Interview with Daina Trout – Co-Founder and Chief Mission Officer of Health-Ade

“Of course, you have to fight for your right. Beastie Boys said that, right? You got to fight for your right every single day. I think the people who rest on their laurels, die, especially in consumer because it is so competitive. And if you found something that works, there’s going to be 10 people after that the next year or 20 the year after that, and so on and so forth.” 

Joining us today on The Irresistible Factor is Daina Trout –  passionate nutritionist, Co-Founder and Chief Mission Officer of one of my favorite brands, Health-Ade Kombucha. When Daina met her  husband, he was told he had to be on medicine for life due to extreme gut issues. Daina was able to heal him entirely with a daily fermented food.  Daina quickly learned about the power of fermented foods, specifically, Kombucha. 

This is what inspired Daina to start Health-Ade alongside her husband and best friend, Vanessa. Their goal was to create the highest quality, best tasting, and most functional kombucha in the market. Today, even among 200 (most of them new)  kombucha brands, Health-Ade remains at the top. 

Daina talks about how every single small decision she made about the brand was intentional  (the name, the shape of the bottle, etc.) and has kept them relevant and desirable in a now extremely saturated market. Daina also emphasizes the importance of being aware of competition, but remaining authentic and true to your brand’s values as a formula for success and keeping consumers engaged.  

Tune in for some valuable advice from a pioneer in the health and wellness world.  

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Co-Founder and Chief Mission Officer of Health-Ade, Daina Trout.  

 

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

  • Early days of introducing the product to the public through farmers markets
  • The intentional but  subconscious cues communicated by branding and packaging decisions
  • Why manufacturing was the biggest challenge that Daina and her team faced along the way
  • The ups and downs of working with a private equity group
  • Why it is critical to disassociate your self-worth from the success of your business

 

Links mentioned in this episode:  

Daina Trout on LinkedIn 

Daina Trout on Instagram 

Health-Ade 

First Beverage 

CAVU 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

Kristi Bridges on LinkedIn 

Kristi Bridges on Twitter 

Interview with Paul Evers – Co-Founder and CEO of Riff

“We’re seeing a massive increase in consumers’ desires to seek out sustainable products when they’re shopping — we’re appealing to this new consumer that’s not just seeking something that’s good for them, but it’s also good for the planet.”

Joining us today on The Irresistible Factor is the CEO and Co-founder of Riff, Paul Evers. Riff is a purpose driven brand of cold-brewed coffee and energy drinks with an incredible focus on sustainability.

Paul tells us about their new and exciting energy drink – Riff Energy Plus – the very first carbon-neutral energy drink in the country. Riff Energy Plus is brewed from cascara – the fruity pulp that surrounds the coffee bean that is turned into upcycled fruit juice concentrate. (yes, coffee is actually a fruit!)  

Paul and I discuss the massive challenges of being a newcomer in the energy drink industry and the distribution challenges that come along with that.   We also discuss their very unique approach to raising capital. Stick around to the end to hear some important business advice from Paul. 

“Nothing incredible comes to bear if it isn’t working against conventional wisdom and broad assumptions.” 

When you’re done listening, head over to letsriff.com and check out Riff Energy Plus! Paul is giving our listeners a generous 25% off your first order by using the code “irresistible” at checkout.

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Riff Co-Founder and  CEO, Paul Evers. 

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

  • Riff’s mission and brand strategy and how the experience is replicated at home
  • How the ‘invest’ button on their website is working for them
  • Why the appearance of the packaging is essential for a product like this  
  • The coffee sustainability issue they came across and how they’re trying to overcome it

 

Links mentioned in this episode:  

Riff 

25% Discount Code For Riff Energy Plus: Irresistible 

Donate to Grow Ahead 

Paul Evers on LinkedIn 

Paul Evers on Instagram 

Paul Evers on Twitter 

Dr. Dominique Bachelet 

Sedona Prince on TikTok 

WeFunder 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

Kristi Bridges on LinkedIn 

Kristi Bridges on Twitter 

Interview with Josh Groff – More Labs CEO

“…Our packaging has to be really on point and say exactly what we do and then the shortest amount of time possible, so we’ve worked really hard on that too. We’ve tried to make our packaging extremely clear, concise, and persuasive so that for that split second when you have a consumer up near the register and sees your product, they know exactly what it does.  

I am delighted to be joined by the CEO of More Labs, Josh Groff, on Today’s episode of The Irresistible Factor. More Labs is a dietary supplements company that makes small shot-sized drinks to elevate your daily performance. Josh talks all about their first and most popular Sku, Morning Recovery; a liver detox supplement that helps to neutralize the toxins in your body, keeping you feeling fresh the next day after drinking.

Josh joined More Labs three and a half years ago and has brought tons of knowledge and experience to the table. Josh has been in the beverage business for 17 years working with both big and small brands, and has experience in everything from finance to marketing, to sales, and management.

Josh and I discuss More Labs’ move to retail, and how they’re growing by showcasing their products at events, concerts, resorts, and hotels. We also talk about the challenge of regulations around using the word “hangover” on their packaging, and how they were able to refine and tweak their messaging  to be wildly clear and concise in order to get their message across. 

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with More Labs CEO, Josh Groff. 

 

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

  • The marketing and education challenges More Labs has faced  
  • How More Labs is handling the difficulties of capital raising and why it’s important to find the right fit
  • What it’s been like for Josh to go from working for other people to being in charge as CEO
  • How things have evolved digitally for More Labs over the last few years

 

Links mentioned in this episode:  

 

Josh Groff on LinkedIn 

More Labs 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

Kristi Bridges on LinkedIn 

Kristi Bridges on Twitter 

Interview with Micha Magid – Mighty Quinn’s Barbecue Co-Founder and Co-CEO

We want to keep things close to home, we want to have oversight over the franchise locations as if they were corporate locations. We’re a small brand, we’re growing fast. Each door that opens is a subset of our brand and we’re going to treat it like it’s our own.”

I am thrilled to be joined by Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Mighty Quinn’s Barbecue, Micha Magid, on today’s episode of The Irresistible Factor. Mighty Quinn’s is an authentic barbecue restaurant that likes to keep things old school, while sourcing the best quality ingredients. Mighty Quinn’s started as a corporate-owned brick-and-mortar brand in the East Village of New York City, and has since grown into a reputable franchise, and a category leader in fast casual barbeque. 

Micha speaks about how in just 6 years, Mighty Quinn’s has expanded to be an international brand with national media presence and features in the Food Network and the New York Times. We dive into the many elements of their business that led to their success, and why it is important to know who you are, play to your strengths, and “stay in your own lane”. We also talk about the CPG side of things, and how Micha and his team are leaning into this new exciting opportunity to get their barbeque sauces and rubs on the shelves of retailers. 

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Mighty Quinn’s Barbecue Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Micha Magid. 

 

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

  • Ghost kitchens: what they are and why they can be beneficial
  • Micha’s vision for Mighty Quinn’s in the next five years: franchise and product growth
  • Overcoming social media algorithms
  • Mighty Quinn’s successful approach to marketing, franchising, and now CPG

 

Links mentioned in this episode:  

 

Micha Magid on Twitter 

Micha Magid on LinkedIn  

Mighty Quinn’s Barbecue  

Hugh Mangum on LinkedIn  

Christos Gourmos on LinkedIn  

Cloud Kitchens  

Kitchen United on LinkedIn  

Beat Bobby Flay  

Fire Masters  

Cooking Channel 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

Kristi Bridges on LinkedIn 

Kristi Bridges on Twitter 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interview with Zak Holdsworth – Hint Health Co-Founder and CEO

Movements take time, especially when they’re taking place in an industry as large and as broken as the U.S. healthcare system.

Hint Health is focused on supporting the direct primary care movement. They’re on a mission to help dismantle the insurance fee-for-service infrastructure and replace it with a model that provides as many people as possible with access to high-quality and affordable healthcare. Hint Health supports doctors that don’t accept insurance through the technology and tools they need to be successful. 

In this episode of The Irresistible Factor, Zak shares with us his journey that led him to the healthcare industry and ultimately co-founding Hint Health. He speaks about the approach to entrepreneurship which has allowed his business to thrive, and what has kept him motivated to persevere despite the many hurdles that come with a goal as gigantic as changing our broken healthcare system.  

“Direct primary care is really like a Toyota. It’s a fantastic value. It’s solid. It’s awesome. I think that’s where, if you can get this for $50 a month, or $60 a month, or $70 a month, that’s pretty affordable. Especially if you’re saving more than that elsewhere, because you’re now reorganizing the rest of the plan around this type of care model. To me, the scale comes from affordability and quality.

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Hint Health Co- Founder and CEO, Zak Holdsworth. 

 

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

  • Zak explains how his company supports the direct primary care movement
  • How Zak is creating awareness around primary care 
  • How investors believed in Zak’s mission when Zak didn’t have much to show 
  • Where Zak finds the motivation to take on the gigantic challenge of fixing the U.S. healthcare system
  • How Hint Health supports the primary care movement through technology

 

Links mentioned in this episode: 

Hint Health 

Zac Holdsworth on LinkedIn 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

Kristi Bridges on LinkedIn 

Kristi Bridges on Twitter 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interview with Haley Russell, Founder & CEO of Chippin

Do you really know what’s in your pet’s food?

On today’s episode of The Irresistible Factor I am joined by Haley Russell, the Founder and CEO of Chippin Pet. Haley has set out to disrupt the pet food industry. She launched a brand of high quality pet nutrition that is powered by planet friendly protein (think  insects, invasive species, and algae). She started with treats and is about to launch food.

“When it comes to pet nutrition, I couldn’t find something that was high quality, tasty, and better for the planet, so I decided to make it.”

Haley’s inherent entrepreneurial qualities combined with her high degree of consciousness around food led her to create this incredibly innovative brand. Chippin isn’t just another pet food brand; it’s a brand that is revolutionizing an industry in desperate need of disruption, while also benefiting the planet.

Haley and I discuss how she determined what ingredients are the best sources of protein for our pets, how she educates pet owners, and how she’s going about creating awareness. We also talk about the importance of testing your product and making sure it is exactly right before going all in.

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Chippen Founder and CEO, Haley Russell. 

 

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

  • Her POV on the problem with mainstream pet food
  • Why she believes Chippin will have widespread appeal
  • What Haley enjoyed about the process of raising capital
  • Chippin’s lighthearted approach to addressing serious issues

 

 

Links mentioned in this episode: 

Chippin 

Haley Russell on LinkedIn 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

Kristi Bridges on LinkedIn 

Kristi Bridges on Twitter 

Interview Ben Conniff ­– Luke’s Lobster Co-Founder & Chief Innovation Officer

Don’t ever start a food business that you’re not insanely passionate about. Because [nothing is] going to justify the hours and the difficulty that you’re going to go through starting a food business and building a food business if you’re not super passionate about it.

Todays guest is incredibly passionate about health, sustainability, and delicious lobster! Ben Conniff is the co-founder and chief innovation officer at Lukes Lobster, an incredible chain of lobster shacks and a grocery line dedicated to producing traceable, sustainable seafood.

Twelve and a half years ago, Ben met his business partner, Luke, on Craigslist while looking for a restaurant job. Luke was working in finance, but had previously been a lobsterman and  was passionate about starting a Maine-Style lobster shack in New York. Ben was immediately all in and they opened their first restaurant only 30 days later.

Their goal for the business was simple: make amazing food, treat people well, and enjoy themselves. They did just that and more.. Ben believes it is the real story of Luke and his familys background in the lobster industry that created the high levels of trust and transparency among their consumers, and of course the delicious lobster, that led to their customers wanting more and more.

Ben and I dive into their rapid restaurant expansion and their decision to start a grocery line. We also talk about the importance of educating the consumer and why sustainability is critically important for any new business.

It is a situation where if you’re not part of the solution, you are part of the problem, particularly if you’re in the food industry.

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Luke’s Lobster Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, Ben Conniff. 

 

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

  • How they navigate the volatility of the lobster industry 
  • The differences Ben has found in retail versus restaurants
  • How they educate consumers to learn about the quality of Luke’s Lobster over other brands
  • Why freezing technology is helping people get access to higher quality, healthier food
  • Their biggest challenges 

Links mentioned in this episode: 

Ben Conniff on LinkedIn 

Ben Conniff on Instagram 

Ben Conniff on Twitter 

Luke’s Lobster 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

Kristi Bridges on LinkedIn 

Kristi Bridges on Twitter 

 

Interview with Ashley Thompson – Mush Co-Founder and CEO

“Doubt and fear creep in every single day and you have to block it out, you have to manage it, you have to tackle it because if you think you can, you really can. And if you think you can’t, then you can’t.” 

I am beyond  thrilled to be sharing this inspiring podcast with Ashley Thompson, Co-Founder and CEO of Mush in this episode of The Irresistible Factor. Mush is a brand of plant-based ready to eat overnight oats that come in a variety of flavors like chocolate, coffee coconut (my favorite), peanut butter, and many more. 

Ashley went from working in finance in a beautiful office on Wall Street to literally pitching tents and selling overnight oats at farmers markets in Southern California. She is a strong believer in what you eat impacts how you feel, think, and do, and she wanted to tackle a major problem – our physical and mental health in the U.S. Ashley knew she wanted to create a brand that created accessible healthy food.

Ashley is all about mindset. She never stopped to think about why it may not work, in fact she thought there was no way this can’t be done. And she was right, mush now has distribution in 11,000 doors with iconic retailers like Whole Foods and Costco.

Ashley and I discuss how the business has grown and changed, the challenges of scaling the company, and her approach to investments and boot-strapping. She also talks about the importance of growth and building a solid company before getting carried away with innovation, and the importance of using your resources wisely.

“It’s amazing that harnessing creativity in content and messaging is really powerful and using common sense when it comes to spending resources and marketing. Those are two of the biggest takeaways I’ve learned in the journey of trying to get the product off the shelf.”

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Mush Co-Founder and CEO, Ashley Thompson. 

 

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

  • The importance of data and how to balance this with gut intuition
  • Ashley’s views on the ‘growth at all costs’ approach to scaling a business
  • Insight into how they grew and the investments they received
  • Mush’s marketing approach and the lessons learned in trying to get the product off the shelf

 

 

Links mentioned in this episode: 

Ashley Thompson 

Mush  

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

Interview with Margaret Wishingrad, Co-Founder and CEO of Three Wishes

If [you’re] seeing something is not working, don’t just cross your fingers and hope it is going to change. Get up, turn, keep going.”

I am so excited to be joined by Margaret Wishingrad, Co-Founder and CEO of Three Wishes – a better-for- you cereal brand. Margaret and her husband own an advertising agency in NYC which inspired her to create her own brand. Margaret saw a true need in the market for a healthier cereal option. There were 3 things (wishes) she wanted to change about cereal – high protein, low in sugar, and gluten and grain free.

In today’s episode of The Irresistible Factor, Margaret shares how she believes having a delicious product is the most important part of a successful brand. Margaret spent 2 years developing her product to make sure it was absolutely perfect before launching by getting lots of people involved in taste testing her product – in fact, during Covid, she actually did drive through taste tests from her driveway!

“Good branding can only get you so far, but the product and what’s inside is really the key.”

Building a brand is never easy, but if you’ve identified a problem worth solving and you stick to your mission, it pays off. Margaret has some fascinating insights into the challenges of having a brand versus working on a brand and shares some of the lessons she’s learned along the way. Margret shares tips on getting retailers invested in your product, successfully running an omnichannel business, and how to always be a few steps ahead! Most importantly, how to push through challenges, and never give up!

“Never give up. Eventually, it pays off.”

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Three Wishes Co-Founder and CEO, Margaret Wishingrad. 

 

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

  • The challenge of having a brand versus marketing a brand
  • How they funded their extensive product development
  • The importance of being nimble and adaptable
  • Lessons she’s learned from running an advertising agency
  • Three Wishes’ approach to e-commerce

 

Links mentioned in this episode: 

 

Margaret Wishingrad on LinkedIn 

Margaret Wishingrad on Instagram 

Three Wishes 

BigEyedWish 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast 

Sawtooth Group 

Interview with Step Two Advisors Founder and BeyondSKU Co-Founder, Vincent Biscaye

“Numbers are the backbone of a company, whether you know it or not.” 

If you’re starting a business, you know finances are more important now than ever before. That is why I am so excited to share this interview with Vincent Biscaye of Step Two Advisors. Vincent started his career in investment banking as a commodity trader. He then took a leap of faith and became an entrepreneur, leading him to eventually start his own consulting firm – Step Two. Step Two offers affordable help to CPG start-ups in business planning, finances, investor relations, and fundraising.

Vincent is also a Co-Founder of BeyondSKU New York – a northeast accelerator for CPG brands, where brands work with mentors who are experts in their field. Vincent and the BeyondSKU team are dedicated to helping start-ups thrive, as evidenced by having graduated 16 companies!  

In this episode, we talk about Vincent’s transition from a finance life to that of an entrepreneur, and just how important having a solid financial plan is for a successful brand. We also talk about the power of mentorship and advice.

“If founders can understand the word, not the word but the power to really calculate that runway, I think, and constantly re-evaluating their runway, if you’re ahead of that, you’re going to really put all the chances on your side.”

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Step Two  Advisors Founder, Vincent Biscaye. 

 

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

  • The process used by Step Two when consulting with new brands and clients
  • The customizable approach Vincent takes for  each of his clients
  • New barriers to gaining funding
  • A look at BeyondSKU’s business model, goals, and functions
  • How Vincent balances his two companies

 

Links mentioned in this episode: 

 

Vincent Biscaye on LinkedIn 

Vincent Biscaye Email 

Step Two Advisors 

BeyondSKU 

Fidelis 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

Kristi Bridges on LinkedIn 

Kristi Bridges on Twitter 

 

Interview with Cedar Capital Founder and General Partner, and Tribini Founder and CEO, Taylor Grant

 “Why food, beverage, and CPGs? Because it’s tangible, it’s something that’s a part of everyday life. It’s something that people get a lot of joy out of.”

On today’s episode of The Irresistible Factor, I have a very special guest, Taylor Grant. Taylor is not only the Founder and General Partner of Cedar Capital, but he is also the Founder and CEO of Tribini – a ready to drink espresso martini company. 

When Taylor worked in finance, he started angel investing in products he believed in and immediately fell in love with the CPG industry. He claims he “caught the bug”. Taylor didn’t want to just invest, he wanted to add value. In 2020, Taylor discovered the world of venture syndicates and realized there was a white space in the CPG world, so he decided to fill it. Cedar Capital combines the investment side and the marketing side of growing a successful business.

Shortly after he founded Cedar Capital, he founded Tribini, a ready to drink line of espresso martinis.  Covid sparked the development of ready to drink cocktails and Taylor knew it was time to hop on board! Tribini offers mixologist-quality cocktails made with only the best ingredients.

“I really wanted to create an authentic product, something that people can resonate with the actual authentic Espresso martini or however they envision that experience. Using natural ingredients, vodka-based, six-times distilled vodka is very important. No malt, no wine, nothing alternative, straight vodka, real espresso, all-natural ingredients.”

Taylor talks about his decision to launch in DTC first so he can find the best product market fit while being efficient with their capital. Taylor believes DTC is best tool to connect directly with their consumers and test things out, so when it’s time to go to retail there is data to back that up. 

“We know how to reach our customers. We know who they are, and we’ll know how to market to them”. 

We also talk about the perks of working in the CPG community, why the magic combination for a successful entrepreneur is being both a “dreamer” and a “doer”, and why having a solid network is absolutely everything. Taylor dives into important advice for both investors and entrepreneurs.

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Cedar Capital Founder and General Partner, and Tribini Founder and CEO, Taylor Grant. 

 

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

  • Why Taylor loves CPG
  • Taylor’s decision to launch on premise in NYC
  • Taylor’s thoughts on the founder community of the food/beverage space
  • How Taylor is going about creating the logo, design, and all the foundational elements of pitching your company

 

 

Links mentioned in this episode: 

Taylor Grant on LinkedIn 

Taylor Grant on Twitter 

Tribini 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

 

 

Interview with TRUFF Co-Founders, Nick Guillen and Nick Ajluni

On this episode of The Irresistible Factor, I am joined by “the Nicks,” Nick Guillen and Nick Ajluni – Co-Founders of TRUFF – the world’s first luxury hot sauce brand.

“There’s no limit to things we deal with in terms of like growing the business. I think it’s, if anything, potentially a little harder for us because of how unique and custom everything is. So make no mistake that it’s not an easy bill. But that’s what I feel like being business savvy is, working through all of those things.”

Nick and Nick always have had a passion for start-ups and small businesses. Throughout college they liked to collect stand-out usernames on Instagram, and in 2015, they scored the name “sauce” and started posting content that they thought would resonate with the “pop culture foodie.” They wanted to create an account that was the bridge of food, fashion, lifestyle, and pop culture. Once they started to gain some major traction on Instagram, they decided it was time to start a brand – and TRUFF was born.

Nick and Nick never really played by the rules. They’ve been doing things their way from the very beginning – making custom caps, custom molds, and custom bottles. Many were convinced their unique (and expensive) approach wasn’t going to work, but they were able to overcome all of the odds and create a unique and successful brand in their own way.

 You’ll hear how they developed TRUFF’s flavor profile, the intricacies of their brand launch, and how they used social media as a growth track. Nick and Nick offer compelling advice to entrepreneurs on how to overcome adversity and talk about where they see the brand in the future.

“We want to create a brand that we never have to step away from. Something where Nick and I are 65 on the golf course, and our grandkids are sending us photos of putting TRUFF on their dino nuggets.”

  

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with TRUFF Co-Founders, Nick Guillen and Nick Ajluni

  

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

  • How they developed the flavor profile of their hot sauce   
  • Some of the many challenges they faced
  • TRUFF’s e-com versus retail split
  • A sneak peek at their innovation plan
  • An announcement about a TRUFF-Hidden Valley collaboration

 

Links mentioned in this episode: 

 Nick Guillen on Twitter 

Nick Guillen on LinkedIn 

Nick Guillen on Instagram 

Nick Ajluni on Twitter 

Nick Ajluni on LinkedIn 

Nick Ajluni on Instagram 

TRUFF 

Last Crumb 

Hidden Valley 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group 

Kristi Bridges on LinkedIn 

Kristi Bridges on Twitter 

Interview with Cappello’s Co-Founder, Stacey Marcellus

“If there are small things that we can do to move in the right direction, that does matter. Then our growth could actually feel purposeful, and not just growth for the sake of making more money.”

In this week’s episode of my podcast, The Irresistible Factor, we find out how Stacey Marcellus’ experience living on a farm in Argentina led her to Co-Found a thriving frozen food brand – Capello’s. Capello’s is on a mission to set a new standard in frozen food like pizza, pasta, and cookie dough. But it’s made with awesome and healthier ingredients like almond flour and turnips (yes, turnips!), making their products grain-free and nutritious. Of-course their products taste delicious, but Capello’s is one brand that is focused on nutrition above all else.

“We stand behind using whole food ingredients and having them be as unaltered as possible.”

Stacey and I discuss how the frozen food market has changed drastically over the years and how frozen food is no longer “something you just eat in front of the T.V.” It is actually a way to keep products super  fresh.

 Stacey also opens up about the flaws in the food industry (excessive packaging, all the freight it takes to transport food, and traditional farming practices) and how she is taking small steps to try to do better. Recently, Capello’s partnered with one of their suppliers, Treehouse, and together, they are testing some regenerative practices over the next five years on their almond orchards.

 “Even though we’re not purchasing regeneratively sourced almonds today, being part of a project like that feels really cool. And it’s really exciting because if we get positive results over the next five years, that will influence the entire almond industry.” 

We talk about the evolution of Capello’s over the last 11 years and the lessons that Stacey has learned. Stick around to the end for an inspiring story Stacey shares about the importance of asking for help.

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Capello’s Co-Founder, Stacey Mercellus.

  

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

  • How Stacey’s experience in Argentina inspired her to create a food brand
  • The reason that they opted to do frozen meals as opposed to fresh ones
  • How the frozen food set has transformed in recent years
  • Why Stacey often feels disheartened by our food system
  • How they choose investors

Interview with GFB Co-Founder, Marshall Rader

When Marshall Rader was diagnosed with celiac disease, finding gluten-free products was no easy feat. This inspired him to develop a gluten-free bar which led him to co-found a gluten-free product company with his brother. GFB, originally “Gluten Free Bar” is now “Gluten Free Brother’s”. GFB launched their first product 11 years ago, when ‘gluten free’ was a term no one had really heard of.

On Today’s episode of The Irresistible Factor, Marshall talks about how the market for gluten-free products has changed since the start of his company, and how the growth of the market and the rise in competition have affected their brand. He also talks about how they raised capital through bootstrapping, and how they have grown tremendously while maintaining honorable principals. 

Not only do their products taste delicious, but they are also a brand that does good. Marshall shares why they decided to get certified as a B Corp, and how they have been a zero-waste facility for 3 years now – over 90% of what goes into their facility does not go into the landfill. They also have inclusive hiring programs, focusing on people that have challenges gaining employment, oftentimes with criminal background.

Join us to hear Marahsall’s inspiring success story, and advice worth listening to.   

“Even if you don’t really have a real company yet, you could be organized and show up prepared, and show up on time. And it sounds weird, but wear a suit to a meeting”..

  

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with GFB Co-Founder, Marshall Rader

 

Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with GFB CO-Founder, Marshall Rader. 

 

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

  • How the market for gluten-free foods has changed since GFB first started
  • Insight into the current size of GFB’s distribution channels
  • Insight into how the company supports 15,000 retailers and the value of open communication  
  • How GFB decides when to innovate and when to create new products versus continuing to push the ones that are already successful
  • Marshall’s career background as a paint salesman and what inspired him to quit and go into GFB full-time

 

Links mentioned in this episode: 

 

Marshall Rader  

GFB 

The Irresistible Factor Podcast  

Sawtooth Group