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Startup To Scale
Foodbevy
248 episodes
3 weeks ago
You made it onto the shelf. Great. But now the real spending begins. Trade spend is one of the biggest drivers of success in retail — and one of the fastest ways for emerging brands to lose money, stall velocity, or get discontinued. In this deep-dive conversation, I and Yuval Selik unpack the most common and most expensive trade spend mistakes founders make, and how to avoid them. We cover: Why most founders underestimate the true cost of staying on the shelfThe promo structures that quietly...
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Entrepreneurship
Business
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All content for Startup To Scale is the property of Foodbevy and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
You made it onto the shelf. Great. But now the real spending begins. Trade spend is one of the biggest drivers of success in retail — and one of the fastest ways for emerging brands to lose money, stall velocity, or get discontinued. In this deep-dive conversation, I and Yuval Selik unpack the most common and most expensive trade spend mistakes founders make, and how to avoid them. We cover: Why most founders underestimate the true cost of staying on the shelfThe promo structures that quietly...
Show more...
Entrepreneurship
Business
Episodes (20/248)
Startup To Scale
249. The Trade Spend Traps: The Biggest Mistakes Brands Make After Getting Into Retail
You made it onto the shelf. Great. But now the real spending begins. Trade spend is one of the biggest drivers of success in retail — and one of the fastest ways for emerging brands to lose money, stall velocity, or get discontinued. In this deep-dive conversation, I and Yuval Selik unpack the most common and most expensive trade spend mistakes founders make, and how to avoid them. We cover: Why most founders underestimate the true cost of staying on the shelfThe promo structures that quietly...
Show more...
3 weeks ago
24 minutes

Startup To Scale
248. A Pit Master and a Navy Aviator Create a Meat Chip
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Ian Timmons and Billy Knox, founders of Beefy, and one of my favorite new snacks—featured in our Winter Foodbevy Insider Box. We talk about: what went wrong (and right) in early R&Dthe complexity of manufacturing and scaling a brand-new product formatthe GTM strategy that got Beefy their early tractionwhere they’re headed next as they expand beyond DTCStartup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy, an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CP...
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4 weeks ago
19 minutes

Startup To Scale
247. The Hidden 6-Figure Mistakes Hiding in Your Packaging
In this episode, I share how one “small” packaging change can snowball into a six-figure problem—and how to stop that from happening to your brand. I sit down with Maureen Dollard, founder of Complete Acuity, to break down where CPG founders go wrong: missing pieces in the scope, forgetting secondary packaging, and leaving regulatory to the last minute. If you’re planning a refresh or new launch in 2026, this is your cheat sheet to avoiding costly delays, write-offs, and do-overs. Start...
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1 month ago
19 minutes

Startup To Scale
246. 1500+ Doors on 6 Months, Joon Pistachio’s Tremendous Growth
In this episode, I sit down with Joon co-founders Cody Allen and Alexandre Bennet to talk about how they turned a 300-year-old family pistachio recipe into one of my favorite new snack brands. We dig into how they chose pistachios, grew into 1,000+ doors in just months, and built a brand that stands out in a crowded snack aisle. If you’re a founder who loves a good origin story and wants the playbook for smart, fast growth, you’ll want to hit play on this one. Startup to Scale is a podc...
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1 month ago
17 minutes

Startup To Scale
245. How to Use Consumer Testing to Build High-Performing Packaging with Michael Keplinger of SmashBrand
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 create a testing roadmap that fits a startup budget. Michael sh...
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1 month ago
22 minutes

Startup To Scale
244. Pitch to PO: How to Win a Retail Buyer Meeting Without a Broker
Getting a meeting with a retail buyer is tough — but winning that meeting is even tougher. In this episode, Jordan Buckner talks 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 purchase order — all without relying on a broker. 💡 Wa...
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2 months ago
24 minutes

Startup To Scale
243. Redefining Success: Building a Business That Fits Your Life
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 that don’t matter to you, and practical advice for aligning yo...
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2 months ago
23 minutes

Startup To Scale
242. How Opply Is Fixing Supply Chain Chaos for CPG Founders
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 — from ingredient sourcing to retail readiness — and how Opply hel...
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3 months ago
20 minutes

Startup To Scale
241. Holiday Cash Flow Strategies with Brad Ebenhoeh of BELAY
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 channelForecasting demand without tying up too much cash in inventoryNegotiating supplier terms and securing credit before you need itDeciding if Q4 is really your season—or if you should shift focus to Q1Brad brings year...
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3 months ago
19 minutes

Startup To Scale
240. Behind the Scenes at Little Spoon: Scaling a Perishable Supply Chain
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 + logisticsData-driven demand planning to reduce wasteHow 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 with a dedicated success manager to help you get set up and strea...
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3 months ago
18 minutes

Startup To Scale
239. Better Sour: Reimagining Candy with Global Flavors
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 cash and banking platform. With FDIC-insured accounts, high-yield...
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3 months ago
18 minutes

Startup To Scale
238. From Chef to Quinoa Milk Pioneer: How Kyle Stoulil is Shaping the Future of Plant-Based Dairy
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 founder navigating a crowded category, wondering how to stand...
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4 months ago
13 minutes

Startup To Scale
237. Innovation that Wins: Smarter Risk-Taking & Packaging Insights with Christy Lebor of Smashbrand
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 brandWhy consumer testing—before launch—is your best insurance policyWhy packaging isn’t just design p...
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4 months ago
21 minutes

Startup To Scale
236. Pitch Perfect: How to Fund Your Startup with Kat Weaver, Founder of Power to Pitch
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: How to find and win non-dilutive grantsWhat makes a pitch i...
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4 months ago
23 minutes

Startup To Scale
235. Founder Stories: Loopini – Damiano Messineo
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 Foodbevy, an online community to connect emerging food, be...
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4 months ago
17 minutes

Startup To Scale
234. Scaling Sweet Success: How Clio Snacks Grew Nationwide Distribution
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 customer loyalty. Whether you're a founder navigating your f...
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4 months ago
21 minutes

Startup To Scale
233. Go Solo or Find a Cofounder? Choosing Your Founding Path
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 teamThe pros and cons of going it aloneHow to handle decision fatigue and emotional weight as a solo founderStrategies for building your support system and avoiding burnoutWhat to look for i...
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5 months ago
28 minutes

Startup To Scale
232. Founder Stories: PSquared - Morgan Rucker and Olivia Stevermer
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 dismissed as “just for kids.” We talked about how they went fro...
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5 months ago
22 minutes

Startup To Scale
231. How TÖST Built Smarter Operational Systems
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 team. Learn more at cin7.com/foodbevy and grab a bottle o...
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6 months ago
17 minutes

Startup To Scale
230. The New Way to get PR for CPG Brands
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 without breaking the bank. If you're looking to boost your bra...
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6 months ago
21 minutes

Startup To Scale
You made it onto the shelf. Great. But now the real spending begins. Trade spend is one of the biggest drivers of success in retail — and one of the fastest ways for emerging brands to lose money, stall velocity, or get discontinued. In this deep-dive conversation, I and Yuval Selik unpack the most common and most expensive trade spend mistakes founders make, and how to avoid them. We cover: Why most founders underestimate the true cost of staying on the shelfThe promo structures that quietly...