EPISODE · May 8, 2026 · 44 MIN
#6 - Whipdd - Akshay Kalekar (Co-Founder)
from The Friday Sponge · host Jack Payne
What started as a dinner party conversation is now one of Canada’s fastest-growing butter brands.Akshay, co-founder of Whipdd Butter out of Toronto, joins us this week to share how a single evening with his co-founder and their spouses sparked a business that would go from zero to over 100 retail locations in under two years — including a landmark deal with Whole Foods Toronto and nearly $500K in annual revenue.Born and raised in India, Akshay didn’t come from the food industry — he came from the school of knocking on doors and hearing “no.” And it turns out, that’s exactly the skill set you need when you’re trying to break into one of the most competitive shelves in grocery retail.In this episode, we get into the gritty origin story behind Whipdd — the hustle, the rejections, the wins, and why Costco and Walmart should probably start paying attention.This week we talk about:• Navigating rejection and turning “no” into momentum• Breaking into major retailers from scratch• Pursuing a bold vision in an oversaturated market Tune in and soak it all up — it’s Friday, and this one’s worth your time.Company: https://www.whipdd.com/Instagram: @whipdd.toLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshaykalekar
What this episode covers
What started as a dinner party conversation is now one of Canada’s fastest-growing butter brands.Akshay, co-founder of Whipdd Butter out of Toronto, joins us this week to share how a single evening with his co-founder and their spouses sparked a business that would go from zero to over 100 retail locations in under two years — including a landmark deal with Whole Foods Toronto and nearly $500K in annual revenue.Born and raised in India, Akshay didn’t come from the food industry — he came from the school of knocking on doors and hearing “no.” And it turns out, that’s exactly the skill set you need when you’re trying to break into one of the most competitive shelves in grocery retail.In this episode, we get into the gritty origin story behind Whipdd — the hustle, the rejections, the wins, and why Costco and Walmart should probably start paying attention.This week we talk about:• Navigating rejection and turning “no” into momentum• Breaking into major retailers from scratch• Pursuing a bold vision in an oversaturated market Tune in and soak it all up — it’s Friday, and this one’s worth your time.Company: https://www.whipdd.com/Instagram: @whipdd.toLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshaykalekar
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#6 - Whipdd - Akshay Kalekar (Co-Founder)
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