Get The Scoop With Smirk's Podcast

About Get The Scoop With Smirk's Podcast

The Bulk Ingredient Network for the Natural Food Industry It's our mission to help you navigate the world of high-quality bulk food ingredients, so you can produce and market products you are passionate about. This podcast is where we share everything we know about bulk ingredients. You'll hear a wide range of industry feature stories, commodity market news, and expert insights into bulk nuts, seeds & grains, coconut products, dried fruits and much more. Each episode will include Smirk's own Industry Market Report one of the resources our current clients depend on. It's the latest natural foods industry news compiled by Smirk's commodity buying experts. You will know the key takeaways for the bulk items your company relies on. We'll also will go deep into specific ingredients with our product category experts sharing origin info, applications, specs, and new product innovation ideas. We'll even touch on cosmetic and pet food industry ingredients. You'll hear the natural products industry stories of our growers direct from their locales around the world. There are amazing people in these communities and our relationships make it possible to source the best ingredients for you. You can count on us to provide boots on the ground information from our grower and processor relationships that you won't find anywhere else in the industry. So hit the button where you listen to your favorite podcasts and subscribe to the show. https://smirks.com/podcast/

Publisher

Smirk's Natural Food Team

Category

business · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

31 Oct 2023

Latest episode

13 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

20 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Apr 2026

   ExpoWest 2026 Ingredient & Product Trends EP 19

   Exploring a new formulation? Looking for ingredient solutions? Need specs, samples, or pricing guidance? Reach out to us at: whatsnew@smirks.com At Expo West 2026, Elisa Louis, Zach Schwindt, and Garrett McBride break down the ingredient and product trends shaping natural foods right now. From protein-fiber formulations and hydration innovation to dates, coconut, mushrooms, sour flavors, and clean-label functionality, this episode explores how brands are creating products that deliver more without compromise. Don't miss the market report with everything you need to know about expected availability and pricing shifts.

2. 

   5 Sept 2025

   Fall Harvest 2025 EP 18

   Host Louis is joined by Jessica Warden (VP Sales & Biz Dev) and Garrett McBride (VP Operations) to unpack what buyers need to know heading into Fall 2025 including supply/demand, pricing, contracting strategy, and tariffs along with a few noteworthy sourcing updates from Smirk’s. What we cover Tariffs 101: Who pays, how Smirk’s invoices (tariffs listed as a separate, non-marked-up line item), and how shifting tariffs are changing origin choices. Nuts Including walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios, pecans, pine nuts, macadamias, cashews and Brazil nuts. Seeds & Grains Including sunflower, pumpkin, chia, flax/sesame/amaranth, oats, quinoa, coconut oil, water powder and sugar. Dried Fruit Including mango, organic banana coins, apples, cranberries,  and What to do now (Buyer To-Dos) Questions or coverage requests? Contact your Smirk’s trader and we’ll build a plan.

3. 

   8 Apr 2025

   ExpoWest 2025 - Highlights & Trends EP 17

   Elisa Louis and Jessica Warden recapped their experience at ExpoWest 2025 and there was no shortage of excitement. Smirk’s had a strong presence, not only at the main show but also at the Fresh Ideas Organic Marketplace and the SoCal IFT Show. The event itself was bustling, drawing 70,000 attendees and 3,000 exhibitors, with a condensed, mid-week schedule that kept the energy high. Elisa and Jessica dove deep into major trends shaking up the organic and natural foods world. Listen for more details regarding: Protein Reigns Supreme Protein-packed everything stole the show. Highlights include pasta sauces and overnight oats to pretzels and even meat snacks. Interestingly, there was a noticeable uptick in real meat products alongside traditional plant-based offerings. Egg Innovations Eggs and egg replacements were everywhere. Plant-based "hardboiled eggs" made from almonds and cashews wowed attendees, along with clever egg replacement ingredients like steamed chickpea flour. Functional Foods & GLP-1 Friendly Products With a surge in consumer interest around wellness, foods rich in fiber, protein, and gut-friendly ingredients were trending. Brands are already calling out GLP-1 friendliness on labels, catering to new diet trends sparked by medications like Ozempic. Global Fusion & Chaos Cooking From miso-infused veggie chips to Indian-inspired lemonade and Korean kimchi salsa, global flavors dominated. The "chaos cooking" trend of blending cuisines without traditional rules was clearly alive and well. Gut Health & Functional Beverages Fermentation, probiotics, and drinkable multivitamins were strong players. Functional waters with adaptogens and non-alcoholic craft beverages also made a huge splash, proving that "better-for-you" drinks are here to stay. Nostalgia Meets Innovation From root beer float-flavored popcorn to revamped Rice Krispie treats made with quinoa and brown rice, nostalgic flavors brought a fun, playful vibe across the show floor. The retro theme wasn’t just reflected in products, but in nostalgic branding too. Sustainability Front and Center Upcycled ingredients like imperfect rice, regenerative organic certifications, compostable packaging, and eco-friendly household products were everywhere, signaling a deepening commitment to sustainability. The overall vibe of the show is best described as contagious energy, endless innovation, and plenty of surprises (including getting locked out of their rental house!). ExpoWest 2025 didn't disappoint, it inspired. April 2025 Market Report: Due to recent announcements from the U.S. government regarding potential new reciprocal tariffs on goods imported globally, Smirk’s is holding off on issuing a detailed market update. There is too much uncertainty about which countries and which ingredients will be affected, so no official market information will be provided this month. Smirk’s recommends staying connected through LinkedIn and subscribing to the Smirk’s newsletter (https://www.smirks.com/) for real-time updates as the situation evolves. Want Smirk’s help sourcing ingredients spotted at ExpoWest? Connect at smirks.com.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

1,957

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Podcast Authority Score: 46 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

55

Social presence

0

YouTube

68

Engagement

27

Contact Get The Scoop With Smirk's Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.