From Betty Crocker to Momfluencers: Navigating the New Forces Shaping What America Eats
June 25, 2025
Join industry communications veterans from General Mills, Danone, Ketchum, and HUNTER as they discuss the influencers, trends, and shifts that impact the public’s choices at the grocery store.
For more than a century, Food PR specialists have introduced new foods to the public—and sometimes new ways to eat them. We have brought nutrition to center stage, and taken the public’s taste from convenience foods to sophisticated cuisines. PR specialists have been instrumental in the growth of the American food industry, innovating new ways to market to a public hungry for new tastes, more nutrition, and greater variety. And today, the role of PR counselors has never been more complex.
From the impact of GLP-1 medications on our diets, to the ever-rising prices for raw ingredients, threats of tariffs, and new policies governing ingredients and labelling, it’s essential for food brands to have a strong PR strategy that recognizes the dynamic nature and deep complexity of the “Food and Nutrition Tok” world.
This panel conversation looks back on historic breakthroughs in food brand communication strategies, and the current forces driving today’s consumer food and nutrition choices. Their insights on how food brands have evolved through the decades and how we continue to meet consumers’ needs in transformative times will lead to a delicious conversation.
Grace Leong is a recognized leader in public relations and influencer marketing, serving as CEO of HUNTER. Named a Woman of Distinction by PRWeek, she has played a key role in growing HUNTER into a top consumer-focused consultancy in the U.S. and U.K. With over 35 years of industry experience, Leong leads nearly 400 professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration, inclusivity, and innovation. Under her leadership, HUNTER has achieved significant growth, representing major brands like Amazon, Diageo, Reckitt, Kenvue, and McIlhenny Company. The agency’s expansion and award-winning work have earned it industry accolades, including PRWeek’s Consumer Agency of the Year. A PRSA-accredited professional, IPR board member, and Page Society member, Leong is a dedicated mentor and advocate for the communications field.
She has received prestigious honors, including PRSA-NY’s John W. Hill Award and the Plank Center’s Excellence in Mentoring Award. A University of Delaware and Rutgers MBA alumna, she was inducted into UD’s Alumni Hall of Fame in 2016. Since becoming CEO in 1998,
Leong has balanced her career with family life, raising four children pursuing careers in healthcare, sports, and finance.
MODERATOR Grace Leong, CEO, HUNTER
Jano Cabrera is the chief communications officer for General Mills where he oversees the entirety of communications for the company. Previously, he served as senior vice president of corporate relations for the McDonald’s Corporation and served as worldwide vice president for Burson-Marsteller. Cabrera founded Carthage Group Communications, a strategic communications, government affairs and issue advocacy firm. Cabrera also spent a decade working in politics. He headed communications for various Presidential campaigns, worked in the White House and started his political career as a legislative aide on Capitol Hill and a federal budget analyst at a Washington DC think tank. In 2021, he was inducted into the PR Hall of Fame. He has been repeatedly named among the most influential leaders in Public Relations today by PR Week in their annual Power List. He is a graduate of Pomona College, where he earned his degree in politics.
KEYNOTE Jano Cabrera, Chief Communications Officer, General Mills
Nancy Eberhardt leads brand communications across Danone in North America’s dynamic portfolio of offerings, including Yogurt, Beverages, Plant-Based and Baby products. She is based at the company’s Louisville, CO headquarter office and leads external communications strategy & execution for integrated marketing campaigns. Danone North America’s notable brands include Oikos, Activia, Happy Baby, Silk, So Delicious, International Delight, SToK Cold Brew, evian and more.
In her role, Nancy spearheads relationships across cross-functional and external stakeholders to lead communication of various brand marketing campaigns, including large-scale activations, key product launches and other brand-focused efforts. She also supports issues & crisis management for the company, and works hand-in-hand with the Corporate Communications team on Danone’s corporate brand presence.
Nancy has an extensive food and beverage background, with more than 15 years leading public relations efforts for brands such as Monster Energy, Doritos, Jack in the Box, Barfoot Wine & Bubbly, Air New Zealand, Sanuk, Southern Comfort and more. She has lived across the country, with experience in New York City at food & beverage PR agency HUNTER, and Los Angeles, CA at consumer lifestyle PR agency MWWPR, before landing in Denver, CO.
Nancy studied Public Relations at the University of Florida, graduating with high honors. Later in her career, Nancy went back to school, graduating in 2021 from the University of Denver with her Executive MBA. She lives in the Denver metro area with her husband, daughter and dog, and enjoys cooking, hiking and weekend trips exploring the beautiful state of Colorado.
Nancy Eberhardt, Senior Director, Head of Brand Communications,
Danone North America
Jaime Schwartz Cohen, MS, RD, is senior vice president and director of Nutrition at Ketchum, based in New York. With nearly two decades of experience at the intersection of nutrition science and strategic communications, Cohen leads a borderless network of registered dietitians embedded across client teams throughout North America. She has shaped award-winning media and influencer strategies for brands such as Frito-Lay, siggi’s, Avocados from Mexico, Potatoes USA, and Nestlé. A recognized voice in both the nutrition and PR industries, Cohen has received honors including PRWeek’s “40 Under 40” (2015), the New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Media Excellence Award (2016), and “Young Dietitian of the Year” from the New Jersey Dietetic Association (2009). She is a four-time Silver Anvil Award recipient. Cohen also founded Ketchum Borderless Nutrition News, a global trends newsletter, and developed the firm’s nutrition influencer strategy, strengthening partnerships with media dietitians and retail-based experts. She lives in Hoboken with her husband and two young sons.
Jaime Schwartz Cohen, MS RD, EVP Nutrition, Ketchum
Thanks to our Sponsors
The PR Museum wishes to recognize the ongoing support of our Founding Partners Edelman and PRSA; our Program Underwriters Burson and APCO Worldwide; and our Sustaining Sponsors, Amazon, Google, Honeywell, Muck Rack, Enbridge, Zeno, HUNTER, Page, The Wallace Foundation, The Grossman Group, the University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, and The University of Florida.
