2026 Brand Predictions

In this solo episode, I'm sharing eight emerging brands that are redefining their categories. We are seeing a massive shift toward "functional nostalgia" taking the comfort foods we grew up with and upgrading them with high protein, fiber, and clean labels. From whipped cottage cheese dips to flash-frozen aromatics, these founders are solving real-world problems with flavor and radical transparency. Inside the Episode: Functional Condiments & Dips: Why She's the Sauce and Cotto are reimagining everyday sauces and cottage cheese as protein-packed, gut-friendly essentials. The New Baking Aisle: How Little Twists and founder Dalya are making baking easier for families with chef-developed, allergy-friendly mixes that don't compromise on flavor. The Glow-Up From Within: A look at Glowstate's chic chia puddings and Afternoon Toast's roasted barley tea—brands making gut health, digestion, and hydration feel effortless (and aesthetic). Smarter Kitchen Shortcuts: How Nomie is solving the toddler mealtime gap, and how Nida is bringing frozen aromatics to the mainstream as a modern kitchen hack. Snacking, Reinvented: Why Strip Jerky is standing out in the jerky aisle with a female-chef-founded, honey-sweetened approach to clean protein. This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Try it free for 30 days at tryglimpse.com/trial.