Annual Conference 2026 Speaker List

Spouted Flexible Pouches and Caps: Advancing the Future of HPP Packaging

Al Madonna, Vice President of Marketing at Cheer Pack North America, will discuss the development and commercialization of the CHEERCircle™ all-PE, recycle-ready spouted pouch and lightweight Vizi™ cap, and how these innovations are helping HPP brands meet evolving sustainability and performance goals. Attendees will gain practical insights into packaging design for HPP applications, including package durability, product-to-package optimization, shelf impact, consumer convenience, and strategies for reducing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) costs. The session will also feature a case study on Once Upon a Farm™ and its transition to this all-PE spouted pouch platform, illustrating how innovative packaging can support both environmental objectives and marketplace differentiation.

The Principles of HPP Technology

Attendees will learn the fundamentals of HPP, which product categories are well suited for the technology, and the process-development considerations that determine success, including formulation, packaging, validation and cold-chain management.

Can AI Be a Process Authority? The Future of HPP Validation

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform High Pressure Processing (HPP) validation by integrating large datasets, predicting microbial inactivation, and supporting process development. This presentation explores AI as a decision-support tool for process authorities, highlighting its opportunities, limitations, and regulatory considerations, and discusses how AI can enhance validation while complementing scientific expertise.

Good Things Happen Under Pressure: The Arden’s Garden HPP Story

Leslie Zinn was raised on wheatgrass and the belief that good health should be for everyone. As the daughter of Arden’s Garden founder Arden Zinn, she grew up with the business, took the reins in 1999, and helped turn it into an Atlanta favorite and a leading cold-pressed juice maker.  Under Leslie’s leadership, Arden’s Garden embraced High-Pressure Processing to keep its juices fresh, opened 19 Atlanta stores, and expanded into Kroger, Publix, Sprouts, and Whole Foods. She has also brought fresh food to neighborhoods other retailers overlooked. Her East Point store is now the company’s top performer for juices and plant-based foods.  A Georgia Tech graduate and mom of four, Leslie serves on the board of Jeff’s Place and is a member of Atlanta Rotary and the Leadership Atlanta Class of 2025. When she’s off the clock, you might find her working out with her husband or cheering on her kids from the sidelines.

Business Growth with Toller Partners