PODCAST · business
Nombase Podcast
by BevNET Inc.
BevNET presents: The Nombase CPG podcast, a series featuring open discussions on pressing topics impacting food and beverage businesses. Each episode explores a key issue in the CPG industry, offering timely insights, tactical advice, and community discussion. Join the live podcast recording to ask your questions and share your comments directly with our guests, or catch up on past podcast episodes anytime.
Episodes
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A Little Psychotic Energy and the Strange Qualities Investors Love
What makes investors want to bet on a founder? Rogers Healy, founder of Morrison Seger Venture Capital Partners, sees countless investment opportunities a day but pursues very few. So what makes a founder stand out? This conversation reveals what investors look for beyond the numbers, the…
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What If the Best Way to Grow Is to Stop Chasing the Obvious Wins?
The obvious path to growth isn't always the right one for your product. Burlap & Barrel has built a successful spice business by making some decidedly unconventional choices about where it sells, how it reaches consumers and what it refuses to compromise. Founder Ethan Frisch joins Sourcery…
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Your Product Does a Lot. What Should You Lead With?
When your product has several compelling benefits, which one should lead? Jous founders Nicolas Jeffery and Camilo Ortiz sit down with Chris Robb of Supernatural Ventures and The Angel Group to work through how to sharpen the story behind their magnesium-infused juice, make the product easier to...
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How to Keep Your Retail Partners Onboard Even When You Change Almost Everything
Every brand eventually changes something big — price, packaging, format, the category it sits in — and that puts existing distribution on the line. After raising its prices to match true production costs, Vermont Creamery walked away from an unprofitable Walmart relationship, then earned its way...
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Want More Shelf Life Without Reformulating? Check Here First.
Kendall Kransdorf, founder of Cotto, a whipped cottage cheese dip, on a hero ingredient with a short shelf life and high demand - a combination that forces hard operational decisions. Mary Kate Kloeblen, a supply chain consultant and co-fouder of Golden Thread Operations, walks through where…
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A Whole Foods Market Buyer's Playbook for Scaling a Brand
Charlie New is the Global Category Merchant for Refrigerated Beverages at Whole Foods Market, overseeing coffee, tea, juice, and soda. He's spent years watching what separates brands that build lasting shelf presence from brands that stall. In this episode, he walks through how he'd approach...
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How Winning Brands Turn Better-For-You Ingredients Into Big Business
Building products with better ingredients is easy to talk about. Building a successful business around them is much harder. Join Tom First, Founder of Culture Pop, and Heather Wood, SVP of Marketing at Goodles, as they discuss the realities of formulation, sourcing, branding, retail growth, and...
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Getting a Distributor Is Just the Beginning. Here's How to Turn It Into Growth.
Most founders think getting a distributor is the hard part. Scott Rosenbaum, co-host of the Business of Drinks podcast, has spent 20 years in beverage alcohol distribution and knows landing one is just the beginning. In this episode, he mentors Daeyna Grant, a first-time founder building Gold...
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8.5 Million Consumers, One City: How to Win NYC Retail
New York's density makes it one of the best cities to build retail distribution — and one of the hardest to crack. Namik Soltan, founder and CEO of GNGR Labs, spent six years self-distributing into hundreds of NYC bodegas, independents, and chains before handing accounts to a distributor. Sean...
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Private Label Is a $330 Billion Business Now. How to Ride It Without Diluting Your Brand.
Many founders think private label can compromise opportunities for their brand. Derek Brawley thinks that's backwards. He's spent nearly two decades running private label programs internationally, most recently at Prana, and mentors emerging brands on how to make the most of private label…
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The Truth About CVS: What 9,000 Doors Really Means for Scaling Brands
CVS may not be the first retail opportunity food and beverage brands evaluate, but it's important to know when it can be the right fit. Ashley Czerwien spent two and a half years as a CVS buyer and now manages the CVS relationship at KeHE, and she breaks down what actually needs to be true about...
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Don't Blend In. Make Your Difference Easy to Understand.
Building a differentiated brand is only half the battle. The other half is making sure consumers actually understand why it matters. Join Sahra Nguyen, founder & CEO of Nguyen Coffee Supply, and Kyle Nguyen, co-founder of Lucky Ox, to discuss one of the biggest challenges growing brands face: how...
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Don't Build the Board Everyone Else Has. Build One That Gives You an Edge.
Most founders know they need a board. Far fewer know how to build one that makes the business materially better. In this episode, Brad Charron, CEO of Aloha, and Kierstin Rielly, CEO of the Women on Boards Project, break down what separates a board that simply fills seats from one that helps you...
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This Economy Is Splitting the Aisle. Here's the Pricing Model to Win Either Side.
Today's grocery aisle is splitting between shoppers looking for the best deal and those who are happy to pay more for brands they believe are worth it. In this episode, Scott Sanders, Business Intelligence Lead at Carbone, and Jeff Lovering, Chief Data Scientist at Customer Marketing Group, talk...
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The Science Behind Functional Products Consumers Come Back For
Functional ingredients are everywhere, but adding a trending ingredient to a label doesn't guarantee a product that actually works—or one consumers will buy again. Philip Bromley, CEO and co-founder of Viron, and Sarah Fenn, Viron's Director of Marketing, explain the science that separates...
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Do You Really Need to Build in Public to Grow a CPG Brand?
Founders are constantly told they need to build in public - but is it actually the best way to grow? In this episode of the Nombase Podcast, Nick Elliott, Founder of Esprizio, joins Sara Brooks, Co-Founder of Goldilocks, to discuss the role of founder-led content, social media, PR, and brand...
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Why This Brand Pulled Out of 2,500 Doors—and What Brands Chasing Those Retailers Need to Know
Getting onto retail shelves can feel like a big accomplishment—but what happens when strong velocity, national distribution, and real sales still don't add up to a profitable business? Lauren Chew of Love + Chew Superfood Cookies shares the story behind her decision to exit 2,500 retail doors...
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Before You Spend More on Growth, Ask These 5 Questions
As brands grow, it's easy to focus on the next retailer, the next marketing initiative, or the next distribution opportunity. But sustainable growth starts with a deeper understanding of your brand identity, who it's for, and what makes it truly different. In this episode, Eric Ramstad of…
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A Quick Note From BevNET Live
Hope to see many of you at BevNET Live this week on June 10 + 11 in NYC! And for everybody else, we'll get back to our regularly scheduled podcast next week. Thanks for being part of our community!
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What You Need to Know Before BevNET Live with Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman
Getting ready for BevNet Live June 10–11 in New York City? Or on the fence? BevNet's Editor-in-Chief, Jeff Klineman, walks through a practical "how to do BevNet Live" guide — covering the agenda, key speakers, and how to make the most of every hour at the show. We cover: Tips on how to get the…
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Small Format Retail is More Than A Shelf. Here's How It Can Turn Early Placement Into Bigger Opportunities.
Rachel Krupa, founder of The Goods Mart, shares what emerging CPG brands can learn from small format retail, curated placements, and real shopper behavior. She also breaks down the reopening of The Goods Mart in Brooklyn, a new South Williamsburg location with double the space, expanded grab and...
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What Actually Breaks First When a CPG Brand Starts Working
This conversation began as a Nombase webinar, and due to listener demand, we turned it into a podcast episode. In this episode, Evan Walther of Oceans walks through a discussion with Troy Bonde, co-founder and CEO of Sauz, William Hicks, CEO and co-founder of Magic Mind, and Ian Myers, founder of...
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They Invested In Poppi, Siete & Bachan's. How A 'Supernatural' Team Evaluates Early-Stage Brands.
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OpenSky Ventures Fund II Is Live: Is This Investor For You?
OpenSky Ventures has backed brands like Fishwife, Magic Mind, and Habiza, and is actively deploying capital into the next wave of innovative businesses. They focus on brands with early traction, strong customer loyalty, and clear potential to scale into lasting, differentiated brands. In this...
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Zeroing in on Costco, Target, Walmart? What to Fix Before You Go Big
Landing a major retail account can change a brand overnight, but only if the operational foundation is ready to support it. Join Paul Verdu and Mitch Wedemeier from Octopi, a co-manufacturing partner backed by Asahi Group, to break down what really happens when brands scale into large national…
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25 Million Americans Use Yuka. Here Are The Things That Will Kill Your Score
Yuka is increasingly influencing what gets bought and what gets put back at shelf, with millions of consumers using it in real time while they shop. In this episode, we're joined by Gabriella Sebag-Weingrad, who leads Yuka's US business, to break down how it all works and what it means for food…
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How to Stop Fighting Operations Battles and Find Your Flow
Growth is exciting, until your operations start pushing back. Many founders try to solve this by working harder, producing more, or expanding faster. But the brands that actually scale learn a different lesson: at some point, you have to stop forcing it and start building systems that work with...
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The Most Expensive Mistake You Can Make With Fresh Capital And What to Do Instead
After raising capital, most founders feel like they have finally unlocked the ability to grow. But what you do next can determine whether that capital creates momentum or quietly sets your business back. In this episode, Day Out Snacks founder Becky Pleat sits down with Phil Trowler, former…
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The Brilliant but Simple Way to Win in a Tough Category
Building a great product is not enough, especially in a category that actively works against you. In this episode, Ayeshah Abuelhiga of Mason Dixie joins Hey!Hunger's Shireen Khera to talk about what it actually takes to win in one of the toughest environments in grocery. From getting customers…
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Over $200 Million Is Up for Grabs, But Only If You Launch the Right Way
Expanding beyond the US is one of the biggest growth opportunities for CPG brands, and one of the easiest ways to get wrong. In this episode, Ruth Fittock, managing partner of Tomorrow Brands, breaks down what it actually takes to launch successfully in the UK, a market worth billions in annual...
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NIQ's Take on Expo West: Where to Lean In and What's Losing Momentum
Expo West is a massive event, and it can take weeks to fully process what you saw and what it actually means. There is a lot of noise, but if you look closely, the real signals start to emerge and point to where the industry is headed next. In this episode, we sit down with Sherry Frey of…
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Why Profitability Isn't the First Goal for CPG Startups, and What Else Recent Exits Reveal
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Expo West 2026 Hit List: The Trends, Brands, and Big Bets We're Looking For
Expo West 2026 is here and the BevNET and NOSH team is sharing what's at the top of their hit list. Managing editors Martín Caballero and Monica Watrous break down the biggest trends they expect to see on the show floor, from protein and fiber trends, to seed oil free formulations, regenerative...
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Lessons From Investors Who Decided to Build Their Own CPG Brand
What happens when three CPG investors decide to build a brand themselves? Kiva Dickinson of Selva Ventures joins fellow cadootz! cofounders Jordan Carpenter and Rachel Mansfield, all seasoned CPG investors, with Rachel also bringing her perspective as a leading creator, to share how experienced...
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As Ultra-Processed Foods Face Scrutiny, a New Certification Offers Better For You Brands an Edge
Ultra-processed foods are facing growing pressure from policymakers, retailers, and consumers who are rethinking what belongs on shelf and in their carts. In this episode, Bill Creelman, Founder of Spindrift, and Megan Westgate, Founder of the Non-UPF Verified program and the Non GMO Project,...
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From Big Idea to Scalable Beverage: The Realities of Innovation
You may have a winning beverage you perfected in your kitchen or sell at the farmer's market, but it's a long road to making it work at scale. In this episode, MSI Express leaders Chuck Woods and Greg Schildmeyer share what it really takes to turn a bold idea into a profitable, manufacturable...
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Kroger and FoodHealth Introduce a New Health Scoring System for Grocery
Health is no longer just a marketing claim. It is becoming part of how retailers evaluate products, guide shoppers, and shape category growth. Kroger's rollout of a new health scoring system powered by FoodHealth reflects this shift. In this episode, Laura Brown, Director of Nutrition at Kroger,...
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Why Some Brands Win at Expo West and Others Just Show Up
If you spend tens of thousands of dollars to exhibit to be at Expo West but get swallowed up by the noise, was it even worth being there at all? In this episode, Marty Caballero and Mike Schneider from BevNET CPG Media talk about why some brands leave Expo West with real momentum while others...
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The Insight You Need: Navigating Today's Unpredictable Supply Chain
Supply chains continue to be unpredictable post-pandemic due to tariffs, environmental factors, and ongoing global trade volatility. Costs shift quickly, availability can tighten without warning, and decisions that feel like they should be routine carry real risk for food and beverage brands.…
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Key Regulatory Lessons from 2025 That Will Define 2026
It has been a whirlwind year for food and beverage brands, with lawsuits, heightened regulatory scrutiny, and shifting rules creating real uncertainty across the industry. Justin Prochnow, a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig who advises food, beverage, and consumer brands on regulatory compliance...
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Whole Foods Market: Scaling from Regional to National
Getting into Whole Foods Market is a major milestone, but it's only the beginning. What follows is the work of proving velocity, maintaining placement, and deciding when and how to grow beyond your first region. In this episode, Cecilia Rios Murrieta, co-founder of JAS alcohol free functional...
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Humanizing the Hustle: Honest Conversations About Burnout & Breakthroughs
Scroll through LinkedIn and it can feel like everyone is winning. Skyrocketing growth charts, big announcements, nonstop momentum, and yes, even the cold plunges. Even when you know it's curated, the pressure can still feel very real. In this episode of the Nombase podcast, wo seasoned CPG…
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Private Label: Understanding How Decisions Are Made From the Retailer's Side
Private label has become one of the most prominent forces shaping CPG retail today. As retailers face margin pressure, shifting consumer behavior, and increased competition, store brands are no longer an add on. They are a core strategic priority. We are rerunning this episode with Kim Greenfeld…
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Airline Partnerships: Understanding the Opportunity
Airline partnerships are a unique growth channel for food and beverage brands — and they operate very differently from traditional retail or on-premise sales. They offer unmatched consumer attention, meaningful trial, and widespread visibility, but they also come with their own rules around...
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The Most Important Amazon Updates CPG Brands Need to Know for 2026
Amazon is one of the most powerful growth channels for CPG brands, but the rules are change fast. New fulfillment approaches, evolving advertising tools, and deeper access to customer data are reshaping how food and beverage brands compete on the platform. In this episode with Straight Up Growth,...
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Fighting Back on Deductions: Smart Ways to Protect Your Margins
Distributor deductions can be overwhelming, but understanding them is essential to running a healthy CPG business. Jenna Oviedo, founder of JAVE Insights, and Greg Esslinger of Floret. Together they explain the mechanics behind deductions, the patterns that lead to costly mistakes, and the…
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The Art of Adaptation: How Two Heritage Brands Are Evolving for the U.S. Consumer
In this special crossover episode of the Nombase podcast and Taste Radio, Lucía Conejo Mir of Inés Rosales, the century old Spanish bakery behind the classic torta de aceite, and Jennifer Donnellan of Lakrids by Bülow, the Danish confectionery introducing Americans to chocolate coated licorice,...
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The Science Backed Commercialization Playbook for Cannabis Beverages
Cannabis beverage is a growing category but it comes with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. Success starts with what you can control, and in this category, that begins with the formulation. SoRSE Technology transforms cannabinoids into safe, stable, water compatible ingredients that make...
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The TikTok Playbook for Food & Beverage Brands
TikTok offers a big opportunity for food and beverage brands, but it also brings real challenges. It moves fast, culture shifts daily, and creativity matters more than polish, all while the path from discovery to purchase gets shorter. In this episode, Mike Westgate, Vertical Director of Food,...
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The Glass Advantage: Differentiation in the RTD Beverage Market
With new regulations expanding the use of glass in spirits-based RTDs and growing consumer demand for clean, quality packaging, glass has reemerged as a strategic advantage. Join the Glass Packaging Institute, Jimmy Bruton of Via Carota, and Sandstrom Partners to learn why glass is non-toxic,...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
BevNET presents: The Nombase CPG podcast, a series featuring open discussions on pressing topics impacting food and beverage businesses. Each episode explores a key issue in the CPG industry, offering timely insights, tactical advice, and community discussion. Join the live podcast recording to ask your questions and share your comments directly with our guests, or catch up on past podcast episodes anytime.
HOSTED BY
BevNET Inc.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Nombase Podcast have?
Nombase Podcast currently has 157 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Nombase Podcast about?
BevNET presents: The Nombase CPG podcast, a series featuring open discussions on pressing topics impacting food and beverage businesses. Each episode explores a key issue in the CPG industry, offering timely insights, tactical advice, and community discussion. Join the live podcast recording to ask...
How often does Nombase Podcast release new episodes?
Nombase Podcast publishes regularly with 157 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Nombase Podcast?
You can listen to Nombase Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Nombase Podcast?
Nombase Podcast is created and hosted by BevNET Inc..
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