ContenderCast with Justin Honaman

Erica Groussman is the founder and CEO of TRUBAR, a delicious vegan protein bar brand made of 100% plant-based ingredients and free of gluten, dairy, soy, sugar alcohols, or harmful seed oils. Founded in 2019, TRUBAR has seen over 100% YoY growth every year since its launch and will expand into 15,000+ new retail locations this year including their most recent last month in Targets nationwide! Erica joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing food brand!

Meet Stacy Martin – the founder of Seahorse Snacks! She calls herself a seahorse because she chose to have her stomach removed due to an extremely rare genetic mutation (CDH1). Seahorses also don't have stomachs. Because she doesn't have a stomach, she has to eat frequently, like every two hours all day, every day. Because she eats so frequently, she often gets bored with eating the same thing over and over. Nuts are a great source of protein and she learned that she could make them extra delicious! Stacy joins Justin to discuss this up-and-coming snack brand.

Victoria Ha is the co-founder of Match My Makeup, the world's first scientifically and mathematically derived foundation shade matching platform. Match My Makeup's technology has been adopted around the world by major retail clients and cosmetics houses such as Net-a-Porter, Clarins and Harvey Nichols. Prior to launching Match My Makeup with her sister in 2012, Victoria was in Silicon Valley working in health-information, a field that allowed her to combine both her skills as a Computer Scientist and Lawyer. Victoria joins Justin to discuss the industry, technology and more!

Tony Roma's is a full service, casual dining family restaurant where you can find premier BBQ ribs and steaks in locations across the world. With over 100 family restaurant locations on five continents, Tony Roma's is one of the most globally recognizable names in the industry. CEO, Mina Haque joins Justin to discuss this growing restaurant industry brand!

Tip Top helps you quickly fix behavior problems and bring the best out of your dog! They got started 15 years ago in Oklahoma and now have locations across the U.S. where they help people communicate better with their dogs. With the Tip Top Method of Dog Training, you can quickly gain the control you have always wanted while still having a happy, tail-wagging dog! Ryan Wimpey, the visionary founder of Tip Top K9 Dog Training, joins Justin to discuss the business, their training method, and more!

Let's dive in! Deborah Hall is CEO and Co-Founder of DIVE Billboards, a company renowned for transforming digital out of home (DOOH) screens with real-time, human-curated and brand safe content. Under her leadership, alongside Co-Founder Michael Girgis, DIVE Billboards is bringing the best of mobile and social to DOOH. Deb joins Justin to discuss how DIVE curates and translates dynamic, data-driven creative and social UGC moments to billboards around the world, combining social and digital out of home (DOOH) strategies for ultimate engagement and discovery.

Discover the unexpectedly craveable taste of Dixie Grace's Boiled Peanuts. Unique taste, layered in flavor and texture. Plant-based protein grown in the ground, not in a lab. Minimally processed with carefully curated ingredients. Beloved snack all around the world for centuries! Dixie joins Justin to discuss this delicious brand!

Asha Shivaji is an accomplished marketer, having collaborated with renowned global brands, such as Apple, Disney, Moet Hennessy, Estee Lauder, and Johnson & Johnson. Throughout her career, Asha has focused on revamping and modernizing marketing initiatives that captured the hearts and minds of consumers. Most recently, Asha led the marketing strategy for Google's Advanced Brand Acceleration Team and co-led Google's partnership with the UN's Unstereotype Alliance, an organization whose meaningful efforts are aimed at eliminating harmful stereotypes from media and advertising. In 2023, Asha and Jason launched the SeeMe Index because there was a lack of data about consumer-facing inclusivity efforts. Asha joins Justin to discuss the index and benefits to consumers and brands!

WYNK was founded in 2020 by Casey Parzych, Angus Rittenburg, and Shawn Sheehan, three friends (a beverage manufacturer, mechanical engineer, and energy trader) looking for a new opportunity in the cannabis beverage market. Their challenge: find a way to dose the seltzer with THC legally, as current laws for dispensary distribution require dosing in the states where the drinks will be sold. Today, WYNK is a hemp-derived  1:1 THC:CBD zero-calorie seltzer. WYNK's blend of THC and CBD offers a light and bubbly buzz that is enjoyable any night of the week. WYNK is made with all-natural flavors and comes in Black Cherry Fizz, Lime Twist, Juicy Mango, and newly released Tangerine. WYNK is available online for purchase in 37 states, and sold in retail stores in 12 states at www.drinkwynk.com. Angus joins Justin to discuss this innovative, and fast-growing, beverage brand.

Trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle amidst changing diet trends and busy lifestyles can be overwhelming. In addition to being a wife and mother of three, Meredith Mann is a CPT and holistic nutrition and wellness consultant. She specializes in metabolisms, blood sugar, and emotional eating. Her happy place is her yoga mat and her kitchen, creating simple recipes that help balance blood sugar. She believes that freedom starts to come when we learn to eat properly to shut off hunger, ditch the crave/crash cycle, and finally feel good every day. Meredith joins Justin to discuss launching and growing a lifestyle brand – The Peachie Spoon!

GoSili was founded in 2006 based on the principal that it was time to create a cultural shift away from toxic and excessive plastics. Founders, Giuliana Schawb and Stacey Feeley believed there was a better alternative to plastics, so they began creating stylish, incredibly durable, 100% nontoxic silicone products with the philosophy that it was time to make the “basics” better. They first founded the award-winning all silicone children's brand, Silikids of which GoSili is the parent company. Today, the company has expanded from kids products to products for the whole family and more. GoSili continues to bring innovative silicone products to market and has since been dedicated to building a social movement away from unsustainable plastic wares by providing the alternative to them. Stacey joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing brand.

Unlock the full adventure with Bake & Explore Kits, where engaging activities, global flavors, and fun challenges await. Or check out the Individual Baking Kits that offer fun and easy-to-follow recipes. Although these kits don't include all the extras found in Bake & Explore Kits, they're just as perfect for spending quality time with your little ones. CEO and Founder Shelley Gupta joins Justin to discuss this growing baking experience brand!

With just six simple ingredients, these cookies were designed for purists. They use the best quality peanut butter, eggs, vanilla, and maple syrup to create a cookie that is somewhere between fudge and cookie in texture. Meet Mightylicious! CEO Carolyn Haeler joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing brand.

ShipLab is a San Diego based fulfillment center that is focused on providing simple and effective order fulfillment and inventory management to help entrepreneurs focus on growing their business, not just maintaining it. Co-founder Alan Silberstein joins Justin to discuss launching and growing the business.

Jamie and his sons were sitting around the campfire having a few beers and talking about beer, naturally. His oldest was about to leave for college, so Jamie encouraged him to think for himself when it came to drinking alcohol, regardless of the peanut gallery's opinions. Making a rational choice feels pretty damn radical...so why not screw the rules, make that radical choice and own the moment? They got pretty fired up about the idea of crafting a non-alc beer that doesn't play by the rules. They started brewing RationAle and haven't looked back since. Wendy Pickett, Co-Founder and EVP of Sales, joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing non-alc beverage brand!

AMC Global delivers insights from real consumers in real markets to help you optimize your launch strategies. Shira Horn, Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy & Innovation, joins Justin to discuss market research, insights and analytics that power product innovation and launch.

Pickytarian, an e-commerce brand that creates stylish, sturdy, and compostable tableware for special occasions. Pickytarian stemmed from a desire to elevate an experience that is often riddled with single-use plastics, outdated designs, and subpar offerings. Pickytarian creates dinnerware products that are beautifully designed, elegant, sturdy, compostable, and disposable. Their tableware products are meant for those special occasions where it's a huge hassle to use fine dinnerware but you are also conscious enough not to use toxic plastic or flimsy paper plates. Founder and CEO Laide Olambiwonnu joins Justin to discuss this innovative brand.

What do you do when you want your Bloody Mary but can't carry along all of the ingredients to mix the drink? You grab a MaryCan! Premium canned cocktails – cocktails on the go – are a fast-growing category and the team at Bar2Table is working hard to introduce your favorite cocktails, with great taste, the highest quality and in great packaging. Charlton Gronlund joins Justin for a “Part 2” to discuss this fast-growing alco-bev brand!

Razer Inc. is an American multinational corporation and technology company that makes, develops and sells consumer electronics, financial services, and gaming hardware. The brand was founded in 1998, then re-founded in 2005 by Min-Liang Tan and Robert "RazerGuy" Krakoff, although the business originated in 1999 in the US. Bob Ohlweiler, SVP of Global Sales & Marketing, joins Justin to discuss this high-octane brand!

As a mom, Dionne Laslo-Baker wanted to show her kids that real food can be delicious without adding malic acid, artificial colors, or artificial flavors. So she brought her PhD in Medical Science from the lab to the kitchen and created products she would be proud to give her own family. She also wanted to prove that business can be a force for good—helping to create a more colorful world filled with health, inclusivity, and joy. A world where everyone thrives, together. DeeBee's Organics is a Certified B Corporation, their factory uses solar power, and they champion employees' most loved causes through the DreamLauncher program. Dionne joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing brand!

Baijiu (pronounced bye-j'yo) means “white spirits” in Mandarin. It is a diverse drinks category that includes all traditional Chinese grain spirits. Most baijiu is distilled from sorghum, but it can also be made from other crops. The techniques deployed in baijiu production vary greatly by region and style, and different styles of baijiu can be as distinct as whiskey is to tequila. Baijiu is the world's most popular liquor by volume. China's National Statistics Bureau estimates that the country produces about 12.9 billion liters (3.4B gal) of baijiu annually. Put another way, there is more baijiu produced each year than the combined total of vodka and whisky—numbers two and three, respectively. Baijiu and Western spirits, broadly defined, are fundamentally different alcohols, which makes Chinese spirits an exciting new addition to the international spirits world. Co-founder Derek Sandhaus joins Justin to discuss this new exciting, up-and-coming alco-bev brand!

Tropical Smoothie Cafe, also referred to as Tropical Smoothie, is a restaurant franchise in the United States that operates more than 1400 locations nationwide. Tropical Smoothie began as a smoothie shop in 1993 along the panhandle of Florida. Tropical Smoothie Franchise Development Corporation was founded in 1997 in Destin, Florida, and the first franchised store opened in 1998 in Tallahassee, Florida. Tropical Smoothie Cafe is currently headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. CEO Charles Watson joins Justin to discuss restaurant strategy, growth and delivering an exceptional customer experience!

Fresh Press Farms are the makers of homegrown, cold pressed cooking oils. Crafting oil like this means they capture the best of the olive...or peanut, pecan, or sunflower seed because they make those oils, too! CEO Frederic Lebourg joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing brand.

Crisp Power. Your go-to for functional food with just 6g of net carbs and a whopping 28g of plant based protein per pack [1.75oz (50g)]. It's not just a snack; it's a revolution! Gilad Zilberberg joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing, innovative snack brand!

It all started when Diane's sister took a trip to India over 15 years ago, where she learned about the health and taste benefits of sprouted almonds. When you soak almonds in water for a long period of time, they “sprout”. The result is easier to digest + more nutrient dense + crunchier almonds! Inspired by these health benefits + the “sprouted-nut-crunch”, Diane began sprouting almonds and then dehydrating them, as opposed to roasting them, at home. She would then flavor them with real ingredients. She loved the way they tasted, and even more, the way they made her feel. She shared her sprouted snacks with friends and family members … who were always asking for more! Laurel, her niece and a healthy food lover with plentiful experience in marketing, fell in love with the snacks. Her interest was piqued. After doing some market research and going to Natural Products Expo West, Laurel and Diane realized sprouted snacks were truly unique from snacks already on the market. For the health-conscious consumer, a tasty + crunchy sprouted nut snack made with all real ingredients, no oil, and no added sugars would be a dream come true. Co-founder and CEO Laurel Orley joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing snack brand!

The LittleOak Company is on a mission to create products that care equally for our little ones and the world they will grow into. They believe that nothing can prepare our children for the world more than the world itself. Nature, after all, is our greatest provider. This is why they fell in love with the natural benefits of fresh goat milk and use it in our range of toddler drinks. Founder Elke Pascoe joins Justin to discuss this growing baby formula brand!

NYC is widely considered one of the most diverse cities in the world, with people, music, and FOOD from all over! After several years of cooking in some of the top restaurants in the city, Founder Alton But noticed that the non-alcoholic beverage pairings could have been more inspiring. NYC has some of the best Asian cuisines outside of Asia, only for the meals to be paired with the same old sodas and soft drinks that every other restaurant in the city carries. Alton and his team made it their mission to change this; they launched Moshi, a beverage brand made with unique Asian ingredients to pair with the Asian cuisine we all know and love. Alton joins Justin to discuss this growing beverage brand!

Elyse and her husband and business partner, Nick, seemingly have done it all. Together, they faced the notorious Sharks of ABC's Shark Tank, sold millions of bagels on live TV, invented multiple successful lines of frozen breakfast items, and built their company into a recognized national brand. But they have also faced challenge. In pursuit of their dream, Elyse and Nick spent seven days a week, 24 hours a day, bustling through financial struggles, rejections, pregnancies, births, miscarriages, crisscrossing the country, fighting tooth and nail for the survival of their company. And nearly every time they made a step towards success it was coupled by an equally sized calamity or failure. Elyse joins Justin to discuss launching, growing, and exiting a fast-growing bagel business.

Miles Marmo is a failed professional athlete turned marketing agency and brand owner. As the Co-Founder of Agency Squid and Stage Seven Tequila, he brings a wealth of consumer goods knowledge to every brand he develops. Prior to starting his own agency and tequila brand, he spent years at one of the leading RTD beverage brands in the US. As a trained strategist, Miles works to blend business acumen with creative expression. Miles joins Justin to discuss Consumer Goods and his new beverage brand!

With the arrival of her daughter in 2018, Emily Groden (Founder and CEO) knew she would not have as much time to cook. She needed a new go-to: something that was simple, tasty, and truly nourishing. But frozen waffles? Are they simple? Yes. Tasty? Definitely. Nourishing? Uh… no. It's a classic tale of a mom, a mission, and a waffle maker. Cramming all the good stuff like fruits, veggies, nuts and spices into something that tastes as good as it makes you feel. A few years and a few hundred recipes later, flavor, protein, fiber, and a whole serving of fruits and veggies are together at last… in a toaster. Emily joins Justin to discuss this delicious and fast-growing brand!

Moss Pure was created during a startup competition at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in June 2020, where it won First Place Startup in Track 1B: Health, Energy, and Waste Management (MIT Lebanon Challenge). It then went on to participate in the United Nations Development Programme where it won Top 10 Startup in August 2020. While most moss wall companies use preserved moss that is no longer living, Moss Pure is the first and only live moss air filter and stress relief device. Their patent pending science extends the lifespan of live moss within our design without needing any watering, sunlight, or maintenance. All while being an aesthetically pleasing decor piece in your modern space. Founder Jamie Mitri joins Justin to discuss this “growing” company!

Amante, the Italian word for lover, is designed to stimulate the senses and inspire a life of passion. LA DELIZIOSA VITA, the delicious life. Hailing from the historic Il Palagio 1530 estate in Tuscany, this latest innovation in amaro offers a new take on an old classic; combining aromas of Italian citrus, ginger and honeysuckle to help you enjoy a unique bittersweet taste and a thoroughly delicious afternoon. Amante 1530 transports the art of Italian spirit-making into the 21st century, and heralds a new era of amaro. Amante 1530. The delicious life. CEO Ana Rosenstein joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing brand!

Based in Las Vegas, Noovo introduces two groundbreaking models in 2024: Noovo Lite and the innovative Noovo Plus, the ‘First Super High Roof Camper Van in the US. Designed for the evolving needs of remote workers, retirees, travel nurses, and adventurers, these vans represent our vision of seamless integration between life's work and pleasures. These vans are ideal for full-time van living. Co-founder Paul Aubert joins Justin to discuss this moving brand!

Renewal Logistics provides fulfillment solutions tailored to accommodate each brand's unique needs. Renewal streamlines the supply chain with customizable value-added services supporting direct-to-consumer, retail brick-n-mortar and ecommerce marketplaces routes to market. Founder and CEO Courtney Folk joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing CPG service brand!

Rebecca van Bergen is the Founder and Executive Director of Nest, a nonprofit supporting the responsible growth and creative engagement of the artisan and maker economy to build a world of greater gender equity and economic inclusion. Rebecca leads an organization that is partnering with brand leaders such as Etsy, Madewell, Patagonia, Target and West Elm to improve transparency, social wellbeing, and economic opportunity for handworkers which includes both artisans and less skilled manual laborers, often working from their homes. Nest's comprehensive suite of artisan and maker programming reaches over 250,000 handworkers working across 1,500+ artisan businesses in 124 countries.

Lovers of snacks, devotees of quality food. This shared passion was met with an equally shared frustration that the snacks they loved the most often made them feel the worst. So the team at Myna Snacks set out on a journey to create the most craveable, poppable, feel-good snacks of all time. Real ingredients, sustainably sourced, vitamin D, no gluten, no GMOs, nothing artificial. Better snacks make Myna Snacks happy, so they made them to share with you. CEO and co-founder Darcey Macken joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing brand.

La Gringuita Cookies in Palm Beach County offers quarter pound gourmet cookies made with premium ingredients and handcrafted with lots of love. The frozen CookiDough, however, is what sets this business apart. Now you can bake these jumbo cookies in the comfort of your own home by purchasing the preformed frozen CookiDough balls. Founder and CEO Caroline McGinley joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing brand!

Packed Party is a lifestyle gifting brand that encourages customers to make everyday a party with its unique party packages and creative products both at a wholesale and direct to consumer level. Founder and CEO Jordan Jones joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing “party” brand!

As a 26-year-old entrepreneur, Ophir Rahimi owns and operates several e-commerce businesses. Ophir is the founder of Rip Technologies, a 40+ person e-commerce company based in Miami, Florida. They build and scale direct-to-consumer brands including Haus and Hues, The Carefree Bee, Artelo, and Daylight with an average of ~50% YoY growth last six years across marketplaces including Amazon, Etsy, Shopify, and Walmart. Ophir joins Justin to discuss building and launch D2C brands.

From the people, to the art and science of the craft itself, to unique approaches and industry innovations, to that delicious liquid in the bottle — if it's related to craft alcohol and there's an interesting story behind it, The Crafty Cask celebrates it. People don't connect with products, they connect with people and stories. The Crafty Cask is here to tell the stories, introduce you to the people, draw you in, and get you excited about visiting or trying whatever it is that we're sharing. The Crafty Cask does this to inspire you to travel and explore this amazing world through craft spirits, cider, wine, beer, and more. Founder Suzanne Henrickson joins Justin to discuss this beverage brand.

If you have an active lifestyle then you know there is no complete solution for solving all the gross things that come along with it (sweat, stank, funk, grime, dirt, bacteria, etc). At Nonaste (pronounced No Nasty), Nonaste handles all the dirty work with their best in class, high performance odor removing laundry detergents, Odor Eliminating Spray, hand sanitizer, Sanitizing Spray - Just spray and go! Founder and CEO Andy Voggenthaler joins Justin to discuss this no-nasty brand!

KickIt Pajamas is an idea born from co-founder Cindy Trice while she was undergoing chemotherapy treatments for cervical cancer. A dear friend gave her a cute pair of pajamas to wear while hospitalized. From the minute she put these pajamas on, Cindy felt put together and dressed as she pushed her IV pole in laps around the nurses' station and welcomed visitors. In essence, she felt dignified and a little “normal” in a world where absolutely nothing felt normal. Thus, a brand was born. Cindy joins Justin to discuss launching and growing the brand.

Kathryn Bricken, Mum and now entrepreneur, has a passion for baking. From an early age she understood how food is more than fuel; it is a way of bringing people together and making magical memories. After moving to London, Kathryn became famous amongst her friends for baking the best American-style cookies using the finest natural ingredients. She was often asked to make extra dough so that her friends could bake cookies at home. In 2014 Kathryn decided to share her secret with the rest of the UK … Thus, Doughlicious was born. Every cookie dough flavour is 100% gluten-free thanks to their unique blend of gluten-free flours. There are also dairy-free, organic and vegan flavours. Everything is made with the finest ingredients and no artificial additives or preservatives. Kathryn joins Justin to discuss this doughy-delicious brand!

Tallywell is an AI-modeled health management app that empowers you to care for yourself and your loved ones with confidence. In the complex and expensive world of health care, we're your first step toward clarity, understanding, and preparation. Every day, your Apple Watch collects data on the way you live and move. Tallywell puts that data to use, learning your habits and providing actionable insights to keep you in the driver seat of your family's health. Live freely with the knowledge that you're keeping yourself and your family on a path to better health. CEO Candice Paik joins Justin to discuss this new health tech app.

Tom Cingari Jr. is Vice President, Produce, Floral, and E-Commerce across all Cingari Family ShopRite locations. For the last 15 years, Tom has always focused on innovation. From making sure his departments feature the latest and freshest products, to bringing the stores into the digital age in his e-commerce role. Tom joins Justin to share the Cingari story – four generations in the business – and how retail is quickly evolving to meet the unique needs of the shopper.

It all began three generations ago in a small village, where Antonio Carlo is from, in Genoa, Italy. This is where his Nona perfected her idea of a homemade, all purpose “MARI-NAADA” sauce. Keeping with tradition, he's been making this sauce for over 50 years and let me tell you something, this ain't no ragoooo. It's the real deal. You're gonna love it. Buon appetito! Antonio joins Justin to discuss his growing line of marinara sauces!

Max Tucci is the Third Generation Partner and Global Brand Officer of Delmonico's New York. Max is a 2023 IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals) Trailblazer Award Recipient, a Telly Award, Communicator Award, w3 Award, MUSE Award, and Davey Award winner. Coined a "Lifestyle Expert" from his appearances on America's Next Top Model with Tyra Banks. Max is the Bestselling Author of the Amazon #1 cookbook, 'The Delmonico Way; Sublime Entertaining and Legendary Recipes from the Restaurant that Made New York!' Published by Rizzoli. Finally, Max is the grandson of the legendary restaurateur, the late Oscar Tucci of the iconic Delmonico's Restaurant in downtown NYC. Max joins Justin to discuss the restaurant, the industry, and his book. Come hungry!

Bubble Goods is on a mission to redefine our food system. And at the same time, provide the most transparent health food marketplace. Today's food system is loaded with refined sugars, dyes, gums, and preservatives-- a function of mass distribution that has resulted in products that are cheaply made. Bubble Goods believes that the future of food is built from a community of independent makers who make real food. Founder Jessica Young joins Justin to discuss launching and growing this food brand marketplace.

Nikki Baird is the vice president of strategy at Aptos, a retail enterprise solution provider. She looks after the future of retail and retail technology and identifies their impacts on both retail and Aptos' strategy and solutions.  She has been a top global retail industry influencer for 20+ years, with a background in retail and technology, and a career spanning PwC, Forrester, independent retail and tech startups. Nikki joins Justin to discuss key retail trends expected in early 2024.

Founded by husband-and-wife duo Stephen and Allison and based in Austin, TX, poppi combines fresh fruit juice, apple cider vinegar, and inulin prebiotics for a deliciously refreshing, full-of-flavor soda with benefits. With the help of an investment on Shark Tank, poppi has gone from farmer's-market-favorite to sitting pretty on the shelves of thousands of retailers across the nation. Along the way, they've become beloved by many including Hailey Bieber, Kylie Jenner, Billie Eilish, Russell Westbrook, JLo, Olivia Munn, and more. Allison joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing beverage brand!

Nicole (Nikki) Dawes is the CEO and Founder of Nixie Sparking Water and also the Founder of Late July Organic Snacks. Founded in 2018, Nixie Sparkling Water is a brand that delivers exceptional taste without synthetic solvents, carriers or artificial preservatives. Founded in 2003, Late July Snacks offers tortilla chips and crackers made of organic, non-GMO ingredients that the whole family can enjoy. Nikki joins Justin to discuss launching and growing two successful CPG brands.