Startup To Scale

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across channels like retail, DTC, and Amazon, and how to manage inventory — including what to do about spoilage and outdated products.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.

Today we’re into the behind-the-scenes journey of taking a beloved cult-favorite product from small-batch to store shelves across the country. I’m joined by the Justin Oleesky, COO of Coconut Cult, a brand that’s made waves in the probiotic space with its ultra-potent coconut yogurt—and a company that’s learned a lot about what it takes to scale into national distribution without losing your mind.

We’ll explore the operational challenges that come with growing fast: managing complex retailer requirements, staying resilient through economic uncertainty and tariffs, and keeping logistics on track when your systems start to buckle under volume. You’ll also hear how they chose CRSTL as their EDI partner, what makes CRSTL different from other providers, and how that decision transformed their backend operations—saving time, reducing errors, and unlocking growth.

Whether you're just starting to think about wholesale or already in retail and feeling the pressure of scale, this episode is packed with actionable lessons for founders, COOs, and operations leads alike.

Sponsored by CRSTL

Crstl is the smarter way to EDI. Get 25% off your entire first year and onboarded to any trading partner in 2 weeks or less. No complex setups, no delays—just fast, reliable, automated EDI at the lowest total cost of ownership. E-mail [email protected]

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 dive deep into how brands can succeed selling to Sprouts Market, one of the premier national natural channel retailers. I’m joined by Luke Abbott, founder of VDriven, a CPG growth consultancy that works closely with Sprouts.

You’ll learn about how to succeed in Sprouts generally and in their innovation set.

Want to work with VDriven to launch in Sprouts? E-mail us at [email protected] to get an introduction.

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.

The cash conversion cycle is one of the most challenging things to manage in a CPG business. Join me as I talk with Samantha Abramson, CEO of Just Date as she shares her exact process including:

• Using AION to fund her working capital needs
• Her Weekly Cashflow Management Process
• How She Budgets

You can get a free AION bank account and access AR financing for your business here

Sponsored by Aion.

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.