In the Sauce

For the 250th and final episode of ITS, Ali invited Adam Brown to help her recap the past 6 years of the show.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member!In The Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Annalea Krebs is the founder and CEO of Social Nature, an online product discovery platform with over 1M shoppers. On this episode of ITS, Annalea and Ali talk about the consumer journey, from trial to life-long fan, and how it's more important than ever to take the risk out of trying new products.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member!In The Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Catherine Campbell is the founder of One For the Books, a marketing consultancy that specializes in reviving older brands in food, home, hospitality, and culture. On this episode of ITS, Ali and Catherine discuss vibes: what brands do when they lose them, and how to know when you're a brand at risk.Photo courtesy of Chelsea Lane Photography.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member!In The Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

McCall Gridley is Head of Sales & Partner Experience at Tastemade. On this episode of ITS, McCall tells Ali how brands can partner with Tastemade to create content that not only creates awareness, but also drives sales. They discuss the ever-evolving state of food media, how to think about content and consumer mindset, and why a media ecosystem is better than a single channel strategy.Photo courtesy of Tastemade.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member!In The Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Jane Miller is the CEO of Rudi's Rocky Mountain Bakery and CPG veteran with over 30 years of executive experience. On this episode of ITS, Jane and Ali talk about the fundamentals that have always been true of sustainable CPG brands, the qualities of great leaders, what makes brands fail, and why "build it and they will come" is a very bad idea.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member!In The Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Steven Singer is the founder and CEO of FODY Food and a 25-year CPG veteran. On this episode of ITS, Steven and Ali talk about the pros and cons of a building a niche product, how social media has truly changed the game in CPG, and how founders can protect themselves and their companies in this new era.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member!In The Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Clara Paye is the founder and CEO of UNiTE, best known for its line of globally-inspired protein bars. On this episode of ITS, Clara and Ali talk about building data stories for retailers, resources for emerging brands, and Clara's mission to democratize wellness.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member!In The Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Sasha Shor is the founder of Holy Tshili, a new condiment company that all began with a mashup of everything bagel seasoning, chili crisp, and furikake. On this episode of ITS, Sasha shares her lessons from a decades-long career as an award-winning creative leader, storyteller, and collaborator.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member!In The Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Kevin Griffith is the founder and CEO of Amplifi, an operational finance firm that works with CPG companies. On this episode of ITS, Kevin and Ali talk about key financial functions that emerging brands must understand to protect cash and stay healthy during tough times.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member!In The Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Amrit Richmond is a CPG strategist best known for the content & community she's worked to build since 2017: Indie CPG. On this episode of ITS, Amrit and Ali extol the virtues of cross-brand collaborations and cover everything from Faire emails to retail exclusive products.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member!In The Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Ben Bacon is the founder of Lentilful, the instant meal company that launched 18 months ago and is rapidly growing its distribution. On this episode of ITS, Ben shares his thoughts on product, market, consumer, and sales channels, and resources. It's a must-listen for very early stage food startup.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member!In The Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Graham Edward is the Head of Emerging Brand Partnerships and Canada Brand Partnerships at Instacart. On this episode of ITS, he walks Ali through how emerging brands can leverage Instacart to both maximize sales and build awareness on the platform.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member!In The Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Yasameen and Sheilla Sajady are the founders of Maazah, the refrigerated condiment company, best known for it's bold, tart, delicious chutneys. On this episode of ITS, the sisters talk Ali through how they've leveraged industry awards and accelerators to build efficiently and thoughtfully.Photo courtesy of Quincy Street Kitchen.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member!In The Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Malik Ducard is the Chief Content Officer at Pinterest, where he is responsible for setting the global content strategy. On this episode of ITS, Ali and Malik cover AI, the future of content, and how brands can work with Pinterest to reach and please consumers.Photo courtesy of Pinterest.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member!In The Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Jessica Bernheim is the Head of Marketing and Strategy at Daring Foods. On this episode of ITS, Jess walks Ali through an often-used, yet misunderstood concept: brand strategy.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member!In The Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Miles Soboroff is the Co-Founder of Zab's – the datil pepper hot sauce company that has won over heat lovers across the US. On this episode of ITS, Miles and Ali talk about winning on Faire, the Why behind Foodservice, and how Zab's holds onto its messaging.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member!In The Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Ethan Frisch and Ori Zohar are Co-Founders of Burlap & Barrel, the spice company deeply beloved by the chef community and home cooks, in search of spices that taste like they're meant to taste. On this episode of ITS, Ethan and Ori tell Ali how they not only quintupled in Covid, but how they made sure to stay in the hearts and carts of consumers after the pandemic.Photo courtesy of Burlap and Barrel.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member!In The Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Vanessa McPhill is a Freelance Marketer and Amazon Ads Manager Partner who works with brands to craft online and offline strategies to drive awareness and growth. On this episode of ITS, Vanessa walks Ali through Amazon: How to think about it, why a full-funnel approach is key, why it's a retail and media partner, and what the heck A+ content is.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member!In The Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Nicholas Naclero is Founder of Mmmly, the new classic cookie brand offering indulgent snacks that are actually good for you. On this episode of ITS, Nick and Ali talk about his learnings from the first 3 years of business, how our choices are now about efficiency, why the consumer has returned to the center, and his Wefunder campaign.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member!In The Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Mark Haas is the CEO of the Helmsman Group, a company that has helped companies like Magic Spoon, Urban Remedy, Kellogg's, and Haven's Kitchen build sustainable, scalable, and profitable CPG products. On this episode of ITS, Ali and Mark talk about innovation: what makes it great, why to build it from the ground up, and how to work best with an outside partner.In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Anna Whiteman is a Principal at Coefficient Capital, a multi-stage investment fund focused on consumer and technology investments. On this episode of ITS, Anna and Ali talk about what they saw at Expo West, beyond the brands and booths. They discuss the state of CPG today, how VC's are thinking about emerging brands, and why a return to pragmatism is a good thing for companies building in 2024.In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

This episode is a little different. Adam Brown is the Founder and President of Sircle Media, a social media agency that specializes in helping CPG and Beverage brands win online and in-store. On this episode of ITS, Adam interviews Ali all about Haven's Kitchen's new product line: AIOLI! They go through innovation, sales, marketing - and the WHY and HOW of the new line. Ali shares an Amazon discount code toward the end, so listen up!In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Laurel Orley is the Co-Founder and CEO of Daily Crunch, the company that makes sprouted nut snacks with flavors like Nashville Hot, Dill Pickle and Cherry Berry. On this episode of ITS, Laurel tells Ali how she launched the company with a framework she learned during her career as a marketer at brands including #Dove #LiptonTea, #Suave and #Hellman's.In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Maddie Kennedy is Senior Brand Manager at Haven's Kitchen, and on this episode of ITS, she and Ali talk EXPO WEST. Maddie shares how she's planning on getting the most out of the biggest trade show in the industry: from brand collaborations, to evergreen collateral, to team happiness tips.In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Ray Goulbourne is a foodservice expert with experience at high growth CPG brands including Banza, Simulate, Mason Dixie, and Sir Kensington's. On this episode of ITS, Ray breaks the channel down for Ali: From defining objectives and choosing a segment, to execution and scale. There's even a cheat code in the last few minutes, where brands looking into foodservice can start their research.In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Melissa Seligmann is the COO at Thingtesting, a review and discovery platform built to help people discover and share their candid reviews of brands. On this episode of ITS, Melissa and Ali talk about what's hot, what's not, and how Thingtesting's new growth tools are helping brands showcase foot traffic, analyze basket data, and expose their products to a new, engaged consumer.In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Eleanor Hayden is the founder of Hayden Consultancy - a shopper marketing consulting firm that works with brands like Olipop, Magic Spoon, Dream Pops, Catalina Crunch, Purely Elizabeth, Haven's Kitchen, and more. On this episode (Eleanor's 2nd!) of ITS, Eleanor walks Ali through all the ways brands can spend on digital marketing with retailers (and Instacart)...Sharpen your pencils!In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Lia Haberman is a marketing consultant for brands including AT&T, Robert Half, Riot Games, Viral Nation, and more. She is also an instructor of Influencer Marketing and Social Media Marketing at UCLA Extension, and writes a weekly Creator Economy newsletter called ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) to help over 15K industry pros stay up to date on platform news, social trends, and brand campaigns. On this episode of ITS, it's all about the algorithms and how brands can optimize their social media in today's zeitgeist.In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Parker Olson is the founder of Forij, the naturally sweetened, low sugar granola and granola bars, packed with superfood ingredients and concentrated mushroom extracts. On this episode of ITS, Parker and Ali talk about the state of CPG, Parker's next move, and also, a little bit about mushrooms. In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Adria Campbell is the Chief Revenue Officer at Malk Organics, the premium, plant-based milk company known for it's celebrity-created Erewhon smoothies. On this episode of ITS, Adria walks Ali through the way she runs sales, the KPI's she's established for her team, how she hires, and what her secret is with buyers. They also talk the perils of seasonal sku's and why Social Nature is the demo of the future.  In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Kendall Dickieson is the social media and influencer marketing consultant helping brands like Graza, Canopy, and immi become best friends with their consumer. On this episode of ITS, Kendall talks all things social, content, and how to make community more than a buzzword.In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Crystal Ung is the Founder and CEO of Bowlcut, the sauce brand named after everyone's favorite 80s haircut, building next generation Asian-American flavor. On this episode of ITS, Ali and Crystal talk about Operating Principles, leadership, and how Bowlcut is the culmination of Crystal's life and career.In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Taja Dockendorf is the Founder and Chief Creative Director of Pulp+Wire, an award-winning consumer packaging, branding, and digital agency that's worked with brands like Petco, Magnolia Bakery, Bob's Red Mill, and Vermont Creamery. On this episode of ITS, Taja breaks down what makes branding, digital content, and packaging both visually compelling and rooted in functionality and effectiveness.In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Hayley Painter is the co-CEO and co-Founder of Painterland Sisters, an organic skyr yogurt company a mission to connect consumers with family farmers. On this episode of ITS, Hayley tells Ali why she and her sister Stephanie began packaging their thick, creamy yogurt, how they're changing the narrative on dairy farming, and what the future holds for the sisters and their community.In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Nate Rosen is the founder of Express Checkout, a newsletter dedicated to the latest news and trends across CPG, retail, eCommerce, and supply chain. On this episode of ITS, Nate and Ali talk economic recovery, c-stores, and best practices for developing, writing, and building subscribers for newsletters.In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Marissa Hohner is the CEO & founder of Good Time Creative, the agency best known for creating trade show exhibits, experiential installations, influencer kits, and custom merch for brands like Chomps, Belgian Boys, Culture Pop, Ulta, Gatsby, Celsius, and Imperfect Foods. On this episode of ITS, Marissa and Ali talk about best ways to express your brand without spending more than you should, and what some brands may be missing without realizing it.In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Patrick Schwarzenegger is the CEO of Mosh, the brand on a mission to educate consumers about brain health. On this episode of ITS, Patrick shares how his experience as an angel investor has shaped MOSH, how brain health is evolving as a category, and why fixing your "leaky buckets" is critical to profitable growth.In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Chris Gallant is the CEO of Chamberlain Coffee, the brainchild of YouTube phenomenon Emma Chamberlain. On this episode of ITS, Chris and Ali talk about creator-founded brands, how they can pull apart from the personality that started them, the persistence of retail, and why "cans in hands" is a must for a coffee brand.In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Beatrice Dixon is the co-founder, Chief Innovation Officer, and CEO of the Honey Pot Company, a plant-derived hygiene powerhouse for humans with vaginas. On this episode of ITS, Beatrice and Ali talk about the origins of Honey Pot (it started with a dream), and the realities of the CPG business: from community management, to investor issues, to working with retailers focused on a "simplify to amplify" environment.In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Sabeena Ladha is the founder and CEO of Deux, the good-for-you cookie dough company. On this episode of ITS, Sabeena walks Ali through the processes she's honed after her years at Lays, Diamond Foods, McKinsey and M13. Hint: It's all about testing and learning.In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Lauryn Chun is the founder of Mother-in-Law's, the crowd favorite brand that started the fermented foods craze way back in 2009. On this episode of ITS, Ali and Lauryn compare the economic environment today with 2010-2012, and discuss the creativity, scrappiness, and innovation that emerged from challenges.In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Grant Thomas is Chief Service Officer at Arc Retail Group, and has successfully launched over 100 items across 7 Walmart departments in 38 categories. On this episode of ITS, Grant breaks down Walmart for Ali: From the distribution and fulfillment details brands have to nail, to the velocity expectations and consumer profiles (that may surprise you).In the Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.