Interview with Alison Cayne – CEO and Founder of Haven’s Kitchen

“…The world doesn’t need more stuff. Better packaging or a prettier can is not an answer, it’s not a solution. What is the problem that currently exists in the world that your product is solving? That should be number one.” 

On today’s episode of The Irresistible Factor, I am thrilled to be joined by powerhouse Alison Cayne, CEO and Founder of Haven’s Kitchen. Alison’s passion for sustainability and cooking led her to open her own cooking school in the Flatiron district of New York, Haven’s Kitchen. Haven’s Kitchen aimed to make cooking less stressful and more enjoyable, and quickly became one of the most beloved cooking schools in NYC. Alison realized she could reach a larger audience by selling her popular sauces in pouches. 

While not an easy undertaking, Alison saw a need and Haven’s Kitchen went from a cooking school to a brand-new category of fresh sauces that is now a staple in many homes. Alison’s incredible sauces elevate any home cooked meal, including flavors like herby chimichurri, gingery miso, and red pepper romesco. 

Alison tells us about how she got national Whole Foods distribution the very first week of the pandemic, and how her key mission has driven her company to major successes. Alison also speaks about the many challenges she faces every day while producing a fresh product. Lastly, she goes into detail about her belief that  finding a group of people who truly love your product is far more important than going viral on TikTok. This episode is packed with amazing advice for early-stage founders. Don’t miss out!

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Alison Cayne, CEO and Founder of Haven’s Kitchen. 

Here’s what you won’t want to miss from our conversation: 

  • How Alison went about her business plan and funding for her brand
  • The process Alison of making the sauces at scale
  • Why Alison chose to keep reinvesting in her business and how it has paid off 
  • What the labor shortage in grocery stores means for business

Links mentioned in this episode:  

Alison Cayne on LinkedIn 

Alison Cayne on Twitter 

Haven’s Kitchen 

Haven’s Kitchen Sauces 

Haven’s Kitchen on Instagram 

Haven’s Kitchen on YouTube 

Haven’s Kitchen on TikTok 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

Interview with Anthony Corsaro – CEO of Outlaw Ventures

…”What we don’t need is more sustainable Doritos. We need total transformative solutions and this is a mechanism that I think can do that, and that’s why I’m running in this direction because we need to do it.” 

In this week’s episode of The Irresistible Factor, we welcome Outlaw Ventures CEO, Anthony Corsaro. Anthony tells us about how his autoimmune disease and his upbringing in a fresh produce family distribution business led him to his passion of using food as a tool to improve the wellbeing of ourselves and our planet. Anthony recently started his own venture fund and is investing in early-stage food and agriculture businesses. In this episode, we talk about how he started Outlaw Ventures, and why he believes the best way to do anything in life is to just start doing it, and learn along the way.

Anthony tells us how he evaluates prospective brand partners, his challenges around raising capital, and how he is navigating the daunting task of finding a partner that complements his own skill sets. We also talk about why founders are being asked to show more profitability upfront, and the importance of “trifurcating” things when evaluating the potential success of a business by analyzing the investment, the business, and the team separately. Lastly, we talk about Anthony’s thoughts on controlled farming, synthesized proteins, and the successes and failures of the plant-based movement. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Anthony Corsaro, CEO of Outlaw Ventures. 

Here’s what you won’t want to miss from our conversation: 

  • What it will take to get to a place where all food is non-toxic and nutrient-rich
  • Whether the struggles for CPG brand founders are the same as other business owners
  • What Anthony means by “de-risking” and how he ensures this for his clients
  • The two philosophies that govern how he thinks about life and business

Links mentioned in this episode:  

Anthony Corsaro on LinkedIn  

Outlaw Ventures  

The ReGen Brands Podcast  

Kyle Krull on LinkedIn  

One Step Closer 

Elliot Begoun on LinkedIn  

Robby Sansom on LinkedIn 

Force of Nature Meats 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

Interview with Anna Peck and Steve Ford — Co-Founders of Chia Smash

“The growth that we’ve had and the response we’ve had to Chia Smash really speaks to the fact that I think consumers and grocery store buyers have really been looking for innovation in this category.”

Today’s guests on The Irresistible Factor have quite an unusual brand development story, with their product evolving naturally from a home recipe to a side hustle, and ultimately a serious (and successful!) full-time business.

Anna Peck and Steve Ford are the Co-Founders of the superfood jam brand, Chia Smash, which is categorically (excuse the pun) disrupting its category. Chia Smash is the first of its kind – made with only 4 simple ingredients, naturally sweetened with dates, and packed with superfoods. It is the only jam with no added sugar or preservatives and if that wasn’t enough, they are upcycled certified.  

In this episode, we learn about the origin of the brand and how Chia Smash was first developed in their very own kitchen. Anna and Steve tell us about their fundraising journey, budget-friendly marketing strategies, and the importance of making your product by hand at first if possible. Lastly, we hear about what resulted in their efficient scale-up as well as their plans to expand.  Tune in to hear much more of this couple’s inspiring entrepreneurial journey!

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Anna Peck and Steve Ford, Co-Founders of Chia Smash.

 

Here’s what you won’t want to miss from our conversation: 

  • How Chia Smash evolved from a home recipe to a side hustle and ultimately a serious full-time business
  • How Steve and co-founder Anna Peck’s complementary  interests and backgrounds resulted in the development of their brand
  • Chia Smash’s three distinct  groups of  consumers
  • Chia Smash’s fundraising journey
  • Anna and Steve’s broad vision for the future of the brand

Links mentioned in this episode:  

Chia Smash 

Anna Peck on LinkedIn 

Steve Ford on LinkedIn 

Justin’s Nut Butter 

Startup CPG 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

Interview with Kimmi Wernli — President and Owner of Crazy Richard’s

On today’s episode of The Irresistible Factor, I am joined by Kimmi Wernli. Kimmi is the President and Owner of The Crazy Richard’s Peanut Butter Company, and her passion for peanuts runs deep! Growing up, she saw firsthand how their family business created incredible products from the humble peanut. From candied nuts to healthy spreads, there was something for everyone. In addition to her dedication to the peanut, Kimmi is also a passionate advocate for peanut farmers and serves as a US peanut ambassador for the National Peanut Board.

In today’s conversation, we hear from Kimmi about why she is so excited to talk about  peanuts as a sustainable product, and the wonderful developments she has seen in the health food industry over the past decade. Kimmi unpacks her decision to merge her father’s two brands (Krema and Crazy Richard’s), despite the many difficulties inherent to this process.

Kimmi also shares some of the biggest challenges the company has  had to overcome during her tenure, including the hacking of their social media accounts and a major supply chain issue. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on business, health foods, sustainability, and the importance of aligning your business with your core values! 

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Kimmi Wernli, President and Owner of Crazy Richard’s.

 

Here’s what you won’t want to miss from our conversation: 

  • The biggest challenges and payoffs of merging their two brands
  • The awesome story of how Kimmi’s father was approached by Walmart
  • How the company adapted to a national shortage that affected their signature gold lids
  • Kimmi’s thoughts on scaling, fundraising, and running a company with integrity
  • Why Kimmi stays away from influencer marketing

Links mentioned in this episode:  

Kimmi Wernli on Linkedin 

The Crazy Richard’s Peanut Butter Company 

Crazy Richard’s on Instagram 

National Peanut Board 

Kroger 

Meijer’s 

Walmart 

WinCo Foods 

Sprouts Farmers Market 

Giants 

Publix 

Expo West 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

Interview with Kenshiro Uki – President of Sun Noodle

Today on the Irresistible Factor, I have an incredibly inspiring guest, Kenshiro Uki,  president of North America and Europe of one of my new favorite companies, Sun Noodle Ramen. Sun Noodle makes easy-to-prepare (at home), fresh Ramen. Kenshiro is on a mission to bridge the cultures of Japan and the U.S. by in essence, creating a new category,  restaurant quality Ramen at home. 

Kenshiro’s father started the Sun Noodle  brand 42 years ago on the island of O’ahu, Hawaii after moving there from Japan. The brand started by serving premium noodles to the best ramen restaurants and chefs throughout Hawaii, and have since worked with the best ramen shops in the foodservice industry. The brand has just  recently expanded into the CPG world by creating fresh ramen kits so that people can create a truly amazing bowl of ramen they can enjoy in their own home. 

Kenshiro talks about some of their awesome collaborations with iron chef Morimoto and chef David Chang of Momofuku, and why collabs like this can be  a win-win for everyone involved. Kenshiro also tells us about challenges transitioning from food service into a consumer brand.  He shares some of the incredible advice he’s gotten from mentors and thought partners that were critical to his success. 

One of my favorite pieces of advice is  around the opportunity a negative customer experience can be, if you handle it right. 

This episode is a must listen with tons of advice every  entrepreneur should  hear. Lastly, if you are a Ramen lover and haven’t tried this product, you’re going to want to get your hands on this one!

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Kenshiro Uki, President of Sun Noodle North America and Europe. 

 

Here’s what you won’t want to miss from our conversation: 

  • How critical it is to get consumers  to try his products 
  • Kenshiro’s definition of success as it pertains to Sun Noodle
  • How Sun Noodle made the shift from food service to being a consumer brand  
  • The importance of mentors

Links mentioned in this episode:  

Kenshiro Uki on LinkedIn  

Sun Noodle  

Naturally New York   

John Lawson on LinkedIn  

Elly Truesdell on LinkedIn 

Setting the Table  

Masaharu Morimoto  

Morimoto Restaurant  

David Chang on Instagram 

Momofuku Restaurant  

Simon Sinek  

Bill Shen on LinkedIn 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

Interview with Justin Gill – Founder and CEO of Bachan’s

“[Bachan’s] instantly filled that purpose bucket for me. I had really big ambitions and I wanted to show my daughters what can be done in this life if you’re passionate about something and you work really hard for it.” 

On this episode of The Irresistible Factor, you’ll hear the story of how a multi-generational family recipe turned into a national brand that grew from 1.5 million in revenue to 6.5 million in just about a  year! Justin Gill is the Founder and CEO of Bachan’s, a Japanese barbeque sauce brand with flavors such as hot and spicy and yuzu.

Bachan is a Japanese American term of endearment for grandmother. Justin named his company after his own Bachan, who taught him how to make the sauce when he was a kid. Justin and his family would make big batches of the sauce and pass out bottles of it to clients in their family’s landscape business, making it “a local legend”. Everyone loved it so much that he knew one day he had to bring it to the market.

Justin talks about the importance of their ingredients and the tough conversation that could have taken him down, but instead fueled his commitment to his incredibly high standards as their tagline proclaims:  “Our ingredients matter.” We also spend time digging into his latest challenge, transitioning from operator to CEO, and his careful, thoughtful innovation process. He shares my belief that over-innovating and distributing too quickly is dangerous for brands.

Tune in to hear more about Justin’s incredible story of the already soaring Japanese Barbecue Sauce that is Bachan’s!   

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Justin Gill, Founder and CEO of Bachan’s. 

 

Here’s what you won’t want to miss from our conversation: 

  • How to keep yourself and your team motivated
  • Bachan’s growth trajectory and distribution status
  • The process of building an executive team
  • His long term  goal for the company 

Links mentioned in this episode:  

Justin Gill on LinkedIn 

Bachan’s 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

Interview with David Habib— Founder and CEO of Yo Mama’s

“You just sit down and you’re like, “Why am I doing this?” and then there’s other times where you understand the overall mission and you are creating jobs and you are feeding families and you’re doing something that’s so much greater than whatever problem is on your screen, right? I think that that’s an important framework …”

 

I am delighted to have David Habib, Founder and CEO of Yo Mama’s Foods on this episode of The Irresistible Factor. Yo Mama’s is a brand on a mission to bring people delicious, healthy food made with only the ingredients mom has in her pantry. His claim to fame started with a delicious tomato sauce, and now includes a variety of pasta sauce flavors, along with salad dressings and other condiments like ranch, ketchup, and buffalo sauce.

 

David took the ultimate risk-founding a company with no prior experience or knowledge of the CPG industry.  He learned quickly (and sometimes expensively)but through the process, was able to find the right people and the right partners that believed in him and supported his brand.  

 

You’ll hear what motivated him to take the plunge and leave his corporate job to launch a business at only 24 years old, and his difficult yet exciting journey thus far. David tells us about challenges around finding manufacturers who believed in the brand, why they now own all of their supplier relationships, and how they have managed to build the right economics and infrastructure to create sustainable long-term growth all without any outside funding. 

  

Stick around until the end to hear the tools David uses to cope with the stresses of being an entrepreneur, and why he believes it is so important to build creative time into your schedule. Tune in to hear all of this and more from an inspiring young guest!

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with David Habib, Founder & CEO of Yo Mama’s. 

 

Here’s what you won’t want to miss from our conversation: 

  • What motivated him to create a brand inspired by how his mom cooked
  • Establishing, distributing, and scaling his products with no prior experience
  • David’s POV on bootstrapping,  creating sustainable growth, and raising capital
  • His recent commitment to setting boundaries around mental and physical health

Links mentioned in this episode:  

David T. Habib on LinkedIn 

Yo Mama’s Foods 

Shopify 

Wholefoods 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

Interview with Colin Schilling – Schilling Cider Founder and CEO

“Something that I think any company can do better on, is creating that kind of performance culture around always looking to maximize and optimize. That only happens if you’re getting feedback on your work.”

 

On today’s episode of The Irresistible Factor, I’m sitting down with Colin Schilling, the Co-Founder and CEO of Schilling Cider. Schilling Cider is the second largest producer of cider in the nation by volume, but that isn’t their biggest claim to fame. What really makes Schilling stand out from its competitors is its commitment to sustainability and a people-first company culture.

 

Colin quit his first (and only) corporate job after less than six months to start producing the very first canned cider in the United States. Over the past ten years, they have failed fast, made some  big pivots and seen huge success.

 

In this episode, Colin shares the story of Schilling Cider, from making beverages for fun on his family’s farm during his childhood, to creating a successful  company with culture that is best-in-class. Colin shares the mistakes he’s made with distributing too broadly early on, and some lessons he has learned along the way.

 

 Even more interestingly, Colin also shares why he is  actively trying to slow down growth and take a breath – yes, you heard that right! Schilling Cider is doing things differently from almost everyone else in the beverage space; tune in to hear how!

 

Check Colin’s case study below that speaks more to Schilling’s commitment to sustainability – specifically their effort to only produce printed cans instead of wrapped or printed cans.

 

https://willamette.edu/mba/faculty-research/case-studies/schilling-cider/index.html

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Colin Schilling, Founder & CEO of Schilling Cider. 

 

Here’s what you won’t want to miss from our conversation: 

  • What the cider market looked like when Schilling Cider was founded
  • Why Schilling Cider insources as much as they possibly can
  • Examples of how Schilling Cider invests in culture and the  growth of their employees

Links mentioned in this episode:  

 

Schilling Cider  

Schilling Cider on Instagram 

Schilling Cider on Facebook 

Schilling Cider on TikTok 

Colin Schilling on LinkedIn 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

Interview with Samantha Citro Alexander, Co-Founder of Bitewell

“When you look at the underlying root causes of poor health, diet-related diseases make up over 75% of that. So why aren’t we addressing the problem at the source: diet?”

 

I had a blast talking to Samantha Citro Alexander – Co-Founder of Bitewell on this episode of The Irresistible Factor. Samantha’s mission is to revolutionize the way we think about food by providing access and information about healthy and nutritious food to as many people as possible. Bitewell provides companies and their employees a way to encourage healthier eating (and ultimately better health) through personalized eating plans and insurance subsidies for doing so. Through the Bitewell app employees can order food from a large selection of meals that benefit their individual health needs.

 

We  talk in depth about things like the benefits employers will reap by making their employees’ health a priority. We also talk about the truly individualized process they’ve created, and most importantly how they had to change their business model in order to survive!

 

Samantha has incredible energy and a positive attitude towards challenges and stresses she (and most entrepreneurs ) encounter, the biggest of which was a complete shift in their original business model which started as a direct-to-consumer play.  Samantha also gives excellent advice to founders about how not to be their own worst enemy and why it is critical to delegate the things you’re best at (yes, you read that right).

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Samantha Citro Alexander, Co-Founder of Bitewell. 

 

Here’s what you won’t want to miss from our conversation: 

  • How Bitwell is trying to solve one of the greatest challenges of the American population – healthcare spending. 
  • How Bitwell has convinced employers that it is to their benefit to incentivize their  employees to eat healthier 
  • Samantha’s advice on pivoting your business model. 

Links mentioned in this episode:  

Bitewell 

Samantha Citro Alexander on LinkedIn[Text Wrapping Break]Samantha Citro Alexander on Instagram 

Samantha Citro Alexander on Twitter 

JUARA Skincare 

Mush Foods 

Ashley Thompson on LinkedIn 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Gr

 

Interview with David Delcourt, Chief of Flavor at Seed Ranch Flavor Co. and Grown As* Foods.

I am thrilled to speak to David Delcourt on today’s episode of The Irresistible Factor. David’s approach to entrepreneurship is to create everyday magic in people’s lives. Through problem solving, passion, and curiosity, David has founded various companies, the latest two of which he is currently running full time; Seed Ranch Flavor Co., a brand that carries delicious sauces and seasonings, and Grown As*, a vegan mac and cheese brand. 

Alongside the flavor magic of Seed Ranch hot sauce or a Grown As* mac and cheese, consumers have the added benefit of knowing that these products have both health and environmental benefits. Every product is 100% plant-based and made with real ingredients. 

Tune into this episode to hear David’s challenges in scaling  two brands simultaneously, the ways in which the brands overlap, and how they are turning their customers into their tribe.  David also shares some valuable advice for entrepreneurs that is a first on this podcast, like how to attain emotional balance, and the importance of starting a Roth IRA. Don’t miss out! 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Chief of Flavor at Seed Ranch Flavor Co. and Grown As* Foods, David Delcourt. 

Here’s what you won’t want to miss from our conversation: 

  • Some of the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial journey to date
  • The consumer problems that David set out to solve
  • The concept of “sustainability within reach”
  • Two of the most common reasons for business failures

 

Links mentioned in this episode:  

 

GrownAs* Foods 

The Seed Ranch Flavor Co. 

David Delcourt on LinkedIn 

David Delcourt Email Address 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

Kristi Bridges on LinkedIn 

Kristi Bridges on Twitter 

Interview with Austin Patry, Co-Founder of Rollin’ n Bowlin’ and Realsy

“Everyone is branding themselves proudly as a better-for-you brand and that confused us. We want to be a genuinely good-for-you brand.”

On today’s episode of The Irresistible Factor, I’m sitting down with passionate foodie and health and wellness entrepreneur, Austin Patry. Austin is the Co-Founder of Rollin’ n’ Bowlin’ and Realsy. 

Austin, along with his business partner Sophia, found themselves rolling around TCU’s campus serving açai bowls in a food truck, which inspired their business name: Rollin’ n Bowlin’. Shortly after they got their first brick-and-mortar on TCU’s campus, and now they currently have locations on eight college campuses. During COVID, when they weren’t  able to make any revenue from their on campus locations, Austin took the opportunity to expand the business and started to launch in grocery stores, DTC, and even launched a whole new product, Realsy –  packaged dates filled with nut butter. 

Listen in as Austin shares how he entered the CPG world and scaled his new  business, Realsy,  with the help of SKU. He also talks about how they found investors and raised capital to support their dream of providing people with healthy and nutrient-dense foods. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Co-Founder of Rollin’ n Bowlin’ and Realsy, Austin Patry. 

Here’s what you won’t want to miss from our conversation: 

  • How Austin knew that he had a scalable business and its projections
  • How the SKU Accelerator program out of Austin helped Rollin’ n Bowln’ transition to CPG
  • Insight into the developmental launch of the Realsy product
  • Managing the emotional rollercoaster of being an entrepreneur with his daily routine

 

Links mentioned in this episode:  

 

Austin Patry on Twitter 

Austin Patry on LinkedIn 

Austin Patry on Instagram 

Rollin’ n Bowlin’ 

Realsy 

TCU 

SKU Accelerator  

How I Built This Podcast 

Mid-Day Squares 

Mush 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

Interview with Richard Riccardi, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of DFW CPG

“I had no expertise. Everything I know about [CPG], I learned in the past few years, but what I had was a desire to bring this community together so they would help each other. That was where it all started.” 

We have a very special guest on today’s episode of The Irresistible Factor, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of DFW CPG, Richard Riccardi. In this episode, Richard and I speak about the importance of building a robust community of collaborators and champions.

Richard is an early-stage food company board member, investor, and active mentor and connector in the Dallas and Austin CPG communities. Richard has a great passion for people, food, and businesses, and he invests capital and more importantly, his own resources into early-stage food and beverage companies.

While most entrepreneurs focus on building a community of shoppers, Richard believes that a community of like-minded founders is equally important because he believes that no one succeeds alone. Join us as we discuss how to develop meaningful relationships with mentors and advisory board members, and the ways that you can benefit from joining a local community like DFW CPG. This is an informative and highly valuable episode for CPG founders and anyone in the food and beverage industry, so be sure to tune in!

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Co-Founder and Managing Partner of DFW CPG, Richard Riccardi. 

Here’s what you won’t want to miss from our conversation: 

  • The important role of generosity, collaboration, and a willingness to learn
  • Why Richard suggests forming an advisory board “sooner rather than later” 
  • What your advisory board says about you as a founder
  • The value of having a give-and-take attitude 

 

Links mentioned in this episode:  

Richard Riccardi on LinkedIn  

DFW CPG 

Naturally Austin 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

Interview with Marilyn Yang, the Co-Founder and CEO of Popadelics

“We feel doing events helps drive the product to a broader audience, but also builds that lifestyle around the brand. We’re building that persona of what it means to be a Popadelics consumer.” 

Marilyn Yang, the Co-Founder and CEO of Fun-Gal Snacks (the parent company of Popadelics) is doing things a little differently – on a mission to create not only a CPG brand, but also a lifestyle brand.

On today’s episode of The Irresistible Factor, Marilyn and I talk about why she has decided to take an untraditional approach to starting Popadelics. Marilyn launched Popadelics in April of this year, alongside her life partner and business partner, Mike Casali. They were two mushroom lovers who desperately wanted to find a mushroom chip during the pandemic.

Marilyn did not  want to raise outside capital. She was determined to fund the company herself in order to retain full control over her vision. But she did need support, that’s where Rodeo CPG (a favorite  Irresistible Factor Guest) came in. Marilyn tells us how Rodeo, a start-up CPG consultancy was instrumental in bringing their flavors to life, and supporting them with R&D and supply chain manufacturing.

Tune in for some unconventional advice you won’t want to miss!

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Co-Founder and CEO of Popadelics, Marilyn Yang. 

 

Here’s what you won’t want to miss from our conversation: 

  • Their non-traditional journey into retail 
  • Some of the challenges that Marilyn has faced in running her companies
  • What they are looking for in a partner or strategic brand partnership  
  • How they are indirectly supporting the psychedelic industry 

 

Links mentioned in this episode:  

 

Marilyn Yang on LinkedIn 

Popadelics 

Rodeo CPG 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

Kristi Bridges on LinkedIn 

Kristi Bridges on Twitter 

Interview with Larissa Russell – Co-Founder and CEO of Pod Foods

“We looked into what it would take for us to work with one of the incumbent wholesale traditional distributors that are dominating the space for Natural Foods distribution and CPG. It was just a nightmare ahead of us. There was no transparency, everybody we talked to said it was a necessary evil if we wanted to scale nationally, but they’re going to squeeze you for every dollar that you’re worth.”

I am thrilled to be joined by Larissa Russell, Co-Founder and CEO of Pod Foods, on this episode of The Irresistible Factor. Larissa and her Kickstarter cookie company were among hundreds of thousands of emerging brands that were trying to reach their consumers in retail, but had hit a major roadblock – it was obvious that the wholesale distribution system was not set up for brands like hers and many others.

So instead of pursuing their original brand, Larissa and her Co-Founder set off to create something entirely different, a new model for distribution – Pod Foods. Pod Foods facilitates retail management for smaller brands by getting rid of the middle man and providing an online platform for the B2B marketplace, allowing small businesses to have more control over their distribution. You’ll hear how Pod Foods manages a brand’s position in the marketplace, helps with end-to-end logistics, and provides radical transparency to help brands make decisions while cultivating good relationships. Growing a CPG business is no easy feat but  Pod Foods aims to make it easier, smoother, and maybe even  more enjoyable!  

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Co-Founder and CEO of Pod Foods, Larissa Russell. 

 

Here’s what you won’t want to miss from our conversation: 

  • Why the wholesale distribution system is not set up to support emerging brands
  • The retailer stores Pod Food works with (both regional and national)
  • Managing inventory risk: how Pod Foods has created an ‘infinite warehouse’ 
  • The importance of developing and establishing good relationships with the retailers

 

Links mentioned in this episode:  

Larissa Russell on LinkedIn 

Pod Foods 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group