Podcast
Emerging Brands Podcast
Hosted by Kelly Bennett · EN
Welcome to Emerging Brands Podcast® with Kelly Bennett
This is the podcast where you'll discover the stories behind your new favorite CPG brands. Each episode dives into the brand and founder journey—how they launched, what sets them apart, and the strategy behind going to market. We talk plans for growth, practical advice for emerging founders, and where to shop the products making waves in food, beverage, wellness, and beyond.
You'll also hear from industry experts—brand builders, investors, and operators—who should absolutely be on your radar if you're growing a CPG brand today.
Whether you're building something of your own or love supporting what's next, you're in the right place.
26episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
PACHA
2d ago00:33:10Tap to summarizeIt is rare to find a food brand founded by a climate scientist, but Maddie Hamann is using her scientific background to completely change how we think about a kitchen staple. As Co-Founder and Director of Marketing at PACHA Bread, Maddie transitioned from a career in Earth Science (holding a PhD from the prestigious Scripps Institution of Oceanography) to marketing because she wanted to make a direct, immediate impact on climate change through the business world. By stripping bread down to its absolute essentials, PACHA has created a Certified Organic, gluten-free buckwheat sourdough using just two simple ingredients: sprouted buckwheat and sea salt. Maddie joins the show to discuss how she translates complex environmental science into a compelling brand narrative, why soil health is the key to the future of food, and what it takes to build a truly sustainable CPG brand from the soil up. Inside the Episode: Maddie shares her journey of leaving academia and Earth Science to fight climate change directly through sustainable food entrepreneurship. How PACHA engineered a delicious, allergen-friendly sourdough without any of the binders, fillers, seed oils, or preservatives that dominate the gluten-free market. A breakdown of how PACHA communicates deep sustainability values to everyday shoppers without sacrificing the ultimate selling point: making food that tastes incredible. Shop here! This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Book a call with the Team to get started!
Transcribe →SFT Consulting
2d ago00:42:35Tap to summarizeHigh-growth CPG brands often hit a wall when their sales velocity outpaces their financial infrastructure. Elena Minton, Fractional CFO at SFT Consulting, operates precisely at this high-stakes intersection of finance and operations. With over 20 years of experience, including more than a decade dedicated to natural food and beverage brands, Elena helps founder-led, venture-backed startups scale securely from early-stage ideas to national distribution and successful exits. After building a strong foundation with Fortune 500 companies, Elena made an intentional pivot toward her passion for the better-for-you CPG space, even earning an MA in Food Studies and Policy from NYU. She joins the show to share her tactical approach to protecting margins in high-volume, low-margin retail environments, managing complex trade spend, and building the back-end infrastructure required for sustainable profitability. Inside the Episode: Elena discusses her transition from Fortune 500 finance to the fast-moving world of natural food and beverage startups. How Elena partners cross-functionally with supply chain and sales teams to build standard operating procedures (SOPs) that prevent costly inventory and cash flow mismatches. Why financial literacy and clean data are the ultimate tools for helping founders make confident, long-term strategic choices. Connect here! This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Book a call with the Team to get started!
Transcribe →Norms
2d ago00:24:56Tap to summarizeSome of the most common health challenges are the ones people are least likely to talk about, but Carli Roth is on a mission to change that. As Co-Founder and Head of Community at Norms, Carli is bringing empathy, clinical credibility, and real-life relatability to a category that has traditionally been defined by clinical coldness and social stigma: hemorrhoids and "unmentionables." With a powerful background in building networks for women entrepreneurs at the Female Founder Collective, Carli uses her deep expertise as a community builder, investor, and advocate to ensure Norms speaks authentically to women navigating pregnancy, postpartum, and other key life stages. She joins the show to discuss how she is tackling stigmatized self-care, building an inclusive brand voice in a sensitive category, and replacing shame and guesswork with maximum-strength, FDA-compliant relief. Inside the Episode: Carli shares the inspiration behind Norms and how the brand is dismantling the stigma around everyday health issues starting with the butt and moving to the gut. How Carli's experience leading community at the Female Founder Collective and angel investing shaped her tactical approach to launching a consumer product. The strategy behind pairing highly relatable, stigma-free marketing with rigorous, FDA-compliant product development. Shop here! This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Book a call with the Team to get started!
Transcribe →Boarderie
1w ago00:26:14Tap to summarizeGourmet gifting received a massive upgrade when Rachel Solomon Fascitelli set out to solve a major logistical puzzle: how to ship a fully arranged, picture-perfect charcuterie board across the country. As Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Boarderie, Rachel has helped build the fastest-growing edible gifting company in America, pioneering a brand-new category in the gourmet food market since its launch in 2021. After graduating from Barnard College and honing her business acumen in New York City's finance sector, Rachel brought a highly strategic mindset back to her home state of Florida to launch the brand. She shares how she and her team transformed a labor-intensive culinary craft into a nationwide shipping success story, making beautiful, ready-to-graze boards a staple for celebrations across the country. Inside the Episode: How Boarderie identified a massive whitespace in the corporate and personal gifting market by combining premium culinary quality with ultimate convenience. Rachel discusses the engineering and logistical innovations required to ship the first and only fully arranged cheese and charcuterie boards nationwide without losing their visual appeal. Why keeping customer experience and high-quality sourcing at the center of operations is key to becoming a beloved part of people's special occasions. Shop here! This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Book a call with the Team to get started!
Transcribe →Legally Addictive Foods
1w ago00:31:38Tap to summarizeA truly great snack is hard to find, but Laura Shafferman has cracked the code with a combination that is exactly what the brand name implies. As the Founder of Legally Addictive Foods, Laura has turned a unique recipe of crackers, salted toffee, chocolate, and sea salt into an insanely delicious cookie sensation. Based in Western North Carolina, this woman-owned brand has grown from a creative kitchen concept into a mainstream favorite. Laura's focus on quality and undeniable flavor has taken Legally Addictive into close to 2,000 retailers, hotels, and venues nationwide. She shares the journey of scaling her independent snack brand and what it takes to land major distribution partnerships, including their recent launch into JetBlue's premium Mint experience. Inside the Episode: Laura shares how she took a beloved, nostalgic treat popular in different parts of the country and packaged it for retail by combining crackers, chocolate, and sea salt into an upscale snack experience. How Laura made a major career change ten years ago, stepping away from her previous path to build a business that allowed her to fully lean into her creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. An inside look at how Legally Addictive landed on store shelves, luxury hotel menus, and ultimately into the skies with JetBlue's Mint experience. Shop here! This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Book a call with the Team to get started!
Transcribe →Yes Way Rosé
1w ago00:26:58Tap to summarizeLong before they ever bottled a drop of wine, Erica Small and Nikki Huganir built a rosé-first movement. What started in 2013 as a lifestyle brand fueled by humor, design, and a shared love for pink wine has evolved into a massive consumer favorite. Today, Yes Way Rosé is a category leader, ranking as the fourth best-selling rosé overall in the US with more than 13 million bottles sold. Leveraging their backgrounds in fashion, media, and design, Erica and Nikki have taken a uniquely founder-driven approach to an industry that traditionally takes itself way too seriously. They share how they bridged the gap between a highly engaged digital community and national retail shelves, working alongside strategic partners in the South of France to create a high-quality, crisp, and accessible wine that fits naturally into everyday life. Inside the Episode: How Erica and Nikki cultivated a loyal, humor-driven audience for five years before launching their namesake wine in 2018. The strategy behind building an instantly recognizable brand that uses culturally relevant storytelling and bold design to make great wine feel fun and welcoming. How the brand has thoughtfully expanded its portfolio over the past eight years, moving from traditional bottles to cans, single-serve formats, and their 2026 releases of a non-alcoholic rosé and half bottles. Shop here! This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Book a call with the Team to get started!
Transcribe →Better Sour
2w ago00:27:28Tap to summarizeThe candy aisle is getting a much-needed jolt of tart, globally inspired flavor. Bella Hughes, Co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Better Sour, is the entrepreneurial force behind the award-winning gummies that are shaking up the snack world. Born and raised in Hawai'i, Bella and her lifelong best friend founded Better Sour to celebrate the diverse, tart flavors they grew up with and encountered through their global travels. Bella brings a unique perspective to consumer innovation, blending nearly two decades of experience as a cultural strategist and art curator with a proven track record of building successful brands. Now found in over 4,000 stores nationwide, Better Sour is proving that there is a massive appetite for snacks that prioritize cultural representation and high-quality, USA-manufactured ingredients. Inside the Episode: How two best friends turned a shared obsession into a rapidly scaling brand by identifying a lack of innovation in the sour space, specifically creating sophisticated, globally inspired gummies for grown-up palates. A deep dive into the journey of a serial founder and advisor, sharing the lessons learned from building multiple successful ventures in the food and beverage space. A look at how the brand prioritized visibility across a wide range of retailers early on to build mass brand awareness and prove the broad appeal of their globally inspired flavors. Shop here! This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Book a call with the Team to get started!
Transcribe →Faire
2w ago00:31:01Tap to summarizeThe landscape of local commerce is being revitalized through the world's largest online wholesale marketplace. Jennifer Burke, Chief Revenue Officer at Faire, has been a driving force behind the platform's mission to connect independent brands with the retailers that help them grow. Since joining in 2019, Jen has scaled Faire's North American Revenue organization from its early stages, building a sales culture deeply rooted in customer obsession and intentional growth. With a career spanning leadership roles at ClassPass, Bain & Company, MasterClass, and Disney, Jen brings a unique strategic perspective to the challenges of scaling a global marketplace. She shares how Faire is leveling the playing field for indie founders, providing the tools and community needed to keep local retail vibrant and competitive in a digital age. Inside the Episode: An overview of what Faire is and how the platform works to connect independent brands with local retailers to ensure small businesses can compete and grow. A look at how Faire is using technology to empower small businesses to compete with big box retailers by streamlining the wholesale process. Practical advice on how to get started with Faire, beginning with a deep understanding of your brand identity and audience to create a robust, high-converting selling page. Learn more about Faire here! This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Book a call with the Team to get started!
Transcribe →PlantPaper
2w ago00:32:50Tap to summarizeMost people use toilet paper several times a day without a second thought, but the environmental cost of traditional tree-based paper is staggering. Deeva Green (Co-Founder and Head of Sustainability) and Lee Reitelman (Co-Founder and CEO) are the duo behind PlantPaper, a brand that spent three years in research and development to create a silky, soft, and strong alternative that leaves no trace. By prioritizing ingredients and sustainability with the same rigor usually reserved for the food industry, Deeva and Lee have built a toxin-free, tree-free brand that challenges the status quo of the paper goods industry. From Deeva's roots in environmental policy and Columbia's Sustainability Management program to Lee's background in brand building and operations, they share how they've turned a domestic staple into a powerful force for positive social change. Inside the Episode: The extensive R&D process required to create a tree-free product that doesn't compromise on performance, featuring a unique "dabbing and grabbing" design. Lee discusses the transition from the sustainable food space to paper goods, applying a "clean label" mindset to a category that has long been overlooked. Deeva shares how her connection to Canada's ancient forests and her studies at the London School of Economics fueled her mission to use entrepreneurship as a tool for environmental advocacy. Ready to make the switch to tree-free? Visit plantpaper.us and use code KELLYB25 for 25% off your first order of a subscription. This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Book a call with the Team to get started!
Transcribe →Lunr Capital
3w ago00:29:05Tap to summarizeNavigating the financial demands of a national retail launch is one of the most significant hurdles for any emerging brand. Sam Stutzman and Jackie Bae of Lunr Capital are helping founders solve this puzzle through commitment based, non-dilutive inventory financing. By providing the capital needed to fund production ahead of retail demand, Lunr allows brands to manage cash flow and scale without giving up equity. Sam and Jackie bring extensive experience from their time at Target, where they managed high stakes merchandising, inventory operations, and retail media strategies. They share how their deep understanding of the retailer's perspective now helps brands at Lunr act as strategic partners rather than just a source of capital. Inside the Episode: An overview of how commitment based, non-dilutive financing works and why it is a vital tool for brands scaling in retail environments. How Lunr utilizes its network and retail-specific experience to serve as a strategic partner for founders navigating the complexities of expansion. Practical advice for brands on what financial partners and retailers look for when assessing a company's readiness for growth. Connect here! This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Book a call with the Team to get started!
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