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

59. If you're betting on legacy CPG brands to carry the future of retail, you're betting on the wrong consumer. A $2 trillion purchasing power shift is underway—and millennials are not buying what their parents did.

In this powerful conversation with Steve Hughes, former CEO of Boulder Brands and founder of Sunrise Strategic Partners, we unpack how small natural brands are replacing big CPG—and why. From scaling Healthy Choice to building Udi's, Evol, and Earth Balance, Steve shares how disciplined brand building, conviction, and category leadership create explosive growth.

We discuss grass-fed disruption, protein-powered center store innovation like Kodiak Cakes, why legacy brands are losing millennial relevance, and how brands must focus on market basket growth—not penny profit per SKU.

If you want to compete in the new retail landscape, you must bring actionable insights, authentic storytelling, and true innovation that reshapes categories.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session59

58. If your brand is only chasing profit, you're already losing. Today's consumers demand authenticity—and retailers reward mission-driven growth.

In this powerful conversation with Kyle from Organic India, we unpack how starting with a mission in mind builds stronger brands, deeper loyalty, and sustainable retail growth. From transforming farming communities in India to building a Certified B Corp brand that supports 2,500 organic farmers, this episode proves that purpose and profit are not opposites—they're growth engines.

We discuss organic vs. conventional agriculture, greenwashing vs. authenticity, regenerative supply chains, premium pricing strategy, and why small natural brands are driving category growth across tea, supplements, and CPG. You'll also learn how mission-driven storytelling, category management, and retail partnership create long-term shelf stability.

If you want to compete with larger CPG brands and earn an equal seat at the table, you must build a strategy that works from seed to shelf.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session58

57. If your brand isn't clear about what's in your food—and why it matters—you're already behind. Today's shoppers demand transparency, and they're voting with their dollars.

In this episode, I sit down with Steve Hoffman of Compass Natural to unpack the real differences between organic, non-GMO, regenerative agriculture, and the confusing new "bioengineered" labeling proposal. We discuss why the USDA Organic seal remains the gold standard, how pesticide residue impacts long-term health, and why regenerative agriculture may be the future solution to climate change and soil depletion.

We also dive into hemp's resurgence, mission-driven storytelling, and how brands must communicate beyond the four corners of the package—through PR, influencers, retailers, and digital platforms.

If you want to build trust, differentiate your brand, and align with what today's conscious consumers actually value, this conversation matters.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session57