In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Grace Kennedy speaks with Damiano Messineo, founder of Loopini, a revolutionary brand reimagining pizza through the power of the ancient lupini bean. From his childhood obsession with pizza to launching a premium, protein-packed frozen pizza line made in Italy, Damiano shares his flavorful journey of turning tradition into innovation.
He walks us through the lupini bean’s history—from Roman legions to Mayan civilization—and how this under-the-radar superfood is redefining the frozen aisle. Damiano also talks about sourcing ingredients straight from Naples, the importance of clean Italian flour, and the art of crafting a delicious, healthy pizza that still tastes indulgent. You’ll hear insights on launching at Fancy Foods, navigating international supply chains, and the role of community in early-stage growth.
Tune in now!
Listen in as they share about:
- Origin of Loopini Pizza
- What Makes Loopini Unique
- Startup Growth & Product Testing
- Challenges & Supply Chain Realities
- Retail & Pricing Strategy
- Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Efforts
- Community & Startup CPG Support
Episode Links:
Website: https://eatloopini.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damiano-messineo-53354018a/
Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.
Show Links:
- Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)
- Join the Startup CPG Slack community (20K+ members and growing!)
- Follow @startupcpg
- Visit host Grace's Linkedin
- Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.com
- Episode music by Super Fantastics
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