Source86 turns five this week. Here is what the last five years actually taught me. Five years ago I could not have told you where I would be sitting today.
Five Years In, and I’m a Dad
Five years building Source86, a daughter who arrived early, and a few honest words about the relationship that makes all of it possible. Two big things
Beyond the COA: What Food Safety Investigations Still Get Wrong
Insights from Technology Networks’ Advances in Food and Beverage Testing Webinar Thank you to Sana Kausar and the Technology Networks team for featuring Eran
Star-Shaped Pretzels, Patriotic Oreos, and the Sourcing Decision Nobody Talks About
Superpretzel is releasing star-shaped pretzels from Memorial Day through September, produced in the Philadelphia area where the nation's founding began. Oreo
When CPG Brands Tried to Change a Recipe and Customers Revolted
You open a familiar package almost without thinking. A cookie, a chocolate bar, a soda you’ve had a hundred times before. The first bite lands slightly off. Not
How the Ozempic Boom Is Quietly Changing What Food Companies Put in the Box
Walk down the yogurt aisle and something is different. The section has doubled in length. High-protein labels are everywhere. Cottage cheese has its own endcap.
The Real Reason Some “Healthy” Ingredients Cost So Much More
You’re standing in the aisle, holding two versions of the same ingredient. Same category, similar packaging, completely different price tags. One promises
What “Natural Flavors” Actually Are, And Why the Label Tells You Almost Nothing
Pick up a flavored seltzer, a granola bar, and a salad dressing from your kitchen right now. There's a good chance all three list "natural flavors" somewhere in
The Ingredients That Quietly Disappeared From Your Pantry in the Last Few Years (And Why)
You reach for a familiar product (the one you’ve bought for years without thinking), and something feels off. The label looks the same, the packaging hasn’t
What “Organic,” “Non-GMO,” “Fair Trade,” and “Regenerative” Actually Mean on a Food Label
You're in the grocery aisle. Two products, almost identical. One has three logos on the front. The other has none. The price is different. You want to know if
Coconut Month: Celebrating the Incredible Coconut Tree
It’s Coconut Month here at Source86, and as such, it’s only fitting that we take a moment to appreciate the incredible all-rounder that is the beautiful,
Cracking the Coconut Code for Peak Flavor (and Private Label Success!)
You're standing on a sun-drenched beach, the salt-laced breeze rustling through palm fronds overhead. A skilled Sri Lankan climber shimmies up the 25-meter
Organic vs. Conventional Bulk Ingredients: How CPG Brands Should Decide
The pressure to go organic is no longer niche: it’s coming from retailers, consumers, and internal brand positioning decisions. For many CPG founders and
What to Look for in a Bulk Ingredient Supplier: A CPG Buyer’s Checklist
Most CPG brands switch ingredient suppliers at least once because they chose wrong early on. The problem is rarely that good suppliers don't exist. It's that
5 More Things You Didn’t Know About Monk Fruit Sweetener
Monk fruit sweetener has earned its spot as one of the most talked-about sugar alternatives on the market. But as research evolves and industry controversies
From 10K to 1M Units: 6 Mistakes That Will Collapse Your Supply Chain
Every brand wants the moment when demand spikes and production ramps from ten thousand units to one million. It feels like proof that the product works, that
4 Questions That Tell You Exactly Which Production Model to Choose
Every brand reaches the same decision point: build the next product through private label, or take it to a contract manufacturer? Both models work. Both scale.
Build It or Buy It? Check List to Choose the Right R&D Model
Let's Start with the FAQ Every food brand wants innovation that moves quickly, scales cleanly, and holds up under compliance and ingredient changes. But
Oatly Expands Its Oat Innovation with New Flavored and Ready-to-Drink Launches
Oatly is bringing bold new energy to the plant-based space: one oat at a time. The Swedish brand, known for pioneering oat milk globally, is expanding its U.S.
Price Isn’t Everything: The Hidden Costs in Bulk Ingredient Sourcing
Why Cost Discipline Starts With a Broader Definition of Cost. Why Cost Discipline Starts With a Broader Definition of Cost Reviewing quotes and
2026 Ingredient Outlook: The Rise of Renewable, Low-Impact Ingredients
Renewable, low-impact ingredients are no longer a niche alternative. In 2026, they will become the more stable, more compliant, and increasingly more
Why Source86 Isn’t a Traditional Broker: An FSQA-First Approach
Most ingredient brokers focus on logistics: move product, pass along specs, collect the margin. But when food safety and brand compliance are on the line, that
Natural Products Expo West 2026: Product Trends and the Future of Food
Natural Products Expo West is returning to Anaheim, CA, scheduled for March 3-6, 2026. According to the Northhall 2026 Show Guide, the event continues to be the
The Geographic Map of Natural Food: Where Innovation Is Actually Coming From
Every March, Anaheim becomes the epicenter of the natural food world. Thousands of Expo West exhibitors travel from across the country and the globe to show
Supreme Court Strikes Down IEEPA Tariffs: What It Means for Food Importers
Big news in trade policy today. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not give the President the
What Proactive Account Management Actually Looks Like
In sourcing and supply chain, most account managers operate reactively. They schedule calls, relay updates, and surface problems after they have already created
Networking With Intention: Insights from Eran Mizrahi in Authority Magazine
Thank you to Athalia Monae for featuring Eran Mizrahi, CEO of Source86, in Medium Authority Magazine’s interview on effective networking. In the
A Performance Framework for Private Label and Bulk Ingredient Operations
In food and beverage supply chains, success is not a feeling; it is a measurable outcome. For private label developers, co-manufacturers, co-packers, bulk
Proactive Risk Mitigation in Food Supply Chains
In food and beverage supply chains, risks accumulate quietly. A missed regulatory change. A disrupted port. An unexpected allergen in raw materials. By the time
Not Sure Where to Start at Expo West 2026? Let Us Show You the Way
Expo West 2026 is just around the corner. With thousands of brands, exhibitors, and industry professionals gathering in one place, it can feel overwhelming to
