In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Lex Evan, founder of LEXINGTON BAKES, a luxury baked goods brand serving protein cookies, protein oat bars, and dessert brownies. But the luxury isn't in the price — it's in the ingredients. Lex just won a NEXTY Award at Expo West for best vegan product, and he's bringing that energy into this conversation.

Caitlin and Lex dig into his 20-year career as a graphic designer, how he taught himself to bake from scratch, and why he trademarked both "radical ingredient transparency" and "no naughty ingredients" — two philosophies that sit at the heart of everything LEXINGTON BAKES does. From printing supplier logos directly on packaging to sharing every award with his ingredient partners, Lex has built a brand that puts integrity above everything else.

They also get into the realities of being a solo founder — protecting your time, setting boundaries with your community, and why putting your head down and staying true to your vision is what ultimately led to winning the NEXTY Award. Plus, Lex drops some breaking news: his co-manufacturer just went out of business, and he's back to self-manufacturing while the brand continues to grow.

Listen in as they discuss:

How a 20-year design career at Johnson & Johnson laid the foundation for LEXINGTON BAKES
Why Lex taught himself to bake and how community feedback pushed him to turn a hobby into a brand
What radical ingredient transparency means — and why he trademarked it
Why LEXINGTON BAKES prints supplier logos directly on packaging and shares every award with ingredient partners
What "no naughty ingredients" means and why Lex avoids the word "clean" entirely
The serendipitous story of how Artisana came to him right as he was developing his nut butter-powered protein cookies
How being a solo founder shapes every decision he makes about time, energy, and generosity
Why putting his head down and ignoring the competition led directly to his NEXTY Award win
Advice for first-time CPG founders: stay true to your vision and don't let unexpected opportunities derail where you're going

Episode Links:
Lex Evan — Founder, LEXINGTON BAKES
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/lexevan LEXINGTON BAKES
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lexingtonbakes/
LEXINGTON BAKES Website: https://lexingtonbakes.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/lexingtonbakes

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Show Links:

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Episode music by Super Fantastics