Autumn Communications

We’re so excited to share that our VP of Growth Marketing, Kayla Lee, is officially joining the speaker lineup at The PR Net Future Focus in NYC on April 24. The industry is shifting fast, and this year’s summit is all about what’s next and who’s actually shaping it. With 300+ senior leaders from across brands and agencies in the room, it’s bound to be one of those days where the conversations are as valuable as the content. Tickets are live now! Kayla will also be there with our Head of Experiential, Austin Connor Ibasfalean, so if you’re attending let us know - we'd love to connect! https://lnkd.in/evuGBDvq

A few members of the Autumn team just wrapped up an energizing few days at Expo West, spending time with our incredible clients and getting a firsthand look at what’s next in food and wellness. Safe to say, the future of the category is looking very interesting. Here are a few trends we couldn’t stop talking about: 🔴 Protein everywhere. From sauces to candy to the next generation of protein powders, this macronutrient continues to dominate the floor. 🔴 Natural sweeteners on the rise. Brands are moving away from artificial options and leaning into ingredients like honey and dates, especially in the healthier candy and dessert space. 🔴 Elevated hydration. Electrolytes and hydration blends were everywhere, but with a noticeable shift back to simpler, more functional formulas. 🔴 Nostalgia with a twist. Childhood favorites reimagined with better-for-you ingredients were a huge theme across snacks and drinks. 🔴 Breakfast, redefined. A new wave of brands is reinventing what a healthy first meal of the day can look like. 🔴 The dairy comeback. From yogurt to coffee creamers to cheese-flavored snacks, many brands are reconnecting with dairy in a big way. 🔴 Beef tallow going mainstream. What once felt niche is now popping up across categories as brands explore more traditional ingredients. The best part of the week was seeing our clients in action and watching the creativity happening across this space. Feeling very excited for what’s ahead this year in food and wellness.

Another special announcement from today’s Inc. Magazine's Female Founders list. Earlier we celebrated the incredible Autumn clients who were recognized on this year’s list and Shelley has always been someone who keeps the focus on the founders and clients we support. She started Autumn with the belief that brands deserve a true strategic partner, not just an agency executing against a brief, and that philosophy continues to shape how we show up for the companies we work with every day. So while she’d be the first to shift the spotlight elsewhere, we wanted to take a moment to congratulate our own founder, Shelley Reinstein, who was also named to this year’s list. Shelley has built something incredibly special, always with the goal of helping founders and brands grow. A very well-deserved recognition. Congratulations, Shelley. 👏

We’re incredibly proud to see so many founders from the extended Autumn community recognized on this year’s Inc. Magazine's Female Founders list. This recognition celebrates women building companies that are not only successful, but creating real impact in their industries and communities. Watching these founders grow their brands and shape the categories they operate in has been inspiring to witness up close. Huge congratulations to: ✨ Allison Evans, Co-Founder, Branch Basics ✨ Gara Post, Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer, The NOW ✨ Luna Aziz, Founder & CEO, Legendairy Milk ✨ Mari Llewellyn, Co-Founder & President, Bloom Nutrition ✨ Pranitha Patil, Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, Function Health ✨ #SalishMatter, Co-Founder, sincerely yours Each of these women is building something that extends far beyond a product or brand. They’re shaping culture, building community, and proving what thoughtful, purpose-driven leadership can look like. It’s a privilege for our team at Autumn Communications to partner with founders who are pushing their industries forward in meaningful ways. https://lnkd.in/d_2CzDy

Experiential has moved from a supporting tactic to one of the most strategic ways brands build cultural relevance. At The PR Net Future Focus 2026, leaders across media, marketing, and communications will come together to discuss the ideas and shifts shaping what’s next for the industry. Excited to share that our Head of Experiential, Austin Connor Ibasfalean, will be part of the experiential panel, sharing perspective on where industry is heading and how brands can create moments that translate into real attention and impact. Tickets are now available!

So good when the internet works the way it’s supposed to. What started as a spontaneous jingle on TikTok turned into a true brand moment. Romeo went viral for creating a catchy, off-the-cuff song and instead of just enjoying the buzz from afar, Vita Coco leaned in and made it official. Turning a viral moment into a real partnership is not just smart marketing, it is cultural fluency. It shows an understanding that today’s most powerful campaigns are not always born in boardrooms. They are born in comment sections, For You pages, and communities. Major credit to Vita Coco for recognizing the opportunity and rewarding creativity in a way that feels earned, not engineered. Thanks to People for helping share this feel-good piece! https://lnkd.in/eFHKsffB

This was a fun one to help tell. In the piece, Eric shares a story about his daughter choosing Carbone for her birthday because it felt like her generation’s place. At the time, he was running another established sauce brand in the category, which makes that moment land differently. It wasn’t just a family anecdote. It was a signal. Five years later, that insight has helped Carbone Fine Food's become a $100M+ sauce business built without traditional advertising, powered by earned media, events, and a clear belief that dinner is the show. That notion was the center of the Forbes story. Not just rapid growth, but the cultural shift behind it and the intentional decision to build the brand differently. Thank you to the team for bringing this to life!

Autumn Communications has been named to Observer’s PR Power List for 2026. This recognition feels especially meaningful knowing how much research, time, and thoughtful evaluation went into building this list. The rigor behind it makes this honor one we truly don’t take lightly. Most of all, none of this would be possible without our incredible clients who trust us to help tell their stories, and our team whose creativity, hustle, and heart show up in the work every single day. This recognition belongs to all of you. Thank you to Observer for the honor, and to everyone who continues to grow with us. https://lnkd.in/g7iarmfa

We’re so proud to see Account Manager, Ben Mayhew, recognized in PRWeek’s Gen Zeitgeist series. Thank you to PRWeek and Jess Ruderman for spotlighting Ben’s perspective on the brands that truly “made the podium” at the Winter Games Olympic Village. In the piece, he breaks down how the standouts weren’t just visible. They created culturally relevant, experience-driven moments that resonated far beyond the event itself. This is exactly the kind of thoughtful, culturally attuned thinking Ben brings to our clients every day, and we love seeing his voice contributing to broader industry conversations. Read the story here: https://lnkd.in/ek4pJYMC

We love this campaign. 💗 Seeing Amazon team up with Amanda Batula for a Galentine’s Day spin on Valentine’s is the perfect reminder that this holiday isn’t just about romance, it’s about celebrating your besties, too.