Djenaba Johnson-Jones - Podcast Details

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Essential Ingredients Podcast036: The Secret Ingredient to Food Biz Success: A Shared Kitchen with a Side of Networking with Djenaba Johnson-JonesThe Secret Ingredient to Food Biz Success: A Shared Kitchen with a Side of Networking with Djenaba Johnson-Jones Founder Resource Series Episode Description: “I wanted something that I could call my own and not have to answer to anyone. We asked ourselves what we want for our future and we wanted to launch this business.” —Djenaba Johnson-Jones Shared kitchens are more than just a place to cook - they're hubs of innovation, collaboration, and growth for food entrepreneurs. By tapping into a community of like-minded innovators...2025-03-1323 min

The Food Means Business PodcastHow Strong Partnerships Built Avsome Brand with Coby FarrowCoby Farrow didn’t set out to launch a beverage brand. But when a restaurant concept he was working on fell through, he couldn’t shake the idea of turning avocado seed tea into something bigger.What started as a kitchen experiment quickly became a crash course in CPG, with plenty of hurdles along the way, as Coby embarked on a years-long journey to establish Avsome Brand.In this episode, Coby shares how he navigated the challenges of formulation, why partnerships have made all the difference, and why slow growth is sometimes the smartest path. If yo...2025-01-2929 min

The Food Means Business PodcastRewriting the Rules of Social Drinking with JW Wiseman of Curious ElixirsJW Wiseman started his career in marketing and not specifically in the food industry. But that didn’t stop when he decided to branch out into the CPG industry via non-alcoholic cocktails. After years in the corporate world and seeing how alcohol was embedded into networking and socializing in the sphere, he wanted an alternative, and one that used better ingredients than what he could find on the market at the time.Enter: Curious Elixirs, a booze-free cocktail company whose mission it is to redefine how society drinks socially by providing healthy adult beverages that taste great an...2025-01-2226 min

The Food Means Business PodcastUsing Influencers to Help Build Awareness for Your CPG Brand With Mike CurrieWhen you’re starting out creating a CPG brand, one of the most challenging aspects can be simply getting eyes on your product. It’s hard to sell when no one knows you exist, and it’s also hard to create an audience from scratch. But what if you could borrow someone else’s audience to jump start the process?In this episode, Mike Currie, fractional CMO and marketing advisor, is here to break down how to get started with influencer marketing. He’s sharing what influencer marketing actually is, why you might want to use it, and how yo...2024-12-1829 min

The Food Means Business PodcastAllergen-Free and Kid-Approved: How Happy Wolf is Revolutionizing Kid’s Snacks with Jana GoodbaumJana didn’t necessarily plan to start a CPG business… she just wanted better snacks for her kids that they would actually eat. But after struggling to find the products that would work for her family, she turned to making her own, first in the kitchen at home and then eventually through her company, Happy Wolf, a snack bar company using allergen-free and no sugar added ingredients.Despite all her marketing research and experience, Jana admits that she was still naive about all the aspects that come along with building a CPG company. So in this...2024-12-1134 min

The Food Means Business PodcastMixing Family and Business: How Poppa’s Custard Built Their Business on a Solid Foundation with Josh JohnsonAt the beginning of his career, Josh Johnson didn’t plan on starting a CPG company with his wife and sister, but now that he’s here, he wouldn’t have it any other way. While business and family might be a volatile mix for some, but when it comes to the Poppa’s Custard Company, that’s part of the magic. In this episode, Josh Joshson joins me to share how he planned out his transition from corporate to a custard company, how he’s created a business with the people he loves most, how they structured th...2024-12-0436 min

The Food Means Business PodcastFrom Sourcing to Shelves: How You Can Build a Resilient CPG Supply Chain with Eran Mizrahi of Ingredient BrothersWhen it comes to creating amazing CPG products, one often overlooked aspect is the difficulty of actually sourcing the necessary ingredients, especially if they are specialty. And that’s where Ingredient Brothers comes in.In this episode, Eran Mizrahi, co-founder of Ingredient Brothers, is here to break down supply chain logistics for us. He’s sharing the importance of having company partners you trust, why you need to build relationships in the food industry, and how he helps founders solve supply chain problems. If you’ve wondered how to create steady supply chains, this is one con...2024-11-2722 min

The Food Means Business PodcastMaking It to Market: Why Good Logistics Is Essential for Your Bottom Line with Andrew LynchYou can make an amazing product, start the best marketing campaign, and partner with national chains… But if your product doesn’t make it to the stores, or more importantly, your end user, none of that actually matters.In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Andrew Lynch of Zipline Logistics on why young CPG brands shouldn’t overlook the logistical aspects of their business. Andrew shares how he got his start in logistics, what it really means to businesses, how it affects their bottom line, and why it might be worth getting support from a partner like Zipli...2024-11-2025 min

The Food Means Business PodcastFinding the Right Partners: Building a Strong Foundation For Your CPG Brand with Alison SeibertWhen it comes to PR and marketing for CPG brands, good design and strategic plans are important… But what if you could spread the word about your product through authentic relationships with partners who are just as enthusiastic about your product as you are?In today’s episode, I’m joined by Alison Seibert, founder of The James Collective, to talk about her unique approach to building relationships and building the foundations for a long-lasting CPG brand. She shares how she thinks about PR, marketing, and communication from a CPG perspective, the importance of understanding both yo...2024-11-1331 min

The Food Means Business PodcastRaising Capital and Scaling a Mushroom-Powered Energy Brand with Scott Frohman of OdysseyScott Frohman grew up washing cars door to door before he could even drive. Even as an adult in a corporate career, he couldn’t quash his entrepreneurial spirit. But he also wanted to do something sustainable for his own energy, the environment, and for his larger community. So when he discovered mushroom powders that gave him energy without the jitters nearly a decade ago, he knew he had to create something with them. Fast forward a few years and Odyssey, his company that creates mushroom infused energy drinks, is growing steadily and spreading across the country.2024-11-0638 min

The Food Means Business PodcastThe Art of Hiring: Strategies for Finding and Developing the Right Talent with Ariana RuizAriana Ruiz, a former corporate talent acquisition specialist, loved her career at Whole Foods and other start-ups, but eventually, motherhood pushed her to step back from the corporate world and into entrepreneurship. Now, she helps other small businesses hire and develop passionate employees so both the businesses and individuals can grow and thrive.In this episode, she breaks down her top three tips for finding and developing the right talent, and why taking your time to find the perfect fit is worth it. She also gets real about why your core values should guide your business decisions—an...2024-10-3024 min

The Food Means Business PodcastCrafting Stories That Connect: How to Tell Your Audience a Story They Won’t Forget with Justine Reichman of NextGen PurposeJustine Reichman, founder of NextGen Purpose, has entrepreneurship in her DNA. And today, she’s here to chat about those roots and how they cross over with her love of food and cooking. In this episode, Justine explains how NextGen Purpose is helping CPG and food startups craft authentic stories that resonate with their target audience. She shares her best advice on building sustainable businesses and also discusses the power of storytelling and how true connection can propel your business forward.For anyone building a food brand and looking to learn from the best, this epi...2024-10-2321 min

The Food Means Business Podcast{REPLAY} The Power of Persistence: How Bruno LeGreco Keeps The Biscotti Company GrowingBruno LeGreco is never one to sit still. Having gone through several career iterations earlier in life, he was ready to go all in once he started The Biscotti Company four years ago. But there’s nothing easy about food entrepreneurship, and Bruno’s sharing lessons he’s learned along the way.In today’s episode, Bruno tells the story of how he founded The Biscotti Company, the disciplined and persistent method he used to ensure sales growth for his company, and the never-ending navigation of finances (including a lesson learned the hard way.) Bruno has such...2024-10-0934 min

The Food Means Business PodcastBuilding Brooklyn Delhi on Her Own Terms with Chitra AgrawalIn entrepreneurship, it’s not uncommon to hear stories of meteoric success, founders looking for investors of all kinds, and businesses trying to expand as quickly as possible to take up market share. And there’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s not the kind of entrepreneur that Chitra Agrawal is.Chitra is the founder of Brooklyn Delhi, and she’ll be the first to tell you that she’s very risk averse, that she didn’t want to grow too fast, and that she doesn’t want any investor money (at least at this point.) And yet, she’s...2024-09-1828 min

The Food Means Business PodcastGrowing Slowly: How Maura Duggan Has Scaled Fancypants Baking Co. Over Two DecadesWhen Maura Duggan started Fancypants Baking Co. two decades ago, it was just her, baking decorative cookies in her kitchen in Massachusetts. Twenty years later, Maura’s family has grown and changed… and so has her business.In this episode, Maura is sharing how her company slowly grew into a national brand, what she’s learned in every step of expanding her business, and how she eventually decided that it was time to move to premium CPG cookies over decorated baked goods.Maura is super open and honest, and you’re going to get so many gre...2024-09-1131 min

The Food Means Business PodcastThe Power of Persistence: How Bruno LeGreco Keeps The Biscotti Company GrowingBruno LeGreco is never one to sit still. Having gone through several career iterations earlier in life, he was ready to go all in once he started The Biscotti Company four years ago. But there’s nothing easy about food entrepreneurship, and Bruno’s sharing lessons he’s learned along the way.In today’s episode, Bruno tells the story of how he founded The Biscotti Company, the disciplined and persistent method he used to ensure sales growth for his company, and the never-ending navigation of finances (including a lesson learned the hard way.) Bruno has such...2024-09-0434 min

The Food Means Business PodcastFor the Love of Food: How An Engineer Became a Food Entrepreneur with Myles PowellFrom the very beginning, Myles Powell has loved food. But STEM felt more practical than going to culinary school, so Myles became an engineer. His love of food and cooking never diminished though, so while working a full-time engineering job, Myles built his CPG company on evenings and weekends, and nearly a decade later, Myles Comfort Foods is still growing.In this episode, Myles Powell of Myles Comfort Foods shares his origin story–including a short stint on a cooking competition show, why he went back to work after initially quitting his full-time job while building his CP...2024-08-2824 min

The Food Means Business PodcastMore Than Just a Product: How Equitea is Supporting Community and Self-Care with Quentin VennieQuentin Vennie has always felt the call to be a person of service, whether as a personal trainer, a nonprofit leader, or most recently, as the mission-focused entrepreneur and founder of Equitea. Today on the podcast, Quentin is sharing how he transitioned from the nonprofit world to starting Equitea, how he founded the company with the ideals of equity, community, and self-care in mind, how his own experiences with mental health influenced the company, and how he’s moved forward even in the face of personal tragedy.If you’re a CPG entrepreneur who is tryin...2024-08-2135 min

The Food Means Business PodcastPassion, Sacrifice, and What You Really Need to Succeed as a CPG Entrepreneur with Dom CrockettDom Crockett is making waves with a CPG product containing organ meat (something that most Americans don’t traditionally eat.) That might sound like a liability for some companies, but Dom has built a market, an audience, and is on a trajectory to keep growing. And he’s done it all without venture funding.Today on the podcast, Dom is sharing his unconventional start-up advice, the sacrifices he’s made to create Mighty Meats, and some pretty basic business advice that many, many entrepreneurs forget. If you’re considering starting a CPG compa...2024-08-1430 min

The Food Means Business PodcastUplifting Black-Owned Businesses and Revolutionizing the Farmer’s Market with Kara Still and Carmen Dianne of Prosperity MarketIn 2020, Kara Still and Carmen Dianne were outside hiking, doing whatever they could to stay busy and lamenting the closure of so many Black-owned businesses during the pandemic. From those conversations and a deep passion to support and uplift Black-owned businesses and farmers, Prosperity Market was born.In today’s episode, Kara and Carmen share their Prosperity Market origin story, including the variety of support systems they used to get their business off the ground. They also share why they are so passionate about Black-owned businesses and farms, how they’ve been able to keep a stream of b...2024-08-0733 min

The Food Means Business PodcastPositioning Your CPG Product in a Crowded Marketplace with Kara RubinKara Rubin has spent her career championing thousands of better for you brands. During this conversation, she shares her journey in the food business including: leading the Northeast Region Grocery division of Whole Foods and managing brand and product strategy for Just Water. Kara also talks about her current role as CPG advisor for JPG Resources and as co-founder of Makor Partners as well as gives advice to emerging and established brands on how to create and maintain a strong foundation. In this episode, you’ll learn: The universe’s role in the trajectory of her career i...2024-04-0327 min

The Food Means Business PodcastFrom Reality TV Star to Launching an Innovative CPG Food Product with Lauryn BoddenWhat happens when you step out of your comfort zone? If you are Lauryn Bodden, you win a Netflix reality cooking competition and launch a new food brand.In this conversation, Lauryn shares how her turn as a reluctant reality tv star inspired her to launch an innovative CPG food product. She discusses starting her snack brand, S’NOODS and the challenges that she faced along the way. Lauryn also emphasizes the importance of finding a supportive community of fellow founders and how seeking advice from experienced individuals has been invaluable during her entrepreneurial journey. 2024-03-2724 min

The Food Means Business Podcast{REPLAY} From Home Kitchen to a Nationwide Brand: Get Gluten-Free Sourdough Products Delivered Right to Your Doorstep With Sadie SchefferThink quality bread is off the menu? Think again! Now, you can get gluten-free sourdough products delivered right to your doorstep.In this episode, I’m joined by Sadie Scheffer, the founder of Bread SRSLY — a business born of a college crush and shared gluten intolerance. Hear the story of how Sadie leveraged the growing nationwide demand for healthier and more accessible food options to grow her business into what it is today. Topics range from the early days of Bread SRSLY to Sadie’s adjacent business ventures into coaching and motivational speaking. Whether you practic...2024-03-2025 min

The Food Means Business Podcast{REPLAY} Launching Your First Food Product and Strategies for Success in Entrepreneurship With Crystal UngHave you ever dreamed of bringing your very own food product to market? The path to doing so isn’t always clear, and many would-be entrepreneurs might wonder how to take the first step. From research and development, to marketing and distribution, there are no shortage of factors to consider!In this episode, Crystal Ung, founder of Bowlcut, shares her transition from the corporate world to entrepreneurship and how growing up in the restaurant industry helped to inform her journey. You’ll hear, from start to finish, how she was able to transform traditional Asian sauces into heal...2024-03-1324 min

The Food Means Business PodcastEntrepreneurship and Gratitude with Djenaba Johnson-JonesIn this solo episode, host Djenaba Johnson-Jones shares her experience with practicing gratitude and the positive impact it has had on her business, Hudson Kitchen. She discusses starting a gratitude journal and the therapeutic benefits it provides. In this episode, you will learn…The role gratitude plays in the Law of AttractionDjenaba’s gratitude for the Hudson Kitchen community membersWhy she sleeps well at nightDjenaba’s joy of hosting in-person events and upcoming virtual events that you can register forHer love of the work that she does with food entrepreneursTo get more Food Bu...2024-02-2806 min

The Food Means Business PodcastHow to Get Your Food Product into Thrive Market with Jason BidartIn this episode, Jason Bedart, the Vice President of Merchandising for Food at Thrive Market discusses his career trajectory in the supermarket industry and his current role at Thrive Market. He shares how Thrive Market is structured and its mission to make healthy, sustainable living affordable and accessible. Jason shares insights into the evaluation process for brands and products, as well as the timeline for launching new products on the platform. He also touches on self-care, his love of all things Taylor Swift, and celebrates his amazing #foodfam. In this episode, you will learn…Jason’s decis...2024-02-2126 min

The Food Means Business PodcastMaking the Transition from Olympian to Food Entrepreneur and Advice for New CPG businesses with Kris BuchananIn this episode, Kris Buchanan, a former Olympian and founder of nature inspired, organic food and beverage brand, GOODONYA, shares her journey from being an athlete to launching a CPG company. She discusses the challenges that she faced with product development, the importance of understanding the CPG industry, and what it takes to launch your product in a crowded marketplace. Kris also highlights the need for unique and well-packaged products in the competitive food industry. She emphasizes the importance of quality ingredients and the impact of food on our health. Kris shares her self-care practices and t...2024-02-1227 min

The Food Means Business PodcastThe Power of Partnership: Building Successful CPG Investor Relationships with Melissa FacchinaIn this episode, I’m joined by Melissa Facchina, co-founder of Siddhi Capital, who shares her journey of working with CPG brands and transitioning into investment. She emphasizes the importance of choosing the right business partner and aligning core values. Melissa discusses her criteria for partnering and investing in CPG businesses, highlights the changing landscape of investment, and offers advice for founders. We also discuss Melissa’s approach to personal wellness and self-care and the significance of prioritizing health and wellbeing in order to effectively manage mental and emotional stress. And Melissa reflects on pushing her personal bound...2024-02-0743 min

The Food Means Business PodcastBONUS: Guided Meditation with Emily PoganyJoin Emily Pogany, Reiki master, holistic healer, and founder of Masah, a line of plant-based caramels infused with essential oils and charged with Reiki energy to balance and support each of the seven chakras for a short, guided mediation.To get more Food Business Bites right in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter at thehudsonkitchen.com.2024-01-3109 min

The Food Means Business PodcastDeveloping a Wellness Brand That Satisfies Your Sweet Tooth with Emily PoganyIn this episode, I’m chatting with Emily Pogany, the founder of Masah, a spiritual confectionary company and wellness brand, who shares her journey of starting a unique food business that combines her passion for healing and love for candy. Emily introduces Chakra Caramels, her line of plant-based caramels infused with essential oils and charged with Reiki energy to balance and support each of the seven chakras. Emily encourages fellow food business owners to listen to their intuition and hold themselves in high integrity. She discusses the process of developing the perfect caramel formula and desi...2024-01-3131 min

The Food Means Business PodcastCPG Brand Development and Innovation with Victoria Ho {REPLAY}Introducing Victoria Ho, founder of Sherpa CPG and a fearless food and beverage industry leader. With over a decade of experience as an award-winning brand strategist, clean-label formulator, and commercialization expert, Victoria is dedicated to helping emerging food, and beverage brands turn their meaningful ideas into memorable, retail-ready products. She tackles the essential work of defining brand purpose, developing bulletproof brand positioning, and expressing brand persona consistently across all audience touchpoints, from pitch deck to packaging.During this episode of The Food Means Business Podcast, we discuss:How to create and maintain a consistent brand strategy...2024-01-1046 min

The Food Means Business PodcastGrowing a Family Food Business with Summer and Kam Johnson [REPLAY]Summer Johnson is the co-owner of Zach and Zoë Sweet Bee Farm and started the business in 2015 with her husband, Kam. Together, they began keeping bees in their backyard to use the hyper-local honey to alleviate their son's allergies. Today, their honey is retailed all over the world, and in dozens of specialty, mass, and boutique stores across the nation. They have expanded the brand's assortment to 20+ organic superfoods flavors blended with their raw honey and have plans to continue growing. During this episode of The Food Means Business Podcast, we discuss:⁠How Summer and Kam start...2024-01-0345 min

The Food Means Business PodcastPursuing your Passion with Dawn Pascale [REPLAY]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’s Vegan Baking Bootcamp. She loved the challenge of making products that not only taste good but are good for you. After recognizing a growing need in her community for high-quality baked goods made with natural in...2023-12-2730 min

The Food Means Business PodcastBuilding a Business on Passion and Heritage with Alak Vasa [REPLAY]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.Get full notes and a transcript at: https://www.thehudsonkitchen.com/podcast/2022/9/18/alak-vasa-co-founder-elements-trufflesTo get more Food Business Bites right in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter at thehudsonkitchen.com.2023-12-2035 min

The Food Means Business PodcastFrom Home Kitchen to a Nationwide Brand: Get Gluten-Free Sourdough Products Delivered Right to Your Doorstep With Sadie SchefferThink quality bread is off the menu? Think again! Now, you can get gluten-free sourdough products delivered right to your doorstep.In this episode, I’m joined by Sadie Scheffer, the founder of Bread SRSLY — a business born of a college crush and shared gluten intolerance. Hear the story of how Sadie leveraged the growing nationwide demand for healthier and more accessible food options to grow her business into what it is today. Topics range from the early days of Bread SRSLY to Sadie’s adjacent business ventures into coaching and motivational speaking. Whether you practic...2023-12-1325 min

The Food Means Business PodcastBalancing Business With Family and Strategies for Growing Your Food Business With Leslie DanfordDoes starting your food business feel like a daunting task? If you’re like most people, it’s easy to get so overwhelmed by the road ahead that you never take that first step! That’s why I want to encourage you to take action today with some insight from the expert herself.In this episode, I’m joined by Leslie Danford, the founder of Vitaminis and a true action-taker who got her beverage product launched and out into the world in lightning speed. Leslie shares how she saw her opportunity, dove in with both feet, and didn’t t...2023-12-0631 min

The Food Means Business PodcastWhy Investing in a Photography Agency Can Transform for Your CPG Business With Four Course MediaEvery business owner wants to showcase their products in the best possible light, and never is that more true than when it comes to food! One photograph can mean the difference between a potential customer clicking over to your website or continuing on their endless doom scroll. So how do you capture food photographs that actually grab attention? Enter Four Course Media… In this episode, I’m joined by owners Laura and Rylee as they share how Four Course Media helps budding food entrepreneurs to leverage high-quality photography and stand out in a hyper-saturated landscape. We cover every...2023-11-2924 min

The Food Means Business PodcastHow to Introduce Consumers to an Entirely New Ingredient With Isabelle SteichenHow do you sell consumers on an entirely new ingredient? That was the question Isabelle Steichen had to answer when she launched her business, Lupii. Lupii products, which currently consist of both a protein bar and a pasta, are based on the lupini bean — a superior source of plant protein that had yet to be popularized in the United States.In this episode, Isabelle shares her journey from working in the start-up world to founding her very own business and introducing a food product that delivers the functional benefits of protein without all the carbs. If you wa...2023-11-1534 min

The Food Means Business PodcastLaunching Your First Food Product and Strategies for Success in Entrepreneurship With Crystal UngHave you ever dreamed of bringing your very own food product to market? The path to doing so isn’t always clear, and many would-be entrepreneurs might wonder how to take the first step. From research and development, to marketing and distribution, there are no shortage of factors to consider!In this episode, Crystal Ung, founder of Bowlcut, shares her transition from the corporate world to entrepreneurship and how growing up in the restaurant industry helped to inform her journey. You’ll hear, from start to finish, how she was able to transform traditional Asian sauces into heal...2023-11-0824 min

The Food Means Business PodcastHow to Communicate Effectively with Your Target Audience as a CPG Entrepreneur with Noah WunschCommunication is really important when it comes to your food business. Getting your brand out there, promoting your products, interacting with your employees and your consumers - all of it needs to meet people where they are. Too much jargon or using the wrong tone can really throw off your message. Being able to communicate clearly and effectively with your audience, and receive feedback from them, is a basic step that is often overlooked.In this episode, Noah Wunsch, founder of Ruby Hibiscus organic sparkling beverages, shares how he formulated his products and got them into stores...2023-11-0126 min

The Food Means Business PodcastHow to Grow Your Food Brand by Building Community with Ehime EigbeFood brands don’t exist in a vacuum, right? It’s not enough to create a great product, but you’ve got to refine it, pitch it, market it, sell it. And you can’t do all of that alone. Building a community of people who care about you and your product is vital in order to survive in this industry. Let people support you and shout your praises from the rooftops. Collaboration over competition is the name of the game, and we’re all in this together.In this episode, Ehime Eigbe, founder of Sweetkiwi frozen whipped Gr...2023-10-2528 min

The Food Means Business PodcastAdaptation is Key: How to Pivot Your Food Business and Find Success with Jen LiaoCOVID was a hard time for everyone, food business owners included. There was so much uncertainty and hardship during that time. But it also afforded some people the space and the timing to innovate new ideas and products. Business pivots can be a beautiful thing to come out of that dark time. Don’t be afraid to make changes to your business model and adapt if that’s what you’re called to do.In this episode, Jen Liao, co-founder and president of MìLà Chinese food brand, shares how COVID forced her to pivot from restaurant owner to...2023-10-1825 min

The Food Means Business PodcastHow to Find the Right Co-Packer with Ashley SutterfieldLet’s set the scene. You’ve created a food product, perfected the recipe, put it on the market, and now you’ve reached your limits on the time and capacity you have for production. So, what’s next? The answer is: find a co-packer to hand off your production. It might sound easy, but there’s some preparation you’ll need to do first.In this episode, Ashley Sutterfield, creator of Co-Packing with Ashley, shares what co-packing is, how to know if you’re ready to transition production to a co-packer, and how to find the right one....2023-10-1130 min

The Food Means Business PodcastHow to Reduce Food Waste and Food Insecurity with Louise FritjofssonFood waste is a big problem in the United States, but I didn’t realize how big until recording this episode. So many people have food insecurity, and with steadily rising food prices at the grocery store, this likely won’t change any time soon. So, what can we do to alleviate this problem? In this episode, Louise Fritjofsson, co-founder of Martie online discount grocery store, shares how she is reducing food waste and increasing food accessibility for all, the challenges she faced in starting her business, and how she gets the word out about Martie with marke...2023-10-0423 min

The Food Means Business PodcastHow Your Life Experience Can Prepare You to Become a Food Entrepreneur with Ron HollowayThis month, we’re highlighting members of Hudson Kitchen on the podcast and today, I’m chatting with Ron Holloway, co-founder of Woofbowl, a food truck for dogs with quality ingredients. Ron’s life experience and the challenges he’s faced have helped bring him to where he is today and it’s an incredible story. In this episode, Ron how his previous life experience from the military and the financial sector has informed his business, what it’s like to work with his spouse, and his unique take on food trucks for dogs.In this episode...2023-09-2732 min

The Food Means Business PodcastHow to Use Content to Grow Your CPG Food Business with Marlin Chan and Rachel ChengThis month, we’re highlighting members of Hudson Kitchen on the podcast and today, I’m chatting with Marlin Chan and Rachel Cheng of Yay’s Snacks beef crisps. The story of how Yay’s came to be (there was mistaken identity involved!) is fascinating, but even more impressive is the success they’ve found in their business with content creation, especially on TikTok.In this episode, Marlin and Rachel share the story behind the Yay’s product, why they have a specific vision for their product packaging, and how they’ve leveraged Marlin’s extensive content creation experie...2023-09-2040 min

The Food Means Business PodcastHow Establishing Internal Processes Can Equal Success for Your Food Business with Jesse McBrideThis month, we’re highlighting members of Hudson Kitchen on the podcast and today, I’m chatting with Jesse McBride, founder of Mademeals, an organic meal delivery service focused on high-quality ingredients. Jesse has faced some challenges along the way in launching his business, but his tenacity in establishing processes for success in his business is admirable. In this episode, Jesse shares how Mademeals came to be, why establishing business processes has vastly improved the performance of his team, and how he mitigates customer attrition in his meal delivery service.In this episode, you’ll learn…2023-09-1325 min

The Food Means Business PodcastNo Time To Wait: Meeting Client Needs & Launching a Food Start-Up Quickly with Irene Liu & Jennifer Jolorte DoroThis month, we’re highlighting members of Hudson Kitchen on the podcast starting with Irene Liu & Jennifer Jolorte Doro, co-founders of Chiyo, a women’s nutritional therapy company. Despite being in the middle of the pandemic, Jennifer and Irene were so passionate about the impact of food on the fertility journey of women, they knew they had to get their business launched ASAP. In this episode, Jennifer and Irene share how they got scrappy to get Chiyo up and running quickly, how they found aligned investors to make their business more sustainable, and how they got creative when...2023-09-0626 min

The Food Means Business PodcastFace the Fear and Do it Anyway: Pitching Investors, Raising Capital, and Crowdfunding for Your Food Business with Gabrielle FitzpatrickUnfortunately, starting a business isn’t free. It costs money to develop your products, market them, hire a team, and everything else that goes along with it. But what happens if you don’t have the funds for your CPG business when you’re first starting out? You find investors and raise capital! In this episode, I’m interviewing Gabrielle Fitzpatrick, CEO and founder of Damn Right Cocktails, which produces canned ready-to-drink margaritas. Gabrielle shares how she has perfected her pitch deck to wow investors and also how she’s embraced crowdfunding to raise capital for her business as...2023-08-3023 min

The Food Means Business PodcastFrom Sabbaticals to Sustainable Packaging: How to Create Meaningful, Healthy Food Products with Kailey DonewaldOne of the main topics of this show is leaving behind the corporate world to pursue a passion in the food industry. So often, corporate jobs eat up so much of our time that we become burnt out and start looking elsewhere for professional fulfillment. It’s normal to want to leave behind the rat race and do something meaningful instead.In this episode, I’m interviewing Kailey Donewald, founder of Sacred Serve creamy plant-based gelato. Kailey shares how taking sabbaticals from her corporate job led to her passion for nutrition and healthy foods, why truly sustainable pack...2023-08-2329 min

The Food Means Business PodcastMaking the Most of Every Opportunity: How to Get the Word Out About Your CPG Business in New Ways with Parker OlsonLet’s be honest: marketing your consumer packaged goods can get a little boring, right? There’s a certain flow we all follow to get the word out about our products and it can feel like there’s nothing new under the sun. But that’s not necessarily true. Videos, podcasts, and influencers have opened up new marketing avenues that are fresh and exciting.In this episode, I’m interviewing Parker Olson, founder of Fōrij superfood granola made with functional mushrooms. Parker shares how changing his diet led him to mushrooms, how he tried and tested his products, a...2023-08-1628 min

The Food Means Business PodcastWhy Customer Feedback is the Secret Ingredient to Your CPG Product’s Success with Megan KleinEven the best product ideas need to be tested with research. The consumer feedback received from that research is invaluable. Does your product function the way it’s supposed to? Are your customers loving the flavors, the ingredients, the messaging, the packaging, etc.? Don’t skip out on this important part of the process.In this episode, I’m interviewing Megan Klein, CEO and founder of Little Saints non-alcoholic plant magic mocktails. Megan shares how she became a food entrepreneur, how she incorporated adaptogens into her beverages, and why doing in-person research was so important in tweaking her pr...2023-08-0920 min

The Food Means Business PodcastLeverage Your Corporate Experience to Build Your Food Business with Christina Dorr DrakeMany food business owners have made the jump from the corporate world into entrepreneurship. Some of the skills we’ve learned and contacts we’ve gained in our previous careers can be really helpful when starting a business, and we can pick out the best parts and use them to inform how we run our businesses. In this episode, I’m interviewing Christina Dorr Drake, CEO and founder of Willa’s Oat Milk. Christina shares how she made the transition from an ad agency to creating a CPG business with her sister, how she’s been able to market h...2023-08-0224 min

The Food Means Business PodcastLeveraging Partnerships is the Recipe for Business Success with Ibraheem Basir of A Dozen CousinsPartnerships are the key to success in business, especially in the CPG industry. We can’t do it all ourselves. Whether it’s hiring a team or finding investors or working with brands and retailers, partnerships truly help us to grow our businesses. In this episode, I’m interviewing Ibraheem Basir, CEO and founder of A Dozen Cousins, a natural food brand inspired by the flavors of his youth. Ibraheem shares the heartwarming story behind his brand, how he’s been able to leverage partnerships to grow his business (like partnering with Marvel!), and how to tune out the n...2023-07-2621 min

The Food Means Business PodcastHow to Find the Right Name for Your CPG Food Brand with with Alexandra WatkinsWhen it comes to naming your consumer-packaged goods (CPG) brand, you probably already have one in mind. But your customers might not love it as much as you do. It’s important to select a name that makes sense and is easy to remember – and is easy for consumers to find!In this episode, I’m interviewing Alexandra Watkins, renowned authority on brand names and founder of Eat My Words. Alexandra shares her thoughts on what makes a strong brand name, why you shouldn’t name your business after yourself, and the biggest mistakes people make when naming t...2023-07-1923 min

The Food Means Business PodcastSpreading the Word About Your CPG Brand Through PR with Sarah MaguireIf you have a CPG (consumer-packaged goods) brand, it can be hard to get the word out on your own, and often new businesses tend to think about public relations last when getting started. With some PR help, you can share compelling stories about your brand and increase consumer interest.In this episode, I’m interviewing Sarah Maguire, a publicist with over a decade of public relations experience. Sarah shares why you need PR representation, what to look for when hiring a rep, and how you can DIY your brand awareness if you can’t afford to hire...2023-07-1223 min

The Food Means Business PodcastProgress Over Perfection: Using Community to Fast-track Your CPG Brand with Michelle Cordeiro-GrantThere are so many things to keep in mind when building a brand, but here’s one you might not have considered: community. What would it feel like to crowdsource everything and end up with a fabulous product that everyone loves? In this episode, I’m interviewing Michelle Cordeiro-Grant, founder of LIVELY, and founder and CEO of Gorgie. Michelle shares how she built her brand with community, how she was able to fast track her energy drink from idea to shelf, and how she prioritizes self-care as a CEO. In this episode, you’ll learn…[01:0...2023-07-0524 min

The Food Means Business PodcastGrowing a Family Food Business with Summer and Kam JohnsonSummer Johnson is the co-owner of Zach and Zoë Sweet Bee Farm and started the business in 2015 with her husband, Kam. Together, they began keeping bees in their backyard to use the hyper-local honey to alleviate their son's allergies. Today, their honey is retailed all over the world, and in dozens of specialty, mass, and boutique stores across the nation. They have expanded the brand's assortment to 20+ organic superfoods flavors blended with their raw honey and have plans to continue growing. During this episode of The Food Means Business Podcast, we discuss:⁠How Summer and Kam start...2023-04-2745 min

The Food Means Business PodcastBuilding a Healthier Future Through Plant-Based Food with Dominique and Wendy Da’CruzDominique and Wendy (W.E.) Da’Cruz are a dynamic entrepreneurial couple. Together, they co-founded The Mushroom Angel Company, a plant-based CPG food business aimed at promoting healthier eating habits and environmental sustainability. Their first product, the Cruz Burger, is a mushroom burger patty that cuts and bites like meat but tastes like veggies.During this episode of The Food Means Business Podcast, we discuss:⁠How inspiration from a Malawian chickpea meatball led to a unique mushroom pattyThe couple's journey from pescatarian to fully plant-based livingOvercoming recipe scaling and packaging challenges during the early stagesUtilizing online sale...2023-04-1937 min

The Food Means Business PodcastNavigating Food Law with Lauren HandelLauren Handel is an attorney for food, beverage, and supplement businesses and entrepreneurs. Lauren helps clients with regulatory compliance and enforcement actions, risk mitigation, commercial contracts, intellectual property, recalls, and disputes.Lauren has more than 20 years of experience as an attorney. She previously was a partner at McDermott Will & Emery LLP where her practice concentrated on product liability and environmental litigation. After a decade of counseling and defending Fortune 50 companies, Lauren decided to put her skills to work for independent businesses that produce the things she is most passionate about − good food and drink.During th...2023-04-1231 min

The Food Means Business PodcastCreating a Healthy and Sustainable Beverage Brand with Kun YangKun Yang is a recent dad and pharmacist-turned CPG entrepreneur. Kun grew up mostly in Canada but has spent his professional life in the US, where he now feels blessed to be building Pricklee Cactus Water with some incredible humans that want to make the world a better place.Pricklee is on a mission to inspire people to be resilient like the cactus through health, happiness, and sustainability. Their refreshing cactus waters are made from the drought-tolerant prickly pear cactus and are packed with antioxidants, electrolytes, and vitamin C, with 50% less sugar than coconut water. It's 100% refreshing...2023-04-0523 min

The Food Means Business PodcastNurturing Emerging Food Brands with Emily SchildtEmily Schildt is the founder and CEO of Pop Up Grocer, the first experience-first grocery store. She has worked for more than a decade in the CPG space, culminating in a role at the forefront of trends. Pop Up Grocer features emerging, better-for-you brands in food, home, beverage, and body care through its temporary and permanent physical locations, and its e-commerce box offering.Emily recently opened her first permanent Pop Up Grocer location in downtown Manhattan! As the mastermind behind this innovative retail concept, Emily has revolutionized the way we experience and discover emerging food and beverage...2023-03-2924 min

The Food Means Business PodcastCreating Compelling Stories with Chrissy MizeChrissy Mize, founder and creative force behind Raw Honey Copy, is a talented copywriter with over 13 years of experience in the film, TV, and video industries. As a post producer, she has worked on projects for major brands like Apple, Visa, Facebook, Johnson & Johnson, and LinkedIn, as well as popular Investigation Discovery shows such as "Wives with Knives," "I (Almost) Got Away With It," and "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover." After hanging up her producer hat, Chrissy partners with CPG brands, founders, marketers, and agencies to help capture the hearts (and wallets) of customers with strategic storytelling a...2023-03-2233 min

The Food Means Business PodcastBuilding a Food Business from the Ground Up with The Esendemir SistersThe Esendemir Sisters - Arzu, Fusun, and Gonca are the co-founders of the Mediterranean fast-casual concept, Flatbread Grill, and creators of Thumb Bread, an artisanal bread line made with natural ingredients. Growing up with financial instability, the sisters were inspired by their father's entrepreneurial spirit to start their own business. The Esendemir Sisters' entrepreneurial journey is an inspiring story of perseverance, dedication, and hard work. Despite facing challenges and obstacles, they succeeded in the food business by leveraging their unique experiences and expertise. Over the past decade, the Esendemir Sisters have baked over a million pieces of ha...2023-03-1530 min

The Food Means Business PodcastOptimizing Your Food Business Finances with Christine RicoChristine Rico has over 25 years of experience in business development and financial management. As the founder of CFO on Speed Dial, Christine works with mission-driven entrepreneurs in the food business to extract meaningful and actionable information from their financial reports, identify specific financial goals, and create profit plans to optimize their bottom line. During this episode of The Food Means Business Podcast, we discuss:⁠⇒How to organize financial information to inform business decisions, not just taxes⇒The importance of setting financial goals and profit targets that reflect your vision⇒How to create a profit plan that...2023-03-0825 min

The Food Means Business PodcastClean Comfort Food with Ayeshah AbuelhigaAyeshah Abuelhiga is the founder and CEO of Mason Dixie Foods, the fastest-growing frozen convenient comfort foods company in the United States. She has a passion for providing high-quality, clean-label comfort food options in an industry that was heavily lacking in this area. At just 28 years old, Ayeshah opened a biscuit-centric restaurant and pop-up series in Washington, D.C., quickly gaining a loyal following. In 2015, Mason Dixie Foods expanded into retail stores, becoming the only clean-label ready-to-bake biscuit brand on the market. Today, the company has expanded its offerings to include breakfast sandwiches and is available in over 8,000 stores na...2023-03-0142 min

The Food Means Business PodcastBuilding a Successful Food Brand Strategy with Katie MlezivaIn this episode, learn from expert brand strategist Katie Mleziva as she shares her wealth of knowledge in the natural food and beverage industry. With over a decade of experience and a background in marketing and brand management, Katie is the founder of Real Food Brands and the creator of Brand Strategy Streamlined, a tool that helps emerging food and beverage companies become category leaders.During this episode of The Food Means Business Podcast, we discuss:⁠The importance of a strong brand strategy in the natural food and beverage industryWhich factors to consider when creating a su...2023-02-2225 min

The Food Means Business PodcastLaunching a Better-For-You Snack Brand with Najwa KhanNajwa Khan is the founder and CEO of dalci, a better-for-you food brand that produces indulgent and nostalgic treats. Najwa has a background in public health and has worked in healthcare, wellness, and technology at non-profits, consulting firms, and startups. She has a Master's in Public Health from NYU and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Syracuse University.Najwa started her journey in the food industry by accident. She was struggling to find pre-made, sophisticated, and clean treats that met her dietary needs and were inspired to start her own brand after a visit to a...2023-02-1526 min

The Food Means Business PodcastCPG Brand Development and Innovation with Victoria HoIntroducing Victoria Ho, founder of Sherpa CPG and a fearless food and beverage industry leader. With over a decade of experience as an award-winning brand strategist, clean-label formulator, and commercialization expert, Victoria is dedicated to helping emerging food, and beverage brands turn their meaningful ideas into memorable, retail-ready products. She tackles the essential work of defining brand purpose, developing bulletproof brand positioning, and expressing brand persona consistently across all audience touchpoints, from pitch deck to packaging.During this episode of The Food Means Business Podcast, we discuss:How to create and maintain a consistent brand strategy...2023-02-0846 min

The Food Means Business PodcastReinvigorating a "Trusty but Dusty” Category with Nikki SeamanNikki Seaman is the CEO and Founder of Freestyle Snacks, a premium olive snack reimagining olives as we know them. She is a proud Whisps, Bain & Company, and University of Pennsylvania alum. When she isn't spending her time taste testing olives, she loves trying new restaurants in Atlanta and exploring parks with her Sheepadoodle. Since launching Freestyle Snacks in 2022, she has gained distribution in over 400 stores in addition to being featured in Forbes, Southern Living, and NOSH. During this episode of The Food Means Business Podcast, we discuss:⁠How an externship during her corporate career served as...2023-02-0123 min