(Niles, Illinois) – The clean label movement is constantly evolving, which creates many  obstacles for beverage developers and ingredient suppliers. Imbibe’s Chief Operating Officer Will Lennon will be discussing the challenges industry professionals are facing, and strategies to manage them, during his presentation “The Cost of Clean Label,” at the Clean Label Conference.

As more ingredients are becoming blacklisted, beverage developers are challenged with removing or replacing these ingredients. There can be significant cost implications when sourcing clean label ingredients, especially novel ones that can be difficult to source in large quantities. Lennon will provide real-life case studies, and offer solutions on how to establish customer expectations for a clean label product and the costs (including often hidden costs) associated with developing these types of products.

“The clean label revolution is dramatically altering supply and demand models in the food and beverage industry and as a result, supply chain has become more challenging and crucial.,” said Lennon. “I look forward to providing key insights on some of the primary barriers regarding the implementation of a clean label supply chain.”

Lennon brings a unique blend of supply chain, finance and strategic planning to the Imbibe team. As Chief Operating Officer, he leverages his deep experience in supply chain management to lead the company’s efforts in sourcing, logistics, production and finance. Under Lennon’s leadership, the company developed a cutting-edge approach to ingredient sourcing, as well as strong partnerships with suppliers and co-packers, all while maintaining rigorous and meticulous compliance controls.

Lennon’s presentation will take place at 8:15 a.m. on Mar. 28 at the Westin Hotel, located at 400 Park Boulevard in Itasca, Illinois.