In this episode, I chat with Morgan Zanotti, former President and Co-Founder of Primal Kitchen, about her incredible journey in the natural products industry. From launching Primal Kitchen to leading it through a $200M acquisition by Kraft Heinz, Morgan shares her insights into scaling a brand, overcoming challenges, and what it really takes to succeed in the competitive world of health and wellness.
We also dive into her latest project, Waay, a sparkling protein water that’s set to make waves in the market. Whether you're an entrepreneur, product enthusiast, or just curious about the industry, this episode has a wealth of knowledge to offer!
Key Topics Discussed:
- The journey from KeVita to Primal Kitchen
- Overcoming imposter syndrome and trusting your instincts
- Scaling a brand on a budget and keeping teams lean
- Why certain brands stand out in a crowded market
- Navigating FDA requirements and using proprietary ingredients
- What it’s really like when big brands acquire you (and the myths behind it)
- The logistics of selling your company and what to expect
- Balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood
- Formulating new products and what’s next for Morgan
Sponsored By:
- Be Well By Kelly Protein Powder & Essentials | Get $10 off your order with PODCAST10 at bewellbykelly.com
- AG1 | Get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3+K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first subscription at drinkAG1.com/bewell
- Vuori | Get 20% off your first order of Vuori AND free shipping on orders over $75 at vuori.com/kelly
Timestamps:
- 00:00:00 - Introduction
- 00:01:05 - Graduating to primal kitchen
- 00:05:06 - Overcoming imposter syndrome
- 00:06:52 - Kevita & Primal Kitchen
- 00:08:55 - Consumer experience
- 00:11:30 - Trusting your gut
- 00:14:12 - Keeping a team and business lean
- 00:19:04 - Brands that stand out
- 00:21:56 - FDA requirements & propriety ingredients
- 00:27:50 - Advice for entrepreneurs
- 00:32:52 - Logistics of storing and moving product
- 00:34:36 - Keeping with big companies
- 00:37:55 - Myths About Being Bought by Big Brands
- 00:45:04 - Selling your company
- 00:46:06 - What’s next for Morgan
- 00:47:48 - Formulating products
- 00:50:02 - Achieving your goal
- 00:51:33 - Balancing career and motherhood
- 00:56:50 - “If you dont schedule it, it wont happen”
- 00:58:49 - 2025 manifestations & social media
Check Out Morgan:
Check Out Kelly:
Mentioned in this episode:
Be Well By Kelly Protein Powder & Essentials | Get $10 off your order with PODCAST10 at bewellbykelly.com.
Vuori | Get 20% off your first order of Vuori AND free shipping on orders over $75 at vuori.com/kelly.