Natalie Shmulik

Head of Innovation, CCD Innovation

Natalie Shmulik is a leading food and beverage innovation strategist and trendologist known for decoding emerging industry patterns and translating them into commercially successful products. With a multidisciplinary foundation in food history, anthropology, and consumer psychology, she brings a unique lens to understanding how consumers engage with food. Natalie partners with brands to uncover the deeper drivers behind trends and turn insights into actionable, market-ready innovation. With over 15 years of experience spanning retail, foodservice, media, and CPG, she has a holistic perspective on launching and scaling winning concepts. She is best known for launching and leading The Hatchery Chicago, a globally recognized incubator supporting thousands of brands from ideation through commercialization. A former restaurant operator and retail consultant, Natalie has worked across the full food ecosystem. She is also an adjunct professor at Boston University, industry contributor, and award-winning thought leader recognized by the Chicago Tribune, NOSH, and the Specialty Food Association. (Chicago, Illinois) linkedin.com/in/natalie-shmulik