In this episode, I sit down with Sabrina Kautz, a fractional CMO who helps emerging food and beverage brands grow their retail footprint. With a sharp focus on Whole Foods, Sabrina shares tactical strategies to drive sustained velocity—from in-store marketing to managing buyer relationships and executing demo programs that actually convert.

We cover:

• Why velocity matters more than ever at Whole Foods
• What new brands get wrong about retail marketing
• How to evaluate the ROI of promotions, demos, and field marketing
• Building a retail strategy that scales beyond your launch

If you're on shelves at Whole Foods or planning to be soon, this is a must-listen.

Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy, an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CPG founders to great resources and partners to grow their business. Visit us at Foodbevy.com to learn about becoming a member or an industry partner today.

 Angie Kaminky launched Minky Muffins just months before giving birth—and never stopped moving. 

In this episode, we dive into the reality of launching a food brand while navigating parenthood, production challenges, and early retail wins. A must-listen for founder-parents balancing growth and grit. 

Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy, an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CPG founders to great resources and partners to grow their business. Visit us at Foodbevy.com to learn about becoming a member or an industry partner today.

When I launched my first brand, I made the mistake a lot of founders do—I built the entire brand around a hero ingredient. We were called TeaSquares, and yep, the name locked us into tea and a square shape, which made it tough to grow beyond our initial idea.

In this episode, I’m joined by Adam Feller, founder of Avidity Creative, to talk about why leading with your ingredient can actually hurt your CPG brand. We unpack how to focus your messaging on what customers actually care about—and it’s usually not chickpeas or apple cider vinegar.

We get into:

• The real reason people buy your product (hint: it’s not the label)
• How packaging can shape perception and drive trial
• Why “better-for-you” isn’t a brand—it's a baseline
• Tactical tips for testing your messaging in stores, at markets, and online

If you’re ready to move from niche to next-level, this one’s for you.

Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy, an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CPG founders to great resources and partners to grow their business. Visit us at Foodbevy.com to learn about becoming a member or an industry partner today.

Tariffs have been top of mind for every CPG founder I talk to—including myself. In this episode, I’m joined once again by my friend and frequent guest Yuval Selik, co-founder and CEO of Promomash, to unpack how tariff pressures are impacting our businesses beyond just the bottom line.

We dive into how tariffs are exposing hidden inefficiencies in supply chains, why blindly raising prices can damage your brand, and how distributor deductions can quietly drain your profits. Yuval shares his own story of navigating economic shocks, including the collapse of his brand during the 2008 financial crisis, and what founders can do now to build stronger, more resilient businesses.

If you’re running a CPG brand and feeling the pressure from rising costs, supply chain disruptions, or confusing chargebacks, this conversation is a must-listen.

Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy, an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CPG founders to great resources and partners to grow their business. Visit us at Foodbevy.com to learn about becoming a member or an industry partner today.

Accounting for beverage brands isn’t just about balancing the books — it’s about understanding the unique financial challenges that come with scaling a physical product business. In this episode, I sit down with Jessica Howes, founder of Wizard Accounting, to unpack the essentials of CPG accounting tailored specifically for beverage brands.

Jessica shares her insights on how to properly account for co-manufacturer fees like tolling and setup charges, how to calculate true gross margin across channels like retail, DTC, and Amazon, and how to manage inventory — including what to do about spoilage and outdated products. She also breaks down common accounting mistakes she sees early-stage beverage brands make, and offers one simple but powerful change founders can make today to boost their financial health.

Whether you're just getting started or looking to tighten up your financial operations, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you run a smarter, more sustainable beverage business.

Looking for a new accountant? e-mail [email protected] for an introduction to Jessica.

Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy, an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CPG founders to great resources and partners to grow their business. Visit us at Foodbevy.com to learn about becoming a member or an industry partner today.

Mallory Patton, co-founder of Saint Spritz, shares how her team turned a post-vacation craving into a fast-growing RTD aperitivo brand.

 Learn how they launched with no beverage experience, landed retail deals with Target and Total Wine, and built a standout brand through design, family, and focus.

Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy, an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CPG founders to great resources and partners to grow their business. Visit us at Foodbevy.com to learn about becoming a member or an industry partner today.

If you're a CPG founder in 2025, Amazon isn’t optional—it’s foundational. But selling on Amazon today looks nothing like it did even a year ago.

Joining me are Shayan and Rafay, co-founders of Boost Up AMZ, who’ve helped scale dozens of consumer brands on the platform. In this episode, we break down exactly what you need to know to stay competitive—from the latest policy changes and rising fees, to the strategies separating top-performing brands from those getting buried in search.

We also debunk some of the biggest myths around Amazon advertising—and what most founders get wrong.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by Amazon’s complexity, or you’re wondering how to actually make it profitable, this conversation is your roadmap.

Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy, an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CPG founders to great resources and partners to grow their business. Visit us at Foodbevy.com to learn about becoming a member or an industry partner today.

Landing a large retail or corporate order can be a breakthrough moment for your CPG brand—but it can also put a major strain on your cash flow. In this episode of Startup to Scale, we’re joined by Rohit Mathur, founder of Bridge, to break down how purchase order financing can help founders bridge the gap between opportunity and execution.

We discuss why PO financing is often a critical lifeline for emerging brands, how it works behind the scenes, what lenders look for, and the key cash flow challenges you should plan for when scaling production. Rohit shares real-world examples, actionable insights, and tips to help you fulfill big orders without draining your working capital.

Whether you’re preparing for your first retail rollout or managing growing demand, this episode will help you deliver with confidence.

Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy, an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CPG founders to great resources and partners to grow their business. Visit us at Foodbevy.com to learn about becoming a member or an industry partner today.

In this episode I’m joined by a true pioneer in the world of organic CPG—Matt McLean, the founder of Uncle Matt’s Organic.

Matt’s journey is a masterclass in scaling with integrity. From navigating the complexities of retail and supply chains to staying ahead of evolving consumer trends, Matt has built a mission-driven brand that’s not only profitable—but principled. He sold his company to Dean Foods, just to buy it back 2 years later when the acquirer went bankrupt.

If you care about sustainability, business leadership, and the real story behind building an iconic brand in a crowded market, this episode is for you.

So grab a glass of OJ and let’s dive in.

Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy, an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CPG founders to great resources and partners to grow their business. Visit us at Foodbevy.com to learn about becoming a member or an industry partner today.

 In this episode, I sit down with Brad Ebenhoeh, co-founder of Accountfully, to unpack how CPG brands can build strong financial foundations to withstand tariffs, inflation, and whatever economic curveballs come their way. Brad shares practical strategies for cash flow management, margin protection, and forecasting so founders can stay resilient even in uncertain times. Whether you’re sourcing internationally or scaling into retail, this conversation will help you sharpen your numbers and make smarter financial decisions—before it’s too late. 

Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy, an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CPG founders to great resources and partners to grow their business. Visit us at Foodbevy.com to learn about becoming a member or an industry partner today.