Saluting Winners of Naturally Chicago's 2026 Pitch Competition

Bob Benenson
Jun 2
2 min read

RMBR Kombucha, Vitaminis' Healthy Mini-Drinks Topped Strong Field

Jack Joseph, co-founder of Chicago-based RMBR Kombucha, finished first in Naturally Chicago's May 27 Pitch Competition with a strong presentation that emphasized the company's different take on kombucha and its accelerating growth. Photo by Bob Benenson

[Note: This article, written by Bob Benenson, was originally published on Naturally Chicago's website and is lightly edited for this publication. When not publishing Local Food Forum, Bob is a communications consultant for Naturally Chicago, the association for the region's Natural Products consumer packaged goods industry.]

Local Food Forum sends its congratulations to the winners of Naturally Chicago's 2026 Pitch Competition: RMBR Kombucha, represented on stage by Co-Founder Jack Joseph, and Vitaminis, represented by Founder Leslie Danford.

They will share in a prize package of business services valued at more than $150,000.

The Pitch Competition and Innovation Forum — Naturally Chicago's biggest annual event — was held for the second consecutive year before a sellout crowd of more than 400 registrants at beautiful Venue SIX10 in Chicago's South Loop.

Leslie Danford of Vitaminis made a strong impression on the judges panel (from left): Joe Fulco of Fruitful Yield, Ivan Gutierrez of Tierra Negra, Noelle Wagner of PRESENCE, Simon Miles of Mondelez and Lead Judge Jeffrey SanFilippo of John B. Sanfilippo and Son nuts company. Photo by Bob Benenson

The top two finishers strongly impressed the judges panel of industry experts with the quality of their products, the progress they have already made in the retail marketplace, and their potential to expand already established product categories.

RMBR takes a flavor-first approach to kombucha, appealing to consumers who already like kombucha but are looking for variety, and others who have been put off by the astringent tang of traditional products.

Jack Joseph and wife Kiara Tomirotti founded and run RMBR. The two met as students at Michigan State University [also my alma mater].

Vitaminis' mini-drinks provide a daily vitamin boost in a tasty, easy to consume liquid form. Their products are showing increasing appeal to buyers who want to supplement their nutritional input without pills or powders. (Their slogan is Sip Your Vitamins.)

Leslie, a mom of four, spent a professional career in the investment, beverage and hospitality spaces before entering the CPG entrepreneur world with Vitaminis.

What makes their Pitch victories even more impressive is that they finished a top a field of six superb competitors, all of whom impressed judges and attendees who turns the business-focused event into a cheering gallery.

Here is the official photo of the Pitcher Class of 2026 (from left): Michael Anagnos, Yaya’s Skordalia; Anna Baskin, High Tea Holding/Hightail; Leslie Danford, Vitaminis; Jack Joseph, RMBR; Gabe Huertas del Pino, Archway Pet; Matteo Caloia, (P)Rind.

While the Pitch Competition is always the exciting centerpiece of this annual event, the Innovation Forum included expert commentary from panels on Retail, Omnichannel and Investment; the Fireside Chat between KeHE Distributors CEO Deb Conklin and Naturally Chicago’s Greg Keller was both informative and engaging and the Innovation Showcase featured founders of more than 20 rising star companies who provided samples and shared stories about their products to an audience that included buyers and investors.

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