The Startup CPG Podcast - podcast cover

The Startup CPG Podcast

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.

Episodes

Taking Your Brand International

If you are new around here, we are a community dedicated to helping young CPG brands succeed. We do this a few ways like giving access to phenomenal resources like our guest today, Mary Allen, who has expertise in taking brands global. She not only advise brands in this space, but she's also done it herself! She sells Savvy Green, a line of eco-clean detergent products, internationally. Listen in, as Mary dives into what type of products should be thinking about expanding internationally and res...

Mar 29, 202118 min

CONSUMER PROFILE: Midwest Millennial Mom Leaning Into Sustainable Foods

Meet Emily, a midwest mom, MBA-student and professional who is leading her family's journey to sustainable foods. Listen as we spotlight an array of consumer profiles, think 1-on-1 qualitative research, digging into the minds of today's consumers. Make sure to reference the other Consumer Profiles in season 2.

Mar 15, 202123 min

Dip Into Paradise with Founder Emily Edwards

What if I told you there is a sweet icing dip made from plant protein powder…and it’s actually tasty?! Well believe me, it’s paradise in a jar. I’m talking to Emily Edwards, founder of Paradise Icing, she’s a former social worker turned food entrepreneur. Her story is one of health struggles, perseverance, and a whole lotta optimism! Listen in as we chat about how she’s building a brand that’s tastefully wholesome.

Mar 01, 202122 min

How To Build A Sustainable Brand On Shopify

In a crowded marketplace where anyone can open a Shopify site to sell a product, you have to fight for attention. On today’s episode we will hear from Florian Radke, an expert in building successful direct-to-consumer brands. Listen as he breaks down what is really needed to have a thriving brand on Shopify.

Feb 15, 202127 min

CONSUMER PROFILE: This Plant-Based Eater Reads Every Label

Meet Brianna, a self-described plant-based, pescatarian and an avid label reader. She's new to city life and enjoying the easy access to new cultures, flavors and brands - even during a pandemic. Listen as we spotlight an array of consumer profiles, think 1-on-1 qualitative research, digging into the minds of today's consumers.

Feb 08, 202120 min

Poppilu's Founder Melanie Kahn Is As Bold As Her Lemonade

Melanie Kahn, founder of Poppilu Lemonade, shares how she’s been able to land on the shelves of top retailers like Walmart & soon to be Target. And how going bold on product innovation is paying off. Follow Poppilu on Instagram @ drinkpoppilu

Feb 01, 202122 min

Meet Our New Host

Meet Jennifer Yepez-Blundell, the new Startup CPG podcast host. Jennifer has an eternal curiosity for brands who are building better-for-you products and think outside the box, literally. She will showcase the diversity of thought behind some of today's youngest brands and highlight resources that help emerging brands level up each day.

Jan 25, 20216 min

Nacho Average Podcast with Lauren Joyner, Founder of Loca Foods

Lauren Joyner is the CEO and Founder of LOCA Foods. LOCA's first product is a plant-based nacho sauce for the 21st century, made from potatoes. Lauren has really done her research to understand what it is about food that we enjoy - what purpose does it serve, in what context is it shared, how does it make us feel? This is such an important mindset for disrupting a broken food system. Understanding what doesn't work, how it got that way, and why we cling to it are essential foundations for buildi...

Nov 21, 202034 minSeason 1Ep. 1

Season 2 Trailer - What's Next for Startup CPG?

Startup CPG is a community of passionate people who love to build products that make our bodies happy, and our world healthy. In less than a year our community has grown to over 1200 active and engaged memebers. We have bigger and better projects in the pipeline to support small CPG brands - the best is yet to come.

Nov 21, 20203 min

Ep. 11: Sculpting Your Business with Operations Mastery with John Schiaroli, President and Founder of Armatura Company

John Schiaroli loves using his years of experience in operations to support young brands as they are being molded. He builds operational frameworks for growth, helping young brands create scalable, precise and effective backbones to make sure the business works. John's experience ranges from years at multinational brands like Coke and Pepsi, to more recently leading supply chain operations for brands like RUNA, WTRMLN WTR, and Milk Bar. On this episode, John walks me through the most important l...

Nov 21, 202040 minSeason 1Ep. 11

Ep. 10: Garlic + Lemon + Love = Goodness with Mariam Elghani, founder of Garlic Goodness

How do you bring a traditional product to market while maintaining the integrity of family tradition? Meet Mariam Elghani, founder of Garlic Goodness, Garlic Dips and Snacks. Produced in California with farm-fresh ingredients, Garlic Goodness bring bold yet approachable flavors to homes in California. Garlic Goodness is based off a family recipe that has traveled from the Lavant to Sacramento. One main ingredient has changed - egg whites - to make the dip plant based. Yet, the heart of the dip i...

Sep 22, 202027 minSeason 1Ep. 10

Ep. 9: E-Commerce Strategies from Amazon to Shopify with Rachel Barge of Leap Grow and Kate Lin of Right Side Up

Are you thinking about selling your products online, direct to consumer? Not sure if you should start selling on Amazon, on your own website, or somewhere else? Unclear if e-commerce can be profitable for your business? E-commerce and growth marketing experts Rachel Barge and Kate Lin discuss strategies for reaching your customers directly on episode 10. Rachel Barge is the founder of Leap Grow, a premium group of freelance growth marketers and has served as the Head of Growth/Marketing for comp...

Aug 29, 202044 minSeason 1Ep. 9

Ep. 8: Build a Food Business with Teeth - Chloe Sorvino, Forbes Magazine

Improving something should be inherently innovative, but within the food and beverage world, what really fuels the "better for you" space? As a young company, what support exists to help you stick to your vision and values? In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, we interview Chloe Sorvino, a staff writer at Forbes. Chloe covers all things CPG, from Billionaires to Under 30 entrepreneurs. Under 30 applications just opened, so be sure to listen to the entire episode for tips from Chloe on how...

Aug 13, 202039 minSeason 1Ep. 8

Ep. 7: "You had me at wine" - Gregorio Santiago, on shifting your mindset from product to brand

What really makes a product stand out to investors and customers? Gregorio Santiago has spent his career getting to know the ins and outs of what makes a great product succeed, and why some of the most innovative products never make it to market. Formerly the head of Acceleration and Discovery at Distill Ventures and a serial entrepreneur himself, Gregorio shares some tactical stories and tips with us.

Jul 30, 202039 minSeason 1Ep. 7

Ep. 6: Co-Mans and Co-Packers 101 - Don't Skip the Small Stuff with Matt Suggs of PartnerSlate

What is a Co-Man, Co-Manufacturer, or Co-Packer? If you’re a budding CPG business, should you consider partering with one to save overhead? Turns out, they can be super helpful in securing deals within your supply chain, but there’s a few things you should know before approaching a contract manufacturer. In this week’s episode of the Startup CPG podcast, we sit down with Matt Suggs, the founder of Partner Slate. He walks us through everything you need to know about getting your recipe off the gr...

Jun 25, 202029 minSeason 1Ep. 6

Ep. 5: Flavor Unites with Clara Paye of UNiTE Foods

Today's episode is a conversation with Clara Paye, Founder of UNiTE Food. UNiTE packs globally inspired flavors and wholesome, gluten-free ingredients and superfoods into nourishing, high-protein snacks. Clara is technically a one-woman show but she's clearly building something so much bigger than herself, and on this episode we talk about the inspiration and process of shaking up a pretty basic niche of CPG, bringing diversity and inclusion to the protein bar space....

Jun 07, 202023 minSeason 1Ep. 5

Ep. 4: The Power of Partnerships with Caroline Cotto, COO of Renewal Mill

Partnerships come in many forms and, with a little creativity, can present themselves in pretty unique ways! In this episode, we sit down with Caroline Cotto, the COO of Renewal Mill, to discuss the power of partnerships, keeping an open mind, and building a circular economy for food.

May 29, 202029 minSeason 1Ep. 4

Ep. 2: Bissy Energy Drink - The Real Kola with Zach En'wezoh

This episode features Zach En'wezoh, the Co-Founder and Head of Product for Bissy Energy. They're creating social equity for small holder farmers in Nigeria through the use of caffeinated Kolanut products. Zach shares their origin story, how they built their supply chain, and how they're building a brand on a foundation of care and transparency within the supply chain.

May 04, 202024 minSeason 1Ep. 2

Ep. 1: What the F is a Broker?! with Jake Huber

Everyone is asking... what does a sales broker do, anyway? Are they worth incorporating into your business model, and if so, when? Jake Huber from The Better Food Group breaks it down for us on why you should work with one, and how to have a successful partnership.

Apr 28, 202038 minSeason 1Ep. 1

Welcome to the Startup CPG Podcast

A brief introduction to the Startup CPG Podcast, from your host, Amanda Rodriguez, and Daniel Scharff, founder of the Startup CPG Network.

Apr 24, 20206 min