Road 2 Retail

Episode # 107. Today's guest is Todd Matherly - Executive Vice President of Market Performance Group. Todd talks to us today about MPG's new initiative to help emerging brands achieve business success across all channels and disciplines of commercial operations. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on Linked...

Episode # 106. Today's guest on the Road 2 Retail podcast is Charles Miller - President & CEO of Persuadable Research. Charles takes us through the types of foundational research an emerging brand should execute in order to give themselves the greatest chance at success. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow...

Episode # 105. On today's Road 2 Retail podcast we are joined by Jackie Bae - Director of Client Success at LUNR Capital. Jackie discusses the core inventory financing service her firm offers and how it helps emerging brands fund their inventory while allowing their clients to hold on to cash to execute demand creating programs. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts,...

Episode # 104. Today, our guest is Greg Esslinger, former SRM (Buyer) at UNFI. Greg discusses what it takes for a small/emerging brand to work with large distributors such as UNFI and KeHE as well as what he looked for in a brand and what he expected of them. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or on our YouTube channel. Plus, give us a follow-on LinkedIn. Lea...

Episode # 103. Today we speak with Maggie Olczyk - Founder of Avi Foods. Maggie talks to us today about the origin story of her brand which started when she searched for healthy, good tasting foods that would help her parents with their medical condition. Aside from building her brand- Maggie's other job is a commercial airline pilot flying 757 & 767 jets. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Re...

Episode # 102. Today, our guest is Jake Nelson, General Manager at ZT Distribution. Jake discusses what it takes for a small/emerging brand to work with a regional distributor and what he looks for and requires to work with a brand. Jake also discusses what services a regional distributor provides to a small/emerging brand. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast on Apple podcasts, Spotify,...

Episode # 101. Today the Road 2 Retail team discusses how a Key Account manager, or really any Sales professional, can position themselves to be a high value supplier in the eyes of their retail account. Sales is a profession with a great deal of pressure and responsibilities for the company they work for. Based on our 30+ years in CPG- we share what we believe are some "best practices"...

Episode # 100. On today's show we are joined by Scott Emerson - Founder of The Emerson Group: A Consumer Products Equity Organization. Scott and his team have paved the Road 2 Retail for many, many brands over the years. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. Today w...

Episode # 99. Today our guest is George Brown - Vice President of AcuPoll Precision Research. George takes us through the importance of concept testing, the research an emerging brand really should execute to build their business off of a firm base of understanding, and the research findings a retailer will find informative when considering taking your brand into distribution. Please subscribe to...

Episode # 98. Today we visit with Paul Vraciu - CEO of the hydration product, Salt Stick. Paul walks us through the history of Salt Stick- which started as a product for runners and bikers needing effective hydration before and during their activity and has now evolved via their innovative FastChews product. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube ch...

Episode # 97. Today the Road 2 Retail team provides a recap of the 2025 NACDS Annual meeting which took place at The Breakers in Palm Beach, FL April 26-29. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. Observations from the meeting include: - What is this meeting? Who attends?...

Episode # 96. Our guest on today's show is Brooks Powell - the Founder & CEO of Cheers Health. A high energy discussion around the genesis of the Cheers brand and the unique way Brooks and his team drive growth. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. We cover man...

Episode # 95. On today's show we speak with Dan Frieber - the Founder & CEO of Tango Chile Sauce. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. Dan shares the unique origin story of his brand- from his grandmother's recipe to its launch in local bodegas and street f...

Episode # 94. On today's show we spend time with Jason Paulus- the Founder & CEO of the emerging brand: Acid Rain Water. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. Jason Paulus shares his backstory on how Acid Rain Water went from an idea to a product following Jason...

Episode # 93. On today's show we are joined by Roberta Townes - Senior Category Merchant at GNC. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. Roberta shares with us the role emerging brands play at GNC and what she looks for in these brands. Specific discussion points cove...

Episode # 92. Today we speak with RJ Talyor - Founder of the unique, tech enabled email marketing firm: Backstroke. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. RJ Talyor speaks to us with specifics about how email marketing can help drive the business for emerging brands whil...

Episode # 90. On today's show we speak with Dr. Alexandra Sowa. Author of the book The Ozempic Revolution and founder of the brand SoWell Health. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. Dr. Alexandra Sowa shares her expertise on how GLP-1 drugs work, what your body needs...

Episode#  90.  Today the Road 2 Retail team shares our observations fromattending the Consumer Healthcare Products Association Self-Care LeadershipSummit (SLS) earlier this week in San Antonio, Texas.  The ConsumerHealthcare Products Association does a fantastic job representing theinterests of members and consumers by advocating for access, innovation, andaffordability of self-care products in an...

Episode # 89. On today's show we are joined by Rob Catanzariti - Vice President with The Emerson Group. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. Rob takes us through what The Emerson Group looks for in an emerging brand before bringing them on as a client. Deep, honest...

Episode#  XYZ.  Today the Road 2 Retail team shares our thoughts on therecently concluded Expo West conference.   Tracey Priest, along time attendee of the show, offers his insights and observations ofthis massive and important show.  Please subscribe to the Road 2Retail podcast at  Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTubechannel.  Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn.  Learn more at  www.road2retail....

Episode # 87. On today's show we welcome Lydia Lee- Founder and CEO of For The Clout. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. Lydia Lee has built a business helping brands harness the power of social media and influencers to drive brands business success. Lydia's...

Episode # 86. On today's show we speak with Michael Law - Chief Commercial Officer of Eagle Labs. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. In our discussion with Michael Law, we discuss the role a contract manufacturer plays in helping a brand build its business. Micha...

Episode # 85. Today the Road 2 Retail team shares our thoughts on how to prepare and attend an industry trade show or conference. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. The trade show and industry conference season is upon us. EXPO West is just a week away! These events...

Episode # 84. On today's show we are joined by Investment Banker- Teddie Townsend. Teddie is a Director at CG Sawaya Partners where she has a focus on emerging brands. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. Teddie shares her views and experiences about emerging brand...

Episode # 83On February 18 the Road 2 Retail team attended ECRM's Center Store Grocery Week program. Today we recap the "Innovate X: Winning in Grocery" sessions- Sponsored by Market Performance Group. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify, or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. Like all ECRM e...