Nombase Podcast

Functional ingredients are everywhere, but adding a trending ingredient to a label doesn't guarantee a product that actually works—or one consumers will buy again. Philip Bromley, CEO and co-founder of Viron, and Sarah Fenn, Viron's Director of Marketing, explain the science that separates effective functional products from those that simply make functional claims. Drawing on decades of experience...

Founders are constantly told they need to build in public - but is it actually the best way to grow? In this episode of the Nombase Podcast, Nick Elliott, Founder of Esprizio, joins Sara Brooks, Co-Founder of Goldilocks, to discuss the role of founder-led content, social media, PR, and brand strategy in building a successful CPG business. You Will Learn: When building in public makes sense—and whe...

Getting onto retail shelves can feel like a big accomplishment—but what happens when strong velocity, national distribution, and real sales still don't add up to a profitable business? Lauren Chew of Love + Chew Superfood Cookies shares the story behind her decision to exit 2,500 retail doors through UNFI and KeHE—even with velocities buyers were happy with. Abby June Richards of The CPG CFO break...

As brands grow, it's easy to focus on the next retailer, the next marketing initiative, or the next distribution opportunity. But sustainable growth starts with a deeper understanding of your brand identity, who it's for, and what makes it truly different. In this episode, Eric Ramstad of Farmwell Drinks, Shaakira DeLoach of Ginja Snap, and brand strategist Kelly Criswell of Mudge to discuss how e...

Hope to see many of you at BevNET Live this week on June 10 + 11 in NYC!  And for everybody else, we'll get back to our regularly scheduled podcast next week. Thanks for being part of our community!

Getting ready for BevNet Live June 10–11 in New York City? Or on the fence? BevNet's Editor-in-Chief, Jeff Klineman, walks through a practical "how to do BevNet Live" guide — covering the agenda, key speakers, and how to make the most of every hour at the show. We cover: Tips on how to get the most out of networking, speaker presentations, 1:1 meetings with retailers and investors, and everything...

Rachel Krupa, founder of The Goods Mart, shares what emerging CPG brands can learn from small format retail, curated placements, and real shopper behavior. She also breaks down the reopening of The Goods Mart in Brooklyn, a new South Williamsburg location with double the space, expanded grab and go, frozen, pantry, beauty, home, vintage snack finds, and a front row view into what consumers actuall...

This conversation began as a Nombase webinar, and due to listener demand, we turned it into a podcast episode. In this episode, Evan Walther of Oceans walks through a discussion with Troy Bonde, co-founder and CEO of Sauz, William Hicks, CEO and co-founder of Magic Mind, and Ian Myers, founder of Oceans, on what really happens when a CPG brand moves from early traction into serious growth. They ge...

Chris Robb, founder of Supernatural Ventures and early investor in brands like Bachan's, shares how he evaluates founders before revenue, what separates breakout brands from the rest, and why most CPG companies waste money too early. You will learn: • Why unit velocity matters more than total revenue in early retail growth • How to price your first fundraising round without hurting future raises •...

OpenSky Ventures has backed brands like Fishwife, Magic Mind, and Habiza, and is actively deploying capital into the next wave of innovative businesses. They focus on brands with early traction, strong customer loyalty, and clear potential to scale into lasting, differentiated brands. In this episode, Stephanie Nwokolo Hussey, Principal at OpenSky Ventures, breaks down exactly what they look for,...

Landing a major retail account can change a brand overnight, but only if the operational foundation is ready to support it. Join Paul Verdu and Mitch Wedemeier from Octopi, a co-manufacturing partner backed by Asahi Group, to break down what really happens when brands scale into large national and club retailers.  You'll learn: • Why landing a retailer like Costco or Target often creates a 90 to 1...

Yuka is increasingly influencing what gets bought and what gets put back at shelf, with millions of consumers using it in real time while they shop. In this episode, we're joined by Gabriella Sebag-Weingrad, who leads Yuka's US business, to break down how it all works and what it means for food and beverage brands trying to stay competitive. For founders, understanding Yuka is no longer optional,...

Growth is exciting, until your operations start pushing back. Many founders try to solve this by working harder, producing more, or expanding faster. But the brands that actually scale learn a different lesson: at some point, you have to stop forcing it and start building systems that work with your business, not against it. In this Nombase podcast, Dirty Gut founder Daniel Berlin sits down with J...

After raising capital, most founders feel like they have finally unlocked the ability to grow. But what you do next can determine whether that capital creates momentum or quietly sets your business back. In this episode, Day Out Snacks founder Becky Pleat sits down with Phil Trowler, former finance lead at Olipop, to discuss the specifics on how early stage CPG brands should actually think about d...

Building a great product is not enough, especially in a category that actively works against you. In this episode, Ayeshah Abuelhiga of Mason Dixie joins Hey! Hunger's Shireen Khera to talk about what it actually takes to win in one of the toughest environments in grocery. From getting customers to physically find your product to navigating low awareness, inconsistent merchandising, and long repur...

Expanding beyond the US is one of the biggest growth opportunities for CPG brands, and one of the easiest ways to get wrong. In this episode, Ruth Fittock, managing partner of Tomorrow Brands, breaks down what it actually takes to launch successfully in the UK, a market worth billions in annual food and beverage sales. Drawing on experience with brands like Vitamin Water, PopChips, and Harmless Ha...

Expo West is a massive event, and it can take weeks to fully process what you saw and what it actually means. There is a lot of noise, but if you look closely, the real signals start to emerge and point to where the industry is headed next. In this episode, we sit down with Sherry Frey of NielsenIQ to make sense of it all through the lens of real consumer data. We break down what is really happeni...

In today's CPG landscape, profitability isn't always the first milestone founders should focus on. As capital markets and deal structures, investors and acquirers are often looking for something earlier in a brand's lifecycle: clear product market fit, strong velocity, and the potential to scale efficiently. In this episode, Ryan Williams, founder of Northall and creator of the Fabid deal database...

Expo West 2026 is here and the BevNET and NOSH team is sharing what's at the top of their hit list. Managing editors Martín Caballero and Monica Watrous break down the biggest trends they expect to see on the show floor, from protein and fiber trends, to seed oil free formulations, regenerative ingredients, functional fatigue, GLP-1 friendly products, nostalgic flavors, and more. Can't wait to see...

What happens when three CPG investors decide to build a brand themselves? Kiva Dickinson of Selva Ventures joins fellow cadootz! cofounders Jordan Carpenter and Rachel Mansfield, all seasoned CPG investors, with Rachel also bringing her perspective as a leading creator, to share how experienced industry insiders launch differently. They break down how they defined their non negotiables before form...

Ultra-processed foods are facing growing pressure from policymakers, retailers, and consumers who are rethinking what belongs on shelf and in their carts. In this episode, Bill Creelman, Founder of Spindrift, and Megan Westgate, Founder of the Non-UPF Verified program and the Non GMO Project, discuss a new certification designed to evaluate both ingredient integrity and how products are actually m...

You may have a winning beverage you perfected in your kitchen or sell at the farmer's market, but it's a long road to making it work at scale. In this episode, MSI Express leaders Chuck Woods and Greg Schildmeyer share what it really takes to turn a bold idea into a profitable, manufacturable product. They'll reveal how to avoid costly formulation and packaging mistakes, when to consider formats l...

Health is no longer just a marketing claim. It is becoming part of how retailers evaluate products, guide shoppers, and shape category growth. Kroger's rollout of a new health scoring system powered by FoodHealth reflects this shift. In this episode, Laura Brown, Director of Nutrition at Kroger, and Sam Citro Alexander, founder of FoodHealth, break down how the system works, why Kroger adopted it,...

If you spend tens of thousands of dollars to exhibit to be at Expo West but get swallowed up by the noise, was it even worth being there at all? In this episode, Marty Caballero and Mike Schneider from BevNET CPG Media talk about why some brands leave Expo West with real momentum while others quietly fade into the background. They break down how media coverage is planned, why timing matters, what...

Supply chains continue to be unpredictable post-pandemic due to tariffs, environmental factors, and ongoing global trade volatility. Costs shift quickly, availability can tighten without warning, and decisions that feel like they should be routine carry real risk for food and beverage brands. Hear the inside scoop on what's happening and how to secure your supply chain with Beth Brown, David van W...