• Brandon Milbradt, Founder Eat Gold Organics
    Nov 21 2024

    Eat Gold Organics founder Brandon Milbradt, combines her passion for storytelling and wellness to create chocolate bars that blend science and enchantment.

    Drawing from her personal experiences and commitment to functional foods, she has crafted plant-based chocolate infused with adaptogens, mushrooms, and nootropics, designed to nourish both body and mind. Collaborating with experts in nutrition, ethnobotany, and award-winning chocolatiers, Brandon ensures every bar is a balance of flavor, health, and sustainability. Her mission is rooted in authenticity and a love for the planet, creating indulgent, healing chocolate that spreads joy and well-being to all.

    On this episode, Brandon takes us behind the scenes of how she bootstrapped the brand, selling in 200+ retail shops, and real talk about fundraising. Such an honest conversation of what it’s like to be a single working parent building a new brand at the same time!

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    30 mins
  • Jessica Rubino, VP Content & Summits New Hope Network
    Nov 12 2024

    As vice president of content and summits at New Hope Network (the team behind Expo West, Newtopia Now & more!), Jessica brings over 17 years of experience in the CPG industry, specializing in content, events and community experiences. Her career is dedicated to crafting strategic, innovative solutions that empower retailers, brands, investors and service providers across the CPG ecosystem. Driven by a commitment to using business as a force for good, Jessica believes that a thriving industry fuels positive change—benefiting communities, economies and lives everywhere. Outside of work, she can be found running (slowly), baking (messily) and enjoying her beautiful home state of Colorado.

    Learn CPG trends and brand launches that are on Jessica’s rador and upcoming summits!

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    22 mins
  • Adrienne DeLisio, Executive Director Naturally New York
    Nov 9 2024

    Adrienne DeLisio is the Executive Director of Naturally New York, where she leads initiatives to foster sustainable business practices, drive conscious growth, support entrepreneurship, and nurture leadership within the Greater New York natural products community. With over 20 years of experience in brand marketing, Adrienne has a proven track record of building high-impact partnerships and executing collaborative brand initiatives that achieve strategic audience growth.

    Prior to her role at Naturally New York, Adrienne served as the Events and Partnerships Manager at ForceBrands, where she developed and executed event marketing strategies that engaged targeted audiences and built brand awareness. Her exceptional networking skills allowed her to create impactful industry and consumer events, enhancing connections between brands and their audiences.

    Adrienne's passion for brand building and commitment to community engagement continues to make her a key contributor to the industry.

    Learn more about the impactful work happening at Naturally New York for CPG brand founders!

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    15 mins
  • Sophia Cheng, Founder & CEO Oddball
    Nov 9 2024

    Sophia Cheng grew up in Singapore and Hong Kong and started her career in management consulting. After looking for products that remind her of home, she founded Oddball.

    Oddball is a plant-based jelly snack. It doesn't use gelatin but instead uses agar agar which is what is traditionally used in Asian cooking. Oddball have 4 flavors available - Double Berry, Mango, Grapefruit, Grape - are all inspired by Sophia’s childhood.

    Sophia takes us behind the brand of her upcoming launch!

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    23 mins
  • Damian Primis, Founder Primis Imports
    Nov 9 2024

    Primis Imports was created with the intention of providing the highest quality early harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oils and premier food items from Greece and beyond. Connecting to his Greek roots, Damian Primis founded the brand in 2022. It was during the pandemic where is career in music was on pause with Broadway shows and tours being cancelled. Damian decided to experiment in CPG.

    You can now find Primis Imports at the current rotation at Pop Up Grocer, The Goods Mart, and lots of cool shops.

    Damian shares the behind the scenes of launching his new everyday olive oil, what to look for while tasting olive oil, harvest dates, and more!

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    18 mins
  • Megan Pruett, Founder & CEO For The Love Of
    Nov 9 2024

    With an extensive background in brand marketing, working at Snap Inc., Intuit, and Publicis Groupe, Megan Pruett took her newfound sobriety and transformed it into a business that is on its way to revolutionize the non-alcoholic industry.

    For The Love Of is a premium alcohol-removed wine company. Our brand was designed for all wine lovers who are intoxicated by the rich flavors, earthy aromas, and delicate textures of wine for one reason and one reason only—the love of it.

    Learn about the unique wine process of For The Love Of and how Megan is preparing to launch!

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    34 mins
  • Veronica Panzardi, Founder edggies
    Nov 9 2024

    Veronica Panzardi is a recovering IBanker, who would rather do anything than have a mediocre meal. Veronica is the founder of Edggies, the easiest way to eat your veggies.

    Edggies are air dried veggie sprinkles that help busy people eat healthier, making adding nutrition as easy as sprinkling salt. Edggies delivers a portable, shelf stable, and flavor neutral solution.

    Veronica is an Argentine American founder with a cofounder/poodle, named Mortadella. She takes us behind the scenes of her upcoming launch!

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    19 mins
  • Berk Bahceci, Founder & CEO Heraclea
    Nov 8 2024

    Berk Bahceci founded Heraclea olive oil, known for its beautiful packaging of Turkish olive oil and bringing awareness on how to make olive oil more sustainable w/ fair-trade principles. He had a major career pivot story as he went from graduating law school to quitting being a lawyer his first year to turn his family's olive grove into an entrepreneurial business with his now wife. The branding elements of Heraclea were very important to Berk as he wants to educate American consumers on high-quality Turkish olive oil and have packaging that stands out among Spanish and Italian olive oils.

    He brings us behind the scenes of building Heraclea from the ground up. From farming, harvesting, bottling, and fair-trade practices, Berk shares it all!

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    21 mins