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When Hannah Awada moved to China, she expected to leave her career as a high school history teacher behind—not start a hummus business out of her kitchen window. What began as a side project serving expats quickly evolved into a fast-growing brand, leading Hannah to launch Hummus Goodness upon her return to the US.
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In Episode 59 of Recipe to Revenue, host Leah Messina talks with Hannah Awada, founder of Hummus Goodness. Hannah shares her incredible journey from selling hummus through a WeChat group in Shanghai to managing massive purchase orders from national retailers like Meijer. She explains the mechanics of scaling production, transitioning from a church kitchen to strategic co-manufacturing, and executing a major rebrand to ensure her product stands out in a crowded market.

Listen to learn:

🌎 How Hannah launched and grew a food business in a foreign market using unconventional distribution methods 
🥣 The importance of authentic, clean-label ingredients in distinguishing a brand in a highly saturated category 
📦 The operational challenges of moving from self-manufacturing to a co-packer to handle scaling retail demand 
📈 How a strategic rebrand brought the brand’s vibrant personality to life and boosted retail visibility 
🛒 Navigating retail expansion and building lasting partnerships with major grocers

Whether you are trying to break into the CPG space or scaling an established food brand, Hannah breaks down the exact plays needed to build a resilient and predictable revenue engine.

Learn more about Hummus Goodness:
🌐 https://www.hummusgoodness.com/

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Intercontinental Beverage Capital: https://inbevcapital.com/
Sinuate Media: https://sinuatemedia.com/

#recipetorevenue #hummusgoodness #cpg #foodbusiness #retailstrategy #entrepreneurship #brandbuilding #womeninbusiness #foodinnovation

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Living with severe food intolerances and IBS made dining out nearly impossible for Christina Glentis and her husband. Instead of accepting a highly restricted diet, they launched Foddies Foods to make delicious, allergy-friendly, low-FODMAP meals accessible to everyone.
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In Episode 58 of Recipe to Revenue, host Leah Messina talks with Christina Glentis, co-founder of Foddies Foods and a Shark Tank Australia alumna. Christina shares her incredible entrepreneurial journey of building a specialty food brand in Australia and successfully navigating the complex expansion into the United States. She explains the mechanics of scaling internationally, adapting to new consumer tastes, and managing global manufacturing.

Listen to learn:

🌍 The strategic playbook for expanding a niche food brand from Australia to the US market 
🍔 How to adapt product development and flavor profiles to match American consumer tastes 
📋 Navigating the complex regulatory and manufacturing differences between international food markets 
🦈 What it takes to pitch on Shark Tank Australia and scale a specialized CPG company 
💡 Why solving your own problem and staying relentlessly passionate is the ultimate recipe for success

Whether you are formulating a specialty health product or looking to take your regional brand global, Christina breaks down the exact plays needed to build a predictable revenue engine.

Learn more about Foddies Foods:
🌐 https://www.foddies.com/
📱 Krissi App: https://krissi.app/
📖 Cookbook: https://geni.us/AlwaysDelicious

🚀 Learn More About Our Sponsors:
Intercontinental Beverage Capital: https://inbevcapital.com/
Sinuate Media: https://sinuatemedia.com/

#recipetorevenue #foddiesfoods #lowfodmap #allergyfriendly #foodinnovation #internationalexpansion #cpgmarket #entrepreneurship

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The nightlife and entertainment industry is undergoing a massive cultural shift as more consumers embrace sober curiosity. Recognizing a glaring gap in the market for premium alcohol alternatives, John Maloney set out to create a beverage brand that challenges traditional perceptions of fun and moderation.
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In Episode 57 of Recipe to Revenue, host Leah Messina talks with John Maloney, co-founder of Dirty Virgin. John shares the startup journey behind developing a non-alcoholic beverage specifically tailored for nightlife venues. He explains the mechanics of product iteration, brand development, and how to successfully build strategic relationships with venues and consumers.

Listen to learn:

🍸 How to identify and capitalize on market gaps in the non-alcoholic beverage space 
🧪 The mechanics of product iteration and developing a beverage tailored for entertainment venues 
🤝 Strategies for building strong, lasting relationships with nightlife operators and consumers 
📉 Navigating the startup journey and the unique challenges of beverage innovation 
🎉 How to build a brand that successfully challenges cultural perceptions of fun and moderation

Whether you are launching a new beverage brand or looking to tap into the sober-curious market, John breaks down the exact plays needed to build a predictable revenue engine.

Learn more about Dirty Virgin:
🌐  https://drinkdirtyvirgin.com/

🚀 Learn More About Our Sponsors:
Intercontinental Beverage Capital: https://inbevcapital.com/
Sinuate Media: https://sinuatemedia.com/

#recipetorevenue #nonalcoholic #nightlife #beverageinnovation #sobercurious #brandbuilding #entrepreneurship #dirtyvirgin

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Spending over 25 years as a snack innovator for some of the largest CPG companies gave Dr. Juan Salinas deep insight into the food industry. Combining his expertise in food science with his experience as a professional natural bodybuilder, he realized the market was missing a truly nutritious option and decided to launch P-nuff Crunch.
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In this episode of Recipe to Revenue, host Leah Messina talks with Dr. Juan Salinas, founder and CEO of Perfect Life Nutrition. Juan shares his journey from corporate food scientist to successful entrepreneur. He explains the mechanics of formulating a navy bean and peanut-based protein puff, scaling the business, and securing an investment from Mark Cuban on ABC's Shark Tank.

Listen to learn:

🦈 How pitching on Shark Tank and landing a deal with Mark Cuban accelerated business growth 
🥜 The food science behind creating a healthy, protein-packed puff snack 
🏢 Why transitioning from a corporate product developer to a startup founder requires a massive mindset shift 
📈 The operational playbook for building credibility and scaling a health snack brand 
🏋️‍♂️ How combining sports nutrition with product innovation leads to a unique market advantage

Whether you are trying to innovate in the food space or looking to pitch your business on national television, Juan breaks down the exact plays needed to build a predictable revenue engine.

Learn more about P-nuff Crunch:
🌐 https://www.pnuff.com/

🚀 Learn More About Our Sponsors:
Intercontinental Beverage Capital: https://inbevcapital.com/
Sinuate Media: https://sinuatemedia.com/

#recipetorevenue #pnuffcrunch #sharktank #foodscience #sportsnutrition #entrepreneurship #healthsnacks #productdevelopment

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Bridging mechanical engineering, corporate finance, and operations for food industry giants gave Omar Atia a unique blueprint for modern food innovation. When he realized how difficult it was to find genuinely healthy, zero-carb foods that actually taste good, he leveraged food science, secured strategic patents, and built high-level manufacturing partnerships to launch ZeroCarb LYFE.
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In this episode of Recipe to Revenue, host Leah Messina talks with Omar Atia, co-founder and CEO of ZeroCarb LYFE. Omar shares his journey of developing a revolutionary protein-based pizza crust made from chicken breast and scaling it across commercial kitchens and retail. He explains the mechanics of protecting a food innovation through intellectual property and how to successfully navigate strategic co-manufacturing partnerships to drive massive growth.

Listen to learn:

🍕 How Omar applied his engineering and food industry background to create a zero-carb, protein-packed pizza crust 
🛡️ The exact strategies for securing patents and protecting your intellectual property in the food space 
🤝 How to vet and build highly scalable, strategic co-manufacturing partnerships 
⚖️ The food science behind perfectly balancing nutritional value with incredible taste and texture 
📈 The playbook for scaling a specialized food product from commercial food service into direct-to-consumer and retail channels

Whether you are developing a unique food technology or looking to scale your manufacturing operations, Omar breaks down the exact plays needed to build a defensible and predictable revenue engine.

Learn more about ZeroCarb LYFE:
🌐 https://zerocarblyfe.com/

🚀 Learn More About Our Sponsors:
Intercontinental Beverage Capital: https://inbevcapital.com/
Sinuate Media: https://sinuatemedia.com/

#recipetorevenue #zerocarblyfe #foodinnovation #foodscience #foodpatents #lowcarb #productdevelopment #healthyeating #entrepreneurship

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After pioneering health and wellness strategies as the first nutritionist for Starbucks, Katie Thomson became a mom and noticed a glaring problem in the baby food aisle. The market was dominated by fruit-heavy pouches that lacked balanced nutrition, prompting her to create a fresh, science-led solution for parents.
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In this episode of Recipe to Revenue, host Leah Messina talks with Katie Thomson, co-founder and CEO of Square Baby. Katie shares her journey from corporate nutrition to launching a national direct-to-consumer baby food brand. She explains the mechanics of developing veggie-forward meals that meet USDA guidelines and how offering an early allergen introduction menu can help prevent severe food allergies.

Listen to learn:

☕ How Katie transitioned from Starbucks' first dietitian to a baby food entrepreneur 
🥦 The science behind creating meals with half the sugar and twice the protein of most pouches 
🥜 Why introducing the top eight allergens early is critical for food allergy prevention 
🏆 The rigorous process of testing for heavy metals and earning the Clean Label Project Purity Award 
📦 Navigating the logistics of sustainable packaging and nationwide frozen delivery

Whether you are launching a direct-to-consumer brand or looking to disrupt an established industry, Katie breaks down the exact plays needed to build a purpose-driven and predictable revenue engine.

Learn more about Square Baby:
🌐 https://squarebaby.com/

🚀 Learn More About Our Sponsors:
Intercontinental Beverage Capital: https://inbevcapital.com/
Sinuate Media: https://sinuatemedia.com/

#recipetorevenue #babyfood #nutrition #entrepreneurship #squarebaby #earlyallergenintroduction #directtoconsumer #innovation #sustainablepackaging 

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The hospitality industry is experiencing a massive evolution, and navigating the post pandemic landscape requires an entirely new playbook.
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In Episode 53 of Recipe to Revenue, host Leah Messina talks with Seth Alexander from Barrel Aged Management. Seth shares deep insights into how the hospitality sector is adapting to shifting margins and a transformed talent pool. He explores the mechanics of using food and beverage as the heartbeat of hotel development and reveals how artificial intelligence is changing the way operators target and serve their guests.

Listen to learn:

🛎️ How the pandemic permanently reshaped the hospitality talent pool 
🍽️ Why food and beverage programs act as the development heartbeat for modern hotels 
📊 Strategies for adapting financial formulas and profit margins in a shifting market 
🎯 The critical importance of precise market targeting and anticipating guest needs 
🤖 How artificial intelligence and data analytics are revolutionizing hotel operations and strategy

Whether you manage a single boutique property or oversee a portfolio of hotels, Seth breaks down the exact plays needed to build a resilient and predictable revenue engine.

Learn more about Barrel Aged Management
🌐https://www.barrelagedmgmt.com/

🚀 Learn More About Our Sponsors:
Intercontinental Beverage Capital: https://inbevcapital.com/
Sinuate Media: https://sinuatemedia.com/

#recipetorevenue #hospitality #hotelmanagement #artificialintelligence #foodandbeverage #hospitalitystrategy #hoteldevelopment

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After a successful career in luxury automotive marketing, Sean Lenihan experienced a life-changing shift when he started researching the food he was feeding his family. His quest for clean, 100% grass-fed meat led him to launch his own e-commerce business and redefine transparency in the food industry.
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In Episode 52 of Recipe to Revenue, host Leah Messina talks with Sean Lenihan, founder of The Honest Bison. Sean shares his incredible journey from marketing luxury cars to navigating the complex world of sustainable agriculture. He breaks down the mechanics of building a trust-first e-commerce brand and shares the exact logistics required to successfully ship frozen, perishable goods nationwide.

Listen to learn:

🚗 How Sean pivoted from luxury marketing to launching a premium, sustainable meat company
🧊 The operational playbook for overcoming the complexities of shipping perishable goods on dry ice
🤝 Why building a "100-year brand" requires an uncompromising commitment to trust and transparency
🥩 The cultural shift toward "food as medicine" and what it means for the future of agriculture
📈 How to leverage digital marketing and branding to build a loyal e-commerce customer base

Whether you are launching a direct-to-consumer brand or looking to optimize a complex supply chain, Sean breaks down the exact plays needed to build a predictable revenue engine.

Learn more about The Honest Bison
🌐 https://www.thehonestbison.com/

🚀 Learn More About Our Sponsors:
Intercontinental Beverage Capital: https://inbevcapital.com/
Sinuate Media: https://sinuatemedia.com/

#recipetorevenue #sustainableagriculture #foodasmedicine #ecommerce #supplychain #foodindustry #thehonestbison #entrepreneurship 

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After spending eight years climbing the ranks from account rep to president, Denise Ramon made the ultimate leap and bought the company. Her strategic vision involves scaling the brand through direct retail relationships and an unwavering commitment to clean-label ingredients.
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In this episode of Recipe to Revenue, host Leah Messina talks with Denise Ramon, owner of 2 Sisters' Salsa Co. Denise shares her unique journey of acquiring an established CPG brand and the hard-won lessons she learned while scaling it in major retailers. She explains the mechanics of temporarily pausing retail brokers to master the grocery business firsthand and build direct relationships with category buyers.

Listen to learn:

🛒 What transitioning from an employee to buying and scaling an established CPG brand looks like
🤝 How putting retail brokers on pause helped them master the grocery business
🚫 The costly mistake of bypassing a category manager and getting banned from a store
📉 The importance of closely monitoring purchase orders to prevent warehouse chargebacks
🍅 How clean-label ingredients and in-store promotions stand out in a crowded premium salsa market

Whether you are trying to break into your first grocery store or looking to optimize an existing retail strategy, Denise breaks down the exact plays needed to build a predictable revenue engine.

Learn more about 2 Sisters’ Salsa:
🌐 www.2sisterssalsa.com

🚀 Learn More About Our Sponsors:
Intercontinental Beverage Capital: https://inbevcapital.com/
Sinuate Media: https://sinuatemedia.com/

#recipetorevenue #cpg #foodbusiness #retailstrategy #entrepreneurship #salsa #brandbuilding #supplychain

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After a twenty-year career as an international civil servant, Cynthia Coutu faced an unexpected career crossroads at age fifty. Her solution involved pursuing her passion for wine, getting her certification, and building a boutique wine tourism company.
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In this episode of Recipe to Revenue, host Leah Messina talks with Cynthia Coutu, founder of Delectabulles. Cynthia shares her journey from moving to Paris for an art history degree to launching a champagne networking club. She explains the mechanics of transitioning into a highly scalable, audience-based wine tourism model.

Listen to learn:

🍷 How a passion for wine and cheese turned into a specialization in champagne.
🥂 Why exclusively serving champagnes made by women sets Delectabulles apart.
🧘‍♀️ How bringing in activities like yoga and playing pétanque drives innovative educational events.
💻 The shift from a digital communications background to hosting online champagne tastings during the pandemic.
📈 The operational blueprint for listening to your audience to build a customer-centric business.

Whether you operate a new venture or want to scale an existing brand, Cynthia breaks down the exact plays needed to build a purposeful and predictable revenue engine.

Learn more about Delectabulles:
🌐 https://www.delectabulles.com/en/

🚀 Learn More About Our Sponsors:
Intercontinental Beverage Capital: https://inbevcapital.com/
Sinuate Media: https://sinuatemedia.com/

#recipetorevenue #foodtruck #stadiumonwheels #cateringbusiness #franchising #entrepreneurship #businessstrategy #foodbusiness #phoenixaz #scalingbusiness #foodandbeverage

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