Industry-wide gathering part of signature events Oct. 8–10 at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis
SEPTEMBER 3, 2025
WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association for the dietary supplement and functional food industry, today announced agenda highlights for CONVERGENCE ‘25, taking place Oct. 8–10 at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis, part of its signature events including Science in Session, WellComms, and Innovation Exchange. See www.crnusa.org/2025events for details.
“This year’s CONVERGENCE agenda goes beyond thought leadership to provide actionable intelligence,” said Steve Mister, CRN President & CEO. “CRN has curated a group of in-the-know experts to help attendees anticipate challenges, seize opportunities, and lead with confidence in a rapidly changing business environment.”
CONVERGENCE brings together dietary supplement and functional food industry leaders for discussions that shape the future of the marketplace as well as public health, providing educational content to inform business decisions and unparalleled networking opportunities.
Program highlights include:
- Consumer Insights
A deep dive into consumer attitudes and purchasing behavior with data from Circana
- Tariffs & Trade Policy and Their Effect on the Dietary Supplement Market
Connect policy details with real-world business consequences to address tariff-related challenges
- Third-Party Evaluators – Are They Helpful to Consumers?
Representatives from Canomiks, ConsumerLab, Labdoor, and SuppCo discuss their platforms, moderated Nutrition Business Journal Editor in Chief Rick Polito
- Navigating the New Regulatory Landscape
Understand how emerging regulations—from drug preclusion questions to state ingredient bans—could affect compliance and business strategy
- A Conversation with FDA
CRN President & CEO Steve Mister sits down with a top agency official for a frank dialogue on today’s regulatory landscape for supplements
- The View from the Corner Office – CEO Panel
Industry leaders share what keeps them up at night, what they’re doing about it, and what inspires them about the future of supplements and functional food
- Navigating the News Cycle
Keynote speaker Jim VandeHei, co-founder of Axios and POLITICO, delivers an insider’s view of Washington’s shifting power dynamics and what they mean for the supplement and wellness industry
- The Intersection of Healthcare & Technology
Keynote speaker Daniel Kraft, M.D., physician-scientist and founder of NextMed Health, explores transformative emerging healthcare technologies creating new opportunities for nutrition and wellness leaders
This year’s member conference chair and emcee is Karen E. Todd, R.D., vice president of global brand marketing at Kyowa Hakko U.S.A. and CRN board of directors chair-elect. “CRN’s CONVERGENCE is a unique opportunity to connect over discussions on the issues that matter most to our industry,” said Todd. “I look forward to welcoming attendees to St. Louis for the kind of dialogue and networking that helps us strengthen and grow our business to innovate responsibly and best serve consumers.”
Registration is open to both CRN members and non-members, with options to attend CONVERGENCE, as well as packages including Science in Session or WellComms, and the complimentary Innovation Exchange, plus group activities. Full details are available at www.crnusa.org/2025events.
About CRN: The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing 180+ dietary supplement and functional food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and companies providing services to those manufacturers and suppliers. In addition to complying with a host of federal and state regulations governing dietary supplements and food in the areas of manufacturing, marketing, quality control and safety, our manufacturer and supplier members also agree to adhere to additional voluntary guidelines as well as to CRN’s Code of Ethics. Follow us on LinkedIn and X @CRN_Supplements.