The top CPG podcast in the world, highlighting stories from founders, buyer spotlights, highly practical industry insights - all to give you a better chance at success.
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#182 - How to Crush Expo West
56:34
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56:34Step into the vibrant world of Expo West in this episode of the Startup CPG podcast where Daniel Scharff is joined by startup CPG sales legends Matt Levine from Chlorophyll Water, Clara Paye from Unite Foods, and Pierre Jamet from Fishwife. Join them as they share insider tips for Expo West - what to do before, during, and after the show to make th…
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Founder Feature: Ehime Eigbe-Akindele of Sweet Kiwi
34:43
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34:43In this episode of The Startup CPG Podcast, Grace Kennedy chats with Ehime Eigbe-Akindele, founder of Sweet Kiwi, a frozen whipped Greek yogurt brand that combines functional nutrition with irresistible taste. Ehime shares her inspiring journey from working in bankruptcy litigation at Citigroup to creating a delicious and nutritious product. She ta…
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Bonus: Tariffs 101 with Aaron Alpeter
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23:39
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23:39In this bonus episode of The Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff sits down with supply chain expert Aaron Alpeter, founder of Izba, to break down the latest tariff changes and what they mean for CPG brands. With new tariffs potentially impacting goods from Mexico, Canada, and China, Aaron explains the potential ripple effects on supply chains, pric…
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#181 - Buyer Spotlight: John Lane, Category Manager at Raley's
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45:12In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff is joined by John Lane, Category Manager for Snacks & Commercial Bread at Raley's, a division of The Raley's Companies (formerly Pantry buyer), to explore the evolving grocery landscape and the secrets behind Raley's success as a trusted grocery store chain for nearly 90 years. John shares …
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Founder Feature: Brian Bethke of BEAR Maple Farms
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37:37
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37:37In this episode of The Startup CPG Podcast, Grace Kennedy sits down with Brian Bethke, founder of BEAR Maple Farms and winner of the 2024 Shelfie Award in the drink category. Brian shares his inspiring journey from building amplifiers for rock legends like Pearl Jam and Lenny Kravitz to creating a one-of-a-kind functional beverage featuring ginseng…
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#180 - Meet the Startup CPG Editor: Caitlin Bricker
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38:37In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff welcomes Caitlin Bricker, editor at Startup CPG, to dive into her journey from food service to retail buying and now to the editorial world. Caitlin shares her passion for finding purpose-driven brands, her insights into the evolving CPG ecosystem, and her unique perspective shaped by perso…
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Founder Feature: Jana Goodbaum of Happy Wolf
38:35
38:35
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38:35In this episode of The Startup CPG Podcast, Grace Kennedy chats with Jana Goodbaum, co-founder of Happy Wolf, a snack company revolutionizing toddler and kids' snacks with their "wildly simple" refrigerated bars. Jana shares her journey from advertising executive to entrepreneurial mom, driven by the frustration of limited healthy snack options for…
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#179 - Bootstrap Heroes: Hazard's Hop Water, SWAIR, Gourmend Foods
33:13
33:13
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33:13In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff dives into the strategies and challenges of bootstrapping with three inspiring founders who have transformed bold ideas into thriving businesses—all without outside funding. Ryan Hansen, co-founder of Hazards Hop Water, shares how he scaled a six-figure non-alcoholic beverage brand by targe…
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Founder Feature: Becca Wright of Piedmont Pennies
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36:04In this episode of The Startup CPG Podcast, Grace Kennedy sits down with Becca Wright, the founder of Piedmont Pennies, to discuss the journey of turning a cherished family recipe into a thriving business. Becca shares the story behind her signature bite-sized cheesy biscuit crackers, inspired by her granddad’s recipe from North Carolina, and how s…
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#178 - Buyer Spotlight: Sean Goldsmith, The Zero Proof (DTC Non-Alc Retail)
37:38
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37:38In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff sits down with Sean Goldsmith, co-founder of The Zero Proof, the largest online direct-to-consumer retailer of adult non-alcoholic beverages. Sean shares insights into the booming non-alcoholic beverage market, exploring trends like Dry January, the rise of wellness-driven consumer habits, …
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Founder Feature: Nikki Seaman of Freestyle Snacks
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29:43
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29:43In this episode of The Startup CPG Podcast, Grace Kennedy welcomes Nikki Seaman, founder and CEO of Freestyle Snacks, to discuss the journey behind reimagining olives as a premium, convenient snack. Nikki shares her inspiration for launching Freestyle Snacks during the pandemic, identifying a gap in the market for fresh, flavorful olives packaged f…
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#177 - Finding Your Co-Man: Lance Schwarzkopf of Copack
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56:50
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56:50In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff and Lance Schwarzkopf take us behind the scenes of launching a food or beverage product. They break down the complexities of working with contract manufacturers, or "co-mans," to transform a concept into a market-ready product. Daniel and Lance share essential steps for emerging brands, fro…
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Founder Feature: Val Emanuel of Rif Care
37:16
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37:16In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Grace Kennedy sits down with Val Emanuel, the inspiring co-founder of Rif Care, a two-year-old feminine care brand that prioritizes sustainability and wellness. Val shares the journey behind Rif Care's creation, from identifying gaps in the market for elevated, eco-friendly period products to overcoming c…
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#176 - Startup CPG’s 2024 Year in Review
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49:59In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff sits down with Patricia Menegoto, Head of Marketing and Community at Startup CPG, to reflect on a transformative year for the community and discuss ambitious plans for the future. Together, they recount the milestones of 2024, from hosting dedicated sections at trade shows, events in 17+ ci…
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Founder Feature: Spencer Hoddeson, Gay Water
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40:11In this bonus episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Grace Kennedy sits down with Spencer Hoddeson, the CEO of Gay Water. They delve into the inspiration behind creating Gay Water, a mission-driven brand that is aiming to increase representation for the queer community in the alcohol space. With a rich background in media and tech, Spencer shares his …
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#175 - E-Comm Wizards: David Fudge of Aplós
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58:08In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff sits down with David Fudge, co-founder of Aplós, to discuss the journey of building a premium non-alcoholic spirits brand. David shares insights from his time leading brand at Bonobos, where he helped pioneer the direct-to-consumer model, and how those experiences informed his approach to c…
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Founder Feature: Joseph Rotondo of Smearcase
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38:00
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38:00In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Grace Kennedy sits down with Joseph Rotondo, founder & CEO of Smearcase, the innovative brand behind the world’s first frozen cottage cheese. Joseph recounts his journey from a post-workout craving to the creation of a protein-packed dessert that’s disrupting the traditional ice cream market. Joseph share…
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#174 - Buyer Spotlight: Heidi Traore and Jeanette Bloss, National Co+op Grocers
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58:46
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58:46In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff chats with Heidi Traore, Supplier Relationship Development Manager, and Jeanette Bloss, Category Manager, from NCG (National Co+op Grocers). Together, they provide an in-depth look at NCG’s role as a powerful partner for natural channel brands and co-op grocery stores. Heidi breaks down wha…
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Founder Feature: Caroline Howard Walker Brothers
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35:20In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Grace Kennedy chats with Caroline Howard, one of the co-founders of Walker Brothers, a kombucha brand crafting both non-alcoholic and hard kombucha. Caroline shares the story behind Walker Brothers’ inception, including how a family scoby and a shared passion for beverages sparked the brand’s journey. She…
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#173 - The Food Investors: Capital for Emerging CPGs
1:02:43
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1:02:43In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff is joined by a distinguished panel of investors, including Greer Tessler (Founding Partner at Simple Food Ventures), Daniel Faierman (General Partner at Habitat Partners), Carolyn Simmons (Partner at Melitas Ventures), and Andrew Reynolds (Co-Founder & General Partner at RCV Frontline). Tog…
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Founder Feature: Katie Lefkowitz of Harken Sweets
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34:06In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Grace Kennedy speaks with Katie Lefkowitz, founder of Harken Sweets, about her journey from concept to creating a successful better-for-you candy brand. Katie shares how her personal health journey inspired the development of candy bars infused with superfoods like dates and oats, offering healthier alter…
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#172 - Ops Talk: 5 Things Brands Get Wrong
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37:44
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37:44In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff sits down with Jamie Valenti-Jordan, CEO of Catapult Commercialization Services, to tackle the five biggest mistakes brands make in operations—and how to avoid them. Jamie shares why "planning for the unexpected" isn’t just a saying, it’s a survival tactic, and explains how treating your co…
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Founder Feature: Lindsay Hancock of My Better Batch
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44:54In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Grace Kennedy chats with Lindsay Hancock, founder of My Better Batch, about her journey from a corporate career in CPG to launching her own brand of premium cookie mixes. Lindsay shares her experience creating a product that fills a gap in the baking aisle, offering a clean, homemade flavor with simple in…
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#171 - SupplySide West Recap with Doss
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46:04In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff explores the world of SupplySide West with Wiley Jones, Founder and CEO of Doss, who sponsored 2 lucky brands to attend SupplySide West this year - Paul and Barbara Logan from Uncle’s Ice Cream; and Mark Collis, CEO of Scout Organic. At Doss they're building tools for teams that work in the…
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Founder Feature: Cason Crane of Explorer Cold Brew
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48:28In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Grace Kennedy sits down with Cason Crane, the founder of Explorer Cold Brew, to explore his journey from endurance athlete and consultant to the creator of a caffeine-conscious coffee brand. Cason shares his unique story, which includes summiting the highest peaks on every continent and competing on Race …
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