ContenderCast with Justin Honaman

Remedy Organics was founded by Cindy Kasindorf, a holistic nutritionist who set out to create plant-based beverages that are deliciously protein-packed, superfood-charged, colored by food, and nutrient-dense. Her inspiration to create Remedy Organics began with her lifelong passion for health and wellness. Remedy Organics products aim to help you unleash your body's natural healing power and live each day to the fullest. Cindy and her husband (and partner) Henry, join Justin to discuss this fast-growing beverage brand!

Eastern Standard Provisions delivers expertly crafted, one-of-a-kind artisanal soft pretzels and artfully blended flavored salts & sugars because life is just too short not to love every bite. Their Boston-based team, with deep roots throughout New England, is fiercely passionate in their pursuit of making the best soft pretzels on the planet. This stemmed from their mutual love for pretzels, and a realization that finding one on the market that lived up to expectations was nearly impossible. So, they decided to make it. And they now ship pretzels and waffles. Founder and CEO Bill Deacon joins Justin to discuss this delicious brand!

Katie Hotze is the CEO and Founder of Grocery Shopii. With over 20 years of experience in digital marketing, data analytics, and business strategy, Katie was able to turn her frustration with grocery shopping into a nationally-recognized retail tech disrupter that's rapidly expanding in North America. Prior, Katie worked in management and technology consulting, leading global marketing teams at Mercer and BearingPoint. She broke away from her corporate career in 2019 to start Grocery Shopii. Today, Katie is recognized as one of grocery tech's leading innovators, including recognition as one of Retail Info Systems' Top 10 Women in Grocery Tech. Katie joins Justin to talk tech + grocery!

Founded by husband-and-wife duo Stephen and Allison and based in Austin, TX, poppi combines fresh fruit juice, apple cider vinegar, and inulin prebiotics for a deliciously refreshing, full-of-flavor soda with benefits. With the help of an investment on Shark Tank, poppi has gone from farmer's-market-favorite to sitting pretty on the shelves of thousands of retailers across the nation. Along the way, they've become beloved by many including Hailey Bieber, Kylie Jenner, Billie Eilish, Russell Westbrook, JLo, Olivia Munn, and more. Allison joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing beverage brand!

Griffin Owens is the co-founder of YUZUCO (www.theyuzu.co), a Los Angeles-based emerging brand that sources and creates premium, accessible yuzu products for award-winning chefs and bartenders. His experience with Yuzu began casually over a sour citrus and candy obsession as a young child. It developed more formally in 2020, with the launch of his brand's yuzu-inspired candled, featured in in media on publications such as Snaxshot and Vogue and locally in LA boutiques, such as Lady White Co. Griffin joins Justin to discuss this new fast-growing brand.

Straight forward, independent, no-nonsense advice is not easy to find. This is a must-read book for every budding and existing coffee shop entrepreneur. Andrew & Claire Bowen opened their first franchised coffee shop in 2007, after leaving senior roles in retail and healthcare. Within eighteen months they had opened three outlets and had over £1m turnover. In 2011 they developed their own independent format, which they continue to run. They support coffee shop owners worldwide as founders of Café Success Hub. They join Justin to discuss coffee shops and more!

For most of her life, Wendy Liebmann has been passionate about the convergence of consumers, shopping and retail. It's why she founded WSL, to help companies build their retail strategies by understanding and staying intimately in touch with shoppers, how they live their lives and how they spend. The goal, then and now, is to get retailers out of their ivory towers to meet shoppers on the selling floor, whether that floor is physical or digital. It's all about staying close to shoppers everyday to understand and satisfy their changing needs and wants. Wendy joins Justin to discuss the retail industry!

Solobo Toys is a Montessori-inspired educational children's toy company owned and operated by neurodivergent parents. Their products are designed to emphasize simplicity while encouraging exceptional learning. The owners of Solobo are Daniel & Courtney, a husband and wife team. They are also parents to two amazing children. Daniel is an ADHDer & Courtney is Autistic, ADHD, and OCD. They utilize sensory play, AAC, Montessori, and gentle parenting in their own family. They both feel it's important to encourage a child's individuality and meet them where they are. Courtney Peebles joins Justin to discuss this inspiring and growing toy brand!

Nana's is a family-oriented, Louisiana/Maryland style diner. Their goal is to provide fresh, hot, and comforting food that will make you feel at home while giving you a little peek inside the cuisine of Louisiana and Maryland. Owner Kelli Ferrell joins Justin to discuss this hot restaurant concept!

The Western Michigan University food marketing program will prepare you for many roles within the industry and provide the necessary tools for a successful career. Food marketing graduates are heavily recruited by leading firms in both retail and consumer goods. The program includes professional development, leadership, community service, networking and job search preparation. Russell Zwanka, director of the program, joins Justin to discuss this leading industry university program.