All Episodes
Displaying 1 - 30 of 272 in total
Founder Feature: Max Luthy of Plink!
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Grace Kennedy speaks with Max Luthy, co-founder of Plink! Hydration, a fast-growing brand bringing a fresh take to the...

#192 - Summer Fancy Food Show 101 with SFA, BARIS, Earth Fare
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff and Patricia Menegoto from the Startup CPG team sit down with Leana Salamah of the Specialty Food Associatio...

Founder Feature: Marilyn Yang of Popadelics
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Grace Kennedy chats with Marilyn Yang, co-founder and CEO of Popadelics—the first-of-its-kind crunchy shiitake mushroom chi...

#191 - GNC’s Next Big Thing: Plink! and Green Regimen’s Winning Formula
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff sits down with Luke Montgomery-Smith, co-founder of Plink!, and Tyshawn Bryant, founder of Green Regimen, to...

#190 - Tariffs 2.0: Hotpot Queen, Fila Manila & Circle Beverage
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff sits down with Jia Liao of Hotpot Queen, Jake Deleon of Fila Manila, and Matt Whiteside of Circle Beverage t...

Founder Feature: Maxi Heidenblut of Häppy Candy
In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Grace Kennedy sits down with Maxi Heidenblut, the founder of Häppy Candy, a better-for-you gummy candy brand with 70% less ...

#189 - Distributor Spotlight: Tim Dornfeld, KeHE
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff sits down with Tim Dornfeld, Director of Category Management at KeHE, to dive deep into what every brand sho...

Founder Feature: Jenifer Shwartz of Freezcake
In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Grace Kennedy sits down with Jennifer Schwartz, the founder of Freezecake—the first brand to offer freeze-dried cheesecake....

#188 - Celebrity and Influencer Contracts with Foster Garvey
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff dives into the world of celebrity endorsements and brand partnerships with legal expert Hillary Hughes of Fo...

Founder Feature: Zoe Levin of Bim Bam Boo
In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Grace Kennedy speaks with Zoe Levin, founder and CEO of Bim Bam Boo, a pioneering tree-free paper company committed to sust...

#187- Expo West 2025 Debrief with S’NOODS and Whims
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff sits down with Caitlin Bricker, Editor of Startup CPG, Lauryn Bodden, Founder of S'NOODS, and Leanne Viola, ...

Founder Feature: Susan Hartman of Recoup Beverages
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Grace Kennedy sits down with Susan Hartman, co-founder of Recoup Beverages, to discuss the journey of building a gut-health...

#186 - Bootstrap Heroes: Bumpin Blends, Lentiful and Drink Wholesome
In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff speaks with three visionary founders who have built and scaled their businesses without external funding. Jo...

Founder Feature: Ranwei Chiang of Abstinence Spirits
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Grace Kennedy sits down with Ranwei Chiang, the CEO and owner of Abstinence Spirits, a brand redefining non-alcoholic bever...

#185 - Commercial Kitchen vs. Co-Man: Where to Make Your First $1M of Product
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff is joined by Mott Smith, co-founder and CEO of Amped Kitchens, and Jaime Valenti-Jordan of Catapult Commerci...

Founder Feature: Philip Teverow of Yolélé
In this episode of The Startup CPG Podcast, Grace Kennedy sits down with Philip Teverow, co-founder of Yolélé, an African food brand bringing Fonio, a gluten-free anci...

BONUS: Winter Fancy Food Show Recap
In this bonus episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff is joined by Patricia Menegoto and Kiki Huddleston from the Startup CPG team, as well as Brendan Cravi...

#184 -Distributor Spotlight: Karen Slusher of Azure Standard
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff sits down with Karen Slusher, Chief Experience Officer of Azure Standard, to explore how this unique distrib...

Founder Feature: Akua Boakye Okunseinde of Karité
In this episode of Startup CPG, Grace Kennedy sits down with Akua Boakye Okunseinde, one of the co-founders of Karité, a skincare brand rooted in the power of shea but...

#183 - How AI is Helping CPG Brands with Lentiful and FocusFuel
In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff sits down with Daniel Herz, co-founder and CEO of FocusFuel, and Ben Bacon, founder of Lentiful, to dive int...

Founder Feature: Breanna and Jared Golestani of Kokada
In this episode of The Startup CPG Podcast, Grace Kennedy sits down with Breanna and Jared Golestani, the co-founders of Kokada, to discuss their journey from a kitche...

BONUS: 2025 Shelfie Awards are Here!
In this bonus episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff is joined by Patricia Menegoto and Kiki Huddleston from the Startup CPG team to dive deep into The She...

#182 - Rewind: How to Crush Expo West
Let’s rewind, refresh, and get you ready for this year’s Expo West! 🎉 This episode originally aired in February 2024, but trust us—the insights are still absolute gold...

Founder Feature: Ehime Eigbe-Akindele of Sweet Kiwi
In 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 fun...

Bonus: Tariffs 101 with Aaron Alpeter
In 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 cha...

#181 - Buyer Spotlight: John Lane, Category Manager at Raley's
In 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...

Founder Feature: Brian Bethke of BEAR Maple Farms
In 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 ca...

#180 - Meet the Startup CPG Editor: Caitlin Bricker
In 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...

Founder Feature: Jana Goodbaum of Happy Wolf
In 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 ...

#179 - Bootstrap Heroes: Hazard's Hop Water, SWAIR, Gourmend Foods
In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff dives into the strategies and challenges of bootstrapping with three inspiring founders who have transformed...
