Mario DiFalco

Founder at Illuminate Growth Partners

Seeing a gap in the industry, Mario launched Illuminate Growth Partners to provide senior-level strategic expertise without the high costs and slow ramp-up of large agencies. His consultancy helps food and beverage brands scale faster, with agility and precision.

Mario is a proven leader in food & beverage innovation, known for driving category-defining growth. From startups to global brands, he has led PowerBar, JOYBA Bubble Tea, Keen Footwear, and Del Monte through transformational expansion—building brand equity, unlocking new categories, and scaling distribution.

Bringing a classically trained CPG marketing skillset and an entrepreneurial mindset, Mario works closely with brands to refine growth strategies, develop innovation pipelines, optimize brand positioning, and accelerate go-to-market execution. Mario has built a reputation as a trusted partner for brands looking to bridge the gap between early traction and sustainable, long-term success.

Serves on the NNC Education Committee.