In this episode of Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff sits down with Emily Curran, Senior Manager of Product at SPS Commerce, to talk about the role of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) in optimizing supply chain processes. Emily breaks down how EDI automates the exchange of business documents between retailers, distributors, and brands, offering …

In this bonus episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Grace sits down with Alison Cayne, the founder of Haven's Kitchen, to discuss the transformation of her business from a cooking school to a thriving CPG brand. Alison shares the challenges and lessons learned during this journey, touching on topics like sustainable packaging, navigating new food ind…

In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff sits down with Kantha Shelke, a certified food scientist, and Jon Benninger, VP at Informa, to delve into an overview of SupplySide West—the best known supply chain trade show for the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. This event covers a wide array of sectors including food, beverage,…

In this bonus episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Grace Kennedy is joined by Jen Liao, co-founder of MìLà, a brand renowned for its delicious frozen Chinese soup dumplings. Jen reveals the fascinating journey of transforming MìLà from a local restaurant into a thriving direct-to-consumer brand amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges of deve…

In this episode of Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff is joined by Jason Murrell, the Director of Grocery at JIMBO’S, a leading organic and natural foods retailer in San Diego. Jason shares his inspiring journey through the grocery retail industry and provides an inside look at JIMBO’S commitment to high ingredient standards and sustainability. Di…

In this bonus episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Grace Kennedy is joined by Patricia Menegoto and Kiki Huddleston from the Startup CPG team for an insider look at the 2024 Shelfie Awards. They dive into the intricacies of the judging process, the criteria for selecting finalists, and the standout products that are making waves in categories like s…

In this bonus episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Grace Kennedy sits down with Cam Mathias, the visionary founder of Huntaway, an innovative pet food brand. Discover how Huntaway emerged during the COVID-19 lockdown with a mission to deliver nutritious, convenient, and sustainable food for dogs. Cam reveals the story behind Huntaway’s unique use of…

In this episode of Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff is joined by Glenn Cunningham, Director of Center Store for Village Supermarkets, which owns tastemaker New York stores Fairway Market, Gourmet Garage, and local area ShopRites, and is part of the Wakefern Co-op. Glenn sheds light on the cooperative model of Wakefern, providing valuable insight…

In this bonus episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Grace Kennedy and Patricia Menegoto are joined by Veena Krishnan and Whitney McElwain, co-founders of Daybird, an innovative "anti-beauty" brand. Daybird's flagship product is a 4-in-1 serum skin tint that blends skincare and makeup into one streamlined solution. They delve into Daybird's unique app…

In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, join Daniel Scharff and a distinguished panel of investors, Salle Jian, Alex Malamatinas, Brandon Yahn, and Connor McKenna from the beverage industry as they explore the latest trends and opportunities in the non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beverage market. They share insights from their experiences with br…

Join Grace Kennedy in this bonus episode of the Startup CPG podcast as she sits down with Cassie and Chelsey Maschhoff, the inspiring founders of Lottie's Meats. Raised on a family pork farm, the sisters share their journey to revolutionize the meat industry with high-quality, natural ingredients through their Denver-based venture. They delve into …

Join Daniel Scharff in this episode of Startup CPG Podcast for the release of Startup CPG's Financing Database, an amazing resource crowdsourced from our community that lists all the non-dilutive lending options we could find, categorized by loan type and with info on the minimums for each provider. The database is proudly sponsored by our friends …

In this bonus episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Grace Kennedy sits down with Sam Davis-Allonce, the founder of Hot N Saucy, a unique line of hot sauces. Sam shares her inspiring journey from being a chef in New York to launching her own hot sauce brand during the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by her culinary creativity and personal cravings. She delv…

In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff sits down with Tyler Killgore, Central Buyer and Category Manager at GreenAcres Market. Tyler shares his expansive journey within the grocery industry, from his rapid progression and previous experience in direct store delivery ventures to his current pivotal role. He provides deep insights…

In this bonus episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Grace Kennedy is joined by Todd Harris, co-founder and CEO of Plift, a hemp-infused beverage brand. Todd shares Plift's mission to provide a non-alcoholic, THC-infused alternative for social drinking, aimed at democratizing cannabis access and offering a healthier option to alcohol-use. Todd elabora…

In this episode of Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff is joined by Allison Taylor, Director of Business Development at Pint Size Hawaii, and Ahmed Chehade, Chief Operating Officer at Good Stuff Distributor, Inc. to delve into the intricacies of Direct Store Delivery (DSD) relationships in the retail sector. They explore the nuances between DSDs an…

In this bonus episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Grace Kennedy explores the journey of Matt Jacobs and Kristen Hogan Doyle, co-founders of Pedestrian Project. Join them as they share their inspirational story of founding a wellness brand focused on revolutionizing foot care. From identifying personal needs to collaborating with podiatrists and rig…

Join Daniel Scharff in this episode of the Startup CPG podcast as he sits down with Namik Soltan, CEO of GNGR Labs and the mastermind behind GNGR Labs' famous ginger shots. They explore Namik Sultan's entrepreneurial journey, from launching amidst COVID-19 to carving a niche with spicy ginger shots launching in the NYC and Northeast markets. They r…

Join Daniel Scharff in this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast as he dives deep into beverage with Sean Lynch, known as the head of sales during the blast off years at Liquid Death and now President at Halfday. Daniel and Sean have a discussion focused on the growth of sales at Liquid Death especially around the field sales team responsible for so …

Welcome to another bonus episode of the Startup CPG podcast! Grace Kennedy is joined by Patricia Menegoto and Kiki Huddleston from the Startup CPG team to dive into the exciting highlights of Fancy Foods 2024. They explore the inaugural Startup CPG Pavilion, showcasing standout brands and innovative products. From trends like plant-based seafood to…

In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff sits down with special guest Roberta Townes, a Senior Category Merchant at GNC, proud partner of the Startup CPG Community. Roberta shares insights into GNC's global impact and the strategic success stories of its diverse brand portfolio. They delve into the complexities of launching new br…

In this bonus episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Grace Kennedy is joined by Sarah Nathan, the visionary founder behind NOOISH, a pioneering brand revolutionizing the instant matzo ball soup market. Sarah brings a wealth of experience from both the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry and the rich tapestry of Jewish culinary traditions. Together,…

In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff is joined by Andrew DiLullo and Victor Vo from AdCrunch to dive into effective strategies for leveraging Meta (Instagram and Facebook) Ads to fuel growth for CPG brands. They discuss the profitability of Meta Ads, emphasizing the importance average order value (AOV) of $75, and much more. T…

In this mini-episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff dives into the world of data-driven decision-making with Max Dichter, CEO of 4th & Heart, and Jamie Nguyen, the Director of Finance and Strategy. 4th & Heart, the largest and fastest-growing ghee company in the US, is on a mission to highlight the benefits of ghee over traditional butt…

In this bonus episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Grace Kennedy sits down with Maria Covarrubias, the founder of Cien Chiles. Maria shares her inspiring journey from Guadalajara, Mexico, to becoming a chef in the USA, and the motivation behind creating her authentic, homemade-tasting salsa. They delve into her transition from a culinary career to l…