Emerging Brands Podcast

Kelly Bennett
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Welcome to Emerging Brands Podcast® with Kelly Bennett This is the podcast where you'll discover the stories behind your new favorite CPG brands. Each episode dives into the brand and founder journey—how they launched, what sets them apart, and the strategy behind going to market. We talk plans for growth, practical advice for emerging founders, and where to shop the products making waves in food, beverage, wellness, and beyond. You'll also hear from industry experts—brand builders, investors, and operators—who should absolutely be on your radar if you're growing a CPG brand today. Whether you're building something of your own or love supporting what's next, you're in the right place.

  1. 3D AGO

    Expo West Sneak Peek

    The energy for Expo West 2026 is already building, and in this solo episode, I'm giving you a sneak peek at where I'll be, what I'm hosting, and how we can connect on the ground in Anaheim. From the high-stakes Pitch Slam to the return of a community event, this year is all about high-level innovation and high-impact connection. I'm breaking down the details for the CPG Innovation Summit, where I'll be co-hosting activations throughout the day on Tuesday, March 3rd. But the real highlight? The return of the Ladies Lounge. After hosting over 150+ women last year, we are back with the ultimate CPG pizza party at the La Rossi booth. It's a space designed for founders, investors, and operators to skip the small talk, grab a slice, and build real relationships. On the Expo West Agenda: The Pitch Slam: My take on the CPG Innovation Summit and why you should be watching the next generation of brands hitting the stage. The Ladies Lounge is Back: Everything you need to know about our Thursday pizza party co-hosted with Danielle Calabrese and Sarah Maguire. What's on the Menu: A look at the brands powering our event, including La Rossi Pizza, Cotto, Showoff, Ghia, Esprizio, and Wobble. Female Founder Q&A: A teaser for a special session I'm hosting—details coming soon! Don't miss the Pitch Slam! Join the waitlist for the Ladies Lounge! This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Try it free for 30 days at tryglimpse.com/trial.

    10 min

  2. 3D AGO

    Loonen

    After a decade as a General Partner at Revolution Ventures, Clara Sieg turned her analytical eye toward the most foundational thing we consume: water. Triggered by the toxins and microplastics she discovered during her pregnancy, Clara traded her venture capital seat for a mission to build a transparent, reliable solution for the modern family. Loonen is the first third-party-verified water that is perfectly pure—stripped of contaminants while remaining rich in essential trace minerals. By combining her investing expertise with a commitment to safety, Clara is setting a new standard for the water category and ensuring our most basic necessity is also our safest. Inside the Episode: The reality of microplastics in our water infrastructure and how Loonen is engineering a cleaner path. Why Clara insists on external verification to build trust in a category that has traditionally lacked it. How motherhood informed the brand's mission to support the long-term health of families. Shop here! This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Try it free for 30 days at tryglimpse.com/trial.

    27 min

  3. 3D AGO

    salsi

    Diana Nino believes that joy and discipline are partners, not opposites. A Miami-born builder of spaces and curator of community, Diana lives at the intersection of high energy and deep intention. Her brand, salsi, is a love letter to the creative and social fabric of her city—a vibrant tequila seltzer designed for a full life lived without the burnout. Salsi is mindful by design and Miami by heart. Crafted for those who value connection over overthinking, it blends premium tequila with clean macros, light hydration, and a gentle lift of green tea caffeine. By creating a drink that respects both your body and your time, Diana is ensuring you can stay in the moment for the all-night rhythms and the quiet hangs alike—showing up for both tonight y mañana. Inside the Episode: How Diana's roots in South Florida's social fabric inspired her to build a brand that reflects the city's magic and intentionality. The strategy behind adding green tea caffeine and hydration to a tequila seltzer to support a high-energy, social lifestyle. Why salsi is more than just a canned cocktail, but a tool for connection and showing up exactly where you want to be. Access the limited first release! This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Try it free for 30 days at tryglimpse.com/trial.

    34 min

  4. FEB 16

    DEFI Snacks

    Tatyana Jones is a true powerhouse in the CPG world. After managing a $500M snacking portfolio at Mars Wrigley and turning around massive innovation portfolios at GSK, she realized the $27B chocolate category was missing something vital: a high-protein option that didn't taste like a compromise. Leveraging years of big-brand firepower and an NYU Stern MBA, Tatyana founded DEFI Snacks to shatter the idea that "healthy" has to be boring. DEFI—short for Delicious Energizing Fitness Indulgence—is a woman-owned revolution in the chocolate aisle. Each gluten-free, grain-free bite delivers 25g+ of clean protein using premium chocolate and sprouted organic buckwheat. By ditching fake sugars and prioritizing satiety, Tatyana is proving that decadent dessert can actually be functional fuel. With a mission that extends beyond the bag, DEFI also gives back by donating 1% of profitable sales to support fellow female entrepreneurs. Inside the Episode: How Tatyana's experience managing global brands at Mars Wrigley and GSK prepared her to disrupt the competitive chocolate space. The science behind using sprouted organic buckwheat and clean protein to create a snack that keeps you full without a sugar crash. Tatyana's strategic approach to spotting white space in the market and building a brand with a mission-driven heart. Shop here! This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Try it free for 30 days at tryglimpse.com/trial.

    36 min

  5. FEB 16

    Motif

    Michael Zabar's culinary roots run deep. As a fourth-generation member of the family behind the iconic NYC deli, Zabar's, Michael's first job was scooping coffee for customers. After a successful career in tech and e-commerce at Walmart, he felt a pull back to his roots. The spark came from his own kitchen, where he and his wife began crafting homemade syrups to fix a problem in the market: coffee syrups that were packed with processed sugar, artificial dyes, and preservatives. This led to the creation of Motif, a clean-label alternative designed for the discerning coffee drinker. Motif offers a sophisticated, preservative-free experience with 70% less sugar than leading brands, proving that you don't have to sacrifice health for flavor. By blending his heritage in NYC retail with a modern, health-conscious perspective, Michael is redefining what we add to our morning cup. Inside the Episode: Michael's journey from scooping coffee at the family deli to scaling e-commerce at Walmart, and why he eventually returned to the food world. The challenges and triumphs of creating a high-quality, shelf-stable syrup with 70% less sugar and zero preservatives. How Michael uses his family's legacy of quality to inform a modern, health-forward beverage brand. Stay tuned for the next drop! This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Try it free for 30 days at tryglimpse.com/trial.

    27 min

  6. FEB 16

    SIPPL Mixology

    Healthy living shouldn't mean sitting out on the social moments you love. Created by Parker Papaccio, SIPPL Mixology (Simple. Supplemental. Sipping.) was built on the belief that the best lives prioritize balance over restriction. By creating a functional margarita mix that lives in the "gray area" where wellness meets real life, SIPPL is proving you can care about how you feel without sacrificing a great cocktail. Made with all-natural ingredients and lightly sweetened with agave, SIPPL delivers a premium taste with just 4g of sugar. But it's what's inside that sets it apart: a subtle boost of B vitamins and green tea extract that supports your body while you sip. Designed for those who want a better-for-you option that actually tastes incredible, Parker is redefining the modern margarita one functional pour at a time. Inside the Episode: How Parker built a brand for the health-conscious consumer who still values social rituals and great mixology. The challenge of formulating a mix with B vitamins and green tea extract that maintains a classic, clean margarita flavor. How to achieve a premium cocktail experience with only 4g of sugar and zero artificial sweeteners. Stay tuned for the launch! This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Try it free for 30 days at tryglimpse.com/trial.

    26 min

  7. FEB 9

    Staff

    After years as a Guinness World Records judge and advertising executive, Charlie Weisman realized that the household items we use every day are often dull and uninspired. While stuck in his NYC apartment during the pandemic, he founded Staff to bring joy to the mundane. By reimagining functional tools with bold colors, unique materials, and helpful characters, Charlie is turning overlooked essentials into high-design conversation pieces. Staff peps up living spaces by adding personality to chores, starting with its disruptive first product, The Plunger—a nostalgic nod to Charlie's grandfather's plumbing career. By humanizing the tools in our homes, the brand proves that practicality and amusement can live in the same space. Inside the Episode: How Charlie's background in advertising and as a Guinness World Records judge shaped his eye for disruptive storytelling. Why giving functional products a personality and a name creates a deeper emotional connection with customers. How Charlie honored his family history by launching a high-end version of the most overlooked tool in the house. Shop here! This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Try it free for 30 days at tryglimpse.com/trial.

    26 min

  8. FEB 9

    Strategy Before Spend: How to Avoid the Most Expensive Pre-Launch Mistakes

    Before you lock in a co-manufacturer, print packaging, or order your first production run… pause. In this solo episode, I'm walking through the biggest (and most expensive) mistakes I see first-time CPG food & beverage founders make — and how brand strategy should guide every decision before you spend a dollar on inventory. Because your logo, packaging, flavors, and even your brand name shouldn't come first. Strategy does. Inside the Episode: Why you shouldn't design packaging too soon Why it's too early to pick your brand name How to nail your category positioning How strategy should inform flavor choices How to test messaging before launch And what to clarify before committing to a production run If you're pre-launch and about to invest serious money into formulation, packaging, or manufacturing, this episode will save you time, money, and a lot of rework. Consider this your pre-launch checklist — from product idea → brand people want to shop. Build your strategy with me! This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Try it free for 30 days at tryglimpse.com/trial.

    33 min
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About

Welcome to Emerging Brands Podcast® with Kelly Bennett This is the podcast where you'll discover the stories behind your new favorite CPG brands. Each episode dives into the brand and founder journey—how they launched, what sets them apart, and the strategy behind going to market. We talk plans for growth, practical advice for emerging founders, and where to shop the products making waves in food, beverage, wellness, and beyond. You'll also hear from industry experts—brand builders, investors, and operators—who should absolutely be on your radar if you're growing a CPG brand today. Whether you're building something of your own or love supporting what's next, you're in the right place.

Information

  • Creator
    Kelly Bennett
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    257
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2022
  • Show Website
    Emerging Brands Podcast

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