Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG)

By Gage Mitchell of Modern SpeciesBusiness Health & Fitness Nutrition Arts Marketing Food

Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG) episodes

June 28, 2024157 - Growing Organic with Matt McLean of Uncle Matt's Organic
To stay relevant as a CPG brand, you need to be willing to evolve, and it’s no different in the organic industry. Today, we sit down with Matt McLean, Founder and Chief Uncle of Uncle Matt's Organic, to uncover the journey behind the nation's number-one organic juice brand. Uncle Matt’s Organic has grown from a small family operation to a leader in the organic industry, offering a range of delicious and healthy beverages. In our conversation, Matt shares the origins of his company, the biggest challenges they’ve faced, and the innovations that have propelled its growth over 25 years. We explore how Uncle Matt's has navigated shifts in consumer preferences, why Matt decided to buy back the brand after successfully exiting, and their exciting decision to expand beyond juice. Discover the broader trends in the organic market, Matt's insights on differentiating your brand in a competitive industry, and the inspiring story of how passion, perseverance, and dedication to quality can transform your vision into reality!

Key Points From This Episode:
Matt’s journey from a small farm to creating and leading Uncle Matt’s Organic.
Challenges and successes over 25 years in the organic industry.
Strategies for managing risk when starting a new venture.
Innovations that propelled the company’s growth.
Their commitment to sustainable and organic farming practices.
How the organic industry has grown over the past two decades.
Navigating shifts in consumer preferences for organic products (including juice).
Strategic decisions that fueled Uncle Matt’s success.
Insights on staying competitive in the organic market.
Matt’s successful exit selling his brand to Dean Foods, and why he bought it back.
Expanding into the tea market and the range of products they’re developing.
Broader trends and future outlooks in the organic industry.
Inspirational (and practical) lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and organic advocates.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Matt Mclean on LinkedIn
Uncle Matt's Organic
Worldie Unboxed Podcast
John Maxwell Leadership
Gary Hirshberg
Stonyfield Organic
George Siemon
Organic Valley
Arjan Stephens on LinkedIn
Nature’s Path
Modern Species
Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn
Gage Mitchell on X
Brands for a Better World Website
Brands for a Better World on YouTube
Brands for a Better World email
Impact Driven Community
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
56 min
June 22, 2024156 - Recycled Plastic Yarn with Lauren Choi of The New Norm (Climify)
Welcome to this special Climify and Brands For A Better World crossover episode, as we sit in on Eric Benson's conversation with Lauren Choi.
We all know about those infamous red cups that flood American streets in a plague of crimson litter. But did you know that these same cups - that are considered unrecyclable by many - are recycled to make sustainable fashion wear? That is the mission of today's inspirational guest, the Climate Entrepreneur and Founder of The New Norm Fabrics, Lauren Choi. Lauren joins us to share her journey in climate entrepreneurship, and we begin by learning about the great work being done at The New Norm. We discuss the role of climate entrepreneurs in educating those around them, how Johns Hopkins encourages students to break new ground in climate change and sustainability, the dangers of greenwashing, why consumers are at the forefront of meaningful change, and so much more. Enjoy.

Key Points From This Episode:
Today we join the Climify podcast as Eric Benson sits down with Lauren Choi.
Lauren explains how and why she birthed her sustainable fabrics company, The New Norm.
How the FastForwad accelerator helped her career ambitions, and why it should be standard across all universities.
How she manages the demands of working in multiple industries simultaneously.
The specific materials that The New Norm is focused on producing.
How Johns Hopkins approached climate change and sustainability while Lauren was a student.
Her advice to educators on how to coach students through potentially groundbreaking ideas.
What every new or prospective climate entrepreneur needs to know.
The role of climate entrepreneurs in educating consumers and other service providers.
Lauren's thoughts on greenwashing and the role of circular-design products in combating misinformation.
Why consumers are always at the forefront of inciting impactful change.
How educators should be supporting student entrepreneurs.
How The New Normal delivers on its impact-driven metrics like transparency and accountability.
Using her experiences as a case study, Lauren shares some helpful advice for other women founders.
The sustainability project that she would implement in every classroom.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Lauren Choi on LinkedIn
Lauren Choi on Instagram
The New Norm
The New Norm on Instagram
The New Norm on TikTok
Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures
FastForward
Cradle to Cradle
Eric Benson on LinkedIn
Climify Podcast
Modern Species
Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn
Gage Mitchell on X
Brands for a Better World Website
Brands for a Better World on YouTube
Brands for a Better World email
Impact Driven Community
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1 hr 5 min
June 14, 2024155 - Frozen for a Reason with Rachel Drori of Daily Harvest
What if frozen food could revolutionize the way we eat, nourish our bodies, and save the planet? In this episode, we sit down with Rachel Drori, the visionary founder of Daily Harvest, to delve into the benefits of sustainably sourced frozen food. Daily Harvest is a plant-based meal delivery service that offers a variety of chef-crafted, pre-portioned, and frozen meals made from organic fruits and vegetables. Join us as Rachel delves into the mission and values driving her company, how frozen food helped her start eating healthier, why direct-to-consumer was the best approach for the brand, and its entry into the retail market. We discuss her recent decision to step back from her role as CEO, the steep learning curve of the food space, how the company navigated a product recall, and how Daily Harvest’s overall mission keeps her motivated. Join us to unlock the secrets of frozen food's potential to transform your diet, health, and the world with Rachel Drori of Daily Harvest!

Key Points From This Episode:
Rachel’s passion for sustainability and Daily Harvest’s mission.
The light bulb moment behind launching her first line of frozen food.
Her reasons for pursuing the direct-to-consumer model.
Building brand awareness as a way to enter the retail market.
Transitioning Daily Harvest’s product lines and business model.
Daily Harvest’s efforts to help farmers shift to sustainable farming.
Unpack why regenerative and organic farming is essential.
The sustainability, nutritional, and quality benefits of frozen food.
Learn about the opportunities the retail market offers.
Why educating the consumer is a core value of the company.
Discover how she got celebrity investors interested in the company.
Explore how the pandemic positively impacted the company.
She shares valuable lessons from her entrepreneurial journey.
Her new role in the company and why she stepped down as CEO.
Find out what she has planned next for Daily Harvest.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Rachel Drori on LinkedIn
Rachel Drori on Instagram
Daily Harvest
Episode: A Smoothie Transition with Alex Bayer of Genius Dreams
American Farmland Trust (AFT)
California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)
Serena Williams
Paris Hilton
Wild Orchard
Modern Species
Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn
Gage Mitchell on X
Brands for a Better World Website
Brands for a Better World on YouTube
Brands for a Better World email
Impact Driven Community
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
53 min
June 07, 2024154 - A Smoothie Transition with Alex Bayer of Genius Dreams
We all know just how difficult it can be to enter the world of CPG, let alone thrive in it. But what may be even harder is knowing when it's time to let go of the brand you've worked tirelessly to build. Today we are joined by the former CEO and Co-Founder of Genius Juice and current Founder and Manager Partner at Genius Dreams, Alex Bayer. In our conversation, Alex walks us through the highs and lows of founding a CPG business, the tightrope of fine margins that the industry forces you to walk, the main things to consider when it's time to close shop forever, and the importance of making time for self-care as a dedicated entrepreneur.

Key Points From This Episode:
Alex Bayer shares the lessons he learned in founding, growing, and closing a CPG brand.
How Alex got into CPG, and what inspired him to co-found Genius Juice.
Whether it's better to have a large or small product catalogue.
The biggest highs and most notable lows from Alex's 10 years at Genius Juice.
How they navigated the innate CPG challenges of operating within fine margins.
Key factors to be aware of when entering the refrigerated-products market.
The ins and outs of Alex's decision to close the doors on Genius Juice.
Taking a look at the processes of shutting a business down, and how to do it the right way.
Navigating burnout and protecting your well-being as an entrepreneur.
The services that Alex's consulting business, Genius Dreams offers and the clients it serves.
Homemade smoothies, golfing, the CPG Vibes podcast, and Mark Samuel.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Alex Bayer on LinkedIn
Alex Bayer on Instagram
Genius Dreams
Genius Juice
GPG Vibes
Aflac
HiTouch
Mela
Aura Bora
Mid-day Squares
Taste Radio
Startup CPG
Genesis Nutrition
15 Minutes of Genius
Mark Samuel on LinkedIn
Modern Species
Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn
Gage Mitchell on X
Brands for a Better World Website
Brands for a Better World on YouTube
Brands for a Better World email
Impact Driven Community
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1 hr 12 min
May 31, 2024153 - Change Through Cooking with Alison Cayne of Haven's Kitchen
Beyond simply being delicious, food can be a means to start conversations, cross cultural divides, and even inspire social change. In this episode of Brands for a Better World, you’ll hear from Alison Cayne, Founder of NYC-based Haven’s Kitchen, about how she combined her passion for cooking with her desire to change people’s lives for the better and turned it into a purpose-driven career. Join us as we delve into the social impacts of our food systems, why home cooking is good for our health, the health of our communities, and the health of the planet, and the immense power that everyday consumers hold to drive meaningful policy change. We also discuss how Alison’s podcast, In the Sauce, helped her speed up her CPG learning curve, the ways that Haven’s Kitchen has evolved based on customers’ needs and in response to the world at large, why the best marketing strategies are common sense, and so much more! To learn about the many compelling ways that food can transform communities and encourage people to create a better world through cooking, be sure to tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:
The important role that cooking plays in supporting the local economy and agriculture.
An understanding of the correlation between home cooking and better food systems.
Why we shouldn’t underestimate the power that consumers have to drive policy change.
What led Alison to start a cooking school in the middle of her Master’s program.
From urban planning and policy to food studies: how Alison’s interests have evolved.
The story behind Alison’s cookbook and Haven’s Kitchen’s range of sauces.
How the In the Sauce Podcast helped Alison accelerate her CPG learning curve.
The personal satisfaction that Alison gets from being a connector in her industry.
Insight into Alison’s unique CPG product strategy, supply chain, and packaging.
Common barriers to feel-good home cooking that Haven’s Kitchen seeks to simplify.
Theory versus practice: why the best marketing strategies are usually common sense.
The Haven’s Kitchen initiative that donates 1% of gross profit to community-based organizations that fight inequity and hunger.
New products, new channels, and more: what the future holds for Haven’s Kitchen.
Alison’s favorite non-food hobby, best piece of advice, and more in the lightning round!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Haven’s Kitchen
Alison Cayne on LinkedIn
In the Sauce Podcast
The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School: Recipes and Inspiration to Build a Lifetime of Confidence in the Kitchen
Tiny Habits: The Small Changes that Change Everything
Modern Species
Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn
Gage Mitchell on X
Brands for a Better World Website
Brands for a Better World on YouTube
Brands for a Better World email
Impact Driven Community
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1 hr 7 min
May 24, 2024152 - Donuts for Health with Kathrin Henon of Planet Bake
America has a major sugar problem, which is evident in the fact that the United States consumes more sugar than any other country in the world! To explain how her company is helping to ease this particular pain point across the country, we are joined today by the Founder and CEO of Planet Bake, Kathrin Henon. Kathrin begins by explaining how her German background and America's diabetes problem combined to inspire her to help solve the sugar problem in the United States. Then, our guest explains why she adopted a vegan and sugar-free diet before walking us through the ins and outs of Planet Bake, the wonders of allulose, the value of avocado oil, and the problematic culture of brands hiding certain troublesome ingredients. We also learn about Kathrin's education and how it informed the way she built her brand, the important lessons she's absorbed as a founder, the future of Planet Bake, and why she loves being involved in research and development.

Key Points From This Episode:
The (worrying) state of diabetes in America.
Beyond the sugar: The ins and outs of Planet Bake.
Why Kathrin chose to adopt a plant-based, zero-sugar diet.
Why our guest reveres allulose as the perfect sweetener, and her list of sweeteners to avoid.
Understanding her choice to use avocado oil in Planet Bake's products.
The way her degree in Strategic Design and Management influenced how she built her brand.
How some brands hide problematic ingredients but Planet Bake is fully transparent.
The biggest lessons she's learned as a founder and brand-builder.
What Planet Bake aims to achieve in the next 5 years, including its in-house chocolate line.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Kathrin Henon on LinkedIn
Kathrin Henon on Instagram
Planet Bake
‘The Declaration of Allulose and Calories from Allulose on Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels’
Daniel Lubetzky
Frontline Impact
Modern Species
Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn
Gage Mitchell on X
Brands for a Better World Website
Brands for a Better World on YouTube
Brands for a Better World email
Impact Driven Community
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
45 min
May 17, 2024151 - Diverse Foods & Families with David Fullner & Daniel Auld of Kekoa Foods
Have you ever found yourself in a grocery store, staring at rows of bland baby food jars and thinking, “There's got to be a better way?” Today, we sit down with David Fullner and Daniel Auld to discuss how their company, Kekoa Foods, is revolutionizing the baby food space. Kekoa Foods specializes in producing organic baby food and aims to provide nutrient-rich, natural, and organic food options that promote healthy infant development. In our conversation, we unpack how trying to find healthy, palate-expanding baby food for their son prompted starting their company, why variety in a baby’s diet is vital, how the company contributes to and celebrates diversity, and the hard lessons from their entrepreneurial journey. Discover why you don’t need to know everything about business to be an entrepreneur, the ups and downs of the CPG learning curve, why you don’t need to sweat the small stuff, and more. Join us as we explore how Kekoa Foods is nourishing the next generation with David Fullner and Daniel Auld!

Key Points From This Episode:
How the premature birth of their son caused the start of their business.
Discover the company’s ethos around diversity and community.
Hear how they learned the fundamentals of running a business.
Fostering healthy adventurous eaters with their baby food products.
Find out where the habit of making their own food originated.
Why it essential to involve children in making and cooking food.
Ways their backgrounds and skills make for a good partnership.
Learn about the lessons and unexpected challenges they overcame.
Explore the current product range that Kekoa Foods has on offer.
Their biggest wins and what they have planned for the company.
Recommendations and resources for startups in the CPG space.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
David Fullner on LinkedIn
Daniel Auld on LinkedIn
Kekoa Foods
Everything Is Figureoutable
Sprouts Farmers Market
Rutgers University Food Innovation Center
Modern Species
Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn
Gage Mitchell on X
Brands for a Better World Website
Brands for a Better World on YouTube
Brands for a Better World email
Impact Driven Community
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
58 min
May 10, 2024150 - Manifesting & Evolving with Kate Flynn of Sun and Swell
Sun and Swell is a wholesome food brand that’s on a mission to create a healthier and more sustainable food industry. Today we are joined by Sun and Swell’s Co-Founder and CEO, Kate Flynn, who walks us through the power of manifestation and how the practice has helped to transform all aspects of her life. Kate explains how manifestation works, the key components of purpose-driven manifestation, how manifesting helped her overcome many life and business challenges, and the role of masculine and feminine energies in determining how you manifest and what you prioritize as important. We uncover the world of limiting beliefs and discover how Kate has transcended hers, the toxic cultures that we can avoid both in life and at work, the undeniable power of intention, and the gift of failing forward. We also learn more about Sun and Swell including the brand’s origin story and history, where it currently stands in the market, its office setup, why it values simplicity, and why it reveres its B Corp and WBENC certifications. To end, our rapid-fire questions explore the human desire to understand our basic needs and wants, and we discover why trusting the universe is a key element of Kate’s philosophy.

Key Points From This Episode:
How Kate Flynn discovered manifesting, and how it’s helped transform her life and business.
Understanding why the concept of manifesting has had such a major impact on Kate.
The importance of patience, resilience, and a determined mindset for manifesting.
Kate’s entrepreneurial challenges and how she’s overcome them.
Balancing masculine and feminine energies, and making room for adequate downtime.
The limiting beliefs that Kate has transcended.
Exploring the toxic cultures that manifest at home and at the office.
The power of intention.
Sun and Swell’s origin story and history, and where the brand stands today.
Embracing the chaos of growth, failing forward, simplicity, and prioritizing.
Why Sun and Swell values its B Corps certification and being women-owned.
Shine, trusting the universe, kindness, and leaving the world better than you found it.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Sun and Swell Foods
Sun and Swell Foods on Instagram
Kate Flynn
Kate Flynn on LinkedIn
Kate Flynn on X
Kate Flynn on Instagram
Kate Flynn Email
Manifesting | Kate Flynn on LinkedIn
Bryan Flynn on LinkedIn
CIVANA Wellness Resort and Spa
Women Owned
WBENC
Patagonia
Yvon Chouinard
Modern Species
Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn
Gage Mitchell on X
Brands for a Better World Website
Impact Driven Community
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1 hr 9 min
May 03, 2024149 - Good Stuff Takes Time with Matt Thomas of Brew Dr.
Get ready to unlock the secrets behind one of the most captivating beverages of our time: kombucha! Today, we sit down with Matt Thomas, Founder of Brew Dr., to delve into the world of kombucha brewing. We discuss how his kombucha company originally started as a tea company, the motivation behind launching his kombucha brand, and the shifts that the COVID-19 pandemic prompted in his business approach. Tuning in, you’ll hear about his exciting new SIPJOY product line, what makes kombucha so unique, and how Brew Dr. is making the world a better, healthier place through its products. Join us today as we sip on wisdom, unravel the magic of kombucha, and glimpse into the future of the beverage revolution!

Key Points From This Episode:
Matt’s background and his entrepreneurial start in the tea business.
How his kombucha business started from a single seed.
The Kombucha SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) fermentation process.
How the pandemic caused a shift in Matt's business approach.
Balancing the growth of a sustainable business with entrepreneurial goals.
Food culture trends and the growing interest in kombucha.
Motivations behind Brew Dr.’s SIPJOY product range.
What Matt has planned for the future trajectory of the company.
Why Brew Dr. has chosen to use no artificial ingredients.
Core values that drive Brew Dr.’s approach to making a difference.
The evolution of the CPG industry toward sustainability.
Challenges Matt has faced along his entrepreneurial journey.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Matt Thomas on LinkedIn
Brew Dr.
SIPJOY
Nixie
Spindrift
1% for the Planet
Modern Species
Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn
Gage Mitchell on X
Brands for a Better World Website
Brands for a Better World on YouTube
Brands for a Better World email
Impact Driven Community
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
38 min
April 26, 2024148 - The Brand is the Product with Christopher Gavigan of The Honest Company
What matters more, the product or the brand? As today’s guest Christopher Gavigan explains, the brand and the product should be one and the same and therefore equally important! Christopher is the founder of multiple businesses and initiatives, including The Honest Company and Prima – wellness brands that are centered on health and sustainability – and he joins us today to share his insights as a conscious leader and brand pioneer. After getting to the roots of Christopher’s passion for creating sustainable brands, we learn about Healthy Child Healthy World and The Honest Company, and how the former paved the way for the latter. Then, we discover the role that Jessica Alba played in the genesis of The Honest Company, what Christopher’s current work entails, why it’s vital to build and support impact-driven brands in all industries, and the pain points that Christopher was trying to alleviate with Prima. To end, we learn how our guest views success, how he’s navigated difficult obstacles as an entrepreneur, why he values consistency over intensity, and his vision of utopia.

Key Points From This Episode:
Welcoming Christopher Gavigan as he explains what drove him to family health.
Where and how he developed his instinct for creating brands.
How Healthy Child Healthy World helped birth The Honest Company.
The importance of building and supporting impact-driven brands.
Understanding Jessica Alba’s role in bringing The Honest Company to life.
Christopher’s current job title and role, and how it’s changed over the years.
The problems that he was trying to solve with the other company that he founded, Prima.
Core attributes that he looks for or builds into a company to ensure success.
The most surprising and difficult challenges that he’s faced as an entrepreneur.
Hu Chocolate, spending time outdoors, consistency over intensity, and reading.
Christopher names Yvon Chouinard as an impact-driven leader who is worthy of our praise.
Our guest’s vision of a better world.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Christopher Gavigan
Christopher Gavigan on LinkedIn
Christopher Gavigan on X
Christopher Gavigan on Instagram
Christopher Gavigan Email
The Honest Company
Prima
Healthy Child Healthy World
Healthy Child Healthy World
Jessica Alba on Instagram
Hu Kitchen
The Creative Act
Patagonia | Yvon Chouinard
Modern Species
Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn
Gage Mitchell on X
Brands for a Better World Website
Brands for a Better World on YouTube
Brands for a Better World email
Impact Driven Community
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
58 min

About Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG)

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We're bringing you the stories behind the people and products building a more just, healthy, and regenerative future for us all. Tune in weekly and together, we’ll learn about why these better…

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Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG)

Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG) episodes

About Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG)