FMN 032: Why a Great Product Isn't Enough with Pete Truby

Whether you're thinking of launching a new CPG brand, or just finding ways to differentiate a product that's already on the shelves, today's guest is a wealth of knowledge in the natural foods startup space. We're talking with Pete Truby, founder of Salazon Chocolate. From working at Mrs. Meyer's when it was in its early stages, to being one of the first employees at Honest Tea, Pete has been a sponge - soaking up knowledge and information when it comes to startups, entrepreneurship, and the natural foods industry. Today, you'll get to hear how he's applied that knowledge in bootstrapping Salazon into a brand with national distribution. In our interview, you're going to learn: Why Pete believes branding is equally, or more, important than product value What the pros and cons are of taking outside investment money How to compete in-store with competitors that have deeper pockets than you And a whole lot more... Pete teaches at a local university, so I think you'll really appreciate the way he approaches my questions. For show notes or to get more information about the podcast, go to FoodMarketingNerds.com. Thanks for listening!