New “3Squares” Podcast Dishes on the Food Industry 

Providing deep analysis with a side of humor, the new podcast “3Squares” features a trio of heavy hitters who dish up the latest food and retail industry news, trends, insights and commentary – and laugh along the way!

The bi-monthly podcast, which debuts Tues., Jan. 25, features Charlie Arnot, CEO of The Center for Food Integrity (CFI) and president of Look East, Susan Schwallie, president, Food & Beverage Practice at the NPD Group, and Kevin Ryan, founder and CEO of Malachite Strategy and Research, a CPG, retail and foodservice-focused insights and innovation agency.

By design, the podcast is like pulling up a chair to a candid conversation with three friends. With 70-plus years of combined experience in food, Charlie, Susan and Kevin tackle some complex topics, interview interesting guests shaping the food industry, provide unique takes on the latest trends and have fun doing it.

Here’s what the hosts bring to the table:

Charlie

Arnot is a recognized thought leader in food and agriculture, with more than 30 years of experience working in issues management, strategic counsel, communications and public relations within the food system.  He’s frequently sought out by media for his insight and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fortune, Time, Entrepreneur and countless trade publications globally. While his resume sounds impressive, keep in mind that in his early days working on documentary films, he also hit Bill Clinton in the head with a microphone when the then governor was running for President.   

Susan

Schwallie brings 25 years of insights experience with the NPD Group. She has worked across a variety of North American Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) clients and categories translating insights about how Americans eat into action for marketing, sales, culinary, and corporate strategy professionals. She co-authored many of NPD’s “The Future Of” daypart studies and Inside America’s Kitchens studies, illuminating generational food and cooking insights. Schwallie is a graduate of the University of Michigan and has a love of all things food and beverage. Of current interest is monkey-free coconut bacon and trying to explain Rocky Mountain oysters to her 10-year-old son.

Kevin

Ryan, founder and CEO of Malachite Strategy and Research, previously served as the Head of Strategy at Amazon, overseeing the corporate brand and advertising strategies for Global Prime and Non-Prime. Prior to Amazon, Ryan was Director of Strategy and Innovation at General Mills. He holds both an MS and PhD in Food Chemistry, a MSc in Food Anthropology and an executive MBA from Minnesota’s Carlson School of Business. In his spare time, Kevin concerns himself with topics that many would consider mundane. He’s the guy at a party that will corner you to explain the socioeconomic symbolism of pineapples in the 19^th century. As a result Kevin isn’t invited to many parties.

Both Schwallie and Ryan are founding members of CFI’s Consumer Trust Insights Council.

The first two episodes of “3Squares” will be available Jan. 25, featuring guests Michael Wolf, founder, CEO and editor-in-chief of The Spoon, a daily online publication on the food technology revolution, and John Dick, founder and CEO of Civic Science, a next generation survey and data company.

“3Squares” can be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other popular podcast platforms. The podcast is sponsored by General Mills and executive produced by Sound that BRANDS in Los Angeles, Calif. For more information, recommendations on guests and topics, or feedback on host shenanigans email 3squaresmail@gmail.com.