In the Sauce

Jake Deleon is the founder and CEO of Fila Manila , the company bringing next gen Filipino flavors to consumers across the US. On this episode of ITS, Jake and Ali talk founder-product fit, the value of curiosity and innovation, and why Amazon is a great learning tool... if you use it right. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming...

George Milton is Co-Founder and CEO of Yellowbird Foods , the spunky/spicy, Austin-based hot sauce brand made with real fruit and veggies. On this episode of ITS, George and Ali talk about identifying your core consumer, finding them, and building with them where they are. In George's words, "The most expensive and inefficient way to grow is trying to steal someone else's customer." Heritage Radio...

Andrea Rose is the Produce category manager for the SoCal division of Albertsons Companies . She and her team are responsible for decisions about what their 336 stores carry, as well as how these items are retailed and merchandised. On this episode of ITS, Andrea and Ali talk about the massive ship that is the grocery store and how emerging brands can work with buyers to create wins for brands, st...

Becca Millstein is the co-founder and CEO of Fishwife , the super-popular, super-groovy tinned seafood company bringing ethically sourced, premium, and delicious tinned seafood to pantries across the US. On this episode of ITS, Becca tells Ali the story of Fishwife mid-Covid, shares the value of asking a lot of questions, and talks about the power of collaboration as well as growing with a deeply...

Mark Samuel is the founder and CEO of IWON Organics , a legume-based food company. On this episode of ITS, Mark shares insights from 20 years of entrepreneurship and his authentic approach to business, and, well, life really. He and Ali talk about the four keys to building a strong business and what it means to create a "platform" brand. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit pod...

Amanda Roach is a partner at Amin Talati Wasserman , a law firm that supports CPG companies on the legal issues around the FDA, FTC, and Intellectual Property. On this episode of ITS, Amanda walks Ali through trademarking and IP 101: How to set it up properly, what to keep in mind as you work on branding and packaging, how to protect your brand from copycats, and how often you need to remember to...

Eleanor Hayden is a shopper marketing and merchandising expert, having built platforms at Kodiak Cakes and Siete. On this episode of ITS, Eleanor walks Ali through both digital and in-store shopper marketing, as well as Instacart. Working with retailers to engage their customers has never been easier or more important, so for emerging brands building their grocery presence, this episode is a must-...

Andrea Xu is the CEO and co-founder of Umamicart , an online one-stop-shop with Asian cuisine lovers at the very center. Umamicart has 2 missions: Helping customers seamlessly access delicious products across Asian cuisines; and secondly, providing a new digital window for mom-and-pop, immigrant-led businesses to reach consumers. On this episode of ITS, Andrea and Ali talk about learning how to as...

Miguel Leal is the Co-Founder & CEO of SOMOS , a new, U.S.-based Mexican food company that he founded with KINDsnacks veterans Daniel Lubetzky and Rodrigo Zuloaga. On this episode of ITS, Miguel shares the secret he's learned as CMO at KIND and Cholula: What every winning company must have, and how it powers the brand and the business to greatness. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supporte...

Eddie Revis is the CMO of Magnolia Bakery and formerly VP of Brand, Marketing & Media at Chobani. On this episode of ITS, he shares his marketing "tool kit." But even more importantly for emerging brands, Eddie breaks down the way to think about marketing. It's all about the outcomes, and what you're willing to spend for them. This one is packed, folks! Enjoy! Heritage Radio Network is a liste...

Carrie Yang is the founder of Grouphugs , a YouTube growth agency helping businesses create profitable YouTube channels. On this episode of ITS, Carrie and Ali talk all things YouTube: Why it's a critical channel for CPG brands, how to build a full, holistic library of content, and best practices for editing, publishing, and community-building. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonpro...

Jake Kneller is Co-founder and CEO of Sweet Nothings , a CPG brand focused on creating truly-good-for-you snacks, starting with their line of frozen spoonable smoothie cups. On this episode of ITS, Jake and Ali talk about how Sweet Nothings used consumer insights to not only help them rebrand but to move their placement in the grocery store freezer... which then grew velocity. A LOT! Heritage Radi...

Molly Fienning is Co-founder and CEO of Red Clay Hot Sauce , a modern take on Southern hot sauce. On this episode of ITS, Molly and Ali talk about the transition from restaurant small-batch to national distribution, what market really means, and how Red Clay has consistently grown 200-400% year over year since Molly took the helm. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast ne...

Wade Yenny is the Director of Grocery for Jimbo’s , San Diego’s Premier Natural and Organic Food Store, and has over 25 years of experience in all areas of retail including operations, merchandising, procurement, and category management. On this episode of ITS, Wade and Ali talk about the state of the grocery store in 2022, what his sales strategy would be if he were building a brand, and why as f...

Jake Karls is Co-Founder of Mid-Day Squares , the fresh, functional chocolate bar that sold over 8 million chocolate bars in its first 3 years. On this episode of ITS, Jake walks Ali through the MDS approach: Part reality TV show, part community, part self-manufacturing. All unabashedly unfiltered. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by be...

Ryan Rogers is Ali's former buyer at Target and worked in Produce at the retailer for 14 years. On this episode of ITS, Ryan shares a wealth of knowledge about how emerging brands should pitch and plan to work with Target, how we can set ourselves up for success, and a few insider tips and tricks. A gem, this one! Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In...

Alex Piasecki and Patrick Mateer are the co-founders of Seal the Seasons , the national local foods brand that partners directly with growers to freeze and distribute local produce in more than 30 states and 4000 retail locations across the U.S. On this episode of ITS, Alex and Patrick talk about the secrets to their partnership, how the book "Traction" changed their business, how they bring their...

Noah Wunsch is the founder of Ruby , a new, super creative line of organic hibiscus water. On this episode of ITS, Noah and Ali talk about the value of going beyond what we’ve come to think of building a brand identity, how brands need to take time figuring out where can we provide value, and why founders should seek comfort in knowing the odds are against us. Heritage Radio Network is a listener...

Carla Dunham is the CMO of Foxtrot , the company redefining the convenience store with fast delivery, proprietary inventory technology, and the vibe of a neighborhood store. On this episode of ITS, Carla distills 15 years of marketing expertise into a few clear directives for emerging brands. She also helps Ali understand what Foxtrot is looking for as they bring new items to their customers. Heri...

Jordan Schenck is the CMO and Co-Founder of Sunwink . On this episode of ITS, Jordan tells Ali about her experiences at Equinox and Impossible, how to build a communications roadmap, and why her motto is launch, launch, and launch again. 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...

Lisa Carson and Connie Wang are the Co-Founders of Occo , the pre-measured spice pods popping up in kitchens everywhere. On this episode of ITS, Courtnie steps in for Ali and hears all about how Lisa and Connie think about in-house manufacturing, the importance of high-quality packaging, and how Occo is educating its consumers one recipe card at a time. Heritage Radio Network is a listener support...

Erin Linfonte is a Client Strategist at ForceBrands , the leading strategic recruiting firm for consumer brands. On this episode of ITS, Erin walks Ali through the hiring process: From best practices for job descriptions, interviews, and reference calls, to onboarding and setting both you and your new hire up for success. If you're growing the team, listen to this one! Heritage Radio Network is a...

Jolene Delisle is the founder & creative director of The Working Assembly , a branding and creative studio that's worked with brands across the ecosystem, including Zola, The Museum of Ice Cream, Evian, Betches, FastAF, Sanzo, and Haven's Kitchen! On this episode of ITS, Jolene walks Ali through brand-building from the ground up: Why it's much deeper than a cool font or fun package, what mista...

Matt Weiss is the founder and CEO of Rind , the innovative, whole fruit, snack brand popping up all over the place! On this episode of ITS, Matt and Ali talk about sales channels, the rise of express e-commerce, how to think about all the emerging marketplaces, and what emerging brands can gain (beyond sales) as the market offers us more opportunities and places to get a product into the market. H...

Ilan Nass is the Chief Strategist at Taktical , the marketing company that helps brands scale through Cross Channel Strategies, Creative Storytelling, and Efficient Media Buying. On this episode of ITS, Courtnie guest-hosts and asks Ilan ALL the questions: What is/how do emerging brands optimize SEO, how do brands maximize ads and set reasonable expectations, and after all the hoopla, what the hec...