In this episode, I'm joined by Celena Ruiz, Category Manager at Fresh Thyme Market, where she oversees the poultry and seafood departments and plays a key role in bringing fresh, innovative products to shelves. Celena is passionate about supporting local businesses and helping emerging brands succeed in a competitive retail environment.
We dive into what category managers look for when evaluating new brands, how Fresh Thyme Market approaches innovation and differentiation.
How Celena's passion for local shapes her work as a category manager
What founders need to know to stand out when pitching retail buyers
Advice for emerging brands navigating early retail partnerships and growth
Hummingbirds is a platform that connects everyday, smaller creators with brands to share in-store user-generated content, drive brand awareness in specific retailers, and capture competitive market share. They're an awesome platform that I recommend to all my clients that you should absolutely check out. Go to hummingbirds.com for all the details.
