The Food Means Business Podcast Djenaba Johnson-Jones

Kara Rubin has spent her career championing thousands of better for you brands. During this conversation, she shares her journey in the food business including: leading the Northeast Region Grocery division of Whole Foods and managing brand and product strategy for Just Water.  Kara also talks about her current role as CPG advisor for JPG Resources and as co-founder of Makor Partners as well as gives advice to emerging  and established brands on how to create and maintain a strong foundation.  

In this episode, you’ll learn: 
The universe’s role in the trajectory of her career in the food businessThe one thing that she can do all day as a CPG advisorHer advice to brands on the importance of building relationships, maintaining focus, and standing out in a crowded marketplaceHow she values self-care and embraces the flexible schedule that comes with entrepreneurshipGet full notes and a transcript at: https://www.thehudsonkitchen.com/podcast/ep54/
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What happens when you step out of your comfort zone? If you are Lauryn Bodden, you win a Netflix reality cooking competition and launch a new food brand.

In this conversation, Lauryn shares how her turn as a reluctant reality tv star inspired her to launch an innovative CPG food product. She discusses starting her snack brand, S’NOODS and the challenges that she faced along the way. Lauryn also emphasizes the importance of finding a supportive community of fellow founders and how seeking advice from experienced individuals has been invaluable during her entrepreneurial journey.

In this episode you’ll learn…

03:39 What led Lauryn to audition for Netflix’s Snack vs Chef cooking competition
06:44 How she came up with the idea and name for S’NOODS 
09:05 The challenges she faced with launching her CPG product
13:05 Why community and support is so important for founders
14:58 Lauryn’s experience preparing for and attending this year’s Natural Products Expo West trade show
20:55 How she practices self care 

Get full notes and a transcript at: https://www.thehudsonkitchen.com/podcast/ep53/


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Think quality bread is off the menu? Think again! Now, you can get gluten-free sourdough products delivered right to your doorstep.
In this episode, I’m joined by Sadie Scheffer, the founder of Bread SRSLY — a business born of a college crush and shared gluten intolerance. Hear the story of how Sadie leveraged the growing nationwide demand for healthier and more accessible food options to grow her business into what it is today. 
Topics range from the early days of Bread SRSLY to Sadie’s adjacent business ventures into coaching and motivational speaking. Whether you practice your own gluten-free diet or just need some inspiration to jump start your own food business, you won’t want to miss this episode!
In this episode, you’ll learn…
[00:36] Sadie’s commitment to gluten-free food and the early days of Bread SRSLY
[09:24] Business processes, growing a team, and managing wholesale orders/shipments
[13:00] Adjacent business ventures including coaching and motivational speaking
[16:40] Tips for hiring great teams including setting clear expectations
[18:42] Advice for entrepreneurs just starting out in the food industry
Get full notes and a transcript at: https://www.thehudsonkitchen.com/podcast/ep47/

Don't miss our upcoming March 27th workshop, The Top 3 Hiring Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them).  Register here: https://www.thehudsonkitchen.com/events-collection/the-top-3-hiring-mistakes 
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Have you ever dreamed of bringing your very own food product to market? The path to doing so isn’t always clear, and many would-be entrepreneurs might wonder how to take the first step. From research and development, to marketing and distribution, there are no shortage of factors to consider!
In this episode, Crystal Ung, founder of Bowlcut, shares her transition from the corporate world to entrepreneurship and how growing up in the restaurant industry helped to inform her journey. You’ll hear, from start to finish, how she was able to transform traditional Asian sauces into healthier, more versatile products with universal appeal and introduce them to a global audience. If you’re looking for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look into the process, and want to learn Crystal’s strategies for success, this episode is guaranteed to satisfy your appetite!
In this episode, you’ll learn…
[00:37] Crystal’s story of taking the leap from the corporate world to entrepreneurship and her reasoning behind it
[06:19] The making of Bowlcut, its products, and Crystal’s journey from R&D to an official launch
[15:24] The power of leveraging connections and an example of how a collaboration can help you market your products
[16:44] General tips and insights on being an entrepreneur
Get full notes and a transcript at: https://www.thehudsonkitchen.com/podcast/ep43/
Join the waitlist for the Food Business Bootcamp at https://www.thehudsonkitchen.com/food-business-bootcamp.
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In this solo episode, host Djenaba Johnson-Jones shares her experience with practicing gratitude and the positive impact it has had on her business, Hudson Kitchen. She discusses starting a gratitude journal and the therapeutic benefits it provides. 
In this episode, you will learn…
The role gratitude plays in the Law of AttractionDjenaba’s gratitude for the Hudson Kitchen community membersWhy she sleeps well at nightDjenaba’s joy of hosting in-person events and upcoming virtual events that you can register forHer love of the work that she does with food entrepreneursTo get more Food Business Bites right in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter at thehudsonkitchen.com.

In this episode, Jason Bedart, the Vice President of Merchandising for Food at Thrive Market discusses his career trajectory in the supermarket industry and his current role at Thrive Market. He shares how Thrive Market is structured and its mission to make healthy, sustainable living affordable and accessible. Jason shares insights into the evaluation process for brands and products, as well as the timeline for launching new products on the platform. He also touches on self-care, his love of all things Taylor Swift, and celebrates his amazing #foodfam.  
In this episode, you will learn…
Jason’s decision to abandon his law school dreams for a career in groceryThrive Market’s department structure and a day in the life of a VP of MerchandisingCharacteristics of the Thrive Market member What he’s looking for in new brands to add to Thrive Market’s product assortmentHow to submit products to Thrive Market and the timeline for evaluationJason’s advice for brands that want to get their products onto Thrive MarketHis love of Taylor Swift, bakusing running as a form of therapy, and baking Celebrating his #foodfamTo get more Food Business Bites right in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter at thehudsonkitchen.com.