ShelfLife – The CPG Podcast

In this episode of Shelf Life, we sit down with Laura-Lynn Freck, VP of Commercial Sales & Strategy at Lemon Perfect (and former Red Bull & Zevia leader), to unpack how modern CPG brands are built, sold, and scaled. From working inside billion-dollar giants like Red Bull to now leading strategy at an emerging brand, Laura brings a rare perspective on how data, retail, and consumer behavior intersect to drive real growth. We dive deep into: 1. How beverage brands win shelf space and scale distribution 2. Why “boring basics” like distribution & velocity still matter most 3. The real role of data vs intuition in decision-making 4. How Gen Z is reshaping consumer brands (and why “Instagrammable” matters) 5. Lessons from Red Bull, Zevia, and Lemon Perfect 6. Mistakes emerging brands make when scaling too fast 7. How to think about product, packaging, and positioning We also explore how Lemon Perfect is building a clean, zero-sugar hydration brand in a competitive market—backed by strong fundamentals and sharp execution. If you’re a founder, marketer, or just curious about how brands grow behind the scenes, this episode is packed with practical insights.

In this episode of ShelfLife, we sit down with Maria Plaza, CMO at MiiN Cosmetics, the brand that helped bring Korean beauty culture to Europe and turn it into a scalable omni-channel business. Maria shares her unconventional journey from law and economics to leading marketing and digital for a fast-growing beauty brand. 🎯 She breaks down: • Why brand vs performance is a false trade-off • How marketing is becoming conversational • The real role of AI in a CMO’s decision-making • Why influencer marketing (as we know it) might disappear • How to localize strategy across different European markets • What community-led growth really means • How to connect qualitative sentiment with hard performance metrics We also explore her personal philosophy, from trekking near Everest Base Camp to silent retreats, and how clarity, intuition, and purpose shape leadership decisions. This episode is for founders, marketers, brand builders, and anyone curious about the future of marketing in an AI-first world. If you’re building a brand, managing growth, or navigating marketing today — this conversation will challenge how you think.

In this episode of Shelf Life, we sit down with Amit Singh — a global marketing leader and founder of BrainJump AI, who has worked across brands like Cadbury, Lay’s, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and McCormick — to unpack how high-stakes decisions are actually made inside FMCG and CPG companies. If you’re a founder, brand manager, CPG operator, or building AI for enterprises — this episode gives you a rare inside look at how billion-dollar brand decisions are actually made. 🎯Key Topics Discussed: 1. Why insights often get ignored in CPG 2. The “HIPPO effect” (Highest Paid Person’s Opinion) 3. The chaos of annual planning cycles 4. How innovation funnels really work 5. Why context matters more than raw data 6. The “frozen middle” problem inside large organizations 7. Whether AI tools can actually improve decision-making 8. How BrainJump is turning expert judgment into decision-ready AI

In this episode of Shelf Life, Shubham Tiwari and Akhil speak with Jinghuan Liu Tervalon, a consumer insights and strategy leader with experience across brands like Dollar Shave Club and Coca-Cola. The conversation explores how consumer insights turn into real business decisions, the differences between US and Chinese CPG markets, the role of retail and segmentation, and why human judgment still matters in an AI-driven world. 🎯 Key Topics Discussed: 1. How consumer insights move from data to real decision-making inside modern CPG organizations 2. Key differences between mature markets like the US and growth-driven markets like China 3. Why product differentiation matters in saturated categories, while behavior change drives emerging markets 4. The role of segmentation—and why activation matters more than the framework itself 5. How retail and shopper insights reshape brand strategies beyond DTC thinking 6. Where insights often break down: synthesis, storytelling, and communication 7. The real (and limited) role of AI in consumer insights versus human judgment 8. Why trust, influence, and narrative-building are core skills for insights leaders

In this episode of Shelf Life, we sit down with Nick Miller, Director of Innovation at Chomps, one of the fastest-growing protein snack brands in the US. Nick shares how innovation actually works inside a modern CPG brand—from deciding what products to build next, to balancing data with intuition, and understanding why consumers often say one thing but do another. Drawing from his experience at Chomps and previous roles at large CPG companies, Nick breaks down how brands identify white spaces, avoid over-innovation, and build products that last. We explore topics like human-centered research, brand personality, willingness to pay, innovation pipelines, and why taste still beats everything else. The conversation also dives into the limits of traditional consumer research, the role of AI and synthetic consumers, and how insights really move across teams at scale. This episode is especially valuable for anyone working in CPG, brand strategy, product innovation, marketing, research, or consumer insights, as well as founders and builders thinking about long-term growth. 🎯 Key Topics Discussed: 1. How innovation works inside a fast-growing CPG brand 2. Big CPG systems vs insurgent brand thinking 3. Avoiding over-innovation and focusing on what truly matters 4. Quality as a non-negotiable in product development 5. Building innovation pipelines and long-term growth strategy 6. Identifying white spaces and expansion opportunities 7. Brand personality and inclusive positioning 8. The limits of consumer research and trusting real behavior 9. Human-centered research, empathy, and creativity 10. The role of AI, data, and intuition in modern innovation

In this episode of Shelf Life, we sit down with Adam Kroener, the founder of Carbliss — one of America’s fastest-growing private beverage companies. From experimenting with drinks in their kitchen to scaling a multi-million–case RTD brand, this couple’s story is an unfiltered masterclass in discipline, strategy, and grit. 🎯 In this deep-dive conversation, we talk about: How Carbliss went from zero to selling millions of cases Why flavor — not trends — became their biggest competitive weapon The operations mindset that helped them outrun billion-dollar brands How they built a profitable business without relying on VC money What founders should never do when launching a CPG brand The emotional side: imposter syndrome, family, and scaling chaos The future of the RTD cocktail space and where the industry is headed If you're a founder, operator, investor, or just someone who loves startup origin stories, this episode is packed with real insights — not the sugar-coated version.

In this episode, we’re joined by Merrilee Kick, Founder of BuzzBallz and CEO of Gourmetland Foods — a powerhouse in the ready-to-drink alcohol space. Merrilee shares how a moment of poolside inspiration turned into a globally distributed, category-defining brand with its iconic spherical packaging and bold mission to “reinvent the happy hour.” We dive deep into how she designed her packaging from scratch, scaled operations without external funding, built a vertically integrated business, and cracked high-margin growth — all while staying scrappy and rooted in culture. Merrilee also reflects on the Sazerac acquisition, her Forbes-featured journey, and what’s next with Gourmetland. 🎯 Key Topics Discussed: 1. How a high school teacher created one of America’s top RTD brands 2. Why packaging is the real product in CPG 3. Her approach to distributor relationships & retail success 4. The surprising story behind the “BuzzBallz” name 5. Balancing brand, culture, and operations as a solo founder 6. What Gourmetland Foods is cooking up next 7. Why she believes in “fairness over equality” as a leadership philosophy 8. What really moves shelves: pricing, displays & impulse buying behavior 9. Lessons in brand building, culture, and how to keep it fun

In this episode, we’re joined by Hayden Coussens, Director of Category Management & Insights at Once Upon a Farm — the organic, cold-pressed baby and kids’ food brand known for elevating food standards for the next generation. Hayden shares how the brand went from being a challenger in the baby food aisle to becoming a category creator in refrigerated baby snacks. We discuss their approach to category management, building brand trust with both kids and parents, how they use data and AI to make retail decisions, and why mission-first innovation is at the heart of their growth. From being WIC/SNAP accessible to launching the best-selling Tractor Wheels, this episode explores how Once Upon a Farm balances taste, pricing, and purpose to win over retailers and parents alike. 🎯 Key Topics Discussed: 1. Why taste and mission are non-negotiables for kids’ food 2. How Once Upon a Farm uses data to drive category strategy 3. What makes a product launch successful (and redeemable!) 4. Building for WIC/SNAP without compromising quality 5. Why dry baby snacks became their breakout product line 6. How retailers respond to new SKUs & innovation timelines 7. The role of AI in category insights and product forecasting 8. Redefining category norms: from refrigerated baby food to snack bars

In our first episode, we sit down with Konstantinos Papalexandris, Chief Business Officer at KORRES — the Greek beauty brand that turned local tradition into a $100M global empire. From its humble beginnings in a small Athens pharmacy, KORRES has grown into one of the world’s most trusted natural skincare brands — blending Greek flora, science, and sustainability to compete with giants like L’Oréal and Estée Lauder. Kostas shares how the brand scaled to 52 countries without relying on celebrity endorsements, what it takes to build global trust from a small nation, and how authenticity, R&D, and storytelling continue to drive KORRES’s success. 🎯 Key Topics Discussed: 1. The origin story — from a Greek pharmacy to a $100M global brand 2. How KORRES built a skincare empire without celebrity endorsements 3. Harnessing the power of Greek flora & innovation in R&D 4. How tourism became a natural top-of-funnel for brand awareness 5. The balance between sustainability, authenticity & scale 6. What sets KORRES apart from global beauty giants like L’Oréal 7. Building consumer trust through storytelling and efficacy 8. The role of AI, R&D, and data in the future of beauty 9. Why authentic heritage beats trends in long-term brand building