Chat CPG | Food + Wellness

Nico AKA Shelby Boolay, the creator behind Noco Cookie Cakes , never planned to become a viral baking sensation. A mom of two, she quietly decorated cookie cakes while her kids napped — until the internet took notice. With over half a million followers and millions of likes across Instagram and TikTok, Nico’s detailed cookie cakes have captured the attention of the internet and major brands alike....

August Vega founded Malk Organics after realizing even the “healthy” nut milks on shelf were filled with gums and oils. What started as a kitchen project with sprouted nuts, water, and salt became a movement that’s changing how people eat. In this episode: Building a new identity through business + motherhood Loving yourself enough to know what’s good for you Why wellness isn’t free — especially i...

Cheers to a new episode featuring sisters Emily and Sarah Mack — founders of Offline Wine (formerly Vinat). In this episode: 👩‍👩‍👧‍👧 Breaking into a male-dominated industry & bringing more representation to wine 🎨 Branding that works — how to market ... social media or field marketing in 2025? 🌍 Behind the bottle — EU-sourced, family-run vineyards, no additives or dyes 😵 Hangovers, tari...

We’re back with a fresh, fun, and insightful episode featuring Hailey Gorski, RD — LA-based dietitian and founder of The Tipsy Kale! In this episode: 🥬The origin story of The Tipsy Kale — and how Hailey blends fun with evidence-based nutrition to inspire lasting change in people’s health 📲 The real truth behind content creation — from hours of free work to staying grounded in your purpose &...

We’re back with a bold and energizing episode featuring Orleatha Smith , co-founder of Sip Herbals — a former biology teacher turned wellness founder on a mission to reimagine your morning ritual. We chat: ☕ The surprising symptoms that made Orleatha quit coffee — and why your daily brew might be hurting more than helping 🌿 How Sip Herbals was born from her journey with autoimmune disease 🦈 The...

We’re back with a powerful and honest episode featuring Kristin O’Connell , Sr. Director of Sales at Once Upon a Farm — a leader, mother, and advocate for clean, accessible nutrition for kids. This episode isn’t just about food or sales — it’s about our real experiences behind the scenes: going viral on LinkedIn, navigating motherhood in the workplace, and making the leap from big CPG to an emergi...

We’re back with another powerhouse episode featuring Starr Edwards, co-founder & CEO of the wildly beloved Bitchin’ Sauce — the almond-based dip that started at a San Diego farmers’ market and scaled to nearly 7,000 stores across North America, including Kroger, Albertsons/Safeway, Costco, Target, Whole Foods, and Sprouts. But this convo isn’t just about sauce — it’s a deep dive into building...

We’re back with another inspiring episode, diving deep into Natural Products Expo West with Allie Hobson , Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (FNTP) and co-founder of Core Formulas — a supplement brand rooted in foundational wellness and root-cause healing. In this episode, we cover: * Expo West through the lens of a first-time founder & health-community voice & problem-solver * B...

This week, we sit down with Jason Burke, Founder & CEO of New Primal, for a deep dive into entrepreneurship, resilience, and an inside look at the meat snacks category. Jason’s journey began in 2009 when he traded junk food for a healthier lifestyle—turning his personal transformation into a thriving business. Today, New Primal’s clean, high-protein, low-sugar snacks are stocked in 10,000+ ret...

In this episode, we sit down with Alli Ball, Founder & CEO of Food Biz Wiz and the mastermind behind Retail Ready® , to dive into the world of retail strategy, wholesale wins, and building a business that truly works for you. With experience helping over 3,000 food and beverage brands navigate the competitive retail space, Alli knows exactly what it takes to get on shelves—and stay there. We c...

In this episode, we sit down with Jess Windell, Founder of Maven Consulting & Co-Founder of Dryft Sleep , to talk all things PR, entrepreneurship, and building a purpose-driven career. 🎙️✨ Beyond leading a full-funnel PR firm for consumer brands, Jess has built a thriving business helping founders tell their stories, launch successful products, and grow with intention. She’s now taking it a s...

In this episode of Chat CPG: Food + More, we sit down with Cara Comp Usher, Director of Sales at Magic Mind, a brand revolutionizing productivity with its nootropic energy shots. 🧠⚡ Beyond leading sales at Magic Mind, Cara has built a thriving entrepreneurial venture, helping people optimize their nutrition, wellness, and overall livelihood. She shares her journey of overcoming fears, doubts, an...

In this episode, we chat with Rebecca Collins , the Director of People & Culture at Halfday Iced Tea , about the power of building a strong company culture to drive employee retention and business growth . Rebecca shares actionable insights on how a thriving culture fosters loyalty and supports success. We also explore topics surrounding maternity leave , discussing the need for businesses to...

In this episode, we sit down with David Rachlin, a seasoned marketing executive with a remarkable journey through the world of CPG. From launching Ben & Jerry’s internationally to scaling Boursin Cheese and transforming Pete & Gerry's, David shares his insights on repositioning brands, driving growth, and creating lasting impact with optimal pricing strategies. Tune in to hear his story of...

This week we feature Hudson and Gabe, founders of  Plant People , an incredible mushroom supplement brand, aimed at enhancing wellness and vitalityThe episode highlights the founders’ journey, showcasing their resiliency and vision as they built a successful company rooted in natural healing practices. They share insights on their top three products you need to try & why, how changing their pa...

Tune into the latest episode of Chat CPG Food + More featuring Caroline Howard, co-founder of Walker Brothers Kombucha based in Nashville, TN! Caroline shares her inspiring journey of how she connected with the Walker Brothers and found her place within the brand. She opens up about the twists and turns of her career, the lessons learned along the way, and how she got to where she is today. Don’t...

Join us this week as we sit down with Ana and Brayden, co-founders of Plentiful Harvest Demos.  We dive into the story of how they got started in the demo business, the unique balance of working together as partners, and the extra care they put into representing each brand.   In CPG we can now expect more from demo companies and finding the right fit makes all the difference! If you’re looking for...

This week we’re joined by Hollis Callaway, founder of ⁠Montane Sparkling Spring Water⁠ . He shares how he quickly became profitable, leveraged his family's ties to the purest spring water in the world, and made Montane a sustainable, luxurious product. Hollis stands out as a passionate entreprenuer who does not succumb to the granularities of going BIG, FAST in CPG. His strategy and hard work have...

Today's interview is with Force of Nature's James Lum, Regional Sales Manager of the West. James has a history of being a butcher, business owner and CPG strategy consultant. He's passionate about regenerative meat production, sustainability and eating the highest quality meat to fuel our bodies.  In this episode, James explains the difference between labels on meat packaging, how to p...

Today's episode is with Matthew Moore, VP of Sales Strategy at BrightFarms. Matt was previously a Whole Foods Global Buyer and Senior Director of Category Management at Banza. In this episode, Matt shares his opinions on innovation strategy, communicating with buyers and growing new business in old categories. Our favorite part is getting the inside scoop to how Matt chooses new career roles a...

This episode with Allie Carr , a Freelance Creative Director & Copywriter, is one of our favorites. Allie is inspirational in her ability to envision and create the life she desires, as well as confident and talented in her work of creating brand image and messaging. In this episode Allie expands our minds to the idea that changing consumers' behavior is quite "simple" and that creating the li...

Today we sat down with Justin Brickman, the National Sales Manager Natural Channel at SunButter. Justin is truly a whiz at promotional strategy, organization, leadership and tactful distribution growth. Our goal is to grow everyday and Justin sure is a good role model to follow!  In this episode we discuss strategies for increasing velocities in current market circumstances, how to authentically c...

Today we chat with Devin Powell, the Director of Retail at Pulp & Press. Devin has true grit, persistence, emotional intelligence and charisma, so we can see why he's been so successful in CPG! In this episode we discuss strategies for gaining distribution in the US & what that process looks like in reality, what to include in your deck to convince buyers of your imminent success, why...

Today we sit down with UMAI Marketing founders, Karin Samelson and Alison Smith. These two have a background in fashion (!) as well as CPG marketing, and have combined forces to create a boutique marketing agency that helps brands to grow two-fold in the digital space and with brand development. In this episode we discuss strategies for organic and paid social media growth, how brands can authenti...

Today, we're accompanied by Michael Marquez, previously the Center Store Specialist at Kroger Division: King Soopers in the Rocky Mountain region, and currently the District Manager @ Associated Wholesale Grocers.  Michael has an impressive background in sales & management, and helped to determine planogram outcomes and in-store display decisions at King Soopers.  In this episode we discus...