Misfit Foods co-founder Ann Yang opened up about how the stress of entrepreneurship led to unhappiness and depression, and, ultimately, her decision to leave the company. She also explained how therapy has become a critical part of her life, her belief that we live in a culture that “mythologizes who the entrepreneur is,” and the resulting pressure to build “a personal brand.”
Grillo’s Pickles founder/CEO Travis Grillo spoke about why he pursued his passion despite the naysayers and explained why he fondly recalls the days when he was struggling and broke. He also discussed the unconventional way that Grillo’s got into Whole Foods, how he considers new hires and investment and why he’s just as likely to take advice from a homeless person as he would from a billionaire.
No Cow founder/CEO Daniel Katz spoke about his passion for entrepreneurship and the genesis of his plant-based protein bar brand, which he launched with no business plan or extensive market research. He also discussed why his initial “play the numbers” retail strategy worked, why he rarely asks for advice, and why he decided to return as CEO less than a year after stepping down from the role.
One of the beverage industry’s best known and most respected insiders, Ken Sadowsky has long been an investor and advisor to a range of category-leading brands. In this episode, he discussed how he assesses opportunities to align with and invest in early stage brands, offered his perspective on leadership and shared his thoughts on notable categories and emerging trends.
Ray DeRosa, the founder of dandelion-based tea brand Lion Tea, understands the struggles of consumer education. In this episode, he explained how he’s tackled this issue by using a simple, yet powerful and efficient method to create brand loyalists. He also spoke about why “finding the partners that are going to provide you extraordinary support in the early days ultimately make you successful.”
In this episode, G Fuel founder/CEO Cliff Morgan spoke about how the energy drink brand has been able to weave itself into the social fabric of the gaming community through influencer marketing, partnerships and original content. He also discussed the importance of constant and focused interaction with consumers through digital platforms like Twitch and why he’s taken a personal interest in the brand's social media initiatives.
Rizal Hamdallah, the Global Chief Innovation Officer of Ocean Spray, explained why he’s bullish about the future of personalized nutrition, how the company attempts to “develop and deliver innovative products that consumers didn't even know they needed,” and why he’s critical of how some brands are promoting sustainability.
In an interview included in this episode, Karr opened up about Guayaki and its origins, how the brand creates evangelists for yerba mate, how viewing time as “an illusion” allowed him to align his personal and professional lives, why he considers the company to be “a reforestation vehicle,” and its unique approach to distribution and hiring.
This week’s episode features interviews with the founders of three innovative brands and focuses on how each landed placement in their dream retailers. Jesse Wolfe, the founder of O’Dang Hummus, Kuli Kuli founder/CEO Lisa Curtis, and Tyler Noyes, the co-founder of Kalahari Biltong, discussed their respective paths into popular chains, including Publix, Walmart, Sam’s Club and Wegmans, and revealed key steps along the way.
As part of our interview, Jelly Belly president/CEO Lisa Rowland Brasher discussed how the company’s focus on creating unique experiences for its consumers has contributed to its evolution into an iconic candy brand. She also discussed how “better for you” and functional varieties fit into the portfolio and recounted how one disastrous flavor that never made it to market turned out to be quite useful down the line. This episode is presented by Flavorman, the beverage architects.
