ReConnected

Unlock the secrets to thriving in the rapidly evolving natural products industry with Luke Abbott and Bob Burke, an industry legend and the strategist behind brands like Stonyfield and Natural Products Consulting. In this episode of the Reconnected podcast, Bob reveals how the industry has transformed over 40 years, from the gritty days of hand-packed yogurt to the mainstream. Discover why brands...

Join Luke Abbott and Noah Hyams in this episode of the Reconnected podcast to dive into the future of food. Noah Hyams, VEGPRENEUR founder, reveals why the plant-based industry is at a pivotal crossroads and how you can thrive in this rapidly evolving space. From uncovering the real reasons behind market shifts to sharing insider tactics on building a sustainable food brand, this episode challenge...

In this episode of the Reconnected podcast, host Luke Abbott interviews Susan Hartman, co-founder of Recoup Beverage, discussing her journey in the CPG industry, the challenges faced during the pandemic, and the importance of sustainability and regenerative organic certification.  The discussion explores the foundational role of trust in co-founder relationships, emphasizing how mutual respect and...

In this engaging episode of the Reconnected Podcast, host Luke Abbott sits down with Maria Pearman, CPA, the food and beverage practice leader at GHJ. Maria shares her unique journey from arts management to becoming a leading figure in the accounting world, particularly within the food and beverage industry. The conversation delves into the intricacies of financial management for consumer brands,...

In this episode of the Reconnected Podcast, host Luke Abbott sits down with the remarkable Pere Selles, a man whose life is a tapestry of adventure, business acumen, and cultural exchange. Pere shares his journey from Barcelona to the United States, where he carved out a niche in the food industry by introducing Spanish cuisine to American palates. With anecdotes of his early days selling olive oi...

In this episode of the Reconnected Podcast, host Luke Abbott of Vdriven engages in a thought-provoking conversation with a special guest, Elliot Begoun, about the evolving landscape of the food industry. They delve into the challenges and opportunities faced by entrepreneurs, exploring themes of resilience, innovation, and the importance of questioning the status quo. The discussion touches on the...

In this episode of the Reconnected podcast, we sit down with Laura Dickinson, a visionary leader in the natural products industry. Laura shares her journey from the corporate world to founding One Step Closer, a network dedicated to embedding purpose in business. We explore the challenges and triumphs of creating sustainable supply chains, the importance of regenerative business practices, and the...

In this episode, we sit down with Casey Gaston, current Executive Leader of Whole Body & Supplements at Whole Foods Market and former Leader of the Local and Emerging Brands program.  With over 21 years at Whole Foods Market, Casey shares her path from oncology nursing to holistic wellness and supplements, ultimately stepping into a leadership role at the nation’s largest natural retailer. Cas...

In this episode of The Reconnected Podcast , host Luke Abbott sits down with Bart Jan Manten—musician-turned-entrepreneur and founder of Neolea, a premium olive oil brand born in Greece. Bart shares his unconventional path from the Dutch music scene to olive groves in Corfu, blending creativity with sharp business instincts to build a brand rooted in authenticity, innovation, and purpose. Bart ope...

In this episode of the Reconnected Podcast , Luke Abbott sits down with serial entrepreneur Jordan Buckner to unpack the wild, inspiring ride from his early ventures like Chopbox and Tea Squares to building Foodbevy—a platform helping food & beverage founders navigate the chaos of CPG. Jordan gets real about what worked, what flopped, and the panic attack that forced him to hit pause and rethi...

In this deeply inspiring episode of The Reconnected Podcast , Luke Abbott sits down with Kathryn Shah, co-founder of Spring & Mulberry, for a raw conversation about building a purpose-driven brand from personal transformation.  Kathryn shares how her battle with cancer became the catalyst for reimagining sweetness—ushering in a new era of refined-sugar-free indulgence. From her high-powered da...

In this enlightening episode of the Reconnected Podcast, Luke Abbott sits down with Angela Marturano, Co-Founder and President of Orchid Holistic Search, a values aligned executive search firm in natural products, and a true connector in the natural products industry.  From her early days selling craft beer to launching a boutique recruiting firm during the 2008 crash, Angela shares her unconventi...

In this episode of The Reconnected Podcast , host Luke Abbott sits down with Alyssa Vescio, SVP of Merchandising, Sourcing and Product Development , at Whole Foods Market, for a deeply human and inspiring conversation. Alyssa shares her remarkable journey from working in stores at age 16 to leading merchandising across grocery, wellness, beauty, and more at the nation’s top natural retailer. She o...

Reconnected Podcast: Episode with Bryan Reed In this episode, Luke Abbott sits down with Bryan Reed, Sr. Director of Grocery & Wellness at Mother's Market, to discuss his 25+ year journey in the natural foods industry—from bagging groceries at 15 to leading strategy at one of the most respected natural food retailers. Key topics covered: 🎧 Career Journey: Bryan’s path from Henry’s and Ji...

In this episode, Luke Abbott sits down with Alex Malamatinas, Founder and Managing Partner of Melitas Ventures, the go-to VC firm for better-for-you consumer brands. With a background in finance and a lifelong connection to CPG, Alex shares how he transitioned from investing in large public companies to backing innovative early-stage brands like Dose, Abbot’s Butcher, and Dream Pops. Key topics co...

Dive into the world of brand strategy and channel marketing with Steve Gaither, Founder of Architect CPG, a Brand strategy and outsourced CMO company. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Steve has helped brands like Real Good Foods, Smith Foods, and Mush achieve market success. Key discussion points include: Steve’s approach to understanding the 4Cs (company, category, competition, c...

In this episode, Luke reconnects with Jeremy Isenberg, President of Chex Finer Foods , a third-generation family business serving retailers from the Northeast to Florida. With 23 years in the company, Jeremy shares insights into preserving a family legacy while navigating the ever-changing food industry. Key discussion points include: How Jeremy’s grandfather and father shaped the values of Checks...

Join us as Luke sits down with Dave Hirschkop , the award-winning entrepreneur and founder of Dave’s Gourmet, who revolutionized the hot sauce and pasta sauce industries. From creating the iconic Insanity Sauce to building an internationally recognized brand, Dave’s story is one of creativity, resilience, and innovation. Key topics covered in this episode include: Dave’s unique approach to buildin...

Reconnected Podcast with Frank Schuck Join Luke Abbott as he sits down with Frank Schuck, a Grocery Merchandiser at PCC, the nation's largest food co-op. Frank shares his journey from the specialty food stores of New York City to leading roles at Whole Foods and beyond. In this episode, Frank talks about: How and where his passion for cheese and specialty foods born. The transformation he has...

Tune in to the Reconnected Podcast , hosted by Luke Abbott with Dan Altschuler, Managing Partner and Co-Founder at Unovis Asset Management , as he shares his journey as an impact investor focused on transforming food systems. In this episode, they dive deep into the journeys of entrepreneurs, investors, and changemakers.  Dan’s professional journey began in banking in Mexico, where he worked with...

Tune in to the Reconnected Podcast, where Luke Abbott sits down with Justin Jackson , the COO of Jimbo's —one of the leading Markets in the Natural Space! Starting at just 10 years old, Justin began his career path in a small grocery store in Boston, eventually moving into specialty food retail during his late teens. Today, Justin is focused on refreshing the brand, optimizing operations, and...

In this episode of Reconnected, host Luke Abbott sits with Jenny Eu, founder of Three Trees Foods, a leading brand in plant-based milk. Jenny shares her entrepreneurial journey, starting at farmers' markets and bootstrapping her way into a national brand. Inspired by her grandmother's independence and love for nature, as well as her father's seamless blend of work and personal life,...

In this episode, Luke Abbott is joined by Dwight Richmond , Director of the Center Store at Town & Country Markets, who has 30 years of experience in the grocery retail industry. Dwight's career in the food industry began fresh out of college, working in grocery stores, and progressed through roles at Freshfields (later Whole Foods), Dean and DeLuca, K Foods, and eventually leading him to...

Welcome to the Reconnected Podcast with your host, Luke Abbott. In this episode, Luke is joined by one of his best friend and earliest clients, Kerry Song, a fellow vegan entrepreneur and founder of Abbot's. Abbot’s Butcher crafts delicious, whole-food, plant-based products available in over 4,000 locations nationwide. Luke and Kerry share their personal journeys in the food industry, highlig...

Welcome to the Reconnected Podcast with your host, Luke Abbott. In this episode, Luke is joined by an experienced food industry professional and long-time friend, Rich Gillmore, the VP of Center Store at Gelson's. Rich is bringing 37+ years of retail experience from Gelson's, southern california specialty grocer and supermarket chain VONS.   Tune in as Luke and Rich share personal experi...