In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Grace Kennedy speaks with Francesca Pittaluga, founder of Ciao Pappy, a premium Italifornia pasta sauce brand that blends the culinary traditions of Italy with the fresh, vibrant spirit of California.

Francesca shares her entrepreneurial journey from a career in fashion to building a fast-growing CPG brand rooted in family heritage, clean ingredients, and strong storytelling.

Gain insight into the early days of launching Ciao Pappy, the strategic decisions behind product development and retail placement, and the challenges of scaling production while maintaining quality. Francesca also discusses the importance of community support, finding the right partners, and staying focused on sustainable, regional growth before national expansion.

This episode is a must-listen for emerging founders navigating the food and beverage space or anyone interested in building a purpose-driven brand.

Listen in as they share about:

• The Origin of Ciao Pappy
• Blending Cultures through Food
• Early Growth and Strategy
• Product Development
• Retail and Distribution Strategy
• Manufacturing and Co-Packing Challenges
• Community and Resources
• Funding and Growth Challenges

Episode Links:

Website: https://www.ciaopappy.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesca-pittaluga-983170261/ 

Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.

Show Links:

• Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)
• Join the Startup CPG Slack community (20K+ members and growing!)
• Follow @startupcpg
• Visit host Grace's Linkedin 
• Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at [email protected]
• Episode music by Super Fantastics