Emerging Brands Pitch Contest

Hosted in Collaboration with the Navigator Lighthouse Foundation.

Stay on the Cutting Edge.

Discover the next big thing in grocery. The Emerging Brands Pitch Contest is where up-and-coming new brands meet the industry’s most influential decision-makers. The contest takes center stage, giving six dynamic emerging companies the opportunity to showcase their products to a powerhouse audience of California’s top retailers and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies. Each contestant will have five minutes to deliver their best pitch and impress a room full of industry decision-makers.

Program Highlights Include:

• “Golden Ticket” opportunities to be fast-tracked
  onto retailer shelves
• Receive coaching from industry professionals working with major consumer brands, distributors, brokers, and retail buyers
• On-site sampling opportunities
• Social media promotion opportunities
• Funding opportunities

Criteria To Apply

• Companies must be based in California, either with a headquarters address or product manufacturing within the state.
• Must be retail-ready and capable of promptly shipping products to California retailers upon acceptance into a retailer.
• Must purchase a registration to attend the Gather California in Rancho Mirage, September 27-29, 2026.
• Grocery annualized sales must be in the range of $250k-$3 million.
• Company must be under 5 years old.
• Must have a distribution supply chain network (such as UNFI, KEHE, C&S).
• Will not qualify if they have participated in CGA Emerging Brands Sessions in the past.
• Sales pitch must explain your go-to-market and promotional strategy.

Submissions for the Emerging Brands Pitch Contest are now closed. Thank you for your interest!

Moderator:

Congratulations to our 2026 Contestants!