The Food Startups Podcast

Informações:

Sinopsis

We bring in top performers like Bob Moore of Bob's Red Mill, Legendary Investor Jim Rogers (Skip the MBA and Start a Farm), and founders of emerging food startups in a weekly show designed to educate and entertain. Exclusive tips and insights to help you build a meaningful and profitable food business.

Episodios

  • Ep156- Personal Strength, Community, and Homegrown Veggies - Sam of Vinder

    10/08/2017 Duración: 37min

    Sam Lillie is the founder/CEO of Vinder, a peer-to-peer marketplace for homegrown produce that connects home gardeners who hate seeing their excess veggies go to waste, with fellow community members looking to buy local produce. Sam graduated from San Jose State in 2015 then solo-hiked from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail (2,658 miles) which took 5 months to complete. While hiking, Sam faced extreme weather conditions from 105+ degree heat in the desert with 20-30 miles distances between water sources to snow storms and lightening storms. After 3 months he figured he'd put his degree to good use and applied to 106 jobs across 4 states but only received one offer. He turned it down, moved to the small town of Port Townsend, Washington and launched Vinder. I am so excited about this startup and cannot wait to follow this over the years. This episode talks about how developing personal strength can assist in startup perseverance and much more: Sam's 5 month journey on the Pacific Crest Trail Adaptin

  • Ep155- How to Last in the Natural Foods Space - Joshua of Living Intentions

    03/08/2017 Duración: 35min

    "I had a lot of experiences where I truly manifested my reality. And those experiences continue." Joshua Mchugh has been at this for 13 years. Not many startups make it to the decade mark. How did he do it? Starting out, he would spend endless hours reading recipe books with the intention of understanding how he could take standard comfort foods and turn them into nutritional powerhouses. Living Intentions has formulated multiple lines of products, from gourmet sprouted nut and seed blends to superfood cereals, sprouted superfood seasonings, sprouted trail mix, superfood smoothie blends, and more. We talk about the philosophy of slow growth and activated foods: How Joshua started the company The path to going from small, local distribution to nationwide Managing a high # of sku's Live and breathe what you are doing Creating your reality Sprouted vs Activated vs Raw Separating the craft from the business

  • Ep154- Food Biz Success in 3 Steps

    27/07/2017 Duración: 06min

    Hi all! In today's brief episode, I evaluate the success of the past 50 guests on the show and synthesize it into 3 steps.

  • Ep153- Investing in the 1% - Jordan of AccelFoods

    20/07/2017 Duración: 28min

    "Back the jockey, not the horse." At early revenue stages, the founder is crucial when deciding whether or not to invest. Out of every 100 or so food startups Accel Foods invests in just 1. What makes them say yes to this small handful of companies? Cofounder Jordan Gaspar and I dive into her perspective of food startups and how they can prosper: How Jordan left the legal space and ended up with an investment fund The size of the companies and the investments they make Common mistakes food startups make that affect their long term success Advice for companies in "launch mode" Mentoring: is this a value-added service that Accel offers all brands? Legal guidelines to keep in mind for your company How long it takes from meeting a founder to making an investment

  • Ep152- How to Run a Premium, Global Brand - Reza of Icelandic Glacial

    13/07/2017 Duración: 35min

    Reza Mirza has an exciting job: CEO of Icelandic Glacial. A premium brand, they control the sole commercial rights to bottle and sell water from the legendary Ölfus Spring. In 21 countries with only 40 total employees, they are organized, efficient, and growing.  Their U.S. distribution is handled by Anheuser-Busch, which took a 20% ownership stake in the company in July 2007. Reza recently served as President of Activate Drinks where he grew the company in key markets through increased distribution while driving double digit same store sales and increased brand awareness. We go behind the scenes of their fascinating company and, of course, water: The vision of Icelandic Glacial Keys to leadership Let's talk water... Global distribution strategies into new countries What it means to be carbon neutral Marketing in the United States compared to China? Logistics, sending product to various countries around the world How he grew Activate same-store sales numbers Think global; act global Only 40-50 employees.Just

  • Ep151- #1 on Amazon + Road Trip Retail Strategy - Alex of Bizzy Coffee

    06/07/2017 Duración: 31min

    When I asked Alex how they came up with the idea for an energy shot. It was simple: Our customers told us. Before the interview, I thought: "Why would anyone start a cold-brew coffee company? There are so many on the market already." I quickly learned the unique value proposition of Bizzy Coffee from a product and brand perspective. The co-founder, Alex French sat down to talk with me on the final leg of their East Coast #vanlife tour. And it was quite the success: they were able to sell into 200 new stores with 500 prospects in the pipeline. There is a lot we can learn from Bizzy Coffee: Ranking #1 in amazon for cold brew coffee Finding product opportunities using internet metrics A/B testing and online customer feedback How to run a successful promotion tour Door-to-door retail sales tips Navigate the chicken and egg problem with distributors and retail The National Coop Grocers association Key metrics that many founders overlook Buying and equipping a van for your brand Why you need company "gear" Underst

  • Ep150- Raising Money + Lessons from 1000 Founders - Steven of CircleUp

    29/06/2017 Duración: 40min

    For Steven, it's all about patterns. He has spoken to over 1,000 founders and has developed a sense for which startups are going to flourish. He focuses on sourcing and evaluating premier brands and coaching entrepreneurs through the fundraising process at CircleUp. CircleUp is the platform providing capital and resources to innovative, early-stage consumer brands, and opportunities for sophisticated investors to participate in their growth. From machine learning data to predict CPG success to the do's and don'ts of fundraising, we cover a lot: The fallout from Amazon's purchase of Whole Foods An 18 billion dollar shift from large brands to small brands in the consumer space from 2011-2015 Is there a “too early” for Circle Up? Characteristics of good brand communication Helio - machine learning for the CPG space How to attack a trade show. Trends Steven sees in 2017 The 5 buckets of entrepreneurs Why some companies can raise money and others can’t

  • Ep149- Health, Wealth + Coconuts - Alex of Genius

    22/06/2017 Duración: 38min

    Most Americans are sick. Alex Bayer saw it first hand, dealing insurance policies for AFLAC in southern California. Born and raised in Palos Verdes, he has followed an extremely healthy and active lifestyle from an early age. In his 20’s, he became ‘too busy’ and was always on the go, never having time to cook a meal or prepare food, and smoothies became a way of life for him. When the coconut craze hit, he discovered that coconuts were a great source of nutrients and benefits, and he always wondered why the full coconut meat was never included in coconut drinks. He started cold blending coconut water and coconut meat in his vitamix blender, eventually giving birth to the Genius Juice formula with coconut milk. Alex has persevered through a lot. Now, in over 400 stores, he is ready to take it to the next level: Finding simplicity The shocking things Alex witnessed at AFLAC A lot of times we are “experts” without even knowing it. Why did coconut milk receive very little attention in the U.S. coconut craze? Su

  • Ep148- The Blockchain and Food - Emma of AgriDigital

    15/06/2017 Duración: 41min

    Imagine if, in 1996, you knew that the internet was going to be the next big thing. In hindsight, it seems obvious, but it wasn't at the time. Now we are on the brink of a new technology that can be as monumental to the world as the internet: the blockchain. Food and Ag is just one of many industries that will evolve with the technology. Emma Weston of AgriDigital is applying blockchain technology to transform global agricultural supply chain. She breaks down the blockchain and how it will change food forever: What is the blockchain? Current state of international food trading Tokenizing physical assets Smart contracts Making trust a commodity Why did Emma's pitch win? The three main problems the blockchain can solve in agricultural trading Traceability, the blockchain, and IoT Additional uses of the blockchain in food Why CPG brands should learn about the blockchain Food marketing potential of the blockchain

  • Ep147- More on Brokers, Costco, and the Evolving Food Space - Jeremy of LaunchPad

    08/06/2017 Duración: 50min

    Jeremy Smith is back. If you haven't heard the first interview, listen here. There is trouble in the food broker space. The market has changed dramatically. Based on listener response to the first episode and Jeremy's intuition, we continued the conversation on Costco, brokers, and how to adapt to the evolving food space: Costco pitches: phone vs in-person. Can you do it on the phone?: “Does a founder have to live the messaging of the brand before he/she communicates it to the consumer?” Hershey’s and Nestle are not driving the categories anymore .. Thoughts on Whole Foods “decline” .. Why the food brokerage business is broken. The challenge, how is it impacting companies? Your broker is not doing a good job it could be you. Can you be a food broker? Should you sell directly to Costco or use a broker. Why do some buyers say you should work directly with them and not use brokers? What are Costco Buyers like? Why brands fail at Costco? “Flavor Fatigue” Channel protectors should not sell to Costco. Is there a r

  • Ep146- How to Join and Thrive at a Food Startup - Amanda Sains of B'more Organic

    01/06/2017 Duración: 27min

    In the last episode, we spoke with the founder of B'More Organic. This week we interview their secret weapon, Amanda Sains. Amanda was in the corporate world and wanted a change. She started as a brand ambassador, doing product demos on her lunch break. She has since rebranded the company, supported growth into over 3000 stores and has gotten placement for B’more on The Rachael Ray Show, collegiate sponsorships, secured NFL athlete endorsements with VaynerSports and coaching from entrepreneur, Barbara Corcoran. We find out what drives Amanda and how she has been able to excel at B'More Organic: What she learned running an Etsy store Her decision to go to grad school Advice for young people who are unsure of their career path What "the hustle" means to Amanda Getting the attention of a food company How she proved herself to B'more Organic Getting in front of superstar entrepreneur Gary Vee Landing endorsements with NFL players Life on the road.. Guerrilla marketing

  • Ep145- Resourcefulness, Skyr, + Taking a Bite out of Disease - Andrew of Skyr

    25/05/2017 Duración: 27min

    "Necessity creates opportunities in my life." Andrew Buerger was in his 40's and stuck in a declining industry. He had to find something new. While mountain climbing in Iceland, tried their traditional yogurt, Skyr. Even though he is lactose-intolerant, Andrew loved the yogurt and felt great after eating it. He came back to Maryland and figured out how to turn this into a real business. In 2015, they became the fastest growing yogurt company in the U.S. And the yogurt sales spur Jodi's Climb for Hope, which has  raised over $750,000 to funding promising research on breast cancer and MS at Baltimore’s John’s Hopkins University. They are in over 3,000 stores and growing strong. Andrew and I had an enlightening conversation: Converting limitations into opportunities Making a career transition What is Skyr? How the product evolved to a yogurt smoothie Turning a cause into a business Aligning the "why" with the product and charity Goals for 2020 Consultation with Barbara Corcoran Andrew's life mission The opportu

  • Ep144- A Lesson on Biz Dev and Consumer Behavior - Andy of Basket Savings

    18/05/2017 Duración: 34min

    In the space Andy Ellwood plays in, every few years you need to be prepared to start over. On his dynamic career "path", Andy has become a high-performer in business development with a track record to back it up. He helped Gowalla through its acquisition by Facebook in 2011, Waze through to its acquisition by Google in 2013, and Bond which was acquired in 2016 by Newell Rubbermaid. Now he is on his next venture. As Cofounder and President of Basket, Andy leads a community of shoppers committed to never over paying for groceries again. Some retailers and brands have resisted the app, but it is becoming an unstoppable force with over 300,000 users. And as Andy will explain, the users always come first: What is business development? The ups and downs as an entrepreneur Why you should play on the edges The variation of grocery prices Celebrity driving directions with Waze The hipster effect The key moment that marks the success of any product/service Grocery shopping behavior Gamified data collection How they ov

  • Ep143- Finding the White Space - Mikey's

    11/05/2017 Duración: 38min

    He started Mikey's Muffins as a side hustle to pay the rent. As of today, his products are in more than 4500 retailers nationwide. Michael Tierney began working in professional kitchens at the age of 13 and followed his passion to The Culinary Institute of America, where he earned his degree in Culinary Arts Management. He went on to work in the kitchens of world-renowned restaurants, including 3 michelin star The French Laundry in Napa Valley, California and Eleven Madison Park in New York. Not happy with his future prospects in the restaurant industry, he left it all behind and ended up in the food CPG space. Mikey's started out with paleo, gluten-free english muffins and they are growing their product offerings. We cover a diverse set of topics: How he decided to leave the restaurant industry The skills he picked up grinding away in top restaurant kitchens His proprietary candy product that will launch this summer How Mikey revised his strategy for investment / fundraising tips The keys to scaling quickly

  • Ep142- Raw Sugar, Strategy, + Serendipity - Robbie of Just Panela

    04/05/2017 Duración: 42min

    He thought he was going to be a diplomat. While gaining international experience in Medellin, Colombia, he fell into a circle of entrepreneurs. And everything changed. Robbie Thomas teamed up with another expat and launched Just Panela, a true raw cane sugar. The company has grown fast. 18 months later, the organic sweetener is in many parts of the United States. Robbie has helped Just Panela get slotted in accounts like Whole Foods, Natural Grocers, and Wegmans, as well as build out the food service/bulk side of the company’s business. Robbie and I talk about the art of the launch with a product unknown to the North American consumer: Advice to younger listeners who want to start a business with little to no money Creating serendipity What is panela? How is panela different from Turbinado sugar? The sales pitch for panela What they would have done differently knowing what they know now How to use food brokers Strategic distribution partnerships Retail versus food service Conventional vs specialty grocers Ru

  • Ep141- How to Reinvent Yourself, Build Startups - Tobias of Square Roots

    27/04/2017 Duración: 40min

    Tobias Peggs understands how to pivot; how to evolve. He has primarily operated in venture-backed tech startup environments (twice as CEO w/exits to Walmart and Adobe). He has led companies across various domains including mobile, search, social, e-commerce, ad-tech and speech rec. Now, with Kimbal Musk, he is spearheading Square Roots Urban Growers - a farming accelerator based out of Brooklyn. Think of a 2 acre farm inside a 40' shipping container. Tobias imparts wisdom on how to have a fulfilling career, urban growing and more: Understanding real food Working alongside Kimbal Musk What he has learned about leadership Why the accelerator model is so powerful Keys to being an effective CEO Tobias's process for changing career/industry The creative-active phase How to get involved with Urban Roots accelerator Advice to those who are starting out in food

  • Ep140- Mushrooms, Customer Rituals, and Lifestyle - Tero of Four Sigmatic

    20/04/2017 Duración: 37min

    Tero Isokauppila, the founder of Four Sigmatic, is on a mission to make medicinal mushrooms, some of the world’s most researched superfoods, more accessible to everyone. Born in Finland to an agronomist father and nursing teacher mother, Tero grew up on a farm his family has owned since 1619. There, he foraged for mushrooms and other wild foods while learning about the natural food space at an early age. A world traveler, Tero has created a powerful business that matches his lifestyle and values. Tero was also chosen as one of the world's TOP 50 Food Activists by the Academy of Culinary Nutrition. An engaging, wise Scandinavian dude: How to find your optimal breakfast Connecting with Tim Ferriss and his podcast Online marketing thoughts Customer service strategies Entering the U.S. market Becoming ritual-focused Advice for those who want to bring an unknown superfood to market Sleeping on a nail mat and other wellness tips

  • Ep139- Costco, Chobani, and Becoming Iconic - Jeremy of LaunchPad

    13/04/2017 Duración: 54min

    Jeremy Smith is fed up with the food brokerage industry. There are a shortage of great food brokers. And grocery buyers have noticed. That's why he is back in the game. He previously sold his food brokerage, Level One, and is back with an innovative Food Brokerage and Consultancy: LaunchPad. Over his career in food, design and advertising, Jeremy has worked with iconic brands. Think Chobani, Apple, 5Hour Energy, popchips, EVOL Foods, Promax, Pure Foods, Krave Jerky and Bob’s Red Mill. His relationships with buyers and marketers, strategists and designers presents enviable connections in the food industry. Jeremy sheds all kind of golden advice: How to sell to Costco Becoming multi-talented - design, advertising, copywriting, business strategy, etc. What he learned from Steve Jobs On selling his brokerage to Advantage Sales and Marketing The lack of great food brokers in 2017 Questions that you should ask a food broker What makes Chobani special? The "Secret Sauce" of Chobani Helping Chobani thrive at Costco

  • Ep138- Inside the Buyer's Brain - Alli Ball

    06/04/2017 Duración: 40min

    I thought I knew a decent amount about how to connect with buyers. I was wrong. Alli Ball has all the secrets I wanted to know. She has successfully opened several retail locations, including the Bi-Rite Divisadero location as store manager. She is a rockstar.  Listen to this episode and you'll agree: Opening Bi-Rite in Divisadero Why they rejected Runa, who is doing great today and was recently on the podcast. The right way to cold call on new stores How to send information to buyers Understanding category performance Do buyers like being acknowledged as "busy"? Can you send a text message to a buyer? Constant, gentle pressure Demystifying the business plan The future of online vs in-person retail

  • Ep137- Chicory, Prebiotic Health Benefits, and B2B Sales - David of Blue Prarie

    30/03/2017 Duración: 29min

    When David Woodburn was asked to be the CEO of Blue Prarie, he didn't know what chicory was. Now, he is leading the charge developing prebiotic, chicory-based ingredients that help maintain a healthy gut environment for beneficial bacteria while replacing fast-digesting starches. David is pleased to announce that Blue Prarie has completed a $6 million Series A Investment round. While the nutrition space highlights probiotics, prebiotics should arguably be the #1 focus. Learn about prebiotic nutrition, chicory, and an awesome biotech company: Chicory definition and history Prebiotics vs probiotics Inulin and soluble fiber Understanding the giant market opportunity B2B relationship building The biggest challenges/opportunities of their business model What they are looking for in a VP of Sales + Marketing

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