Gardar Stefansson is the CEO and Co-founder of GOOD GOOD, a CPG brand offering all-natural and low-calorie jams, butters, and spreads with no added sugar. In his role, Gardar oversees daily operations and establishes a cross-country network. After noticing most food options were high in sugar or contained artificial sweeteners, he founded the brand to offer tasty and nutritious alternatives. Before launching GOOD GOOD, Gardar co-founded two artisan salt companies.  In this episode… With diabetes becoming a global epidemic, people are searching for sugar substitutes and alternatives to sug ..read more

Bob Burke is the Principal of Natural Products Consulting, a consulting firm specializing in bringing natural, organic, and specialty products to market across all channels. The firm has worked with companies such as Annie’s, Oregon Chai, Kraft, and many others. He is also the co-author and co-publisher of the Natural Products Field Manual. Bob serves on multiple advisory boards for companies, including Wildgood, Fancypants Bakery, and the Nutrition Business Journal.  As an expert in marketing natural, organic, and specialty products, he was named one of the “Top 25 Business Builders of t ..read more

Alex Bayer is the Co-founder and CEO of Genius Juice, the world’s first all-organic plant-based smoothie made from coconuts. After a friend offered him an organic coconut smoothie, he founded Genius Juice in 2014 with the goal of helping people reach higher levels of health and happiness. Before co-founding the smoothie brand, Alex served as the director of marketing and social media for VirginRaw Foods and the director and fundraising manager for nonprofit Karaoke For a Cure. In this episode… In a volatile economy, CPG brands face challenges scaling, generating profits, and boosting product v ..read more

Cygne Cooper is the Co-founder and Chief Brand Officer at hiyo, a brand producing stress-relieving social tonics crafted with natural adaptogens, nootropics, and functional botanicals. As a creative director and brand strategist, she has experience building thoughtful and impactful brands and creative assets for the media, entertainment, lifestyle, and fashion industries. Cygne has worked with notable brands, including The Miss Universe Organization, New York Fashion Week, and Pure Foods.  Evan Quinn is the Co-founder and CEO of hiyo. After a family member was hospitalized for alcoholism ..read more

Jenna Liut is the Chief Commercial Officer and Co-founder of Kiddiwinks, a plant-based prebiotic milk for kids. As a marketing and business development specialist, she has experience in food and agriculture systems, storytelling, consumer behavior, and early-stage startup operations. Before Kiddiwinks, Jenna hosted the Eating Matters podcast and was the VP of Product at Ambrosia, a startup fighting food waste.  In this episode… Plant-based milk has been sweeping the market over the past 5-10 years as more consumers develop dairy intolerances. However, options like almond and oat milk lack ..read more

Ashley Nickelson is the Founder and CEO of B.T.R. Nation, which produces on-the-go, better-for-you snacks that reimagine typical vending machine food. B.T.R. Nation has tens of thousands of customers nationwide and is distributed in over 600 stores. After her parents were diagnosed with cancer, Ashley became their primary caretaker and spent years eating out of hospital vending machines and cafeterias. With a background in biochemistry and food studies, she began making protein-packed plant-based snacks.  In this episode… With many consumers becoming more health-conscious, the market is s ..read more

Jennifer Liao is the Co-founder of Xiao Chi Jie (XCJ), a direct-to-consumer food company specializing in authentic Chinese street food. As a second-generation Asian American, she founded the brand with her husband to connect with family history and create new and genuine representations of their experiences as multicultural individuals. XCJ’s mission is to create widespread awareness for the inclusion of Chinese food and culture in America and to empower other Asian Americans to explore their identities. In this episode… Direct-to-consumer (DTC) marketing as a CPG brand can be profitable, as i ..read more

Chris Kirby is the Founder and President of Ithaca Hummus, the leading fresh-crafted hummus brand. After launching a lemon garlic hummus made with fresh ingredients, Ithaca became the fastest-growing hummus brand in America, sold at over 8,000 retailers nationwide including Wegmans, Whole Foods, Publix, and Sprouts. Chris started his career in the culinary industry as a professional chef.  In this episode… Fresh ingredients are expensive and difficult to mass produce, so some growing CPG brands compromise on product quality to reduce their COGS — but for mission-focused brands, skimping o ..read more

Derek Wallace is Co-founder of Kalamata’s Kitchen, a multimedia platform that encourages children to explore the world through food. Inspired by an episode of Chef’s Table, he creates a curious and compassionate generation of eaters by using food to introduce kids to new experiences and cultures. Derek has experience in marketing, branding, go-to-market strategies, enterprise sales, and community program development.  In this episode… Every business starts with a vision, but creating a sustainable company requires executing your idea with a strategic plan and a compelling story. Although ..read more

Daniel Del Coro is the Head of US Business Development at Secret Island Salmon and its parent company Salmones Austral, which specializes in sustainable seafood. With over 15 years of experience in the food business, he has partnered with award-winning chefs and worked in management, sales, branding, and marketing with startups, mid-market sustainable food brands, and nonprofit organizations like Slow Food New York City and New Amsterdam Market. Daniel studied leadership, crisis management, and survival skills at the National Outdoor Leadership School. In this episode… Seafood is a rapidly-exp ..read more