Guittard Chocolate Company is a historic American chocolate maker founded in 1868 by French immigrant Étienne Guittard during the California Gold Rush. What began as a small San Francisco shop quickly grew into a respected confectionery business, and today Guittard stands as the oldest continuously family-owned and operated chocolate company in the United States, now based in Burlingame, California and led by fourth and fifth-generation family members.
what we chat about:
As CMO, you oversee both marketing and brand development. How do you balance honoring Guittard’s long history with innovating to stay relevant in today’s chocolate market?
Guittard is known for working closely with both professional chefs and home bakers. How does this dual focus influence your marketing strategies and product development?
IG guittard.chocolate | guittard.com
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Vincent Ricchiuti of Enzo’s Table
As the fourth generation of his Italian-American farming family, Vincent Ricchiuti was naturally drawn to the family business. A native of Fresno, CA, he spent his formative years working alongside his father and grandfather in the family’s diversified agricultural business.
For more than a century, the Ricchiuti Family has diligently worked the land in California’s fertile San Joaquin Valley with a goal to sustainably grow, produce, and harvest premium fruit, nuts, and more recently, estate grown award-winning ENZO Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
IG enzos.table | enzostable.com
Intro Segment: Loonen’s Launch 💧
Meet Loonen. The cleanest, most transparent bottled water on earth.
The brand comes from Clara Sieg, a venture investor turned founder who spent years backing category-defining consumer brands and realized water, the most basic product in our lives, was still the least transparent. She built Loonen with operator David Kimmell (ex-Spindrift) to bring accountability and design integrity to the category.
Learn more in my chat with Clara!
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Floura (Co-Founder + CEO); Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams (Founder)
Jeni Britton is an American entrepreneur and New York Times best-selling author. She founded Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams in an Ohio farmers' market in 2002, transforming it from a small shop into a beloved national brand.
Underscoring her commitment to wellbeing and sustainability, Jeni's latest venture, Floura., reinvents fresh produce trimmings as delicious nutrient-dense food with the intent to help close the dietary fiber gap in America.
Kemma Kefalas, Yahoo’s Creative Lab Director
Just in time for the holidays, Yahoo & cult-favorite olive oil brand Graza are teaming up on a drop that gives a nod to the ultimate keyboard warriors in our lives: loud typers.
They debuted “Sssshhhhizzle” Keyboard Oil, a tongue-in-cheek holiday gift set celebrating the quirks of modern office culture—and the people who make the most noise while getting things done.
Hear more in my chat with Kemma!
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PJ Monte is the founder of Monte’s Fine Foods and the creator behind Monte’s Fine Sauces. Five years ago, he began bottling and hand-labeling his family’s 120-year-old red sauce recipe for local New York restaurants and specialty stores, quickly gaining a following and earning the nickname “Sauce Boss.”
what we chat about:
Your family’s culinary story runs deep from Monte’s Venetian Room in Brooklyn to
Gurney’s Inn in Montauk. How have those early family traditions shaped the way you approach food and hospitality today through Monte’s?
What was it that made you realize it was time to bottle and share it with the world?
Monte’s is rooted in legacy but clearly embraces modern culture and creativity. How do you balance honoring your family’s heritage with keeping the brand fresh, relevant, and forward-thinking?
IG montes.sauce | montessauce.com
The Goods Report Vol 6
Jordan & I are back this week chatting about the most exciting happenings in the food & beverage world! Hear our chat at the beginning of the episode.
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Wendy Pickett, Co-Founder & EVP of Sales, RationAle Brewing. Bringing 25 years of consumer goods experience to the non-alcoholic craft brewing brand, Wendy has a long history of building legacy brands in the grocery/mass, natural, and specialty channels.
As one of the few female leaders in the male-dominated alcohol space, she’s helping reshape the future of NA craft beer, tapping into the surging demand for NA options driven by wellness-minded consumers.
what we chat about:
RationAle’s mission is to “crush society’s drinking rules.” How do you see mindful drinking reshaping not just the NA beer industry, but drinking culture at large?
As a woman co-founder in the beer industry—an industry historically dominated by men—what challenges and opportunities have you experienced in carving out space for both yourself and RationAle?
The Crush the Crisis initiative ties RationAle directly to mental health and wellness. Can you share more about the impact of that program and why it was important to bake into the brand’s DNA from the start?
IG rationalebrewing.com | rationalebrewing
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Founded in 2021 by longtime friends Allison Luvera and Lauren De Niro Pipher, Juliet is redefining boxed wine through premium quality, thoughtful design, and sustainability.
Juliet’s proprietary Eco-Magnum™ packaging uses over 50% less carbon than glass and holds the equivalent of two bottles. The founders also created the Alternative Packaging Alliance, uniting fellow high-end boxed wine brands to champion sustainable innovation across the industry.
what we chat about:
How did you balance the often conflicting priorities of taste, design and environmental impact?
Boxed wine has traditionally carried a stigma of cheap, disposable, & even low-quality. How have you approached shifting that perception, and what tactics have proven most effective in elevating Juliet’s image?
Walk us through the design process of your Eco-Magnum packaging. How did you land on a look and feel that communicates both sustainability and luxury?
IG drinkjuliet_ | drinkjuliet.com
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Dr. Sandra Carter is a trailblazer in the health & wellness industry with over 35 years of experience in community health, corporate wellness, research, & hospital administration.
Om Mushrooms offers a range of certified organic, science-backed mushroom products—from supplements and powders to beverages and gummies. Grown in an eco-friendly indoor farm in Carlsbad, California, Om ensures maximum potency and purity while staying free from toxins, pesticides, and heavy metals.
As the Co-Founder of Om Mushrooms, she brings extensive expertise in preventative medicine, integrative health, & nutrition to develop innovative, whole-food mushroom formulations that promote optimal wellness.
IG ommushrooms | ommushrooms.com
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Halfday was founded after Kayvon Jahanbakhsh was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis when he was a freshman in college. Losing over 80 pounds, he was forced to dramatically change his diet to focus on his gut health.
Kayvon enlisted the help of classmate & best-friend Mike Lombardo to develop a gut-healthy iced tea that reminded them of the classics they grew up with. Each can of Halfday has 6g of prebiotic fiber, with only 3-5g of sugar.
IG drinkhalfday | drinkhalfday.com
Plus Hear from Josh at the beginning of today’s episode as we chat through how he developed Hereafter + his philosophy on beer at Threes!
IG threesbrewing | threesbrewing.com
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Kate Greer is the co-founder of Cheerie Lane, an innovative popcorn brand that developed the first all-in-one ‘popcorn pod’. Growing up in the Midwest close to her family’s farm, a warm bowl of popcorn was always part of Kate’s family gatherings. Her expertise as a creative and an entrepreneur shows up in the innovative and artistic spirit of the brand.
Cheerie Lane is reimagining the way people enjoy popcorn with gourmet all-in-one ‘popcorn pods’. Thoughtfully crafted using heirloom kernels from a fifth-generation family farm in Iowa and cacao butter, each pod melts into a warm, evenly seasoned bowl of popcorn.
IG cheerielane | cheerielanepopcorn.com
The Goods Report Vol 5
Jordan & I are back this week chatting about the most exciting happenings in the food & beverage world! Here’s a sneak peak of our convo:
Design: Beak Brewery Beer books & Lil Bucks brand refresh
Strategy: “Your Dog Eats Better than You” & Ghia + Diaspora cookbooks
Food: Beans beans beans! & Algae CC x Nara Smith
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Founded in 2018 by Aishwarya Iyer, Brightland is a California-based premium pantry staples brand crafting artfully designed and consciously-made olive oils, vinegars, and honeys that elevate everyday moments.
what we chat about:
IG wearebrightland | brightland.co
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Neeshi is a women’s wellness brand using real food to ease hormonal symptoms from menstruation through menopause.
Founded by Gita Vellanki to help her daughter avoid the side effects of prescription meds, Neeshi offers delicious, functional products—like their Dark Cacao Spread—to support daily hormonal health naturally.
The brand’s mission is to help women feel empowered and unburdened by their cycles.
IG shopneeshi | neeshi.com
The Goods Report Vol 4:
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Krishna Kaliannan is the founder of Catalina Crunch, a better-for-you cereal and snack company he launched after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
what we chat about:
IG catalinacrunch | us.catalinacrunch.com
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Dancing Elephant was founded by Saira Malhotra, an internationally trained chef and TV personality, and Chandni Prasad, an Ayurvedic wellness advocate with deep roots in public service and global policy.
Rooted in tradition but reimagined for today, Dancing Elephant brings this beloved Indian staple to the American market with a fresh, vibrant perspective.
what we chat about:
The roots of kitchari + why it’s such comforting meal in South Asian homes
How Dancing Elephant reimagined kitchari for today’s busy, wellness-conscious eaters without losing its soul
Saira & Chandni’s third-culture experience
IG dancingelephant_ayurveda | thedancingelephant.com
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CPG News: Something & Nothing OOH campaign
Hear from Olly Dixon, co-founder of Something & Nothing, about their bold new out-of-home campaign in Chicago.
Something & Nothing, the premium soda brand inspired by travel, has debuted its first out-of-home campaign in the U.S. – “Not Pop.” – to challenge consumers to rethink what modern soda can be in a category commonly saturated by nostalgia, bright colors, and functional benefits.
IG wearesomethingandnothing | us.somethingandnothing.co
Shazia Bee of EnjoyThyFood
Growing up surrounded by talented chefs, Shazia learned early on that the best food is rooted in simplicity—fresh ingredients and a whole lot of love. Inspired by her childhood on the farm, she created EnjoyThyFood as a way to share nourishing snacks made with organic, plant-based ingredients.
what we chat about:
Shazia shares how she brings ancient food wisdom into everyday baking, making nutrient-rich cake mixes that fit today’s busy lifestyles
EnjoyThyFood proves desserts can be both delicious and wholesome, with gluten-free, paleo, and sugar-conscious ingredients
Feedback from consumers inspire new flavors, products, and ideas, keeping EnjoyThyFood evolving with its community
IG enjoythyfood_ | enjoythyfood.com
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Courtney McHugh is a seasoned senior executive with over a decade of experience in incubating, launching, and scaling venture-backed consumer product businesses.
amplifyeP24’s mission is to amplify the nutritional impact of food while contributing to a more sustainable future. Amplifye is a pioneering biotechnology company that applies computational enzyme discovery and the power of precision fermentation.
what we chat about:
Courtney explains how amplifyeP24 helps your body get more out of the protein you eat and why protein feels so “trendy” right now
Discover how precision fermentation is transforming everyday foods into more powerful, health-supporting meals
Amplifye’s approach not only supports personal health but also contributes to a more sustainable food system.
IG amplifye_me | amplifyeme.com
CPG News: 1-855-TURN-OFF to Celebrate AGZ Launch
Hear from Paulie Dery, CMO at AG1, about their newest hotline campaign to celebrate the launch of AGZ.
Called 1-855-TURN-OFF, AG1’s new hotline (1-855-TURN-OFF or 1855turnoff.com) flips the script on the infamous 1-900 numbers of the ’90s. Instead of turning callers on, AG1 dares them to stay awake as scientists lull them to sleep with pre-recorded scripts on the science behind AGZ.
IG drinkag1 | drinkag1.com
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Laoban Dumplings started as a humble dumpling shop in Washington, DC in 2017.
While living and teaching in China, co-founder Patrick Coyne frequently found himself in the dumpling shop near his school. He loved spending time in the shop—developing a special appreciation for the care and craftsmanship shown by the shop's boss or "laoban."
Once back stateside, Patrick sought to honor that tradition, and Laoban Dumplings was born.
what we chat about:
How Patrick took the concept from just an idea to a DC restaurant to a CPG line
The importance of bringing Chef Tim Ma onto the team
Expanding from dumplings to bao to the new crispy line
How to hold steady to the ethos of high quality ingredients when expanding
IG laobandumplings | laobandumplings.com
The Goods Report Vol 3:
Design: Bachan’s refresh
Strategy: the trend cycle of pistachios & “Dudeslop” (ManCereal & Dogfood)
Food: Carnation’s jalapeño milk ft. Tini (130M+ views) & cinnamon rolls having a moment (Spiral & Losers)
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Hear from Camilla Marcus, founder of west~bourne, about her newest collaboration with YUZUCO at the beginning of this week’s episode!
Lily Geiger is a born and bred New Yorker and the founder and CEO of Figlia, a modern, non-alcoholic aperitivo brand focusing on changing the conversation around alcohol consumption.
what we chat about:
How Lily’s family history of alcoholism influenced the creation of the brand
Figlia drawing on Italian aperitivo culture
The aperitivos don’t try to mimic alcohol, they stand on their own with complex, botanical flavors. What was the process like developing Figlia’s signature blends, and what experience did you want people to have when drinking them?
Next steps in an ever-evolving NA RTD space
IG drinkfiglia | drinkfiglia.com
IG camilla.marcus | westbourne.com | theyuzu.co
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Since their humble beginnings at the farmers markets of Austin, TX in 2009, GoodPop has become known for producing some of the cleanest, most innovative and most delicious frozen treats available on the market.
what we chat about:
what were the early days of Good Pop like and how did its grassroots beginning shape the company’s values and growth?
Scaling a brand with clean ingredients, organic sourcing, and no added sugar
The mission behind the Good Food Collective
How to navigate building a values-driven business while operating in the competitive world of CPG and large-scale retail
IG goodpop | goodpop.com | Good Food Collective
Jordan & I are back this week chatting about the most exciting happenings in the food & beverage world! Here’s a sneak peak of our convo:
Design: Cracker Barrel rebrand & Billie x Chia Pet
Strategy: YSL gifting influencers cherry pies & Blondery closing in public
Food: Vermouth spritz & She’s the Sauce protein-ification
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Angel Margarita is co-founded by Academy Award-nominated actress, multi-platinum recording artist, and producer Hailee Steinfeld in partnership with Rodrigo Hernandez of Premium Beers Group, a leader within the alcohol industry in Mexico.
what we chat about:
Consumer taste evolving in the spirits and RTD space, particularly with tequila-based cocktails
Process for developing Angel Margarita’s initial flavors + how do you
approach product innovation as you look to expand the lineup?
How Rodrigo’s experience at Premium Beers Group influenced your approach to
launching and growing Angel Margarita
IG angelmargarita | angelmargarita.com
Plus, hear from Caryn Johnson of BOND and their recent launch of women’s hormonal health products into Whole Foods!
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This episode is sponsored by Hummingbirds, learn more by booking a call with their team!
Emily Steele is the CEO and cofounder of Hummingbirds, a venture-backed platform that connects brands with hyperlocal content creators.
Hummingbirds is a first of its kind platform that connects cpg brands with hyperlocal creators to share their favorite products found in their backyard.
what we chat about:
The role creators have helping CPG brands move product, gain awareness, and drive trial/raving fans
Learning about consumer behavior through hyper-local marketing
Their approach to building a tech company that serves both brands & consumers
The inspiration behind Hummingbirds & the journey to bring it to it’s current form
IG hummingbirdshq | hummingbirds.com
Plus, a brand new, recurring segment with Jordan of Salad Sprinkles where we're talking all things CPG news + trends.
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