Reconnected Podcast: Episode with Bryan Reed

In this episode, Luke Abbott sits down with Bryan Reed, Sr. Director of Grocery & Wellness at Mother's Market, to discuss his 25+ year journey in the natural foods industry—from bagging groceries at 15 to leading strategy at one of the most respected natural food retailers.

Key topics covered:
🎧 Career Journey: Bryan’s path from Henry’s and Jimbo’s to Mother’s Market.
🎧 Industry Evolution: How natural food retail has changed over the years.
🎧 Private Label and Wellness: Expanding product lines and meeting customer needs.
🎧 COVID-19 Impact: Streamlining inventory and adapting to supply chain challenges.
🎧 Future Strategy: Balancing service, product quality, and online fulfillment.

Bryan’s deep industry knowledge, strategic mindset, and passion for natural foods make this a must-listen for anyone in the CPG and retail space. 🙌 

In this episode, Luke Abbott sits down with Alex Malamatinas, Founder and Managing Partner of Melitas Ventures, the go-to VC firm for better-for-you consumer brands.

With a background in finance and a lifelong connection to CPG, Alex shares how he transitioned from investing in large public companies to backing innovative early-stage brands like Dose, Abbot’s Butcher, and Dream Pops.

Key topics covered:
⭐ From Finance to CPG Venture Capital: How Alex’s experience at Morgan Stanley and hedge funds led him to launch Melitas Ventures in 2018.
⭐ Investment Strategy: What Alex looks for in founders, product-market fit, and capital-efficient growth.
⭐ Portfolio Insights: Why Melitas Ventures invested in brands like Olipop and MUD WTR.
⭐ Daily Life as an Investor: Balancing portfolio company involvement, industry events, and life as a new dad.

If you're interested in the future of food and beverage innovation, this episode offers insights from one of the industry's top investors.

Listen now to learn from Alex’s experience in building and scaling better-for-you brands!

#ReconnectedPodcast #MelitasVentures #CPG #Investor

Dive into the world of brand strategy and channel marketing with Steve Gaither, Founder of Architect CPG, a Brand strategy and outsourced CMO company. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Steve has helped brands like Real Good Foods, Smith Foods, and Mush achieve market success.

Key discussion points include:

• Steve’s approach to understanding the 4Cs (company, category, competition, consumer) and leveraging data-driven decision-making.
• Tactics for TikTok, Amazon, DTC, and retail shopper marketing, including budget allocation and measuring performance.
• Why sales matter more than followers and the benefits of integrating organic and paid content.
• Tips for creating effective packaging that resonates with consumers and stands out on the shelf.

Steve’s practical, data-first perspective offers actionable takeaways for brands looking to scale and stand out in a competitive market.

LISTEN now to learn from a CPG expert shaping the future of brand strategy!

In this episode, Luke reconnects with Jeremy Isenberg, President of Chex Finer Foods, a third-generation family business serving retailers from the Northeast to Florida. With 23 years in the company, Jeremy shares insights into preserving a family legacy while navigating the ever-changing food industry.

Key discussion points include:

• How Jeremy’s grandfather and father shaped the values of Checks Fine Art Foods.
• The art of fostering trusted relationships with customers and suppliers.
• Insights into industry evolution, customer consolidation, and maintaining service excellence during challenges like COVID-19.
• How to effectively empower teams, ensuring work-life balance, and giving back to the community.

Jeremy’s dedication to his team, family, and community shines through in this conversation, offering valuable lessons for entrepreneurs and leaders alike.

Don’t miss this inspiring story of legacy, resilience, and leadership—LISTEN now!

Join us as Luke sits down with Dave Hirschkop, the award-winning entrepreneur and founder of Dave’s Gourmet, who revolutionized the hot sauce and pasta sauce industries. From creating the iconic Insanity Sauce to building an internationally recognized brand, Dave’s story is one of creativity, resilience, and innovation.

Key topics covered in this episode include:

• Dave’s unique approach to building a profitable business without outside investment.
• How stunts like live scorpions at trade shows captured media attention and made his brand unforgettable.
• Dave’s innovative approach to product development, like introducing butternut squash pasta sauce to a crowded market.
• Why Dave decided to sell his business after 30 years and how he found the right buyer.

Dave’s journey offers invaluable lessons for entrepreneurs, innovators, and anyone looking to make their mark in the CPG industry.

Don’t miss this insightful and inspiring episode—watch now!

Reconnected Podcast with Frank Schuck

Join Luke Abbott as he sits down with Frank Schuck, a Grocery Merchandiser at PCC, the nation's largest food co-op. Frank shares his journey from the specialty food stores of New York City to leading roles at Whole Foods and beyond.

In this episode, Frank talks about:

• How and where his passion for cheese and specialty foods born.
• The transformation he has been through, and how he adopted a plant-based diet.
• The evolution of natural and organic food retail and its shift toward transparency, sustainability, and high-quality products.
• The challenges and opportunities in the food industry, from supply chain fragility to supporting local producers.
• How PCC makes decisions about personalized curation of product categories.

Don’t miss this episode—listen now!

Tune in to the Reconnected Podcast, hosted by Luke Abbott with Dan Altschuler, Managing Partner and Co-Founder at Unovis Asset Management, as he shares his journey as an impact investor focused on transforming food systems. In this episode, they dive deep into the journeys of entrepreneurs, investors, and changemakers. 

Dan’s professional journey began in banking in Mexico, where he worked with large food corporations. Later, he managed a logistics firm, gaining experience with CPG and food service companies. Dan launched his own CPG venture, Bodhi Natural Snacks, which turned into a five-year "roller coaster" of entrepreneurship. Throughout that experience, he faced nearly every challenge imaginable, making plenty of mistakes but walking away with invaluable lessons.

Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

• Dan's Path to Impact Investing: Dan opens up about their time running Bodhi Natural Snacks, a 5-year entrepreneurial rollercoaster that was filled with hard-earned lessons.
• Partnership with Chris Kerr: Learn about Dan's collaboration with Chris Kerr, Executive Vice President of Supply Chain and Strategic Sourcing and seasoned investor in early-stage companies.
• Investment Philosophy: Dive into Dan's approach to investing—what criteria does he look for in entrepreneurs and businesses? How does his philosophy drive his sense of purpose?
• Challenges for Emerging Brands: Explore the challenges Dan has seen in emerging brands, particularly in navigating the complexities of distribution and scaling. What advice does he offer to founders aiming to make a significant impact?

Tune in and hear how forward-thinking entrepreneurs and investors are shaping the future of food through innovation and purpose-driven action.

Tune in to the Reconnected Podcast, where Luke Abbott sits down with Justin Jackson, the COO of Jimbo's—one of the leading Markets in the Natural Space! Starting at just 10 years old, Justin began his career path in a small grocery store in Boston, eventually moving into specialty food retail during his late teens. Today, Justin is focused on refreshing the brand, optimizing operations, and building a solid merchant team. Under his leadership, Jimbo's is not just staying ahead of the curve but redefining what it means to be a leader in natural and organic retail.

Here are some topics covered in this podcast:

• Sustainability and change in the food industry.
• The evolution of the grocery industry and the importance of staying true to one's mission and values.
• Building business partnerships and the challenges in the natural food industry.
• Understanding the needs of each link in the supply chain to ensure successful delivery of products to end users.

Tune in today!

In this episode of Reconnected, host Luke Abbott sits with Jenny Eu, founder of Three Trees Foods, a leading brand in plant-based milk. Jenny shares her entrepreneurial journey, starting at farmers' markets and bootstrapping her way into a national brand.

Inspired by her grandmother's independence and love for nature, as well as her father's seamless blend of work and personal life, Jenny developed a deep passion for clean, nourishing foods. As a mother of two, she has been leading Three Trees with intention and dedication.

Some of the topics Jenny and Luke talked about are:

• Profitability and smart growth
• Balancing business and family life
• How to bring innovation forward
• The challenges of distribution and working with brokers and national distributors as an independent brand.

Tune in to hear Jenny Eu's inspiring story and insights into plant-based food entrepreneurship!

In this episode, Luke Abbott is joined by Dwight Richmond, Director of the Center Store at Town & Country Markets, who has 30 years of experience in the grocery retail industry. Dwight's career in the food industry began fresh out of college, working in grocery stores, and progressed through roles at Freshfields (later Whole Foods), Dean and DeLuca, K Foods, and eventually leading him to Town and Country Markets, where he currently oversees a team and their private label program. His journey was influenced by his family's legacy in the food industry and included significant experience in both retail and distribution.

Some of the topics Luke and Dwight covered in this episode include:

• Strategies for young brands to succeed in conventional retail environments.
• Challenges and strategies in seasonal retail operations.
• Importance of local sourcing and quality in product development.
• Navigating the dynamics between specialty and natural food stores.
• Authenticity and customer-centric branding in grocery retail.
• Insights into managing and developing a private label program.