78. From BBQ to Kale Chips: Scaling a Disruptive Brand With Scott Jensen, Rhythm Superfoods and Stubb's Legendary Bar-B-Q

78. You don't need a billion-dollar budget to build an iconic CPG brand—but you do need the right foundation. Most founders struggle because they try to scale without mainstream discipline, clear strategy, or retailer value. That's why so many brands stall before they ever reach velocity. In this episode, I sit down with Scott Jensen, CEO of Rhythm Superfoods and former leader at Stubb's BBQ, to unpack how he leveraged traditional CPG training to build two iconic brands. We discuss how mainstream marketing principles, supply chain discipline, and authentic storytelling helped him scale from a juice bar experiment to a national better-for-you snack brand. You'll learn how to pivot toward organic ingredients without losing flavor, how to manage packaging and cost realities, how dehydration enhances natural sweetness, and why infrastructure for emerging brands has never been stronger. Most importantly, you'll discover how to think like a category leader—even as a small, scrappy brand. Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session78