The Food Means Business Podcast

Cameron McCarthy is currently the CEO and Co-founder of WeStock, a Techstars-backed company that makes it easy for shoppers to vote for products they want to see in stores. The company has continued to grow since launching in 2019 and now has over 550 brands and 120,000 shoppers using the platform. Cameron was previously the sales director for Delighted By Hummus, where he grew the brand to over 7...

Sarah Delevan is the host of The Good Food CFO Podcast and the founder of Sarah Delevan Consulting, a Financial Consulting Firm helping mission-driven food business owners achieve financial sustainability and profitability without compromising their values. Sarah's background in Operations Management and Finance, and her experience as a Good Food Business Owner and Specialty Buyer inform her uniqu...

Vanessa is the CEO and co-founder of Omsom, the daughter of Vietnamese refugees, and a Bain & Company and Harvard alum. At Bain & Company, she advised Fortune 500 CPGs on their growth and retail strategy as a management consultant. Outside of Omsom, Vanessa speaks on entrepreneurship and heart-forward leadership at organizations like General Mills and Pepsi, mentors BIPOC founders, and fin...

After working for some of the largest household names in beauty Karina started The Avana House in 2018 in hopes to create an agency that better advocated for the representation of diverse backgrounds and innovative ideas in media. Working to redefine the American palette and celebrate heritage-inspired foods is also a large part of Karina’s mission. To further support this work, she recently Co-fo...

Jess Berger is a first-generation American Latina, and the founder and CEO of Bundle x Joy (Bundle and Joy). Jess has spent the last 15 years in the pet industry, gaining industry-leading experience with leadership roles at companies like PetSmart and Nestle Purina. In 2018, Jess launched her first venture as an entrepreneur with Accelerate Retail Partners, building private label pet brands for na...

Ryan Pintado-Vertner is a Chicago-based Activist and Strategic Marketing Impact Expert with two decades of experience guiding Fortune-level brands, building startups, and leading nonprofit organizations.  Ryan believes it's not enough to create yet another brand in the marketplace, we have to go beyond the basics to create brands with empathy, purpose and vision -- brands that will bring more just...

Dawn Pascale, owner and creative mind behind Om Sweet Home, has always enjoyed making decadent treats for family and friends with the most wholesome, healthy ingredients. From a very early age, she was always passionate about cooking and baking. After 20+ years as an HR Professional, Dawn decided to pursue her passion full-time. And in February 2013, she signed up for the Natural Gourmet Institute...

Sandra Velasquez is the founder of Nopalera, a Mexican Botanical Bath & Body line based in New York City that is currently sold in Nordstrom, Credo Beauty, Free People, and over 300 independent retailers nationwide. Prior to launching her company, Velasquez worked as a sales & distribution manager for several CPG brands across multiple categories including food.  Sandra also works as a men...

Alli Ball is the founder & CEO of Food Biz Wiz, Inc. and the creator of Retail Ready® , an online course, coaching & community for producers of packaged product in the food industry. As a former grocery buyer-turned-wholesale consultant, Alli has helped thousands of emerging brands understand what it takes to get their products on the retail shelf- and keep them there. During our 2nd episo...

Once upon time, Alak Vasa was a Wall Street trader. Everything was going well, but there was one problem, she was missing a sense of purpose . So without much of a plan, Alak gave in to her inner voice, quit her job, and eventually launched Elements Truffles, a food business rooted in her authentic Indian heritage and passion for fine chocolate. Connect with Alak: Instagram: @elementstruffles Webs...

The Food Means Business Podcast features personal stories and “secret ingredients” behind what it's like to abandon your day job to start a food business. Join host, Djenaba Johnson-Jones , former marketing executive turned entrepreneur and founder of food business incubator, Hudson Kitchen each week as she interviews fellow food business owners and subject matter experts about their transition fr...