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

56. If you think rice is just a commodity, you're missing one of the biggest opportunities in sustainable CPG. How rice is grown impacts water use, methane emissions, farmer income—and your brand story.

In this episode, I sit down with Caryl Levine of Lotus Foods to unpack how a vision quest to China led to building a B Corp brand rooted in heirloom rice, direct and fair trade partnerships, and a revolutionary farming model called "More Crop Per Drop." We discuss black and red rice nutrition, preserving biodiversity, reducing methane through System of Rice Intensification (SRI), and why sustainable supply chains create measurable economic and environmental impact.

We also explore how brands must educate beyond the package—leveraging social media, retailer partnerships, and unified messaging to translate purpose into premium value. If you want to elevate a commodity into a category leader, this episode is your roadmap.

Download the free guide Simple Solutions to Maximize Broker-Distributor Effectiveness and learn how to align your sales story across every partner. Then listen to more episodes to deepen your retail and category leadership strategy.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session56

55. If you think organic is just a label, you're missing the bigger mission. Organic is about protecting soil, water, air—and building a food system that lasts.

In this episode, I sit down with Katherine DiMatteo, former Executive Director of the Organic Trade Association and leader within IFOAM, the Sustainable Food Trade Association, and the Climate Collaborative. We unpack the history of organic regulation, why standards matter, and how unified global certification protects consumers and farmers alike.

We also dive into the Climate Collaborative's nine commitment areas, regenerative agriculture, sustainable packaging, carbon reduction, and why brands must go beyond greenwashing and prove measurable impact. This is about community-driven change—businesses working together to reverse climate change and protect our healthy way of life.

Learn how to communicate your sustainability story in a way retailers value. Then explore additional episodes to deepen your category leadership and retail growth strategy.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session55

54. If you think retailers just want lower prices and bigger promos, you're missing the point. What they really want is growth—and partners who make their jobs easier.

In this in-depth conversation with former Whole Foods, Fresh Market, and Kroger executive Mathis Martines, we pull back the curtain on what retailers actually need from brands. We discuss why category managers can become your biggest advocates—or your biggest roadblocks. We unpack how shrinking shelf space and expanding e-commerce are changing retail strategy. And we break down the blocking and tackling brands must own: supply chain discipline, out-of-stocks, distributor relationships, and in-store execution.

You'll learn how to earn the "license to play" in a category, how to become a value-added resource instead of an ATM, and why driving traffic and growing market basket size matters more than slotting fees.

Download my free Strategic Solutions to Grow Your Brand guide and learn how to build a selling story that earns you an equal seat at the table. Then explore additional episodes to deepen your retail growth strategy.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session54

53. When doctors gave no answers and inflammation stole her son's mobility, she didn't give up—she changed his diet and built a brand that disrupted salty snacks.

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Megan Reamer, co-founder of Jackson's Honest, to unpack how a life-or-death autoimmune crisis led to rethinking fats, carbohydrates, and the industrialization of food. We discuss ketogenic and paleo nutrition, why healthy fats were wrongly demonized, and how cooking with organic coconut oil became the foundation of a mission-driven CPG brand.

We also explore how storytelling wins in fiercely competitive categories, why community matters in natural products, and how retailers partner with brands that drive traffic, loyalty, and meaningful differentiation.

If you want to understand what truly makes natural "natural," and how mission fuels retail growth, this episode is essential listening.

Download today's free Retail Math Cheat Sheet and strengthen your retail strategy with the formulas every brand needs. Then dive into additional episodes to build your selling story and grow sustainably.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session53

52. If you're just selling a product instead of redefining when and why it's used, you're leaving massive growth on the table. Usage occasion disruption is how you reinvent categories and win at retail. Build this into your brand story. What is the difference between a $3 and $3,000 bottle of wine? Learn how to leverage that to transform your brand into an high-demand premium staple.

In this episode, I sit down with Jon Sebastiani, founder of KRAVE and Sonoma Brands, to unpack how storytelling transformed jerky from a "gas station gut stuffer" into a premium protein snack competing with Greek yogurt and nutrition bars. We discuss how texture, flavor, packaging, and romance changed the conversation, how Smashmallow disrupted marshmallows by making them snackable, and why sippable soup at Zupa required a digital pivot to survive refrigerated retail.

The takeaway? Retailers don't need ranking reports. They need insight. They need growth. And they reward brands that redefine usage, drive incrementally, and tell a story that extends beyond the register.

Download my free Turnkey Sales Story Strategies Course and learn how to build a selling story that earns you shelf space—and keeps it. Then explore additional episodes to deepen your category leadership strategy.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session52

51. If your brand exists only to sell product, you're missing the bigger opportunity. Today's consumers vote with their dollars—and they reward purpose, transparency, and impact.

In this inspiring conversation with Ahmed Rahim, co-founder of Numi Organic Tea, we unpack how a simple cup of tea became a vehicle for global change. From launching fair trade tea standards to creating the Numi Foundation, clean water initiatives, and The Climate Collaborative, Ahmed shares how business can drive real solutions—sustainable packaging, regenerative agriculture, food access, and climate action.

We discuss why authenticity matters more than ever, how to build community around shared values, and why the next generation demands transparency from brands. This episode isn't just about tea—it's about leadership, responsibility, and building a business that improves the world it touches.

Download my free Turnkey Sales Story Strategies Course and learn how to build a selling story that connects purpose to profitable growth. Then explore more episodes to deepen your category leadership and retail impact.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session51

50. If you're chasing growth without purpose—or purpose without profit—you're building on sand. Sustainable CPG leadership requires both bold vision and humility.

In this powerful conversation with Sheryl O'Loughlin (Clif Bar, Plum Organics, REBBL), we unpack what it really takes to build mission-driven brands that scale. From launching Luna Bar and redefining women's energy nutrition, to disrupting baby food with Plum's pouch innovation, to leading REBBL's fight against human trafficking through impact sourcing, Sheryl shares hard-earned lessons about resilience, culture, profitability, and regenerative business.

We discuss burnout, ecosystem leadership, climate responsibility, and why profitability is not the enemy of purpose—it's the fuel for it. If you want to build a brand that grows, gives back, and lasts, this episode is your roadmap.

Download my free Turnkey Sales Story Strategies Course and learn how to build a retail-ready selling story that earns you shelf space and drives sustainable growth. Then explore additional episodes to deepen your category leadership strategy.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session50