In the Sauce

McCall Gridley is Head of Sales & Partner Experience at Tastemade . On this episode of ITS, McCall tells Ali how brands can partner with Tastemade to create content that not only creates awareness, but also drives sales. They discuss the ever-evolving state of food media, how to think about content and consumer mindset, and why a media ecosystem is better than a single channel strategy. Photo...

Jane Miller is the CEO of Rudi's Rocky Mountain Bakery and CPG veteran with over 30 years of executive experience. On this episode of ITS, Jane and Ali talk about the fundamentals that have always been true of sustainable CPG brands, the qualities of great leaders, what makes brands fail, and why "build it and they will come" is a very bad idea. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonpr...

Steven Singer is the founder and CEO of FODY Food and a 25-year CPG veteran. On this episode of ITS, Steven and Ali talk about the pros and cons of a building a niche product, how social media has truly changed the game in CPG, and how founders can protect themselves and their companies in this new era. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce...

Clara Paye is the founder and CEO of UNiTE , best known for its line of globally-inspired protein bars. On this episode of ITS, Clara and Ali talk about building data stories for retailers, resources for emerging brands, and Clara's mission to democratize wellness. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member ! In The Sauce is...

Sasha Shor is the founder of Holy Tshili , a new condiment company that all began with a mashup of everything bagel seasoning, chili crisp, and furikake. On this episode of ITS, Sasha shares her lessons from a decades-long career as an award-winning creative leader, storyteller, and collaborator. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by beco...

Kevin Griffith is the founder and CEO of Amplifi , an operational finance firm that works with CPG companies. On this episode of ITS, Kevin and Ali talk about key financial functions that emerging brands must understand to protect cash and stay healthy during tough times. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member ! In The Sa...

Amrit Richmond is a CPG strategist best known for the content & community she’s worked to build since 2017: Indie CPG . On this episode of ITS, Amrit and Ali extol the virtues of cross-brand collaborations and cover everything from Faire emails to retail exclusive products. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member ! In...

Ben Bacon is the founder of Lentilful , the instant meal company that launched 18 months ago and is rapidly growing its distribution. On this episode of ITS, Ben shares his thoughts on product, market, consumer, and sales channels, and resources. It's a must-listen for very early stage food startup. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by b...

Graham Edward is the Head of Emerging Brand Partnerships and Canada Brand Partnerships at Instacart . On this episode of ITS, he walks Ali through how emerging brands can leverage Instacart to both maximize sales and build awareness on the platform. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member ! In The Sauce is Powered by Simpl...

Yasameen and Sheilla Sajady are the founders of Maazah , the refrigerated condiment company, best known for it’s bold, tart, delicious chutneys. On this episode of ITS, the sisters talk Ali through how they've leveraged industry awards and accelerators to build efficiently and thoughtfully. Photo courtesy of Quincy Street Kitchen . Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast n...

Malik Ducard is the Chief Content Officer at Pinterest , where he is responsible for setting the global content strategy. On this episode of ITS, Ali and Malik cover AI, the future of content, and how brands can work with Pinterest to reach and please consumers. Photo courtesy of Pinterest. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a...

Jessica Bernheim is the Head of Marketing and Strategy at Daring Foods . On this episode of ITS, Jess walks Ali through an often-used, yet misunderstood concept: brand strategy. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member ! In The Sauce is Powered by Simplecast . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California P...

Miles Soboroff is the Co-Founder of Zab’s – the datil pepper hot sauce company that has won over heat lovers across the US. On this episode of ITS, Miles and Ali talk about winning on Faire, the Why behind Foodservice, and how Zab's holds onto its messaging. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member ! In The Sauce is Powered...

Ethan Frisch and Ori Zohar are Co-Founders of Burlap & Barrel , the spice company deeply beloved by the chef community and home cooks, in search of spices that taste like they’re meant to taste. On this episode of ITS, Ethan and Ori tell Ali how they not only quintupled in Covid, but how they made sure to stay in the hearts and carts of consumers after the pandemic. Photo courtesy of Burlap an...

Vanessa McPhill is a Freelance Marketer and Amazon Ads Manager Partner who works with brands to craft online and offline strategies to drive awareness and growth. On this episode of ITS, Vanessa walks Ali through Amazon: How to think about it, why a full-funnel approach is key, why it's a retail and media partner, and what the heck A+ content is. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonp...

Nicholas Naclero is Founder of Mmmly , the new classic cookie brand offering indulgent snacks that are actually good for you. On this episode of ITS, Nick and Ali talk about his learnings from the first 3 years of business, how our choices are now about efficiency, why the consumer has returned to the center, and his Wefunder campaign . Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podc...

Mark Haas is the CEO of the Helmsman Group , a company that has helped companies like Magic Spoon, Urban Remedy, Kellogg’s, and Haven's Kitchen build sustainable, scalable, and profitable CPG products. On this episode of ITS, Ali and Mark talk about innovation: what makes it great, why to build it from the ground up, and how to work best with an outside partner. In the Sauce is Powered by Simpleca...

Anna Whiteman is a Principal at Coefficient Capital , a multi-stage investment fund focused on consumer and technology investments. On this episode of ITS, Anna and Ali talk about what they saw at Expo West, beyond the brands and booths. They discuss the state of CPG today, how VC's are thinking about emerging brands, and why a return to pragmatism is a good thing for companies building in 2024. I...

This episode is a little different. Adam Brown is the Founder and President of Sircle Media , a social media agency that specializes in helping CPG and Beverage brands win online and in-store. On this episode of ITS, Adam interviews Ali all about Haven's Kitchen's new product line: AIOLI ! They go through innovation, sales, marketing - and the WHY and HOW of the new line. Ali shares an Amazon disc...

Laurel Orley is the Co-Founder and CEO of Daily Crunch , the company that makes sprouted nut snacks with flavors like Nashville Hot, Dill Pickle and Cherry Berry. On this episode of ITS, Laurel tells Ali how she launched the company with a framework she learned during her career as a marketer at brands including #Dove #LiptonTea, #Suave and #Hellman’s. In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast . See P...

Maddie Kennedy is Senior Brand Manager at Haven’s Kitchen , and on this episode of ITS, she and Ali talk EXPO WEST . Maddie shares how she's planning on getting the most out of the biggest trade show in the industry: from brand collaborations, to evergreen collateral, to team happiness tips. In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Priv...

Ray Goulbourne is a foodservice expert with experience at high growth CPG brands including Banza, Simulate, Mason Dixie, and Sir Kensington's. On this episode of ITS, Ray breaks the channel down for Ali: From defining objectives and choosing a segment, to execution and scale. There's even a cheat code in the last few minutes, where brands looking into foodservice can start their research. In the S...

Melissa Seligmann is the COO at Thingtesting , a review and discovery platform built to help people discover and share their candid reviews of brands. On this episode of ITS, Melissa and Ali talk about what's hot, what's not, and how Thingtesting's new growth tools are helping brands showcase foot traffic, analyze basket data, and expose their products to a new, engaged consumer. In the Sauce is P...

Eleanor Hayden is the founder of Hayden Consultancy - a shopper marketing consulting firm that works with brands like Olipop, Magic Spoon, Dream Pops, Catalina Crunch, Purely Elizabeth, Haven's Kitchen, and more. On this episode (Eleanor's 2nd!) of ITS, Eleanor walks Ali through all the ways brands can spend on digital marketing with retailers (and Instacart)...Sharpen your pencils! In the Sauce i...

Lia Haberman is a marketing consultant for brands including AT&T, Robert Half, Riot Games, Viral Nation, and more. She is also an instructor of Influencer Marketing and Social Media Marketing at UCLA Extension, and writes a weekly Creator Economy newsletter called ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) to help over 15K industry pros stay up to date on platform news, social trends, and brand campaigns....