THE SHOWCASE
CPG COLLEGE SHOWCASE 2026
Taking place in March 2026 in Philadelphia, PA, the CPG College Showcase, produced by Crave, served as a live discovery platform for the next generation of food, beverage, and wellness brands. The event brought together emerging CPG founders, next-gen consumers, and industry leaders to spotlight the products shaping the future of what we eat, drink, and use every day.
Through curated brand showcases, tastings, conversations, and experiences, the showcase created a space where new brands were discovered, communities connected, and the next wave of consumer culture began to take shape.
The 2026 Showcase brought together students from across the east coast. Including students from UPenn, Princeton, Columbia, NYU, Georgetown, and more!
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2026 showcase recap
Crave brought together the next generation of food, beverage, and wellness through a highly curated, in-person discovery experience. Built by Gen Z, the platform connected rising CPG brands with the consumers actively shaping culture - through live showcases, product discovery, and meaningful in-person engagement.
The CPG College Showcase brought together Gen Z consumers, emerging brands, and industry leaders for a full-day experience centered on discovery, connection, and insight. Designed in an expo-style format, attendees explored and sampled some of the most exciting new products across food, beverage, and wellness, while also hearing directly from the founders and operators shaping the future of CPG.
Thank you to our student sponsor, SmashBrand. ❋ Emerging Brands
The showcase featured a curated lineup of emerging CPG brands across food, beverage, and wellness. Attendees explored brand booths, connected directly with founders, and experienced firsthand the products defining what’s next on store shelves.
❋ Product Sampling
Attendees engaged directly with brands through high-volume product sampling, creating real-time feedback, brand discovery, and authentic consumer interaction. Many products saw strong traction early in the day, highlighting the demand for innovative, next-generation offerings.
❋ Founder & Industry Panels
The event featured conversations with founders, operators, and industry leaders across brand-building, marketing, retail, and venture. These sessions provided practical insights into how modern consumer brands are built, launched, and scaled.
❋ A Next-Gen Consumer Community
The showcase brought together a highly engaged community of students, creators, founders, and operators. The result was a dynamic environment for connection, discovery, and collaboration—bringing the next generation of consumer culture to life.
