CPG Brand Builders

What does it really take to build a successful beverage brand in today's competitive CPG market? In this episode, Braden sits down with Trevor Landry, founder of Kombucha Alive & Well, to unpack the journey of building a successful emerging kombucha brand from the ground up. Trevor shares how he spent years perfecting the product before launch, why he entered the market with four SKUs, and...

What separates brands that continue to grow from those that struggle to stay relevant? In this episode of the CPG Brand Builders Podcast , Braden sits down with Jenny Van Dorf , Senior Director of Marketing at Del Sol Food Company, to discuss the mindset behind successful consumer packaged goods marketing. Jenny leads marketing strategy for respected brands including BRIANNAS Fine Salad Dressing,...

Are you investing time and marketing dollars in the latest trends without seeing meaningful results? In this Brand Builders thought leadership session, Braden explains why many CPG brands struggle to generate growth when they focus on trends instead of mastering the marketing fundamentals that create demand and build stronger brands. Through real-world case studies from PurGum, LOVE CORN, The Good...

In this episode of CPG Brand Builders, Braden sits down with Morgan Kingdon, Director of Marketing at Program Brands, to discuss what it takes for brands to stand out and grow in today’s crowded marketplace. Morgan leads marketing for Protein Candy and Pulp & Press, where she is known for turning bold ideas into measurable growth through a combination of strategic thinking and creative executi...

The specialty coffee category is growing, but winning in grocery is far from guaranteed. In this episode of CPG Brand Builders, Braden sits down with Ben Miller, Director of Business Development and Market Expansion at Level Ground Coffee, to break down what it really takes to scale specialty coffee brands in today’s competitive retail landscape. With more than a decade of experience across busine...

What separates great leaders from everyone else? In this powerful conversation, Todd Mitchell joins Braden to share decades of wisdom gained from leading founder-led businesses, private equity-backed companies, and global consumer packaged goods organizations. Todd currently serves as President of Hummus Goodness, Executive Chair of eGrowcery, and advises founders and growth-stage companies on lea...

Trade shows can make or break your brand. The right connections can lead to retail distribution, partnerships, and major growth. In this episode of CPG Brand Builders, Braden sits down with Shannon Peffley, Founder of CPG Xperience, to discuss how emerging consumer brands can maximize trade shows and turn connections into real business opportunities. Through CPG Xperience, Shannon helps brands, re...

What actually makes food brands win in today’s competitive market? In this episode of CPG Brand Builders, Braden sits down with Nate Douglas, a seasoned food industry leader whose career has been dedicated to building and scaling high-performing food brands. Nate has worked on iconic brands at McCain Foods and Parmalat, bringing deep expertise in consumer behavior, campaign development, and P&...

Most companies are damaging their brand without realizing it. Brand architecture is one of the most important strategic decisions a business can make, yet it is consistently overlooked. The wrong structure creates brand confusion, operational inefficiency, weak positioning, and lost long term value. The right structure creates clarity, scalability, and stronger brand equity. In this episode, Brade...

In this episode of CPG Brand Builders, Braden sits down with Sasha Bricel, Director of Marketing Services at Nature’s Path Foods, to discuss what it takes to build and scale purpose-driven CPG brands in today’s competitive and price-sensitive market. Sasha leads advertising, media strategy, social media, creator partnerships, communications, and creative across Nature’s Path Foods’ portfolio of br...

Braden sits down with Whitney Bembenick, a strategic revenue growth leader with more than 15 years of experience across CPG sales leadership, brand management, and innovation driven go to market strategy. In this episode, Whitney shares how integrating sales, marketing, and innovation creates stronger retailer partnerships, drives category expansion, and builds brands that scale with purpose. You...

The grocery shelf is changing fast, and the brands adapting to these shifts are leading the way. In this episode, Braden breaks down the Top 5 CPG trends and what they mean for brands looking to grow in an increasingly competitive market. Discover how today’s most successful consumer packaged goods brands are using emotional storytelling, functional nutrition, bold flavor innovation, and premium c...

Most brands treat agencies like vendors. The best brands treat them like growth partners. In this episode of CPG Brand Builders, Braden sits down with Josh Cairns, from Crew Marketing Partners, to break down what actually makes agency relationships successful in today’s CPG landscape. This conversation goes beyond creative work and campaigns. It is about alignment, trust, structure, and how the ri...

Lay’s is one of the most recognizable brands in the world, so why did they change their packaging now? In this episode, Braden breaks down the real strategy behind the Lay’s packaging refresh and what it signals for the future of CPG brands. This is not just a design update. It is a calculated move to stay relevant, win on shelf, and evolve without losing brand equity. If you are building or scali...

Why do most CPG brands fail at retail, while others scale into category leaders? In this episode of CPG Brand Builders, Braden sits down with Al Springer, a true pioneer in the CPG industry and Founder of The Touch Agency. With more than 25 years of experience, Al has helped build and scale over 200 category-leading brands, including Amy’s Kitchen, Emergen-C, Barbara’s Bakery, and Yellowbird Foods...

In this episode of CPG Brand Builders, Braden sits down with Gerald Schoenhoff, Chief Creative Officer and internationally recognized creative leader, to discuss what it takes to create award-winning marketing that drives results in the food and beverage industry. Gerald’s work has earned top industry honors, including Gold Lions, Gold Pencils, and numerous Gold M awards. He has been recognized fo...

What does it really take to scale a better-for-you food brand in today’s competitive market? In this episode of CPG Brand Builders, Braden sits down with Patrick Higgins, President of Propel Natural Brands, to break down what drives growth for emerging food brands across retail, distribution, and multiple sales channels. Patrick has helped build and scale better-for-you brands across Canada by com...

In this episode of CPG Brand Builders, Braden breaks down how Joyride Candy scaled to $20 million in just three years by combining better-for-you positioning with the power of influencer marketing. With Ryan Trahan as the face of the brand, Joyride Candy captured a younger audience, built instant credibility, and created trust with modern families. This episode is not just about candy. It is about...

In this episode of CPG Brand Builders, Braden breaks down exactly how Crew Marketing Partners helped Hardbite Chips achieve more than 4000% growth, transforming it from a small regional brand into a nationally recognized favorite. This episode explores the real strategies behind that explosive growth and the lessons other CPG brands can apply to accelerate their own success. In this episode, you w...