In this episode, I sit down with Sabrina Kautz , a fractional CMO who helps emerging food and beverage brands grow their retail footprint. With a sharp focus on Whole Foods, Sabrina shares tactical strategies to drive sustained velocity—from in-store marketing to managing buyer relationships and executing demo programs that actually convert. We cover: Why velocity matters more than ever at Whole Foods What new brands get wrong about retail marketing How to evaluate the ROI of promotions, demos, ...
Jun 10, 2025•25 min•Season 1Ep. 229
Angie Kaminky launched Minky Muffins just months before giving birth—and never stopped moving. In this episode, we dive into the reality of launching a food brand while navigating parenthood, production challenges, and early retail wins. A must-listen for founder-parents balancing growth and grit. Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy , an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CPG founders to great resources and partners to grow their business. Visit us at Foodbevy.com to ...
Jun 04, 2025•28 min•Season 1Ep. 228
When I launched my first brand, I made the mistake a lot of founders do—I built the entire brand around a hero ingredient. We were called TeaSquares, and yep, the name locked us into tea and a square shape, which made it tough to grow beyond our initial idea. In this episode, I’m joined by Adam Feller , founder of Avidity Creative , to talk about why leading with your ingredient can actually hurt your CPG brand. We unpack how to focus your messaging on what customers actually care about—and it’s...
Jun 02, 2025•23 min•Season 1Ep. 227
Tariffs have been top of mind for every CPG founder I talk to—including myself. In this episode, I’m joined once again by my friend and frequent guest Yuval Selik, co-founder and CEO of Promomash , to unpack how tariff pressures are impacting our businesses beyond just the bottom line. We dive into how tariffs are exposing hidden inefficiencies in supply chains, why blindly raising prices can damage your brand, and how distributor deductions can quietly drain your profits. Yuval shares his own s...
May 28, 2025•24 min•Season 1Ep. 226
Accounting for beverage brands isn’t just about balancing the books — it’s about understanding the unique financial challenges that come with scaling a physical product business. In this episode, I sit down with Jessica Howes, founder of Wizard Accounting, to unpack the essentials of CPG accounting tailored specifically for beverage brands. Jessica shares her insights on how to properly account for co-manufacturer fees like tolling and setup charges, how to calculate true gross margin across cha...
May 26, 2025•24 min•Season 1Ep. 225
Mallory Patton, co-founder of Saint Spritz, shares how her team turned a post-vacation craving into a fast-growing RTD aperitivo brand. Learn how they launched with no beverage experience, landed retail deals with Target and Total Wine, and built a standout brand through design, family, and focus. Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy , an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CPG founders to great resources and partners to grow their business. Visit us at Foodbevy.com to ...
May 21, 2025•21 min•Season 1Ep. 224
If you're a CPG founder in 2025, Amazon isn’t optional—it’s foundational. But selling on Amazon today looks nothing like it did even a year ago. Joining me are Shayan and Rafay , co-founders of Boost Up AMZ , who’ve helped scale dozens of consumer brands on the platform. In this episode, we break down exactly what you need to know to stay competitive—from the latest policy changes and rising fees, to the strategies separating top-performing brands from those getting buried in search. We also deb...
May 19, 2025•25 min•Season 1Ep. 223
Landing a large retail or corporate order can be a breakthrough moment for your CPG brand—but it can also put a major strain on your cash flow. In this episode of Startup to Scale, we’re joined by Rohit Mathur , founder of Bridge , to break down how purchase order financing can help founders bridge the gap between opportunity and execution. We discuss why PO financing is often a critical lifeline for emerging brands, how it works behind the scenes, what lenders look for, and the key cash flow ch...
May 12, 2025•21 min•Season 1Ep. 222
In this episode I’m joined by a true pioneer in the world of organic CPG—Matt McLean, the founder of Uncle Matt’s Organic. Matt’s journey is a masterclass in scaling with integrity. From navigating the complexities of retail and supply chains to staying ahead of evolving consumer trends, Matt has built a mission-driven brand that’s not only profitable—but principled. He sold his company to Dean Foods, just to buy it back 2 years later when the acquirer went bankrupt. If you care about sustainabi...
May 08, 2025•25 min•Season 1Ep. 221
In this episode, I sit down with Brad Ebenhoeh, co-founder of Accountfully, to unpack how CPG brands can build strong financial foundations to withstand tariffs, inflation, and whatever economic curveballs come their way. Brad shares practical strategies for cash flow management, margin protection, and forecasting so founders can stay resilient even in uncertain times. Whether you’re sourcing internationally or scaling into retail, this conversation will help you sharpen your numbers and make sm...
May 05, 2025•22 min•Season 1Ep. 220
Today we’re into the behind-the-scenes journey of taking a beloved cult-favorite product from small-batch to store shelves across the country. I’m joined by the Justin Oleesky, COO of Coconut Cult , a brand that’s made waves in the probiotic space with its ultra-potent coconut yogurt—and a company that’s learned a lot about what it takes to scale into national distribution without losing your mind. We’ll explore the operational challenges that come with growing fast: managing complex retailer re...
Apr 28, 2025•21 min•Season 1Ep. 219
In this episode I dive deep into how brands can succeed selling to Sprouts Market, one of the premier national natural channel retailers. I’m joined by Luke Abbott, founder of VDriven , a CPG growth consultancy that works closely with Sprouts. You’ll learn about how to succeed in Sprouts generally and in their innovation set. Want to work with VDriven to launch in Sprouts? E-mail us at grace@foodbevy.com to get an introduction. Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy , an online community to c...
Apr 09, 2025•19 min•Season 1Ep. 218
The cash conversion cycle is one of the most challenging things to manage in a CPG business. Join me as I talk with Samantha Abramson, CEO of Just Date as she shares her exact process including: Using AION to fund her working capital needs Her Weekly Cashflow Management Process How She Budgets You can get a free AION bank account and access AR financing for your business here Sponsored by Aion. Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy , an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, an...
Apr 02, 2025•20 min•Season 1Ep. 217
Today, we’re tackling one of the most critical—and often misunderstood—aspects of growing a food or beverage company: the relationship between brands, distributors, and retailers. Think of this ecosystem like a three-legged stool—each leg plays a vital role, and if one isn’t strong, the whole thing collapses. To help us break this down, I’m joined by Howie Sher , a seasoned expert in the CPG industry and a leader at JPG Resources , a firm that helps brands navigate growth from startup to scale. ...
Mar 31, 2025•21 min•Season 1Ep. 216
In this episode of Startup to Scale , I dive into the essential backend tools that brands need to streamline their operations, manage cash flow, and access working capital. I sit down with the Mel and Branden from Settle to discuss: ✅ The key challenges brands face when scaling—especially aligning sales, operations, and financing. ✅ When to transition from spreadsheets to more robust business management tools. ✅ The must-have tech stack, including sales orders, bill pay, inventory management, an...
Mar 26, 2025•25 min•Season 1Ep. 215
Struggling to run effective e-commerce ads? It might just be your landing pages and offer. I’m having this problem with Joyful Co, so I reached out to Andrew at AdCrunch to break down how to build effective landing pages that actually drive sales. We cover: Creating Compelling Messaging Landing Pages that Answer All Your buyer’s Questions Making an Irresistible Offer Unlock Winning Hooks & CTAs for Your Brand For FREE! Watch Now Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy , an online community...
Mar 17, 2025•33 min•Season 1Ep. 214
How do you turn an ancient Italian superfood into a modern snack brand that stands out in the crowded U.S. market? Aaron Gatti , founder and CEO of Brami , set out to do just that. Inspired by the Mediterranean diet and his Italian roots, Aaron discovered the lupini bean —a protein-packed, fiber-rich legume with incredible health benefits. But while lupini beans were popular in Europe, they were virtually unknown in the U.S. In this episode, Aaron shares how he built Brami from the ground up, fr...
Mar 10, 2025•23 min•Season 1Ep. 213
Eric Skae is the CEO of Carbone Fine Food , the premium pasta sauce offshoot of New York’s Iconic Carbone Restaurant. Over his career, Eric has led and scaled multiple consumer brands across beverages, snacks, and specialty foods – think New Leaf iced tea, Iceland Spring water, Popcornopolis popcorn, and the famous Rao’s Specialty Foods sauce line, where he took over as CEO and led the company through a rebrand and exit. With that track record, Eric knows a thing or two about taking a startup an...
Mar 05, 2025•20 min•Season 1Ep. 212
I thought TeaSquares’ unique multi-serve pouch would stand out—it did, but for the wrong reasons. Customers were confused by the packaging, and sales suffered. We switched to single-serve bars that aligned with category norms, and sales improved significantly. In this episode, I sit down with Sanders , founder of NUEX Creative , to discuss how packaging design can make or break your product on the shelf and online. We’ll dive into strategies for creating packaging that attracts customers and dri...
Mar 03, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 211
Soon, AI will just become a commonplace tool in business. Are you prepared? Join me as I talk with Andreas Duess, from 6 Seeds about the structure of the CPG industry and how emerging brands can utilize AI to navigate data complexities and drive growth. We discuss the importance of integrating AI tools while ensuring that these technologies enhance rather than replace the human touch that is so critical for brands. Tune in to learn practical strategies for employing AI in your CPG brand without ...
Feb 24, 2025•25 min•Season 1Ep. 210
Expo West is coming up, and it’s like the Super Bowl for CPG. while I won’t be there, I invited on Heather Holmes to share some tips and suggestions on how to make the most of the show. We discuss: Setting clear goals and outcomes Creating a content plan Being proactive about building relationships Gathering data and feedback Generating press and PR Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy , an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CPG founders to great resources and partners...
Feb 19, 2025•16 min•Season 1Ep. 209
Retailers are raising the bar when it comes to liability coverage, and the process of securing the right insurance is becoming more complicated than ever. Not only are brands facing higher coverage limits, but the third-party companies verifying Certificates of Insurance don’t always understand how coverage works—leading to unnecessary denials and costly delays. To help us make sense of this evolving landscape, I’m joined by Russ Taylor from SecureCPG, an insurance company specializing in covera...
Feb 17, 2025•18 min•Season 1Ep. 208
In this episode, I’m joined by Yuval Selik, CEO of Promomash , to explore the challenges and strategies of securing investment for CPG brands in today’s tight market conditions. Despite the availability of capital, the CPG sector often struggles to attract investment. Yuval shares expert advice on making your brand more appealing to investors by honing in on crucial aspects of your business, particularly profitability. We'll delve into the essential actions CPG founders need to take, the key met...
Jan 20, 2025•13 min•Season 1Ep. 207
Join us as Rachel Kane, co-founder of Sprinkle Bites, shares her journey of bringing a Dutch-inspired snack, Hagelslag, to kids in the U.S. Sprinkle Bites isn’t just about sprinkles—it’s a high-protein, sugar-free treat packed with plant-based nutrients, perfect for on-the-go snacking. Learn how Rachel and her co-founder Nicole are revolutionizing snacking with sprinkles that are as nutritious as they are fun. Tune in to hear about their innovative product development, go-to-market strategies, a...
Jan 15, 2025•19 min•Season 1Ep. 205
Join us as we dive into the inspiring journey of Orleatha Smith, co-founder of Sip Herbals —a caffeine-free, prebiotic-rich herbal coffee alternative. From overcoming personal health challenges to creating a groundbreaking product loved by the wellness community, Orleatha shares her story of innovation, resilience, and the lessons learned along the way. Discover what it takes to grow a brand in a niche market, the power of listening to customers, and the behind-the-scenes experience of pitching ...
Jan 14, 2025•20 min•Season 1Ep. 205
Popadelics , founded by wife and husband team Marilyn and Michael makes crunchy mushroom chips. They’re a bootstrapped company that’s used creative debt financing to fund their operations and grow to over 3000 stores. They worked with Kickfurther , which offers inventory financing to decrease their cashflow gap when producing orders for the new distributor and retailer launches. Marilyn is also still working a full time job and building Popadelics . Join me for an engaging conversation about how...
Jan 09, 2025•21 min•Season 1Ep. 204
Storytelling is crucial to building your brand, and PR is a great way to get your message out in the world. But where to start? On this episode I talk with Heather Holmes , founder of Publicity for Good to break down how to think about PR for CPG Brands to build awareness and ultimately drive sales. We also do a live virtual PR audit for my brand, Joyful Co and discuss which elements of our story are most compelling and which mediums we should focus on. Want an audit for your brand? Book a free ...
Jan 06, 2025•24 min•Season 1Ep. 203
Building a profitable CPG business is possible, but it takes a special product and business model. Join me as I sit down with Sean Hall one of my favorite bootstrapped entrepreneurs who founded Wellious as we talk through what it took to build a profitable business, how he carefully chose a category and built a product in a crowded category. Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy , an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CPG founders to great resources and partners to grow...
Jan 02, 2025•25 min•Season 1Ep. 202
Founded by former KIND Snacks Exec Lindsay Hancock, My Better Batch was created to make baking from scratch as effortless as possible. Lindsay did 90% of the work by sourcing premium ingredients and crafting an easy, mix-and-bake solution so customers can make cookies that taste homemade with just the addition of egg and butter. In this episode, learn how she is starting her company and getting into retailers like Sprouts. Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy , an online community to connec...
Dec 30, 2024•21 min•Season 1Ep. 201
In this episode I dive into the essential strategies for building successful relationships with service providers that help your business thrive. From aligning on goals to fostering transparent communication, we cover actionable tips to maximize the value of these critical partnerships. Joining me is Brad Ebenhoeh, CEO of Accountfully . Key topics include: Alignment : Setting clear expectations and ensuring your provider has the capability to deliver. Expectations : Defining timelines, pricing, ...
Dec 16, 2024•21 min•Season 1Ep. 200
