Senior Vice President, Food Industry Advisor, The NPD Group

David Portalatin is The NPD Group’s national advisor on all aspects of food and beverage consumption in- and away-from-home.  In his role as industry advisor, Portalatin provides information, insights, and analysis on how U.S. consumers eat and drink, their   attitudes and motivations, diet and nutrition, snacking, and personal characteristics. He works closely with food manufacturers and retailers; foodservice distributors, manufacturers, and operators; and media outlets in providing strategic business insights into current and future eating patterns in America. Portalatin’s diverse background and experience gives him an in-depth understanding of consumer behavior and purchase patterns. He held various positions in petroleum marketing, convenience retailing, and foodservice wholesale distribution before joining NPD in 1999.He is often a featured speaker at industry events and at corporate conferences/meetings with distributors, manufacturers, and retailers. Portalatin also serves as a media source for a wide variety articles on food and beverage consumption trends and how these trends impact the food industry.