69. If 52% of produce is wasted and nutrients degrade before food hits the shelf, your supply chain is broken. And broken systems cost you margin, trust, and growth.

In this episode, I sit down with Brandon from Local Roots to unpack how controlled environment agriculture is collapsing the traditional produce supply chain. Instead of shipping leafy greens 2,000 miles over 8–12 days, Local Roots grows nutrient-dense food in precision-controlled shipping containers located at distribution centers. The result? Longer shelf life, predictable yields, zero pesticides, dramatically less water usage, and the ability to enhance antioxidant profiles without genetic modification.

We explore how reducing spoilage improves retailer profitability, how demand-based production eliminates waste, and why this is a supplement—not a threat—to traditional farming. If you care about resilient supply chains, sustainable growth, and delivering real value to today's health-focused shopper, this episode matters.

Strategies To Meet Your Business Goals, and then explore additional episodes to go deeper into building profitable, future-ready CPG brands.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session69

68. If you're stuck fighting for shelf space and watching bigger brands outspend you, you don't need a bigger budget—you need a better strategy. Being just a "nose better" than your competition can 10x your results over time.

In this episode, I share six proven retail growth strategies I've used to block national brands from incremental displays, earn a 4,200-unit grand opening display without paying slotting, and quadruple sales on the worst-performing route in the company. This isn't theory—it's a roadmap.

You'll learn how to become a category leader, position yourself as a value-added resource, improve merchandising, increase in-store conversions, maximize every selling opportunity, and create a unified selling voice across your team and brokers. These strategies work online and in brick-and-mortar—and they compound over time.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session68

67. If you're stuck trying to figure out brokers, distributors, co-packers, or how to pitch a retail buyer, you don't need more hustle—you need better guidance. Most emerging brands waste time and money learning lessons the hard way.

In this episode, I sit down with Julie from FMI to unpack FMI Emerge, a new platform built specifically to help emerging food and beverage brands scale sustainably. Backed by the Food Marketing Institute's deep roots in category management and retail strategy, this subscription-based community provides MBA-style education, one-on-one mentor access, investor connections, and actionable insights designed to help brands increase velocity, secure more shelf space, and build stronger trading partner relationships.

We discuss why distribution without preparation is dangerous, why retailers need stronger emerging brand partners, and how mentorship can dramatically accelerate growth. If you're doing over $500K in sales and ready to level up, this conversation matters.

Learn how to build the unified selling story retailers want. Then explore additional episodes to go deeper into category leadership and retail execution.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session67

66. If you're pitching retailers without a clear, data-backed selling story, you're hoping—not selling. And hope is expensive in CPG.

In this live coaching-style episode with the founders of The Gluten Free Bar, we unpack what it really takes to compete in one of the most crowded categories in retail. We talk about becoming an expert in your shopper, understanding why consumers choose your competitor, and quantifying the total value your shopper brings to a retailer—not just your velocity.

We also dig into strategic distribution (go deep, not wide), authentic storytelling, certified B Corp impact, and how to build a unified voice across your entire sales funnel. The key? Retailers don't need ranking reports. They need actionable insights they don't already have.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session66

65. If you're trying to build your CPG brand alone, you're wasting time, money, and momentum. The right community can compress years of trial and error into a few focused conversations.

In this episode, I sit down with Doug and Zach, founders of Colorado Food Works, a grassroots CPG networking community that grew from 16 people to over 450 engaged members in just 15 months. What started as two founders trading notes evolved into a powerful ecosystem of dot connectors—bringing together emerging brands, seasoned operators, brokers, retailers, and service providers.

We unpack why most early-stage brands don't even know the right questions to ask, how meaningful networking accelerates growth, and why access to experienced operators can prevent costly mistakes. We also discuss Denver's rise as a food innovation hub and how collaborative ecosystems create long-term competitive advantage.

Build a unified selling story that earns you an equal seat at the table. Then explore additional episodes to deepen your retail and category management strategy.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session65

64. If your brand feels transactional instead of transformational, you'll struggle to build loyalty, drive velocity, and earn lasting retail support. Products don't build movements—missions do.

In this episode, I sit down with Neil Grimmer, founder of Plum Organics and Habit, to unpack how to build a brand people rally around. From launching the baby food pouch category to pioneering personalized nutrition, Neil shares the three principles behind iconic growth: make it personal, make it a mission, and serve others first .

We explore how Plum created a beachhead at Whole Foods and Babies R Us, validated nationally, and then drove ubiquity across 75% of U.S. retail. We also discuss why personalization is the future of food, and how understanding your customer at a deeper level unlocks trust, loyalty, and long-term growth.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session64

63. If you're trying to outspend big CPG brands at retail, you'll lose. The game isn't about bigger budgets—it's about better strategy and extending your runway.

In this episode, I sit down with John Grubb, formerly of Sterling-Rice Group and now Summit Venture Management, to unpack the structural shift happening between big brands and emerging natural disruptors .

We discuss why legacy CPG struggles to innovate, how millennial consumers reshaped food tribes, and why today's funding ecosystem favors nimble, mission-driven brands.

More importantly, we break down tactical advice: don't accept opportunistic distribution you can't support, go deep before going wide, build velocity before chasing facings, and leverage social presence instead of buying share. Retail is a contact sport—and capital efficiency wins.

Strategic Solutions to Grow Your Brand, learn how to use Category Management to level the playing field. Then explore additional episodes to deepen your retail execution and trade marketing ROI strategy.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session63

62. If you're walking into buyer meetings with ranking reports instead of actionable insights, you're already behind. Retailers don't need to hear how great you are—they need you to help grow the category.

In this episode, I sit down with Todd from Lundberg Family Farms to unpack how a legacy organic brand competes head-to-head with global CPG by leveraging true category management.

We discuss holistic thinking from farm to shelf, investing in quantitative data analysis, measuring promotional ROI before spending a dollar, preventing out-of-stocks through disciplined forecasting, and using social listening to anticipate shopper needs.

You'll hear why most trade dollars are wasted, how to avoid SKU proliferation, and why retailers reward brands that bring incremental growth—not just another coconut SKU. This is a masterclass in profitable, sustainable retail growth.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session62

61. If you ignore independent natural retailers, you're ignoring the heart and soul of natural CPG. And that's where real loyalty is built.

In this episode, I sit down with Corinne Shindelar of INFRA (Independent Natural Food Retailers Association) to unpack why independent natural retailers remain critical to brand growth.

We discuss how purchasing cooperatives level the playing field, how shared best practices improve merchandising and category resets, and why accountability and community drive measurable retail lift.

We also explore how brands can better support retailers—through stronger storytelling, demo support, vetted ingredient transparency, and alignment with retailer values like non-GMO verification, sustainability, and community impact.

If you want to win at shelf, you must understand how independents think, how they differentiate, and how they build true shopper loyalty—not coupon dependency.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session61

60. If you think what worked yesterday will work tomorrow, you're already losing. Complacency is the silent killer of CPG brands—and retailers see it instantly.

In this powerful conversation with Michael Sansolo, former executive at FMI and thought leader behind MorningNewsBeat, we unpack why relevance is the new table stakes in retail. We discuss personalization, technology, social media, category management, and why every product must have a clear role on the shelf.

You'll learn why buyers don't care that your neighbors love your barbecue sauce, why packaging must tell your story in seconds, and why innovation isn't a line extension—it's a reason to exist. We also explore how brands like Ben & Jerry's earned shelf space by being different, not louder.

If you want to get on more retail shelves and stay there, you must swim faster, think smarter, and partner better.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session60