to play a meaningful role within the retail environment. Today’s Retail RDs help connect nutrition guidance with real-world shopping decisions through in-store programs, shopper education, and collaboration with brands and retailers.
Tune in to learn how Retail RDs deliver year-round value by supporting healthier shopping and navigating the grocery store. For more education resources and retail dietitian-approved recipes, visit NFRAweb.org (http://NFRAweb.org) or our consumer-facing brand, EasyHomeMeals.com (http://EasyHomeMeals.com).
26 Jan 2026
From Shrink to Strategy: Inside NFRA’s Food Waste Insights Report
In this episode of Chill & Chat, Tricia Greyshock, President & CEO, NFRA, is joined by Eva Goulbourne, Founder & CEO, Littlefoot Ventures, and Marty Steinmetz, Chief Commercial Officer, RealCold, for a conversation on how waste reduction is transforming operations, retailer expectations, cold chain performance, and category growth.
The episode explores the findings and implications of NFRA’s Food Loss & Waste Insights Report, diving into why food waste has become a defining issue for the frozen and refrigerated foods industry. Our guests highlight the built-in waste prevention advantages in the refrigerated and frozen food industry such as extended shelf life, lower shrink, and stronger forecasting value while detailing how NFRA is helping members meet rising regulatory, consumer, and retailer demands.
Listen to this episode for actionable insights on how to integrate food waste reduction across every step of the cold chain. For more information on NFRA’s Food Waste Insights Report, members can access the exclusive research here:
https://nfraweb.junolive.com/main/food_waste_insights. (https://nfraweb.junolive.com/main/food_waste_insights.)
10 Dec 2025
The Next Generation: Student Voices Shaping the Future of Food
Mark Tarzwell interviews food marketing students Nate Muraski, Nicolette Miranda, and Christian Palermo about their experiences at the NFRA Convention and how it shapes their perspectives on the future of food marketing.
3 Dec 2025
Inside NFRA: Membership, Momentum & the Road Ahead
NFRA Executive Committee members Tracy Aquila, Neil Ritchey, and Matt O’Hare discuss how NFRA connects the frozen and refrigerated foods industry and delivers value to members in this interview with Matt Point.
18 Nov 2025
Soft Serve, Big Stakes: Inside CVT’s Penguin Pitch Win
Joe Nicchi discusses his journey of launching CVT Soft Serve, from ice cream trucks to a single-serve pouch, and highlights the impact of NFRA's Penguin Pitch in connecting him with frozen food industry professionals; Kate Landis and Kelley Rodriguez interview him.
30 Oct 2025
Chilling with the Next Generation: A Look Inside NFRA’s First Penguin Program
NFRA's Tricia Greyshock interviews Natalie Larson, Kim Larsson, and Daniel Menkens about NFRA’s First Penguin Next Generation Leadership Program, revealing how it shapes professional growth and inspires innovation in the food industry.
21 Aug 2025
Beyond the Scoop: Ice Cream, Indulgence & What Consumers Crave
Host [Host Name] interviews [Guest Name], exploring how ice cream's emotional appeal and evolving formats meet consumer cravings and economic shifts.
16 May 2025
Nutrition Leadership in Retail: Unlocking ROI Through Wellness and Trust
Discover how retail dietitians are driving nutrition, health, and ROI from an informative panel of registered dietitians: Annette Maggi of Annette Maggi & Associates, Inc.; Laura Brown, Kroger Health; Stacy Bates, H-E-B; and Yvette Waters, The Raley’s Companies. Learn how their evolving roles boost shopper engagement, influence policy, and support brand partnerships while driving impact across the retail landscape.
28 Mar 2025
Content That Converts: How Brands and Creators Are Reshaping Food Marketing
Sam Zien, widely recognized as "Sam The Cooking Guy;" Erin Anderson, Danone North America; Tim Heil and Phyllis Rothschild, Pete and Gerry's Organic Eggs, engage in a thought-provoking discussion about the dynamic world of food content. They explore its rapid evolution, the consumer journey across social media and in-store experiences, and how brands are leveraging creators to stand out, as shopping behaviors and trends continue to shift.
7 Mar 2025
Eggs: An Update on Consumer Demand & Retailer Strategies
Emily Metz, American Egg Board (AEB) President & CEO, and Tricia Greyshock, NFRA President & CEO, discuss the current egg landscape, the impact of the evolving Avian flu, and what the recovery outlook entails. The AEB supports America's egg farmers in its mission to increase demand for U.S. eggs and egg products through research, education, and promotion.
NFRA Members & Retailers: For customized resources on communicating important information to shoppers regarding the current state of the egg industry (pricing, demand, bird flu, etc.), please visit https://www.incredibleegg.org/valueofeggs/ (https://www.incredibleegg.org/valueofeggs/) or reach out to customer@aeb.org (mailto:customer@aeb.org).
1 Feb 2025
Using Shopper Insights & Data to Stay Ahead in the Frozen & Dairy Aisles
Jason Smith, Managing Director USA, Shopper Intelligence, and Tricia Greyshock, President & CEO, NFRA, take a deep dive into shopper satisfaction, attitudes, and behaviors that are shaping trends for the frozen and refrigerated dairy categories.
3 Jan 2025
Building Innovation: Facing Barriers & Fulfilling Consumer Demands
Frozen & Refrigerated Buyer’s Denise Leathers and George Anderson chat with a couple manufacturers on their experiences with harnessing innovation and navigating consumer expectations. John Reaves, CEO of Milton’s Craft Bakers and Louis McEneny, President of Texas Tamale share challenges they’ve faced as well as insights gained while creating and promoting their products in the frozen aisles.
6 Dec 2024
From Pierogies to Plant-Based Milk: Evolution in the Frozen & Refrigerated Categories
Frozen and refrigerated industry veterans Mark Tarzwell, COO of Ateeco Inc./Mrs. T’s Pierogies and Kevin Shields, Director of Sales Eastern US, H.P. Hood, chat with Food Trade News’ Maria Maggio. Hear about their career journeys as well as their experiences with evolution in these categories, from packaging to product lines and the challenges and considerations along the way.
15 Nov 2024
An Undiscovered Value Opportunity for Frozen & Refrigerated Foods?
Join Chill & Chat for a deeper look into a recent research study that identifies the opportunity to meet the needs of a key consumer cohort – families with children ages 4-12. Targeting this demographic by focusing on nutrient density, veggie-forward offerings, and easy protein solutions in the frozen and refrigerated aisles can generate sales and improved shopper satisfaction. Ken Harris, Managing Partner, Cadent Consulting Group moderates a group discussion on innovation and findings with Kristen Thompson, Business Unit President for Green Giant, B&G Foods and Steve Polonowski, Chief Customer Officer, Dr. Praeger’s.
25 Oct 2024
From the Penguin Pitch to Product Tasting: Exploring NFRA’s Innovation-Driven Convention
NFRA President & CEO, Tricia Greyshock; Refrigerated & Frozen Foods Editor in Chief, Kelley Rodriguez; and Penguin Pitch Emerging Brand contest winner Big Mozz's Marlon Weinberg talk frozen innovation at the 2024 NFRA Convention.
Visit https://nfraweb.org/
Who has been a guest on Chill & Chat with NFRA
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Nate Muraski
Nicolette Miranda
Christian Palermo
Joe Nicchi
Natalie Larson
Reach and audience
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
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