Claim OwnershipNombase Podcast
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BevNET presents: The Nombase CPG podcast, a series featuring open discussions on pressing topics impacting food and beverage businesses. Each episode explores a key issue in the CPG industry, offering timely insights, tactical advice, and community discussion. Join the live podcast recording to ask your questions and share your comments directly with our guests, or catch up on past podcast episodes anytime.
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After Flow Water’s recent foreclosure left many co-packing customers scrambling, the need for smart co-manufacturing risk management has never been clearer. Brad Woodgate, founder of Joyburst, The No Sugar Company, and Wellnx Life Sciences, joins Brandon Hernandez, co-founder of Whole Brain Consulting, to share how founders can protect their brands from co-manufacturing disasters. Listeners will learn to spot early warning signs, build redundancy into manufacturing, evaluate packaging risks, and safeguard raw materials and equipment during shutdowns or foreclosures. The conversation also covers the contract clauses that matter most, how to vet facilities, why geography and capacity strategy affect growth, and how scorecards and pre-launch planning keep operations on track.
THC and CBD fueled the early growth of the cannabis beverage world, but today an expanding palette of cannabinoids is giving formulators license to design experiences that build a feeling and create distinct mood states. Cannabis brand FABRIC’s Tom Eddleston, Magic Cactus founder Jonny Locarni and SōRSE Technology’s Michael Flemmens explore how minor cannabinoids and other emerging compounds are reshaping flavor, feel and functionality, discussing the science behind emulsions, stability and sourcing while sharing real-world lessons from building next-generation drinks. Find out how minor cannabinoids shape mood, how formulation choices influence flavor and effect, and how evolving regulations are driving the next wave of innovation.
Alejandro González, managing partner of Redwood Group and Santatera Capital, explains how the fund chooses which food and beverage brands to back. He outlines why flavor matters most, what healthy margins look like, and how distribution drives growth. González also shares how Santatera supports founders with research, recruiting, governance, and supply chain expertise. He discusses what an ideal exit looks like for the fund and gives an inside look at why they recently invested in Sunnie, an allergen-free snack brand.
Foodservice can be a powerful marketing arm to lift retail and DTC, but only when brands choose the right partners and know how to use it to build awareness. Poorva and Rajus Korde, co-founders of Aaji's, join Clay Lichterman, VP of Business Development at Sol-ti and former chef, to explore both the opportunities and pitfalls for emerging brands. The group explores how to select the right segments and securing menu mentions to creating trial that ultimately drives retail velocity.
Is Wegmans on your radar? For many emerging CPG brands, cracking Wegmans is a dream, but timing, trends, and execution often decide who makes it. In this episode, Isabel Washington of Laurel’s Coffee and Alexander Harik of Zesty Z share the real stories behind getting on Wegmans’ shelves, from navigating distributors to building velocity without demos or promos. They’re joined by Josh Cannon of Cultivate CPG, who brings years of experience guiding brands through the Wegmans process. Find out what buyers really want, how to pitch with confidence, and the strategies that turn “maybe” into yes.
Sunnie co-founders Katie Tucker and Lisette Howard recount their path from self-funding to securing a million-dollar raise, navigating manufacturing hurdles, investor rejections, and strategic pivots along the way. They discuss knowing when an investor is the right fit, structuring raises to protect equity, and using customer relationships to unlock capital. Their story highlights the persistence required to push through difficult moments, the signs that momentum is building, and the practical steps that helped them move from uncertainty to a stronger, more sustainable growth path.
Want to know how to turn a Costco roadshow into a lasting spot on shelf? In this episode, Gavin McCloskey of Love Corn, Leila Kairns of Heal Tea, and Carlene Carl of Rebel Solutions Group share insider tips to fast-track your Costco success and help you avoid costly mistakes. They explain how to manage setup, staffing, and inventory; work with store managers and Costco’s Club Demo Solutions team; and refine pitches to boost sales. Learn how to test flavors, packaging, and pricing while building relationships that influence buyers.
Does social media feel like one more thing you need to tackle when everything else is already so busy? You’re in good company. Chikka Chikka co-founders Arif Khan and Sabeen Hassan share their challenges showing up online, while Isaac Brody (Socialike) and Francine Voit (Pistakio) offer real-world advice. Hear ideas on how to simplify content creation, build consistency without burnout, connect authentically with your audience—and maybe, just maybe, even enjoy the process along the way.
Getting into a retailer is a win—but without foot traffic and velocity, your shelf space can quickly go to another brand. Emily Steele (CEO & Co-founder, Hummingbirds) and Arianne Dora (Social Lead, Mush) talk about how local creators helped Mush make a success at Costco and Sprouts. They break down regional targeting, creator briefs, content reuse, and lessons learned—including why simply sending creators into stores can generate real product velocity for a guaranteed win.
Ever wonder how Chomps took over shelves across the country? Lauren Martin, Chomps’ National Retail Activation Manager, reveals the in-store strategies that fueled their explosive growth. Find out how to earn more facings, prevent promo failures, build store-level trust, and adapt tactics by region and retailer. From merchandising wins to demo optimization, you'll hear tips and tricks that can help scale any brand.
The convenience store channel is just about the most competitive and expensive you'll find in CPG, but the promise of sky high velocities and an immediate way to reach new customers is undeniably attractive. Andy Steele of Ollipop and BODYARMOR, and Vanessa Walker of NEW YOU BRANDS and La Croix lay out the cost of doing business, when the right time to launch is, secrets for getting your products on shelf, and why the changing landscape is good news for BFY food and beverage brand alike.
How do you scale your CPG brand without drowning in chaos? Jesse Barruch, Co-Founder of Whims Delights and David McCormick, Co-Founder of Ayoh Foods, dig into the messy realities of building operational systems that support growth. From managing complex supply chains to prioritizing cash flow and inventory, our guests offer practical frameworks, real-world forecasting strategies, and how to avoid the biggest operational mistakes growing brands make.
Distributor contracts can make or break your brand. In this episode, we sit down with Kyle Koehler, Founder and CEO of Wildway Foods, and Kara Posner, Partner at Giannuzzi Lewendon, to unpack how brands can navigate these high-stakes agreements with confidence. Learn when and how to negotiate, what terms to watch for, and how to protect your margins while building strong distributor partnerships.
Level up your formulation game with beverage expert Donald Wilkes of Blue Pacific Flavors and hear what’s really driving the next wave of functional drinks including smarter sweeteners, better energy, and flavor that actually delivers. Find out how to stay ahead of shifting consumer tastes, making clean label work without losing impact, and how to build products that don’t just follow trends but set them.
There are a variety of ways to secure funding - the trick is aligning the right fit with the right opportunity. Join Emily Griffith, founder of Lil Bucks, and Daniela Jensen of Big Picture Foods as they share their funding journeys. Emily discusses Lil Bucks' $3M Series A raise, and Daniela talks about Atalanta’s acquisition of Big Picture Foods. We'll discuss the options they considered, why they chose their paths, and the lessons other brands can take to secure capital.
Mike Farrell of The Forest Farmers, Michael Ham of Wild Orchard Tea, and Susan Hartman of Recoup Beverage share how their brands use sustainable maple to power innovation. They explore how maple sap provides clean hydration, natural sweetness, and a functional base to beverage formulations. Our panel will discuss regenerative farming, nutritional benefits, and how tapping trees helps preserve forest, offering valuable information for brands aiming to meet growing demand for transparency, wellness, and sustainability through maple as a standout ingredient. This episode is a paid collaboration with The Forest Farmers.
Headed to BevNET Live? Or still deciding?? In this episode, Jeff Klineman shares a bts look at how the show comes together and what to watch for if you're focused on building a profitable brand. From key sessions to the people you need to meet, Jeff offers tips to help you navigate with purpose. Whether you're looking to connect with investors, retailers, or future partners, we’ve got advice to help you make it count. Plus, Sarah Casagrande, Principal at Generation CPG, shares what she's most excited about this year.
Building a business is hard as you're juggling so many roles while trying to build momentum without running out of resources. In this episode, Ashley Waldman, Founder & CEO of Jubilee's (high-nutrition kids' milk), gets advice from Ashley Selman, Co-Founder of Heywell (functional sparkling water), and Pauline Idohou, Founder & CEO of Mocktail Club (non-alcoholic cocktails). Ashely and Pauline share tips and tricks on choosing retail partners, the importance of operational excellence before scaling, when to invest in fractional team members, plus how to say yes strategically, manage cash flow, and grow without burning out.
How does a top-tier design studio reimagine a fast-growing brand? In Part 2 of our brand refresh series, Suite 9C founder Paula Grant—joined by team members Jessy Qussar and Melissa Piombo—unveils five final design directions created for Dappy, a non-alcoholic functional beverage brand on the rise. Maddie Frank, Dappy’s founder, shares her candid reactions and reveals which concept ultimately became the new face of the brand. Together, they unpack the creative strategy behind each direction, what made the winning look stand out, and how the final identity captures Dappy’s mood-lifting mission in the growing non-alc space.
Join Scout Brisson, CEO of De Soi, Troy Bonde, Co-Founder of Sauz, and Sarah Jahnke, CEO and Co-Founder of Homecourt as they discuss the true cost and return of attending trade shows like Expo West, sparked by Scout’s LinkedIn question: Is exhibiting at Expo West worth it? Learn how to create a memorable brand experience, measure success beyond sales through networking and media coverage, and leverage trade shows for long-term marketing, along with tips for selecting the right shows and amplifying your presence for greater visibility.
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