Recipe to Revenue

🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! Jessica Khourie looked in her pantry and realized her "wellness" routine consisted entirely of lab-made pills and powders. Watching her pregnant sister force down a chalky protein bar was the final straw. Leveraging her background as a Procter & Gamble executive, Jessica launched Jova—a brand of dietitian-backed, real-fo...

🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! Many early-stage food and beverage founders treat contract manufacturing like a simple vendor transaction, but in reality, it is a critical partnership that can make or break a brand. From hidden formulation clauses to the supply chain nightmares of color-matching packaging across different materials, scaling production is filled with...

🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! Most food and beverage founders don't have a revenue problem—they have a financial structure problem. It is the ultimate paradox to look profitable on paper at tax time while constantly bleeding cash and struggling to make payroll. Licensed CPA and fractional CFO Scotty Palmer stepped into the CPG space to solve this exact issue,...

🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! What started as a nerdy Instagram message about flour-to-egg ratios quickly blossomed into a booming CPG partnership. Serial entrepreneur Sean Knecht teamed up with Top Chef alum Joe Sasto to transform a unique restaurant pop-up dish—"Pasta Nachos"—into Tantos, the market's first puffed pasta chip. ------------------ In...

🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! Struggling with chronic gut health issues like bloating and brain fog, former Stanford athlete Elan Halpern realized the grocery store yogurt she ate every day wasn't actually probiotic. Instead of settling for ineffective products, she began fermenting her own high-probiotic yogurt using supplement-grade cultures. When her sympt...

🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! When Marcel Dios faced a sudden career disruption during the WGA strike, the former filmmaker and screenwriter found an unexpected calling in the CPG world. Inspired by his Peruvian heritage and the quintessential family staple chicha morada, Marcel set out to craft a functional purple corn beverage unlike anything on store shelves: K...

🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! When Nicole Bentler acquired a 450-acre farm in the Pocono Mountains, she didn't just want to harvest maple syrup—she wanted to re-educate consumers about hydration. Combining her background in health and wellness with her family's agricultural roots, Nicole launched Pocono Mountain Farms to bring clean, mineral-rich maple w...

🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! While training for a summer marathon, Joe Rotondo found himself craving high-protein ice cream but was frustrated by the artificial, sugar-loaded options on the market. Turning to his go-to health hack, he blended cottage cheese into what would quickly become a disruptive frozen dessert: Froco by Smearcase. ------------------ In Episo...

🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! After launching his first company at age 19, Joe Oblas spent the next two decades mastering the nuances of brand development and international expansion. His expertise culminated in the launch of ProSupps, a global sports nutrition brand that took off like wildfire, leading to a major exit to private equity—and eventually, a surprisin...

🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! After years of battling metabolic issues, tech founder Salma Mendoza discovered firsthand the profound impact early nutrition has on lifelong health. When she struggled to find clean, high-quality infant formula for her own baby, she saw a glaring gap in the market—and set out to build a science-backed, premium formula brand in Mexico...

🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! For many home cooks, the idea of preparing authentic Indian food feels overwhelming and complex. Mother-daughter duo Rama and Anita decided to change that by launching SATYA Blends, a line of clean, easy-to-use spice blends that bring global flavors to everyday meals. ------------------ In Episode 63 of Recipe to Revenue, host Leah Me...

🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! After an autoimmune diagnosis forced her to drastically change her diet, finance professional Andrea Kazan found the UK baking aisle severely lacking in allergy-friendly, clean-label options. With her mother’s help, she developed a recipe that would completely revolutionize the category, leading her to found Good Mess. ---------------...

🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! Dana Koller grew up in the hospitality industry, fueling a lifelong passion for food, beverages, and community connection. After turning a two-car garage into Kaktus Brewing Company, he built a vibrant, award-winning venue in New Mexico and set his sights on an ambitious new goal: creating the world's healthiest beer. -----------...

Send us Fan Mail 🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! After studying architecture and working in his family’s firm designing natural food grocery stores, Jake Bagnall felt an itch for more creative freedom. What started as a passion project baking with the ancient grain einkorn quickly evolved into Clean Dough Co., a fast-growing, better-for-you cookie brand. -----------...

Send us Fan Mail 🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! When Hannah Awada moved to China, she expected to leave her career as a high school history teacher behind—not start a hummus business out of her kitchen window. What began as a side project serving expats quickly evolved into a fast-growing brand, leading Hannah to launch Hummus Goodness upon her return to the US. --...

Send us Fan Mail 🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! Living with severe food intolerances and IBS made dining out nearly impossible for Christina Glentis and her husband. Instead of accepting a highly restricted diet, they launched Foddies Foods to make delicious, allergy-friendly, low-FODMAP meals accessible to everyone. ------------------ In Episode 58 of Recipe to Re...

Send us Fan Mail 🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! The nightlife and entertainment industry is undergoing a massive cultural shift as more consumers embrace sober curiosity. Recognizing a glaring gap in the market for premium alcohol alternatives, John Maloney set out to create a beverage brand that challenges traditional perceptions of fun and moderation. -----------...

Send us Fan Mail 🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! Spending over 25 years as a snack innovator for some of the largest CPG companies gave Dr. Juan Salinas deep insight into the food industry. Combining his expertise in food science with his experience as a professional natural bodybuilder, he realized the market was missing a truly nutritious option and decided to lau...

Send us Fan Mail 🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! Bridging mechanical engineering, corporate finance, and operations for food industry giants gave Omar Atia a unique blueprint for modern food innovation. When he realized how difficult it was to find genuinely healthy, zero-carb foods that actually taste good, he leveraged food science, secured strategic patents, and...

Send us Fan Mail 🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! After pioneering health and wellness strategies as the first nutritionist for Starbucks, Katie Thomson became a mom and noticed a glaring problem in the baby food aisle. The market was dominated by fruit-heavy pouches that lacked balanced nutrition, prompting her to create a fresh, science-led solution for parents. --...

Send us Fan Mail 🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! The hospitality industry is experiencing a massive evolution, and navigating the post pandemic landscape requires an entirely new playbook. ------------------ In Episode 53 of Recipe to Revenue, host Leah Messina talks with Seth Alexander from Barrel Aged Management. Seth shares deep insights into how the hospitality...

Send us Fan Mail 🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! After a successful career in luxury automotive marketing, Sean Lenihan experienced a life-changing shift when he started researching the food he was feeding his family. His quest for clean, 100% grass-fed meat led him to launch his own e-commerce business and redefine transparency in the food industry. ---------------...

Send us Fan Mail 🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! After spending eight years climbing the ranks from account rep to president, Denise Ramon made the ultimate leap and bought the company. Her strategic vision involves scaling the brand through direct retail relationships and an unwavering commitment to clean-label ingredients. ------------------ In this episode of Rec...

Send us Fan Mail 🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! After a twenty-year career as an international civil servant, Cynthia Coutu faced an unexpected career crossroads at age fifty. Her solution involved pursuing her passion for wine, getting her certification, and building a boutique wine tourism company. ------------------ In this episode of Recipe to Revenue, host Lea...

Send us Fan Mail 🔔 Subscribe to this channel for exclusive content and updates! When the pandemic hit, Steven Guistolise’s Chicagoland food trailer faced an existential crisis. His solution involved moving across the country, rebranding, and building a franchise. ------------------ In this episode of Recipe to Revenue, host Leah Messina talks with Steven Guistolise, founder of Stadium on Wheels....