Troubleshooting Innovation

Welcome to Season 15 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Molly Blakeley, founder and CEO of Molly Bz, talks about how she built a nationwide cookie brand from $150 and an InstaPot experiment. Sponsored by CoPack Connect. In our fifth and final episode, we discover how to let go of limitations and tap into potential.

Welcome to Season 15 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Molly Blakeley, founder and CEO of Molly Bz, talks about how she built a nationwide cookie brand from $150 and an InstaPot experiment. Sponsored by CoPack Connect. In Episode 4, Molly shares the keys to getting the most out of mentorships – from both sides.

Welcome to Season 15 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Molly Blakeley, founder and CEO of Molly Bz, talks about how she built a nationwide cookie brand from $150 and an InstaPot experiment. Sponsored by CoPack Connect. In Episode 3, we're uncovering how contract manufacturing has been the key to Molly Bz' national growth.

Welcome to Season 15 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Molly Blakeley, founder and CEO of Molly Bz, talks about how she built a nationwide cookie brand from $150 and an InstaPot experiment. Sponsored by CoPack Connect. In Episode 2, we delve into the unique product development process that started with some leftover liquor bottles.

Welcome to Season 15 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Molly Blakeley, founder and CEO of Molly Bz, talks about how she built a nationwide cookie brand from $150 and an InstaPot experiment. Sponsored by CoPack Connect. In our first episode, we get to know Molly and learn what drove her to start a cookie company from Alaska with $150 in her pocket.

Welcome to Season 14 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Trina Bediako, CEO of New Horizons Baking Co., shares how she balances generational wisdom and youthful disruption to expand a family bakery business in unconventional ways. Sponsored by Coperion. In our fifth and final episode, we dive into how New Horizons is reshaping its business model with vertical integration as it supplies the foodservice industry and what that means for the future.

Welcome to Season 14 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Trina Bediako, CEO of New Horizons Baking Co., shares how she balances generational wisdom and youthful disruption to expand a family bakery business in unconventional ways. Sponsored by Coperion. In Episode 4, we discover Trina's take on succession planning and the future of leadership beyond the bloodline.

Welcome to Season 14 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Trina Bediako, CEO of New Horizons Baking Co., shares how she balances generational wisdom and youthful disruption to expand a family bakery business in unconventional ways. Sponsored by Coperion. In Episode 3, Trina explores the evolution of the New Horizons bakery operation and how change feeds growth.

Welcome to Season 14 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Trina Bediako, CEO of New Horizons Baking Co., shares how she balances generational wisdom and youthful disruption to expand a family bakery business in unconventional ways. Sponsored by Coperion. In Episode 2, Trina talks about the importance of transferring knowledge from generation to generation and shares lessons she's learned on her path to leadership.

Welcome to Season 14 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Trina Bediako, CEO of New Horizons Baking Co., shares how she balances generational wisdom and youthful disruption to expand a family bakery business in unconventional ways. Sponsored by Coperion. In Episode 1, get to know Trina, hear what it was like for her to grow up in the industry, and learn how that experience defined her path.

Welcome to Season 13 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Markey Culver, CEO of The Women's Bakery, a social enterprise bakery in East Africa. They're discovering the challenges and rewards that come with creating change through baking. Sponsored by Middleby Bakery Group. In our fifth and final episode, Markey explores the exciting developments that are on the horizon for The Women's Bakery.

Welcome to Season 13 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Markey Culver, CEO of The Women's Bakery, a social enterprise bakery in East Africa. They're discovering the challenges and rewards that come with creating change through baking. Sponsored by Middleby Bakery Group. In our fourth episode, Markey talks about how The Women's Bakery has gone from empowering women to feeding kids with its One Bread Project.

Welcome to Season 13 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Markey Culver, CEO of The Women's Bakery, a social enterprise bakery in East Africa. They're discovering the challenges and rewards that come with creating change through baking. Sponsored by Middleby Bakery Group. In our third episode, Markey explores how The Women's Bakery has remained viable in the face of seemingly insurmountable barriers. She discusses the impacts of automation, the pandemic, supply chain disruptions and more. Learn more about this season here, and tune into Troubleshooting Innovation on Apple or Spotify.

Welcome to Season 13 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Markey Culver, CEO of The Women's Bakery, a social enterprise bakery in East Africa. They're discovering the challenges and rewards that come with creating change through baking. Sponsored by Middleby Bakery Group. In our second episode, Markey shares the journey of building a successful bakery and nonprofit. She discusses the obstacles that came along with opening a business in a new country and scaling up, and what her team learned along the way.

Welcome to Season 13 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Markey Culver, CEO of The Women's Bakery, a social enterprise bakery in East Africa. They're discovering the challenges and rewards that come with creating change through baking. Sponsored by Middleby Bakery Group. In our first episode, Markey explains how she went from a business student in St. Louis to a bakery entrepreneur in Rwanda, drastically changing lives for East African women with a simple loaf of bread.

Welcome to Season 12 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Tony Martin, president of Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe. They're exploring how this company has grown from a family-owned brand into a national icon. Sponsored by AMF Bakery Systems. In our fifth and final episode, Tony dives into how the company's growth over time has transformed its marketing strategies. He also offers insight into how Martin's incorporates the latest trends into existing operations.

Welcome to Season 12 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Tony Martin, president of Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe. They're exploring how this company has grown from a family-owned brand into a national icon. Sponsored by AMF Bakery Systems. In the fourth episode, we hear how Tony's family has passed down their values for generations, from supporting non-profits in their community to providing workers with benefits like a wellness program, profit sharing and more.

Welcome to Season 12 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Tony Martin, president of Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe. They're exploring how this company has grown from a family-owned brand into a national icon. Sponsored by AMF Bakery Systems. In the third episode, we hear Tony's perspectives on scaling the business through acquisitions and facility expansions, and how rapid technology advances have impacted equipment and operational needs.

Welcome to Season 12 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Tony Martin, president of Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe. They're exploring how this company has grown from a family-owned brand into a national icon. Sponsored by AMF Bakery Systems. In our second episode, Tony talks about the unique taste and texture of potato-based products, and how Martin's takes different approaches to product innovation when working with foodservice vs. retail.

Welcome to Season 12 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Tony Martin, president of Martin's Famous Potato Rolls and Bread. They're exploring how this company has grown from a family-owned brand into a national icon. Sponsored by AMF Bakery Systems. In the first episode, we dive into the history of the company, starting with Tony's grandparents baking out of a one-car garage in the '50s. You'll also hear about Tony's winding career path, from pilot to president, as the third generation of leadership in a four-generation company.

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 5, of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Jennifer Steiner Pool, president and creator-in-chief of Steiner's Baking Co., about how to turn a special family recipe into a commercially viable brand. Sponsored by Puratos. In our final episode, we look to the future of Steiner's and talk about portfolio expansion beyond coffee cake.

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 4, of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Jennifer Steiner Pool, president and creator-in-chief of Steiner's Baking Co., about how to turn a special family recipe into a commercially viable brand. Sponsored by Puratos. In this episode, we have an interesting discussion around the evolution of marketing for a gluten-free product.

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 3, of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Jennifer Steiner Pool, president and creator-in-chief of Steiner's Baking Co., about how to turn a special family recipe into a commercially viable brand. Sponsored by Puratos. In this episode, we're tackling the product development challenges that come with creating gluten-free baked goods.

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 2, of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Jennifer Steiner Pool, president and creator-in-chief of Steiner's Baking Co., about how to turn a special family recipe into a commercially viable brand. Sponsored by Puratos. In this episode, we're going from startup to scale and learning how Steiner's Coffee Cake has grown its customer base … and how production is growing with it.

Welcome to Season 11 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Jennifer Steiner Pool, president and creator-in-chief of Steiner's Baking Co., about how to turn a special family recipe into a commercially viable brand. Sponsored by Puratos. In the first episode, we meet our guest and discover how her grandfather's hobby led her to become “creator-in-chief” for Steiner's.

Welcome to Season 10 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Julie Miller Jones, a member of the Grain Foods Foundation Scientific Advisory Board, and Charlotte Martin, registered dietitian and consultant for the Grain Foods Foundation. They're debunking bread myths to help bakers develop delicious, healthy grain-based products — and help them educate consumers on the health benefits of bread. Sponsored by Lallemand Baking. In this final episode, we close out the season with a discussion around the benefits of grain foods on women's health.

Welcome to Season 10 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Julie Miller Jones, a member of the Grain Foods Foundation Scientific Advisory Board, and Charlotte Martin, registered dietitian and consultant for the Grain Foods Foundation. They're debunking bread myths to help bakers develop delicious, healthy grain-based products — and help them educate consumers on the health benefits of bread. Sponsored by Lallemand Baking. In this episode, we discover how commercial bread bakers can bust bread myths through sandwich innovation.

Welcome to Season 10 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Julie Miller Jones, a member of the Grain Foods Foundation Scientific Advisory Board, and Charlotte Martin, registered dietitian and consultant for the Grain Foods Foundation. They're debunking bread myths to help bakers develop delicious, healthy grain-based products — and help them educate consumers on the health benefits of bread. Sponsored by Lallemand Baking. In this episode, we're debunking assumptions around sodium levels and processing concerns.

Welcome to Season 10 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Julie Miller Jones, a member of the Grain Foods Foundation Scientific Advisory Board, and Charlotte Martin, registered dietitian and consultant for the Grain Foods Foundation. They're debunking bread myths to help bakers develop delicious, healthy grain-based products — and help them educate consumers on the health benefits of bread. Sponsored by Lallemand Baking. In this episode, we tackle the myth around bread's connection to the glycemic index.

Welcome to Season 10 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Julie Miller Jones, a member of the Grain Foods Foundation Scientific Advisory Board, and Charlotte Martin, registered dietitian and consultant for the Grain Foods Foundation. They're debunking bread myths to help bakers develop delicious, healthy grain-based products — and help them educate consumers on the health benefits of bread. Sponsored by Lallemand Baking. In the first episode, we get to know our experts and dive into the first myth: carbs vs. calories.

Welcome to Season 9 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Darlene Nicosia, CEO of Hearthside Food Solutions. They're talking about operations, culture and innovation … behind the curtain of co-manufacturing. Sponsored by Reading Bakery Systems. In this final episode, Spencer and Nicosia unpack unique leadership perspectives, using Nicosia's engineering expertise as a starting point.

Welcome to Season 9 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Darlene Nicosia, CEO of Hearthside Food Solutions. They're talking about operations, culture and innovation … behind the curtain of co-manufacturing. Sponsored by Reading Bakery Systems. In the fourth episode, Spencer and Nicosia take a look at what it means to be a modern contract manufacturer.

Welcome to Season 9 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Darlene Nicosia, CEO of Hearthside Food Solutions. They're talking about operations, culture and innovation … behind the curtain of co-manufacturing. Sponsored by Reading Bakery Systems. In the third episode, Spencer and Nicosia explore how product innovation is playing a new role in contract manufacturing.

Welcome to Season 9 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Darlene Nicosia, CEO of Hearthside Food Solutions. They're talking about operations, culture and innovation … behind the curtain of co-manufacturing. Sponsored by Reading Bakery Systems. In the second episode, Spencer and Nicosia uncover the most critical factors in creating a cohesive operating culture.

Welcome to Season 9 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Darlene Nicosia, CEO of Hearthside Food Solutions. They're talking about operations, culture and innovation … behind the curtain of co-manufacturing. Sponsored by Reading Bakery Systems. In the first episode, Joanie and Darlene walk through Hearthside's history and explore the career timeline that led Darlene to the food industry's largest contract manufacturer.

Welcome to Season 8 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Marc and Elana Schulman, the second and third generations of leadership at Chicago-based Eli's Cheesecake. Their conversation explores innovation, growth and longevity through the eyes of a family-owned bakery. Sponsored by Oakes. In the last episode of the season, we're looking at the future — how Eli's is innovating as a trailblazer in a mature industry and with a classic product.

Welcome to Season 8 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Marc and Elana Schulman, the second and third generations of leadership at Chicago-based Eli's Cheesecake. Their conversation explores innovation, growth and longevity through the eyes of a family-owned bakery. Sponsored by Oakes. This episode reflects on the pandemic years and how the bakery is coming back stronger than ever.

Welcome to Season 8 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Marc and Elana Schulman, the second and third generations of leadership at Chicago-based Eli's Cheesecake. Their conversation explores innovation, growth and longevity through the eyes of a family-owned bakery. This episode features Eli's unique workforce development strategies and reveals best practices that any bakery can emulate.

Welcome to Season 8 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Marc and Elana Schulman, the second and third generations of leadership at Chicago-based Eli's Cheesecake. Their conversation explores innovation, growth and longevity through the eyes of a family-owned bakery. In this episode, discover how setting a standard of distinction can impact a bakery's identity and product development strategies.

Welcome to Season 8 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, is spending this season with Marc and Elana Schulman, the second and third generations of leadership at Chicago-based Eli's Cheesecake. Their conversation explores innovation, growth and longevity through the eyes of a family-owned bakery. In the first episode, learn about the foundation of resilience and reinvention on which founder Eli Schulman built this family legacy.

Season 8 of Troubleshooting Innovation, with guests Marc and Elana Schulman, the dad-and-daughter duo behind Chicago-based Eli's Cheesecake, launches in just two weeks. Get a taste of what's to come in this special episode recorded live at the American Society of Baking's BakingTECH 2023. Hear about the company's history and the values that are leading it into the future. Hosted by Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief of Commercial Baking.

Welcome to Season 7 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast, sponsored by Puratos' Sunset Glaze. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, speaks with Richard Charpentier, CMB, the CEO of consulting company Baking Innovation. Their conversation explores the technical aspects of creating high-quality, premium baked goods on a commercial scale. Our final episode revolves around the role the visual appearance of both the finished baked good and its packaging plays in garnering a higher price point.

Welcome to Season 7 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast, sponsored by Puratos' Sunset Glaze. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, speaks with Richard Charpentier, CMB, the CEO of consulting company Baking Innovation. Their conversation explores the technical aspects of creating high-quality, premium baked goods on a commercial scale. In this episode, you'll learn effective strategies to upgrade the most important attributes of baked goods — taste and texture — for a premium experience.

Welcome to Season 7 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast, sponsored by Puratos' Sunset Glaze. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, speaks with Richard Charpentier, bakery expert and CEO at Baking Innovation. Their conversation explores the technical aspects of creating high-quality, premium baked goods on a commercial scale. In this episode, Spencer and Charpentier unpack the key ingredient and formulating considerations for premium product development.

Welcome to Season 7 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast, sponsored by Puratos' Sunset Glaze. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, speaks with Richard Charpentier, bakery expert and CEO at Baking Innovation. Their conversation explores the technical aspects of creating high-quality, premium baked goods on a commercial scale. In this episode, Spencer and Charpentier take a look at the demand and opportunities for premium baked goods in today's market. Charpentier shares his insights on how consumer preferences have evolved over time, which product categories lend themselves to premiumization and beyond.

Welcome to Season 7 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast, sponsored by Puratos' Sunset Glaze. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, speaks with Richard Charpentier, bakery expert and CEO at Baking Innovation. Their conversation explores the technical aspects of creating high-quality, premium baked goods on a commercial scale. In the first episode, Spencer and Charpentier give bakers a roadmap to understand the product development of premium baked goods, the risks behind it, and the difference between artisan vs. premium.

Welcome to season 6 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast, sponsored by JLS Automation. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, visits with the team at Chabaso Bakery. Hear about their journey to becoming a Certified B Corporation and building a business as a force for good. In this final episode, you'll hear from Reed Immer, Chabaso's director of sales and marketing, about some of the secondary benefits that come with achieving B Corp certification. 

Welcome to season 6 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast, sponsored by JLS Automation. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, visits with the team at Chabaso Bakery. Hear about their journey to becoming a Certified B Corporation and building a business as a force for good. This episode focuses on continuous improvement. B Corps must re-certify every 3 years and meet a constantly evolving standard for social and environmental performance. So this week, Rich Jamesley, Chabaso's VP of operations and supply chain, and Charlie Negaro, president, talk about how they approach innovation on a 3-year cycle.

Welcome to season 6 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast, sponsored by JLS Automation. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, visits with the team at Chabaso Bakery. Hear about their journey to becoming a Certified B Corporation and building a business as a force for good. This week's episode features Rich Jamesley, Chabaso's VP of operations and supply chain. He explores the ways this bakery operationalizes its values on the plant floor, from repurposing waste to hiring Afghan refugees.

Welcome to season 6 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast, sponsored by JLS Automation. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, visits with the team at Chabaso Bakery. Hear about their journey to becoming a Certified B Corporation and building a business as a force for good. This week, we're chatting with Charlie Negaro, CEO, and Reed Immer, director of sales and marketing. They unpack the challenges and rewards of pursuing B Corp certification, and why the long, arduous process was worth it.

Welcome to season 6 of the Troubleshooting Innovation podcast, sponsored by JLS Automation. Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief for Commercial Baking, visits with the team at Chabaso Bakery. Hear about their journey to becoming a Certified B Corporation and building a business as a force for good. In this first episode, you'll meet Charles Negaro, Jr., CEO of Chabaso Bakery, as he dives deep into Chabaso's values and practices.