Road 2 Retail

Episode # 114 Today we speak with David Simnick, the cofounder and CEO of the mission driven personal care brand- Soapbox. David and his team have been building Soapbox for over a dozen years. He candidly shares the highs and lows of starting and running an emerging brand and how the team's desire to 'give back' led to their mission to provide personal cleansing products to those in ne...

Episode # 113. On today’s episode the Road 2 Retail team speaks with Kate LaBrosse from the Naturally Network. Kate shares great insight from her vast experience in the natural channel. Give us a follow-on LinkedIn. Learn more at https://www.road2retail.com. Please follow the Road 2 Retail podcast at: Apple podcasts-https://lnkd.in/gs3BfXbdSpotify- https://lnkd.in/ewWcnYpY YouTube channel- https:/...

Episode # 112 Our guest on today's show is Patty Post - Founder and CEO of the at home medical testing firm Checkable. Patty shares her story (and determination!) of working with subject matter experts and the regulatory authorities to bring an at home Strep Test to market. Please follow the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts- https://lnkd.in/gs3BfXbd Spotify- https://lnkd.in/ewWcnYpY or...

Episode # 111. On today's episode we spend time with Nick McCoy- Cofounder and Managing Director at Whipstitch Capital. Nick and the Whipstitch Capital team have completed over 170 transactions since 2004 and have worked with both long-established brands as well as becoming a 'go to' investment bank for emerging brands looking to grow or transact. Nick shares his views on emerging bran...

Episode #110 Our guest on today's show is Marie Mount - Senior Director of Marketing for the SneakPeek gender reveal brand. Marie takes us through how the team at SneakPeek has taken the brand from DTC into retail and how they have used insights from consumers, retailers and their agencies to position the brand for continued growth. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcas...

Episode # 109. Our guest on the show today is John Pearson - CEO of Navage. John walks us through the team's disciplined approach to growth, their commitment to solving consumer problems, and working with investors. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. Follow on Sp...

Episode # 108. On today’s episode of the Road 2 Retail podcast, the team provides a recap of The Fancy Food show that occurred on June 29th through July 1 in New York City. The team discusses trends, new brands at the show, and the educational programs the Specialty Food Association offers to members. Please follow the Road 2 Retail podcast on Apple podcasts [insert link], Spotify [insert link], o...

Episode # 107. Today's guest is Todd Matherly - Executive Vice President of Market Performance Group. Todd talks to us today about MPG's new initiative to help emerging brands achieve business success across all channels and disciplines of commercial operations. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on Linked...

Episode # 106. Today's guest on the Road 2 Retail podcast is Charles Miller - President & CEO of Persuadable Research. Charles takes us through the types of foundational research an emerging brand should execute in order to give themselves the greatest chance at success. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow...

Episode # 105. On today's Road 2 Retail podcast we are joined by Jackie Bae - Director of Client Success at LUNR Capital. Jackie discusses the core inventory financing service her firm offers and how it helps emerging brands fund their inventory while allowing their clients to hold on to cash to execute demand creating programs. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts,...

Episode # 104. Today, our guest is Greg Esslinger, former SRM (Buyer) at UNFI. Greg discusses what it takes for a small/emerging brand to work with large distributors such as UNFI and KeHE as well as what he looked for in a brand and what he expected of them. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or on our YouTube channel. Plus, give us a follow-on LinkedIn. Lea...

Episode # 103. Today we speak with Maggie Olczyk - Founder of Avi Foods. Maggie talks to us today about the origin story of her brand which started when she searched for healthy, good tasting foods that would help her parents with their medical condition. Aside from building her brand- Maggie's other job is a commercial airline pilot flying 757 & 767 jets. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Re...

Episode # 102. Today, our guest is Jake Nelson, General Manager at ZT Distribution. Jake discusses what it takes for a small/emerging brand to work with a regional distributor and what he looks for and requires to work with a brand. Jake also discusses what services a regional distributor provides to a small/emerging brand. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast on Apple podcasts, Spotify,...

Episode # 101. Today the Road 2 Retail team discusses how a Key Account manager, or really any Sales professional, can position themselves to be a high value supplier in the eyes of their retail account. Sales is a profession with a great deal of pressure and responsibilities for the company they work for. Based on our 30+ years in CPG- we share what we believe are some "best practices"...

Episode # 100. On today's show we are joined by Scott Emerson - Founder of The Emerson Group: A Consumer Products Equity Organization. Scott and his team have paved the Road 2 Retail for many, many brands over the years. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. Today w...

Episode # 99. Today our guest is George Brown - Vice President of AcuPoll Precision Research. George takes us through the importance of concept testing, the research an emerging brand really should execute to build their business off of a firm base of understanding, and the research findings a retailer will find informative when considering taking your brand into distribution. Please subscribe to...

Episode # 98. Today we visit with Paul Vraciu - CEO of the hydration product, Salt Stick. Paul walks us through the history of Salt Stick- which started as a product for runners and bikers needing effective hydration before and during their activity and has now evolved via their innovative FastChews product. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube ch...

Episode # 97. Today the Road 2 Retail team provides a recap of the 2025 NACDS Annual meeting which took place at The Breakers in Palm Beach, FL April 26-29. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. Observations from the meeting include: - What is this meeting? Who attends?...

Episode # 96. Our guest on today's show is Brooks Powell - the Founder & CEO of Cheers Health. A high energy discussion around the genesis of the Cheers brand and the unique way Brooks and his team drive growth. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. We cover man...

Episode # 95. On today's show we speak with Dan Frieber - the Founder & CEO of Tango Chile Sauce. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. Dan shares the unique origin story of his brand- from his grandmother's recipe to its launch in local bodegas and street f...

Episode # 94. On today's show we spend time with Jason Paulus- the Founder & CEO of the emerging brand: Acid Rain Water. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. Jason Paulus shares his backstory on how Acid Rain Water went from an idea to a product following Jason...

Episode # 93. On today's show we are joined by Roberta Townes - Senior Category Merchant at GNC. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. Roberta shares with us the role emerging brands play at GNC and what she looks for in these brands. Specific discussion points cove...

Episode # 92. Today we speak with RJ Talyor - Founder of the unique, tech enabled email marketing firm: Backstroke. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. RJ Talyor speaks to us with specifics about how email marketing can help drive the business for emerging brands whil...

Episode # 90. On today's show we speak with Dr. Alexandra Sowa. Author of the book The Ozempic Revolution and founder of the brand SoWell Health. Please subscribe to the Road 2 Retail podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify or our YouTube channel. Plus- give us a follow on LinkedIn. Learn more at www.road2retail.com. Dr. Alexandra Sowa shares her expertise on how GLP-1 drugs work, what your body needs...

Episode#  90.  Today the Road 2 Retail team shares our observations fromattending the Consumer Healthcare Products Association Self-Care LeadershipSummit (SLS) earlier this week in San Antonio, Texas.  The ConsumerHealthcare Products Association does a fantastic job representing theinterests of members and consumers by advocating for access, innovation, andaffordability of self-care products in an...