In the Sauce

Sashee Chandran is the founder and CEO of Tea Drops , the organic, ground leaf teas that dissolve into your cup - no bag or infuser needed. On this episode of ITS, Sashee and Ali talk about sales channels and alignment - not every product makes sense in every channel, and every product has a few channels that really make sense. They also chat subscription, why it can be huge for a brand, but why i...

Margaret Wishingrad is Co-Founder and CEO of Three Wishes , the cereal that is revolutionizing breakfast aisles in grocery stores across the US. On this episode of ITS, Margaret tells Ali how Three Wishes is building through grocery stores, optimizing organic marketing rather than ads, and focusing on one very basic consumer change. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast...

Caroline Cotto is the Co-Founder & COO of Renewal Mill , an upcycled food company fighting climate change. Azora Zoe Paknad is the Founder of Goldune , a new e-commerce brand and marketplace making sustainability more fun, more inclusive and more digestible. On this episode of ITS, Ali and her guests talk about expanding the consumer perception of sustainability, driving people toward more con...

Chitra Agrawal is Co-Founder of Brooklyn Delhi , the Indian condiment company she grew out of a thriving food blog and cookbook. On this episode of ITS, Chitra and Ali talk about consumer education, when a founder needs to get out of the kitchen, and what it's like (or how to manage) working with your husband. Image courtesy of Liz Clayman. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit...

LeShaun Smedley is the Manager of Corporate Supplier Diversity for the Kroger Company. He leads the effort to build a more diverse, equitable supplier base for the $121 billion grocery company that has over 2800 stores with 11 million customers a day. On this episode of ITS, LeShaun tells Ali how Kroger works, what we can bring to the table as emerging brands, what homework we need to do before en...

Mayssa Chehata is the founder and CEO of Behave , the low-sugar gummy bears made with better-for-you, all-natural ingredients and elevated flavors. On this episode of ITS, Ali and Mayssa talk about balancing market validation with gut instinct, why partnerships need to be focused on true value for everyone, and why feedback is the key to your success. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly...

Annalea Krebs is the founder and CEO of Social Nature , a product discovery and trial platform that helps emerging brands reach consumers, and build a loyal community. On this episode of ITS, Annalea and Ali discuss how Social Nature reconciles two seemingly opposing rules: Sampling is still critical and yet most brand discovery  starts online. For wholesale-first brands, or DTC brands looking for...

Eric Strickland, National Director of Alternate Channel Sales at Tessemae’s. On this episode of ITS, Eric and Ali talk Sales: form big picture strategy and the importance of a guiding WHY, to the details of a sales deck. 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...

Nona Lim is the Founder and CEO of Nona Lim, everyone’s favorite fresh Asian broths, noodles and stir fry kits. On this episode of ITS, Nona tells Ali a story of pivoting, observation, grit, and quick thinking — all of the skills she needed as a competitive fencer — and how she applied them to building the innovative brand she leads today.    Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofi...

‘Yemisi Awosan is the Founder of Egunsi Foods , a ready-to-heat soup, starter, and sauce brand inspired by West African ingredients. On this episdoe of ITS, 'Yemisi tells her story and she and Ali talk about being a more private founder in the entrepreneurial world of ego and personality. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a m...

Lola Adeyemi is Founder of " It’s Souper ” a line of Afro-Fusion Soups & Sauces currently sold online and in Canada. On this episode of ITS, Lola and Ali talk about the beginning: What is it really like to go from idea to product to sales and why confidence is not about bravado but about trust in what you're building. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Su...

Gail Becker is Founder and CEO of CAULIPOWER , the powerhouse company that has become a household name in 3 years. On today's episode of ITS, Gail and Ali talk about thinking big, listening to your customers and knowing when to say "no." Listen all the way through for a surprise. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member ! I...

Armando Fuentes is a clinical psychologist who leads workshops and seminars focused on mental health, diversity, equity, and inclusion. On this episode of ITS, Armando and Ali discuss why DEI work is important, especially as early-stage companies begin to shape their values, and how to approach it. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by be...

Megan Bent is the founder of Harbinger Ventures, an investment firm specializing in early-stage consumer brands led by exceptional female or mixed-gender founding teams. On this episode of ITS, Megan and Ali talk about the state of the CPG industry and what founders in today's environment can do to build smart companies with solid fundamentals, strong voices, and clear value for consumers. Heritag...

Jamila Owens-Todd is the owner of Golden Grocer , a natural health food store in St. Louis that has served the community for 40 years. A practicing Naturopath, Jamila took the helm at Golden Grocer after years of sending her patients there, just before COVID changed everything. On this episode of ITS, Jamila tells Ali her story, the story of Golden Grocer, and how she sees her store as a force of...

John Foraker is Co-Founder and CEO of Once Upon a Farm and has spent more than 30 years in the natural and organic food industry, running businesses (Annie's for one) with a sharp focus on sustainability and social responsibility. On this episode of In the Sauce, John shares his hard-earned wisdom about the natural food industry: From mission and core consumers to dealing with grocery buyers and t...

Monisha Khushalani is CFO at Hu Products, the better for you snacks company known for their chocolate bars and hunks. On this epiosode of ITS, Monisha walks Ali through the finance piece of the puzzle: Accounting, modeling, cash flow, and more. And Monisha should know, she has led 3 companies through aquistions by the CPG "Big Guys," including Sir Kensington's sale to Unilever and Mondalez's recen...

Marissa Dobbins and Courtnie Beceiro are the General Manager and Brand Director at Haven's Kitchen. With Ali on vacation this week, the two of them take over ITS to talk about their experience leaving Fresh Direct to build a start up, their management styles, and how to work with a Founder (hint: learn how to say "no" to them...). Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast ne...

Jing Gao is the Founder of Fly by Jing , the super popular spice and condiment company on a mission to bring premium, natural, uncensored Chinese flavors to the table. On this episode of ITS, Jing tells Ali her story, and the story of Fly by Jing. They discuss Fly by Jing in the broader context of centuries of false narratives about Chinese food in the US, and how a refresh of the brand led Jing t...

Alex Center is a designer and founder of the branding company CENTER. Prior to building his own studio, Alex worked at Coca-Cola, where he became Design Director, for 11 years. On this episode of ITS, Alex and Ali talk about what makes iconic brands magical, why packaging is just one part of a larger ecosystem (hint: you must also have a great product and the people are key), and why the best bran...

Adam Brown is the Founder and CEO of Sircle Media , a Social Media Strategy Firm based in New York. On this episode of ITS, Adam and Ali cover everything Social: from channel strategy to what Adam refers to as a "360 campaign." Social, according to Adam, is a paid game, so learn the rules, figure out where the secret mushrooms are, and play. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit...

Madeline Haydon is the founder and CEO of Nutpods , the unbelievably successful dairy-free creamer that launched with a Kickstarter campaign in 2013. On this episode of ITS, Madeline tells Ali the Nutpods story, shares her lessons for building a successful business, and explains why it's so critical that we know who we are, what makes us different and how we plan on challenging the status quo. Her...

Adam Epstein is VP of Growth at Perpetua, a software company that helps brands maximize their visability (and sales!) on Amazon, Instacart, and many other e-commerce channels. On this episode of ITS, Adam walks Ali through how Perpetua works, how investing in Instacart ads early can help a brand, how to maximize Amazon ads, and the massive opportunity we're all missing if we don't think of all of...

Paul De Joe is Co-founder of MUD\WTR , a DTC coffee alternative made of functional ingredients. On this episode of ITS, Paul and Ali talk all about hiring: What to avoid, how to map out the process, and why, as Netflix says "Culture is who you let go." Hint: this is a MUST listen if you're growing your team. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The S...

Melanie Masarin is the founder of Ghia, a spirit-free aperitif designed to change the way we think about drinking and socializing. On this episode of ITS, Ali and Melanie talk about Ghia's launch this past June, the non-alc market, and how Melanie's turns at Dig Inn and Glossier informed the Ghia brand. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce...