Startup CPG

New episodes of the Startup CPG Podcast are here!⁠ ⁠ 🎙️ **Founder Feature: Samantha Edwards of New Breed**⁠ ⁠ In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Grace Kennedy chats with Samantha Edwards, founder of the plant-based food brand New Breed Meats. Samantha shares her inspiring journey, rooted in her Caribbean heritage and nonprofit work, which led her to create a line of flavorful, plant-based products like Jamaican Jerk CHICK’N. She opens up about how her mother’s recovery from cancer through a plant-based diet motivated her mission to make healthy eating accessible.⁠ ⁠ 🎙️ **Episdoe 163 - The Startup CPG Newswire & PR Tips from Jess Windell**⁠ ⁠ In this episode Daniel Scharff is joined by Grace Kennedy, Startup CPG Podcast Host, and Jess Windell 💥, owner of Maven Consulting and Co-Founder of Dryft Sleep, to explore the launch of Startup CPG Newswire. This innovative, free service is designed to help emerging CPG brands distribute their news and secure media coverage, providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional PR practices.⁠ ⁠ 🎧 Tap the link in the comments to tune in now!⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #newpodcast #podcastshow #businesspodcasts⁠ #entrepreneurs

Join us in congratulating to the winners of The Next Big Thing with Startup CPG and GNC:⁠ 💧Hydra Hydration⁠ 🍬 Blobs⁠ 💪 Green Regimen⁠ 🏃♀️ Verb Energy⁠ 🩷 Plink!⁠ ⁠ We’re so proud of this accomplishment and excited for what’s to come for these brands! .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #cpg #startupcpg #gnc #emergingbrands

✨Webinar✨ The Health Conscious Consumer - How Their Shopping Habits Changed with NielsenIQ Join us as we dive into the latest trends shaping the future of wellness. Lead by Sherry Frey, VP of Total Wellness at NIQ, this session will explore how different generations approach wellness, what today’s health-conscious shoppers expect, and what the future holds for brands in the natural products industry. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of who the Better For You shopper is, how consumer preferences are evolving across generations, and what your brand can do to stay competitive in this rapidly changing market. We’ll also discuss practical steps you can take to align with growing consumer demands for transparency, personalization, and innovative solutions. Register here: https://lnkd.in/etd66e5q

Pinch us, we must be dreaming! 🤩 A huge milestone for Startup CPG: Our logo and incredible brands are now in a retail store! Thank you so much GNC for working with us on this incredible project and for giving emerging brands in our community an opportunity to hit your shelves! Big congratulations to the winners of The Next Big Thing with Startup CPG and GNC: 💧Hydra 🍬 Blobs 💪 Green Regimen 🏃♀️ Verb Energy 🩷 Plink! We’re beyond proud of this accomplishment and excited for what’s to come! . . . #cpg #startupcpg #gnc #emergingbrands

Wondering what CHFA is all about? We caught up with our friend Joseph Chen, CMRP from Jöey Nordic Seed Crisps to get their take on Canada’s biggest health food show! Could this be Canada’s version of Expo West? What do you think? . . . #cpg #canada #CHFA

Thinking of exhibiting but not sure what to expect? Join us for an overview of the Specialty Food Association's 2025 Winter Fancy Food Show, presented by the SFA team and Startup CPG's Daniel Scharff. ⁠ ⁠ Daniel wants the community to know: "The Fancy Food Shows have one of the best buyer-to-brand ratios. Top tier natural and specialty chains show up (especially West Coast-focused), and the relaxed atmosphere of gives you a great chance to connect with them. I'm really excited that Startup CPG is going big this year with SFA - we've got a 20-brand dedicated section, buyer-brand matching, a big fun Startup CPG party, and I'm hosting a major panel where as always, we'll have brands jump up to quick-pitch!" ⁠ ⁠ Sign up for the webinar to learn more about the 2025 Winter show in Vegas January 19-21st - AND, one lucky brand that attends will win a FREE tabletop in our dedicated section!⁠ ⁠ Register now via the link in our comments - good luck!⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #cpg #emergingbrands #fancyfoodshow #vegas

✨️Life lately✨️ with Startup CPG has been a whirlwind of unforgettable moments! From kicking things off at Newtopia Now, hosting our first-ever Female Founders brunch with Settle, announcing the Shelfie Winners with Social Nature, celebrating on a yacht with Recharge, and jet-setting to Toronto for CHFA with NielsenIQ — it’s been all about building community and having a blast while we're at it! 💥⁠ ⁠ We have some exciting things in the works for the months to come - looking forward to sharing it all with you soon!⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #lifelately #startuplife #foundercommunity #cpg

Webinar Alert! Winning with INFRA 🤩 This webinar is your chance to gain practical, actionable insights that will help you not just get on the shelf, but get ahead in one of the most competitive retail landscapes. INFRA is a purchasing cooperative comprised of independent organic and natural food and wellness retailers serving hundreds of communities in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. They are one of the largest groupings of independent stores & chains, including Earth Fare, Woodlands Market, Bi-Rite Markets, Down to Earth, working primarily through KeHE Distributors. Their central team is always on the lookout for new & growing natural products for their retailers - in this webinar, you'll get a wonderful INFRA 101, learn how they source products, work with brands to reach shoppers, and much more. Meet the Speakers: ↗️ Kimberly Route: Category Manager, Snacks & Beverages at INFRA, leading strategic initiatives to drive sales growth and operational efficiency in the retail and food industries. ↗️ Lauren Bartel: Manager, Wellness at INFRA, with over 15 years of experience, Lauren specializes in wellness category management, focusing on sustainability, and supporting innovative brands. ↗️ Andrew Huth: Purchasing Manager, Promotions & Products at INFRA, with 30 years of experience, dedicated to supporting independent owners and advancing the natural foods industry. ↗️ Chris Sorensen: Promotions Program Manager at INFRA, with over a decade of experience in natural foods Chris combines retail operations expertise and creative strategy to drive sales growth and enhance customer experiences. ↗️ Nick Auzenne: Director of Purchasing at INFRA, Nick brings over 20 years of expertise in natural foods and co-operative business to drive strategic purchasing and enhance the shopping experience for independent retailers. Register for the webinar here: https://lnkd.in/ezGsqQFx

🚨Last call!🚨 Applications for the Startup CPG section at Expo West 2025 close on October 1st! Don’t miss out on your chance to exhibit with us. Head over to our announcements channel on Slack and apply today! Why join the Startup CPG section (AKA “The Fun Section”)? ↗️ Prime spot in the Hot Products Pavilion (ACC Level 3) ↗️ Exclusive opportunities to meet regional and national retailers ↗️ Special exhibitor rate ↗️ Full support from the Startup CPG team Apply now via the link posted in the announcements channel!  . . . #cpg #expowest #emergingbrands

New episodes of the Startup CPG Podcast are here!⁠ ⁠ 🎙️ **162 - Ops Nightmares, Powered by Crstl**⁠ ⁠ In this new series on the Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff and Jamie Valenti-Jordan from Catapult Commercialization Services take callers who have had 'Ops Nightmares' that plague many brands. Joining them are Katherine Harvey, co-founder and CEO of Bare Bones Broth Co., who faced a bone broth launch disaster at Costco Wholesale due to manufacturing and contamination issues; Brett Perrotta, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Chubby Snacks, who recounts his own ops nightmare involving production errors with a co-packer, underscoring the critical nature of founder involvement during initial production runs; and Brady DeLong, VP of Sales & Ops at Clean Age, who reveals chaos from a major inventory mix-up with Walmart.⁠ 🎙️ **Founder Feature: Sashi Kumar, Brittney Lim, and Jim Giberson of Tamarind Heads**⁠ ⁠ In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Grace Kennedy sits down with the co-founders of Tamarind Heads— Sashi Kumar, Brittney Lim, and Jim Giberson—to explore the story behind their tamarind-based barbecue and hot sauce brand. They share how tamarind, a fruit familiar around the world but lesser-known in the U.S., became the key ingredient in their unique sauces. The founders dive into the challenges of educating consumers, their product development journey (including winning a Sofi Gold Award), and the process of scaling their business in a competitive market.⁠ ⁠ 🎧 Tune in now on Apple Music, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #newpodcast #podcastshow #businesspodcasts⁠ #entrepreneurs