Startup To Scale

Most founders design packaging based on gut feeling — not data. But what if you could know, before launch, exactly how consumers will respond?

In this episode, I chat with Michael Keplinger, Managing Partner at SmashBrand, about how to bring the consumer voice into every stage of brand-building. We dive into the psychology behind the 3–13 second decision window, how packaging roles differ between e-commerce and retail, and how to cr...

Getting a meeting with a retail buyer is tough — but winning that meeting is even tougher. In this episode, I talk with Tia Ellis, Founder and CEO of Wildflower Insight, about how to pitch your product to retailers the right way.

Tia shares her Golden Retail Rule, breaks down the 3 types of pitches every founder should master, and reveals how to understand buyer psychology so you can connect, persuade, and close that coveted purchas...

What does success really mean to you? For many founders, that answer gets buried under industry pressures, investor expectations, and comparisons to competitors. In this episode, I sit down with Howie Sher of JPG Resources to discuss how he helps founders uncover their own definition of success—and build their businesses accordingly.

We’ll talk about why defining success in personal terms is essential, how to avoid chasing metrics t...

When I ran my own CPG brand, supply chain headaches nearly broke me — late POs, cash crunches, and endless supplier follow-ups. In this episode, I sit down with Helen Murphy, Founder and CEO of Opply, who’s building an operating system for small and mid-sized CPG brands to simplify sourcing, forecasting, and funding.

Helen shares how her background in consumer goods and tech inspired her to solve the pain points we’ve all felt — fro...

I sat down with Brad Ebenhoeh of Belay (formerly Accountfully) to unpack how CPG founders can actually make money during Black Friday and Q4 instead of burning it on discounts and excess inventory.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Knowing your true landed costs and margins by channel
• Forecasting demand without tying up too much cash in inventory
• Negotiating supplier terms and securing credit before you need it
• Deciding if Q4 is reall...

I sat down with Garrett Otondo, Director of Strategic Operations at Little Spoon, to explore how their team scaled from DTC to retail while shipping 30,000+ fresh meals each week.

We cover:

• Cold chain packaging + logistics
• Data-driven demand planning to reduce waste
• How Owlery streamlined freight and retail launch

👉 Need help managing freight? Owlery is one of our partners and they’re offering CPG founders a 60-day free trial ...

I sat down with Semira Nikou and Bella Hughes, co-founders of Better Sour, to share how they’re redefining the candy aisle with bold sour flavors inspired by their roots in Hawaii and Iran. We talk about scaling into 4,000+ retail doors, building a new category, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.

Sponsored by Highbeam – The financial platform built to protect and empower modern brands. Highbeam is a founder-focused ...

I sit down with Kyle Stoulil, founder of Kyle’s Organics, to explore how a trained chef turned his home-kitchen experiments into a pioneering brand in the nut and seed milk space. From the creation of his quinoa milk to developing clean-label nutrition bars, Kyle shares the story of building the brand, the strategic choice behind quinoa, and the realities of marketing two very different product lines under one umbrella.

If you’re a ...

Innovation is a buzzword in the food and beverage industry—but for emerging brands, it can be the difference between thriving and burning out. In this episode, Christy Lebor, Partner at SmashBrand, breaks down a practical approach to innovation that helps founders move beyond gut instinct into consumer-driven decision making.

We’ll explore:

• How to avoid taking the wrong risks as an emerging brand
• Why consumer testing—before l...

If you’ve ever wondered how to get funding for your startup without giving away all your equity, this episode is for you. I’m joined by Kat Weaver, founder of Power to Pitch, who helps early-stage founders master their message, win grants, and pitch with confidence. Kat turned her own scrappy startup into a six-figure business by winning pitch competitions—and now she teaches others how to do the same.

In this episode, we break down...

 Damiano Messineo, founder of Loopini, set out to reinvent pizza with lupini beans—creating a high-protein, high-fiber crust that actually tastes like pizza. From 13 months of recipe trials to launching at Pop Up Grocer and scaling across the Northeast, Damiano shares how he’s building a better-for-you brand while managing supply chain challenges and educating U.S. consumers on lupini beans. 

Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbev...

I sit down with John McGuckin, CEO of Clio Snacks and seasoned CPG executive, to unpack the brand’s remarkable journey from niche yogurt innovation to nationwide distribution. Clio’s Greek Yogurt Bars are now selling in 28,000+ doors — a case study in CPG scaling done right. We explore John’s leadership approach, how Clio has navigated the competitive snacking landscape, and what it takes to build a brand that earns shelf space and...

Being a founder is one of the most rewarding — and isolating — journeys you can take. In this episode, we sit down with Howie Sher to explore the emotional and strategic decisions behind building a business alone versus bringing on cofounders.

We unpack:

• How to know if you’re meant to build solo or with a team
• The pros and cons of going it alone
• How to handle decision fatigue and emotional weight as a solo founder
• Strategies for bui...

Launching a CPG brand is never easy—but talking with Morgan Rucker and Olivia Stevermer of PSquared Foods reminded me just how rewarding the journey can be. In this episode, I sat down with them to hear the full story behind their shelf-stable, banana-flavored protein pudding in a spouted pouch—from awkward picnic samplings and 80+ product iterations to the uphill battle of finding a manufacturer and scaling a format that’s often d...

This episode is sponsored by Cin7 — the operating system for food and beverage brands. Foodbevy listeners get 50% off for 3 months when you sign up. Learn more at cin7.com/foodbevy

TÖST went from a simple, elegant idea to a global beverage brand — and the key to their growth wasn’t just demand, but operations. If you’re ready to take control of your COGS and scale with confidence, consider what tools like Cin7 can unlock for your te...

Getting media coverage for your CPG brand can feel overwhelming—especially with limited budgets and time. In this episode, I chat with Heather and Austin Holmes, the co-founders of Signal Raptor and Publicity for Good, about a new, more accessible way to do PR. We dive into how AI, niche media, and earned storytelling are reshaping the landscape, and how their platform helps brands like yours get featured and grow visibility withou...

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 abou...

 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 ...

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...