In the Sauce

Pierson Krass is the founder and managing partner of Lunar Solar Group , a full-service growth agency and technology studio that has helped scale brands like Olipop, Vita Coco, Carbone, and Chomps.  On this episode of ITS, Ali and Pierson talk direct response principles - once confined to DTC brands - and how Lunar Solar helps brands like Liquid Death apply them across retail, wholesale,...

Alyssa Vescio is the Chief Merchandising Officer at The Fresh Market where she oversees merchandising strategy. Prior to TFM, Alyssa spend close to a decade at Whole Foods Market. On this episode of ITS, Alyssa explains the grocer side of the CPG equation: what their goals are, how to interact with them, what they're looking for from a brand. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Cal...

Jesse Merril is the Co-Founder and CEO of Good Culture, the company that made cottage cheese cool again. On this episode of ITS, Jesse tells the GC story, how they literally reinvented the cottage cheese company and why values may not always bring people into a brand, but definitely keep them there. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/...

Sean Conner is the Co-Founder of ForceBrands , the recruiting firm specializing in placing leadership and key operators across food, beverage, beauty, and wellness brands. On this episode of ITS, Sean and Ali talk people - from hiring, to firing, and full-time hires to fractional support. Sean also shares the best advice Ali's heard for early stage founders as they start. See Privacy Policy a...

Keegan Myles is Head of Business Operations at Confido , the end-to-end operations platform built specifically for CPG brands. On this episode of ITS, Keegan and Ali talk about how his experience at Simple Mills, MUSH, and PATHWATER led him to the team at Confido and why sales and operations planning with the right numbers are so critical to a brand's success. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.c...

Cameron Gould-Saltman is a CPG growth leader, angel investor, and former Head of Food & Beverage at TikTok Shop, where he built one of the platform’s fastest-growing verticals by connecting emerging brands, creators, and consumers through social commerce. On this episode of ITS, Cameron explains all things social commerce: How to meet consumers where they are today and where they'll be tomorro...

Lucy Dana is the co-founder and CEO of One Trick Pony , the peanut butter rapidly gaining fame for its bright packaging that sits upside down on the shelf. On this episode of ITS, Ali and Lucy talk peanut butter problem solving, the new rules of social media, and how to build certain, lean and ready for learning. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at...

Tenley Fitzgerald is the VP of Marketing & Brand Strategy at Yes! Apples , a brand bringing marketing, partnerships, and storytelling to family-run orchards in Upstate New York. On this episode of ITS, Tenley and Ali talk brand-thinking, consumer behavior, convincing farmers, retailers and consumers that "apples to apples" is a wild misunderstanding. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/pri...

Griffin Spolansky is the Co-Founder and CEO of Mezcla , the protein bar brand known for its bold flavors and distinctive “puff-crispy” texture. On this episode of ITS, Griffin and Ali talk about the bar category, getting partners to bet on your brand, and keeping your business as simple as possible. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/...

Abe Kamarck is the founder and CEO of True Made Foods , the clean-label ketchup and BBQ sauce brand made with real vegetables instead of added sugar. On this episode of ITS, Abe shares his experiences with Ali as True Made Foods has lived through the full arc of modern startup CPG: The go-go growth years, over expansion, broken partnerships, logistics chaos, and the hard work of cutting...

Isabel Washington is the Founder and CEO of Laurel’s Coffee , the fast-growing RTD latte brand made with organic, regenerative A2 dairy. On this episode of ITS, Ali and Isabel talk about balancing conflicting consumer preferences, building for existing rituals, and the first thing you learn as a McKinsey consultant. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at h...

Ilay Karateke is the co-founder and CEO of Bezi , the labneh brand on a mission to make the Middle Eastern spreadable cheese a mainstream category in America. On this episode of ITS, Ilay walks Ali through the primary questions she continually asks herself as she's building Bezi, explains why she is turning down bigger distribution, and why slow and steady is key when you're working...

YC Cheng is the CEO of Hero Bread , the better-for-you bakery brand making low net carb, low sugar, high protein products that actually taste like real bread. On this episode of ITS, YC walks Ali through his experience investing, founding and scaling World Golf Tour, and how he's growing Hero. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by be...

Andrea Hernández is the founder and author of Snaxshot , one of the most influential newsletters in food and beverage. On this episode of ITS, Ali and Andrea talk about where CPG is now, hypebeast grocery, colostrum snacks, suggestions for founders, and what to look out for in 2026. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member...

Rita Hudetz is the Chief Commercial Officer at Oishii , the vertical farming company behind some of the most talked-about strawberries in America. On this episode of ITS, Rita walks Ali through CPG and tech foundational theories and brand building and sales strategies she learned and developed at PepsiCo, Hu Kitchen and Milkbar. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprof...

Pat Jammet is partner and VP of Growth at Promobile Marketing , the experiential agency behind memorable field campaigns from brands like Liquid IV, Truff, and AG1. On this episode of ITS, Pat shares what he's learned about field marketing at CPG brands including Honest Tea, Sir Kensington's, and Good Culture  Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast net...

Melanie Bartelme is the associate director and global food analyst for Mintel’s Premium Global Food & Drink Insights platform. On this episode of ITS, Melanie and Ali talk about food and beverage trends, what's happening with proteinification, what brands need to say out loud, and what consumers are looking for in today's uncertain world. Make sure to listen for a special d...

Troy Bonde & Winston Alfieri are CEO, CMO and Co-Founders of SAUZ , the pasta sauce brand known for its bright colors and killer flavors. On this episode of ITS, Ali and the SAUZ guys talk about brand building, true differentiation in a massive, commodity category, and how they acquire and then keep consumers. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Suppo...

Nick Wiseman is the CEO and Co-Founder of Little Sesame , a chef-founded, hummus brand rooted in sustainable farming and ingredient integrity. On this episode of ITS, Ali and Nick talk about self-manufacturing, hospitality-focused CPG, brand building, and why choosing the best chickpea in America makes all the difference. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast networ...

Emily Steele   is the CEO and Cofounder of Hummingbirds , podcast sponsor, and a platform connecting everyday creators with CPG brands to drive awareness at retail. On this episode of ITS, Ali and Emily talk about how local content creators can support retail success, demographic differences, and the keys to a new launch (product, store or seasonal campaign). Heritage Radio Network is a...

Sarela Herrada is the CEO and co-founder of SIMPLi , the leading maker of regenerative organic pantry staples in the US, with products available in over 3,000 stores and on the menus of more than 3,000 restaurants across the country. On this episode of ITS, Sarela explains her food-service first approach to CPG, how her experience in supply chain led her to solve a food systems...

Gigi Lee Chang is the Co-Chair of Naturally New York , and has been in the natural food world for over 20 years. After selling her first venture, Plum Organics, to Campbells in 2012, Gigi went on to co-found BFY Capital, and most recently Lumi Growth. On this episode of ITS, Gigi and Ali talk about bringing In The Sauce back, the evolution of the industry, and how CPG founders and operat...

For the 250th and final episode of ITS, Ali invited Adam Brown to help her recap the past 6 years of the show. 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 Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Annalea Krebs is the founder and CEO of Social Nature , an online product discovery platform with over 1M shoppers. On this episode of ITS, Annalea and Ali talk about the consumer journey, from trial to life-long fan, and how it's more important than ever to take the risk out of trying new products. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by b...

Catherine Campbell is the founder of One For the Books , a marketing consultancy that specializes in reviving older brands in food, home, hospitality, and culture. On this episode of ITS, Ali and Catherine discuss vibes: what brands do when they lose them, and how to know when you're a brand at risk. Photo courtesy of Chelsea Lane Photography . Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonpro...