 Story by Bennie Randall - Editor In Chief For years, plant based foods have struggled with a perception problem. Mention the words "plant based" and many consumers immediately picture a bowl of lettuce or a plate of vegetables rather than a satisfying meal packed with flavor and protein. Andrew Wild, founder of Mighty Mudita, is determined to change that conversation. His Vermont based company is creating delicious plant based deli slices, breakfast patties, pepperoni, and nuggets that are designed not only for vegetarians, but for anyone looking for a better protein option. Like many successful entrepreneurs, Wild did not start his company by chasing a market trend. He started by solving his own problem. A lifelong vegetarian with a background in science education, Wild spent years eating the same nationally recognized plant based deli slices on his sandwiches while growing increasingly frustrated by the lack of flavor and the long list of highly processed ingredients. As a middle school science teacher, he understood the importance of understanding what goes into food, and he believed consumers deserved something better. That curiosity led him into his own kitchen, where he began experimenting with recipes that eventually became the foundation for Mighty Mudita. Today, the company offers a growing line of products that includes deli slices, breakfast patties, pepperoni, and nuggets. While the products are entirely plant based, Wild is quick to point out that the majority of his customers are not vegetarians. Many are simply looking to reduce their meat consumption without giving up the foods they already enjoy. Some participate in Meatless Monday, while others are simply searching for healthier alternatives that fit naturally into their everyday routines. Rather than asking consumers to completely change the way they eat, Mighty Mudita focuses on making familiar meals even better. The plant based pepperoni is created specifically for pizza. The breakfast patties are designed to fit perfectly into breakfast sandwiches. The deli slices make an easy substitute for traditional sandwich meats. By giving consumers clear and familiar ways to enjoy the products, the company removes much of the hesitation that often surrounds plant based foods.  Wild believes the most powerful marketing tool is not advertising. It is taste. No matter how healthy a product may be, consumers will not buy it again if it fails to deliver on flavor. That is why sampling has become one of the company's most effective strategies. Once people take their first bite, skepticism quickly turns into surprise. Consumers discover that plant based protein does not mean sacrificing texture, flavor, or satisfaction. As the company looks toward the future, Wild has an ambitious vision. Rather than simply becoming another brand in the plant based category, he wants Mighty Mudita to help redefine the entire deli section. He envisions grocery stores, schools, hospitals, universities, convenience stores, and prepared food programs offering plant based protein as a standard option instead of a niche alternative. His goal is to make Mighty Mudita a default protein choice wherever people purchase fresh food. That vision reflects a much broader shift taking place throughout the food industry. More consumers are looking for flexibility in their diets instead of rigid labels. They want choices that support their health while still delivering great taste. Mighty Mudita is positioning itself to serve that growing audience by creating products that appeal to vegetarians, meat eaters, and everyone in between. When asked what he would tell someone trying plant based food for the very first time, Wild offered a simple message. He believes people can meet their nutritional needs, enjoy satisfying meals, and live healthy lives without feeling like they are making sacrifices. That philosophy has become the foundation of everything Mighty Mudita creates.  As consumer demand for innovative protein options continues to grow, Mighty Mudita is proving that the future of food is not about replacing tradition. It is about expanding choice. By combining exceptional flavor, thoughtful product design, and a commitment to making plant based eating approachable, Andrew Wild is building a company that invites everyone to pull up a chair, take a bite, and rethink what plant based protein can be.
Consumers interested in learning more about Mighty Mudita can visit MightyDeliSlices.com or follow the company on social media to discover its growing lineup of innovative plant based products. Vonoi Magazine  Story by Bennie Randall - Editor In Chief In today's crowded snack industry, creating a product that stands apart takes more than attractive packaging or clever marketing. It requires a commitment to quality, authenticity, and an understanding of what today's consumers truly want. Dorrel has built its brand around that philosophy, crafting premium chocolate covered treats that celebrate nature's finest ingredients while delivering a luxurious snacking experience that consumers can feel good about. The inspiration behind Dorrel came from recognizing a gap in the marketplace. The company's founder saw an opportunity to create a better product by combining a love for chocolate with the natural sweetness of dates and the rich flavor of premium nuts. Rather than producing another candy filled with artificial ingredients and added sugars, the goal was to create a snack that tastes indulgent while remaining true to simple, wholesome ingredients. Founded in 2021, Dorrel has experienced impressive growth in a relatively short period of time. The brand has established a strong retail presence throughout New York and can be found in supermarkets including Key Food, C-Town, Sea Town, and other neighborhood grocery stores. Through strategic distribution partnerships, Dorrel has expanded well beyond online sales, making its products easily accessible to customers looking for healthier snack alternatives. One of Dorrel's most popular products is its pistachio variety. As pistachio flavored desserts continue to gain popularity across social media, consumer demand has grown rapidly. While trends often introduce shoppers to new products, Dorrel believes customers return because of the quality inside every package. The company focuses on delivering a balanced combination of rich chocolate, naturally sweet fruit, and premium nuts that creates a satisfying experience without overwhelming the palate.  Dorrel describes its products as treats crafted from the earth's purest gifts. Every bite combines carefully selected fruits, premium nuts, and exquisite chocolate into a harmonious blend of flavors. The result is a snack that feels indulgent while providing the natural fullness and satisfaction that highly processed candy often lacks. Quality remains at the center of everything Dorrel produces. The company sources only premium ingredients and manufactures every product in the United States. Dorrel products are non GMO, Kosher Pareve, vegan friendly, and contain no added sugars, giving health conscious consumers an option that aligns with their lifestyle without sacrificing flavor. This commitment to clean ingredients reflects the company's belief that consumers should never have to choose between great taste and better nutrition. Building a successful food brand, however, requires much more than creating an exceptional product. During our conversation, they explained that one of the greatest challenges facing emerging food companies is understanding retail pricing. Many entrepreneurs focus only on maximizing their own profits and fail to leave enough margin for distributors, wholesalers, and retailers. Without a pricing structure that works for every partner in the supply chain, even outstanding products can struggle to earn valuable shelf space. The founder emphasized that success in retail comes from understanding the entire business ecosystem. Every participant, from the manufacturer to the grocery store, must have the opportunity to earn a reasonable profit. Learning this lesson early allowed Dorrel to build stronger relationships with distributors and retailers while positioning the brand for long term growth.  What stands out most about Dorrel is its refusal to compromise on quality. While many brands reduce costs by using lower quality ingredients, Dorrel continues to invest in premium fruits, nuts, and chocolate because the company believes consumers can taste the difference. That philosophy has become the foundation of its growing reputation and expanding customer base.
As consumers continue searching for snacks that combine wellness with indulgence, Dorrel is proving that luxury and clean ingredients can exist in the same product. Every bite reflects a commitment to craftsmanship, thoughtful sourcing, and a belief that nature already provides the finest ingredients. In an industry driven by trends, Dorrel is building something far more valuable. It is creating a brand that earns customer loyalty through exceptional quality, honest ingredients, and unforgettable flavor. Vonoi Media  Story by Bennie Randall Jr - Editor In Chief / Photos By Vonoi Global Media For years, the conversation around vegetarian and vegan food has centered on what people are giving up. Less meat. Less dairy. Less of the traditional foods many of us grew up eating. Tom Trainor, Chief Executive Officer of Future Foods and the driving force behind the PAOW Foods brand, believes that conversation is overdue for a change. Rather than positioning his products as meat substitutes or alternatives, Tom sees them as something entirely different. He sees them as protein. It is a subtle but powerful shift in thinking that could reshape how consumers approach food over the next decade. "Our brand stands for People And Our World," Tom explained. "We've created products that are clean, versatile, chef inspired, and designed for today's consumer." Unlike many products that rely on lengthy ingredient lists, PAOW Foods focuses on simplicity. Built primarily from soy and water, the products are developed by professional chefs to provide flexibility in the kitchen. One product can become dozens of different meals depending on the creativity of the chef preparing it. That versatility was born out of frustration with what Tom saw in the marketplace.  "There wasn't enough innovation," he said. "Everything was being labeled plant based, but consumers weren't getting exciting options. We wanted to create something that could fit into multiple recipes without sacrificing taste or texture." For restaurants, hospitals, schools, senior living communities, and food service operators, versatility means more than convenience. It also means reducing waste. Traditional meat products naturally lose weight during cooking. A five ounce chicken breast may shrink to three and a half ounces after preparation. With PAOW Foods, what goes into the pan is exactly what comes out. "There is no waste," Tom explained. "If you prepare four ounces, you're serving four ounces." That efficiency has become an attractive advantage for commercial kitchens managing food costs while still trying to provide high quality meals. As eating habits continue to evolve, Tom believes America is moving beyond simply identifying as vegan or vegetarian. A rapidly growing segment of consumers now identify as flexitarians, people who regularly eat plant based meals while still occasionally consuming meat or seafood.  "They're flexible," he said. "They're looking for more choices." That flexibility is exactly where PAOW Foods believes the future of food is heading. Instead of focusing on what consumers are eliminating from their diets, Tom believes companies should focus on what they are adding, specifically more protein, more fiber, and more flavorful experiences. One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding plant based foods, he says, is the assumption that they lack protein. "It's really an education issue," Tom explained. "People hear plant based and immediately think lettuce and broccoli. They're not thinking about ingredients like soy that provide significant amounts of protein." PAOW Foods delivers approximately 17 grams of protein per serving while maintaining a clean ingredient profile. For Tom, changing public perception begins with changing the language. "As soon as you tell someone something is plant based, they've already formed an opinion," he said. "Instead of saying it's plant based, ask someone if they'd like to try Korean barbecue or curry over rice. Suddenly they're interested." His philosophy is simple. People eat with their eyes first. Then they eat with flavor.  Taste and texture remain the deciding factors, regardless of dietary preference. "We're focused on taste and texture because that's what people remember," Tom said. "Soy absorbs flavor incredibly well. Whatever seasoning or sauce you use becomes part of the experience." That philosophy has already found success across multiple markets. Hospitals, colleges, universities, and senior living communities have embraced the products as demand grows for healthier protein options. Retail expansion is also accelerating. Consumers will soon find PAOW Foods products in Food Bazaar stores, while Sprouts Farmers Market already carries several of the company's offerings, including its popular Korean Barbecue and Philly style products. One of the company's most interesting partnerships has been with Plantega, a New York distributor serving neighborhood bodegas. Their meatball sandwich has become the number one selling sandwich in participating locations. After that success, Plantega asked PAOW Foods to develop a plant based chorizo. The new product reached testing in just 45 days and has quickly become another customer favorite. For longtime vegetarians and vegans, the expansion of flavorful options represents something many have waited decades to see. Only twenty five years ago, finding vegetarian meals in New York City often meant settling for limited choices. Today, entire restaurant concepts, neighborhood bodegas, and major grocery retailers are embracing chef driven protein options that appeal not only to vegetarians, but to everyone. That may ultimately be Tom's biggest message. PAOW Foods is not trying to create food exclusively for vegans. It is creating food everyone can enjoy.  "We tell operators to stop calling it Meatless Monday," he said. "Call it World Cuisine
Wednesday or Chef Inspired Tuesday. Everybody can eat these products." As consumer awareness around health, sustainability, and protein continues to grow, companies that focus on flavor rather than labels may be best positioned for the future. Tom leaves potential customers with one simple piece of advice. "Try it," he said. "You have to taste it because we're changing the perception." Sometimes the future of food isn't about replacing what's on your plate. It's about reimagining what protein can become. Vonoi Magazine Growth Show Returns to New York: Retail's Biggest Minds Gather to Shape the Future of Commerce6/18/2026
 Story by Bennie Randall Jr - Editor In Chief New York City is once again preparing to host one of the retail industry's most anticipated events as Growth Show returns with an impressive lineup of more than 150 industry-leading speakers, over 2,700 retailers and technology innovators, and more than 60 sessions designed to help businesses navigate the rapidly evolving world of commerce. As the retail landscape continues to transform through technology, consumer behavior shifts, and artificial intelligence, Growth Show has established itself as a premier destination for executives, entrepreneurs, marketers, ecommerce leaders, and innovators seeking actionable strategies to drive growth. The event brings together some of the brightest minds in retail for two days of networking, education, and insight sharing that can immediately impact business performance. This year's event builds on a strong legacy of attracting top-level decision makers from some of the world's most recognized brands. Previous editions featured C-suite executives and senior leaders from major organizations including Ulta Beauty, Vuori, Foot Locker, Wayfair, Sam's Club, IKEA, Coach, and The Vitamin Shoppe. Their participation reflects the show's growing reputation as a platform where industry leaders openly discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping modern retail. What makes Growth Show particularly valuable is its focus on practical knowledge. Rather than simply highlighting trends, the conference delivers strategies that businesses can implement immediately. Attendees will gain access to discussions covering customer acquisition, conversion optimization, loyalty programs, omnichannel transformation, marketing innovation, and operational excellence. These sessions are designed to provide real-world solutions that help organizations increase revenue, improve customer experiences, and remain competitive in an increasingly crowded marketplace.  One of the most anticipated topics at the 2026 event is the rise of agentic AI and its impact on commerce. Industry experts will explore how artificial intelligence is evolving beyond automation into systems capable of making decisions, personalizing customer interactions, and improving marketing efficiency at unprecedented levels. As consumers become more comfortable interacting with AI powered experiences, retailers are being challenged to rethink how they engage customers across digital and physical channels. Commerce media will also take center stage as brands look for new ways to connect with consumers closer to the point of purchase. The continued growth of retail media networks has created significant opportunities for brands and retailers to generate new revenue streams while delivering more relevant advertising experiences. Growth Show will provide insights into how organizations can capitalize on this rapidly expanding sector. Beyond the educational sessions, the event serves as a powerful networking hub where established retailers, emerging brands, technology providers, investors, and entrepreneurs can connect. With more than 2,700 attendees expected, the opportunities for collaboration and partnership are substantial. Many attendees view the relationships formed at Growth Show as valuable as the content itself.  As retail continues its transformation, events like Growth Show play an important role in helping business leaders stay informed and prepared for the future. The return of the conference to New York underscores the city's position as a global center for commerce, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
For companies seeking fresh ideas, strategic insights, and meaningful connections, Growth Show promises to be one of the most influential retail gatherings of 2026. The future of retail is being written in real time, and when Growth Show returns to New York, many of the industry's most important conversations will be happening under one roof. Vonoi Magazine  Story by Bennie Randall Jr - Editor in Chief / All Photos by Vonoi Magaine Artificial intelligence is reshaping the rules of commerce, marketing, and consumer behavior faster than many businesses realize. During a thought provoking panel discussion by EMARKETER Principal Analyst Max Willens, industry leaders explored how AI is transforming the way brands connect with consumers and how businesses must adapt to remain competitive. Joining Willens on stage were Principal Analyst Nate Elliott and Maura Smith, who shared their perspectives on the rapidly evolving relationship between AI platforms, publishers, marketers, creators, and consumers. One message became clear throughout the discussion. The future of marketing may no longer revolve around clicks. Instead, it may revolve around visibility. For decades, marketers have relied on a familiar formula. Create content, attract attention, generate clicks, and convert those clicks into revenue. That model helped build some of the world's largest brands and transformed the digital economy. According to Elliott, the industry has experienced similar transitions before, search engines, email marketing, social media, and mobile technology all required marketers to learn new rules and adapt to changing consumer behavior. AI represents the next major evolution, although the pace of change may be even faster than previous technological shifts. What makes this moment different is that AI is disrupting one of digital marketing's most valuable assets. Throughout the discussion, Willens highlighted research showing that many marketing leaders still struggle to connect AI visibility directly to business outcomes. Without clicks, brands lose one of the primary ways they have historically measured effectiveness. This creates a significant challenge for marketers attempting to understand how AI generated recommendations influence consumer purchasing decisions.
Smith emphasized that the traditional measurement system was built around consumers clicking content produced by publishers and brands. AI changes that dynamic by delivering answers directly to users, often eliminating the need for a click altogether. That shift creates a fundamental question. If consumers receive answers without leaving the AI platform, how do publishers, creators, and brands measure the value they contribute? The panelists agreed that this challenge represents one of the most important issues facing the marketing industry today. Publishers are finding themselves at the center of the conversation. Their content powers many of the responses generated by large language models. Their articles, reviews, research, and expertise help train and inform AI systems. Yet many publishers are not receiving compensation proportional to the value their content creates. Smith described this as a growing imbalance within the ecosystem. Publisher content has never been more valuable to AI platforms, yet the traditional monetization model based on clicks and traffic is becoming less effective. Elliott noted that the entire industry is engaged in a learning process. Brands, publishers, retailers, creators, and AI platform providers are all attempting to understand how value is being created and how that value should be distributed throughout the ecosystem. One of the most interesting discussions centered around the opportunities AI may create for smaller businesses and independent creators. Conventional wisdom suggests that large corporations with massive budgets will dominate the AI era. However, examples shared during the panel suggest the reality may be more nuanced.  Elliott pointed to instances where major brands with decades of market leadership do not automatically dominate AI recommendations. In some cases, AI platforms recommend lesser known brands, creators, or publishers based on relevance, authority, and context rather than pure market size. For entrepreneurs, this presents an enormous opportunity.
A small business with strong expertise and authentic content may compete for visibility alongside industry giants. The barriers to earning attention are changing. Willens and Elliott both highlighted how AI systems frequently rely on trusted publisher content, creator communities, discussion forums, and user generated content when generating responses. This creates opportunities for businesses willing to invest in expertise, authority, authenticity, and credibility. The conversation also explored a question that many entrepreneurs are asking. What human qualities become more valuable in an AI driven economy? The answer repeatedly returned to trust. As more content becomes automated, authentic experiences, personal perspectives, and genuine expertise become increasingly valuable. Consumers continue to seek human connection even as technology becomes more sophisticated. For creators, entrepreneurs, and brands, that means authenticity may become one of the most powerful competitive advantages available. Another key takeaway from the discussion was the importance of participation. Businesses that wait for measurement standards to be established by others may eventually find themselves operating within systems they had little influence in creating. Elliott stressed that companies actively engaging with AI today have the opportunity to help shape future standards for measurement, compensation, and visibility. Those who remain on the sidelines risk losing that opportunity. The panel concluded with an important reminder. AI is no longer a future trend waiting to arrive. It is already influencing how consumers gather information, evaluate products, and make purchasing decisions. The businesses that thrive in the coming decade will not simply be the companies with the largest advertising budgets. They will be the organizations that understand how visibility, authority, trust, and influence operate inside AI ecosystems. As Willens, Elliott, and Smith made clear throughout the discussion, the rules of commerce are evolving. Visibility is becoming the new currency of the digital economy. The companies that learn how to earn it, measure it, and leverage it effectively will be positioned to lead the next era of business growth. Vonoi Magazine  Written By Bennie Randall for Vonoi Magazine For decades, society has embraced a simple belief every generation should be smarter, more capable, and better prepared than the one before it. Education has been one of the primary vehicles for making that happen. Parents work hard to provide opportunities. Schools adopt new tools and technologies. Governments invest billions into educational programs. Technology companies promise innovation. Everyone involved claims to be working toward the same goal, helping children learn more effectively. Yet a growing body of research suggests something troubling may be happening. What if one of the biggest educational experiments in modern history is producing the opposite result of what was intended?   During a recent discussion, cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, a former teacher who specializes in human learning, shared a perspective that should cause every parent, educator, and policymaker to stop and think. According to Horvath, Generation Z is the first generation in modern history to underperform their parents across numerous cognitive measurements. Think about that for a moment. For more than a century, each generation generally demonstrated improvements in literacy, attention, memory, reasoning, and overall cognitive performance. More time in school often translated into stronger educational outcomes.  Then something changed. Around 2010, the trend began to shift. Students continued spending more time in educational environments, but many cognitive indicators began moving in the wrong direction. Attention spans weakened. Reading comprehension declined. Memory performance dropped. Executive functioning struggled. Numeracy skills suffered. The question becomes obvious. What changed? Schools did not dramatically transform overnight. Human biology certainly did not evolve in a single decade. The most significant shift was the rapid adoption of digital technology inside classrooms. Laptops replaced notebooks. Tablets replaced textbooks. Screens became central to the learning experience. What was originally introduced as a tool to enhance learning slowly became the foundation of learning itself. The assumption was simple.  If technology improves communication, business, entertainment, and productivity, surely it must improve education as well. The data may be telling a different story. Across dozens of countries, researchers have examined student performance after large scale technology adoption in schools. According to Horvath, countries that increased educational technology usage often experienced declines in student performance. Even more concerning is that the pattern appears repeatedly across different educational systems and cultures. This raises an uncomfortable question. Have we confused modernization with improvement? Many organizations make this mistake. Businesses do it all the time. A company installs new software and assumes productivity will improve. A sales team adopts a new platform and assumes revenue will increase. An entrepreneur purchases expensive equipment and assumes results will follow. Technology itself does not create better outcomes. Execution creates better outcomes. Education may be facing the same reality. For years, many schools have pursued digital transformation with extraordinary enthusiasm. The assumption has been that more devices equal better learning. What if that assumption is wrong? Horvath argues that the issue is not poor implementation or inadequate training. The challenge may be much deeper.  Human beings evolved to learn from other human beings. We learn through interaction, through conversation, through observation, through social engagement.
and through storytelling. Learning is not simply information transfer. Learning is a biological process deeply connected to human connection. A screen can deliver information. That does not necessarily mean it can replicate learning. This distinction matters. Businesses understand this concept well. You can watch hundreds of videos about leadership. You can read dozens of books on entrepreneurship. You can consume endless content online. Yet nothing replaces sitting across from a mentor, asking questions, receiving feedback, and engaging in meaningful discussion. Human interaction accelerates learning in ways that information alone cannot. Perhaps education is discovering the same truth. One of the most striking examples Horvath shared involved reading comprehension. Many adults remember reading passages hundreds of words long and answering complex questions designed to test understanding, inference, and critical thinking. Students had to interpret meaning. They had to connect ideas. They had to think beyond what was directly stated. Today, many assessments have shifted toward shorter passages and simpler questions. The goal appears to be accommodating how students engage with information digitally. Students increasingly skim content rather than deeply reading it. Instead of teaching students to become stronger readers, some educational systems may be adjusting standards to fit existing habits. That is a dangerous path. When standards are lowered to accommodate technology, technology begins shaping education rather than education shaping technology. The tool becomes the master. History has repeatedly shown where that road leads. Progress is not adopting every new innovation that appears. Progress is identifying what actually works and having the courage to continue using it. The best businesses understand this principle. The best leaders understand this principle. The best parents understand this principle. Not every new trend deserves blind acceptance. Innovation should serve people. People should never be forced to serve innovation. Technology undoubtedly has tremendous value. It has transformed communication, business, healthcare, entertainment, and countless other industries. The question is not whether technology is useful. The question is whether it is useful for every purpose. Education may be one of the areas where the answer requires more nuance than many are willing to admit. If the goal is raising sharper thinkers, stronger readers, better problem-solvers, and more capable future leaders, then evidence should guide decisions. Not marketing. Not trends, not assumptions, but evidence. Our children face a future that will be more competitive, more complex, and more demanding than anything previous generations experienced. They will need stronger critical thinking skills. They will need deeper reasoning abilities. They will need the capacity to analyze information, solve difficult problems, and make intelligent decisions. The solution may not be more screens. The solution may be rediscovering the timeless methods of learning that have strengthened minds for generations. The future belongs to those who can think. Our responsibility is ensuring the next generation is equipped to do exactly that. Vonoi Magazine |
Get Your Copy Today
Issue 700
Issue 601
Issue 600
Issue 400
Issue 300
Issue 200
Issue 100
AuthorThe Business of Doing Business. Archives
October 2026
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
|
|
|
(c) 2022 - 2026 Copyright, Vonoi Magazine a Vonoi Broadcasting Corporation Company, New York, NY 10001 All Rights Reserved