Milwaukee-based B2B agency Bader Rutter is partnering with the Southern Smoke Foundation on an initiative designed to help food companies bring better insights to their product development efforts.  

The initiative is called the Chef Advisory Network which provides food companies with access to chefs, operations and other foodservice pros who are influencing menu trends, sustainability practices and consumer taste trends across the country.  

“The Chef Advisory Network gives food manufacturers access to the people shaping what’s next in food,” said David Jordan, CEO at Bader Rutter. “Our clients are asking for more than marketing — they want meaningful perspective from those working in the industry every day. This is how we help them innovate smarter and build products that truly connect with their customers.”  

The agency said that the new network reflects Bader Rutter’s broader strategy to expand its food and beverage offerings by embedding experts like chefs and farmers into client work to ensure insights are grounded in real-world experience.    

Through panel discussions, roundtables, research and more, the Chef Advisory Network will inform product development, innovation pipelines, and category strategies for food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers, according to the agency. Topics will range from ingredient and menu trends to operational issues, such as sustainability, sourcing, and labor.  

Proceeds from manufacturer participation will benefit both the participating chefs and the Southern Smoke Foundation, which has a mission to provide emergency relief and mental health services to food and beverage professionals.   

Since its founding by chef Chris Shepherd a decade ago, Southern Smoke Foundation has distributed nearly $15 million in emergency relief funds to industry professionals and provided more than 9,000 no-cost mental health counseling sessions in 12 states, including Washington, D.C., with plans to expand into three more states this year.  

Pictured (left to right): Bailey Sullivan, Executive Chef of Monteverde (Chicago) and Bravo's 'Top Chef' (Season 22); Sarah Grueneberg, Chef/Co-Owner Monteverde; Abby Schroder, Executive Sous Chef Monteverde, and Jaime Canete, Managing Partner, Monteverde.