CPG Vibes

This week we are LIVE with Mike Levinson, Founder of FS Octopus.

Mike brings 25+ years in foodservice/alternative channels and retail, with deep expertise in CPG distribution — aka how products actually move, not just how they look on a pitch deck.

He’s worked with startups and big brands, so he understands both the hustle and the scale. His FS Octopus approach breaks foodservice/alt. channel sales down to what really drives results: distribution, marketing, buyer relationships, and sharp brand positioning.

FS stands for Food Service and it's always an underlooked channel for CPG Brands - but not anymore!

IF you want to learn about the Food Service side of CPG - TUNE IN!

https://fsoctopus.com/

This week on CPG Vibes, We talk with Yuval Selik.

Yuval is the Co-Founder and CEO of Promomash and Host of the 7 Hats Podcast! Y

uval is a fantastic follow on LinkedIn where he drops CPG wisdom nearly daily with more than 20+ years of CPG leadership experience.

Promomash is the people + platform solution CPG brands rely on to achieve more in trade. Powered by CPGenius™, we help brands improve trade spend efficiency across trade promotion planning and execution, deduction management, and field marketing — combining purpose-built software with hands-on industry experts who work as an extension of your team.

http://promomash.com

http://the7hats.com/

This week, we will be talking CPG SHOP - everything and anything. We are one month out from Expo West - and finishing up the mini-tradeshow season of UNFI/KEHE/Fancy Faire etc!

This week we chat everything CPG! The start of trade show season is around the corner, category reviews are in full swing and are we in peak innovation?

This week we are LIVE chatting with Jomaree Pinkard, one of the co-founders and Chairman from Hella Cocktail and the founding member of INCLUDED CPG, a non profit committed to empowering entrepreneurs and leaders of color in the food and beverage industry!

Hella Cocktail Co. was established in 2011 by three curious friends, Jomaree Pinkard, Eddie Simeon, and Tobin Ludwig, who share a love of gathering, celebration, sharing knowledge, and of course, craft cocktailing.

Hella is a brand that makes botanically-inspired mixers and bar-quality beverages with all real ingredients and no fake stuff, ever.Jomaree is ACTIVE in life and business and we cannot wait to chat CPG and the NFL playoffs or mentorship!

Wade and Gavin will be catching up solo this week! Topics will be anything and everything CPG - focusing on Winter Fancy Faire in San Diego!

Some great conversation about Food Show follow up, tips, and suggestions.

This week WE are BACK after taking some time over the holidays! Wade and Gavin will be bringing on Shannon Peffley of CPG Xperience. Shannon has 20+ years in the CPG Industry from distribution to brand to now founding CPG Xperience. CPG Xperience is about bringing the industry together, brands, retailers and service providers to help emerging brands early on in their startup phase. Shannon will be diving into what makes this DIFFERENT from other tradeshows and events that are aleady out there and how his disruption will positively impact brands!

We're BACK after a few weeks away from Thanksgiving and work related events! This week we'll get insight from Wade on BevNet and talk about anything and everything CPG!

On this week's episode - Wade and Gavin chat with Jonathan Lawrence. Jonathan has an extensive background in retail, growing up in his family business, Arizona Health Foods, Sunflower Farmers Market, Sprouts and most recently an 11 year run at Fresh Thyme Market that featured several leadership positions!

Jonathan is now Vice President of Sales of Natural/Specialty at Advantage Solutions working with brands, retailers, and his team on maximizing penetration of brands in those retailers.

We talk all things retail, leading teams, opening stores, brokering and his guess on how many steak dinners Gavin ate and didn't pay for.

Gavin and Wade chat about all things CPG...some great discussion on Holiday/Seasonal buying, Retailer dos and don'ts, buyer etiquette and so much more. You don't want to miss this one!