Emerging Brands Podcast

Kelly Bennett
  • 5.0 (11)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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

    Better Sour

    The candy aisle is getting a much-needed jolt of tart, globally inspired flavor. Bella Hughes, Co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Better Sour, is the entrepreneurial force behind the award-winning gummies that are shaking up the snack world. Born and raised in Hawai'i, Bella and her lifelong best friend founded Better Sour to celebrate the diverse, tart flavors they grew up with and encountered through their global travels. Bella brings a unique perspective to consumer innovation, blending nearly two decades of experience as a cultural strategist and art curator with a proven track record of building successful brands. Now found in over 4,000 stores nationwide, Better Sour is proving that there is a massive appetite for snacks that prioritize cultural representation and high-quality, USA-manufactured ingredients. Inside the Episode: How two best friends turned a shared obsession into a rapidly scaling brand by identifying a lack of innovation in the sour space, specifically creating sophisticated, globally inspired gummies for grown-up palates. A deep dive into the journey of a serial founder and advisor, sharing the lessons learned from building multiple successful ventures in the food and beverage space. A look at how the brand prioritized visibility across a wide range of retailers early on to build mass brand awareness and prove the broad appeal of their globally inspired flavors. 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. Book a call with the Team to get started!

    27 min

  2. 3D AGO

    Faire

    The landscape of local commerce is being revitalized through the world's largest online wholesale marketplace. Jennifer Burke, Chief Revenue Officer at Faire, has been a driving force behind the platform's mission to connect independent brands with the retailers that help them grow. Since joining in 2019, Jen has scaled Faire's North American Revenue organization from its early stages, building a sales culture deeply rooted in customer obsession and intentional growth. With a career spanning leadership roles at ClassPass, Bain & Company, MasterClass, and Disney, Jen brings a unique strategic perspective to the challenges of scaling a global marketplace. She shares how Faire is leveling the playing field for indie founders, providing the tools and community needed to keep local retail vibrant and competitive in a digital age. Inside the Episode: An overview of what Faire is and how the platform works to connect independent brands with local retailers to ensure small businesses can compete and grow. A look at how Faire is using technology to empower small businesses to compete with big box retailers by streamlining the wholesale process. Practical advice on how to get started with Faire, beginning with a deep understanding of your brand identity and audience to create a robust, high-converting selling page. Learn more about Faire 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. Book a call with the Team to get started!

    31 min

  3. 3D AGO

    PlantPaper

    Most people use toilet paper several times a day without a second thought, but the environmental cost of traditional tree-based paper is staggering. Deeva Green (Co-Founder and Head of Sustainability) and Lee Reitelman (Co-Founder and CEO) are the duo behind PlantPaper, a brand that spent three years in research and development to create a silky, soft, and strong alternative that leaves no trace. By prioritizing ingredients and sustainability with the same rigor usually reserved for the food industry, Deeva and Lee have built a toxin-free, tree-free brand that challenges the status quo of the paper goods industry. From Deeva's roots in environmental policy and Columbia's Sustainability Management program to Lee's background in brand building and operations, they share how they've turned a domestic staple into a powerful force for positive social change. Inside the Episode: The extensive R&D process required to create a tree-free product that doesn't compromise on performance, featuring a unique "dabbing and grabbing" design. Lee discusses the transition from the sustainable food space to paper goods, applying a "clean label" mindset to a category that has long been overlooked. Deeva shares how her connection to Canada's ancient forests and her studies at the London School of Economics fueled her mission to use entrepreneurship as a tool for environmental advocacy.  Ready to make the switch to tree-free? Visit plantpaper.us and use code KELLYB25 for 25% off your first order of a subscription. 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. Book a call with the Team to get started!

    33 min

  4. MAY 11

    GIR

    The way we interact with our homes is changing, and Suze Dowling is at the forefront of that shift. As the Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Pattern Brands, Suze is building a modern "house of brands" designed to help people enjoy daily life at home. One of the stars of this family is GIR (Get It Right), a brand that has revolutionized the kitchen tool category with its high performance, platinum cured silicone essentials. Suze shares how Pattern Brands identifies and scales businesses that prioritize thoughtful design and functional excellence. By bringing brands like GIR into their ecosystem, Pattern is creating a cohesive world of products, from the kitchen to the living room, that solve tiny frustrations and make the rituals of home life more satisfying. Inside the Episode: Suze discusses the strategy of building a multi-brand platform focused on the home and how they select brands that align with their mission of design and durability. A look at how GIR's philosophy of "Getting It Right" fits into the Pattern family, focusing on tools that are easy to clean, heat resistant, and built for real life cooking.  How being part of the Pattern Brands ecosystem allows individual brands like GIR to thrive through shared expertise in branding, operations, and customer experience. 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. Book a call with the Team to get started!

    29 min

  5. MAY 11

    Love&Cookies

    When Ashley Cameron's son was diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease, baking cookies became more than just a kitchen activity; it became a vital source of comfort and connection during a difficult recovery. Those family moments and recipes eventually grew into Love&Cookies, which has quickly become one of the fastest-growing names in the frozen cookie dough category. Ashley leads the brand with a deep commitment to community and philanthropy. Since its inception, Love&Cookies has partnered with the Kawasaki Kids Foundation, ensuring that every step of the brand's growth also supports a larger mission. Now available in major retailers like Sprouts, Wegmans, H-E-B, and Harris Teeter, Love&Cookies is proving that a brand built on heart can lead to serious retail success. Inside the Episode: How a family's personal health journey transformed a simple bonding activity into a rapidly scaling frozen dough brand. Insights into the challenges and triumphs of entering the competitive frozen category in retailers like Wegmans and H-E-B.  Ashley talks about the value of her children seeing the reality of hard work firsthand, including the hardships and resilience required to build a business from the ground up. 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. Book a call with the Team to get started!

    28 min

  6. MAY 11

    Lunr Capital

    Navigating the financial demands of a national retail launch is one of the most significant hurdles for any emerging brand. Sam Stutzman and Jackie Bae of Lunr Capital are helping founders solve this puzzle through commitment based, non-dilutive inventory financing. By providing the capital needed to fund production ahead of retail demand, Lunr allows brands to manage cash flow and scale without giving up equity. Sam and Jackie bring extensive experience from their time at Target, where they managed high stakes merchandising, inventory operations, and retail media strategies. They share how their deep understanding of the retailer's perspective now helps brands at Lunr act as strategic partners rather than just a source of capital. Inside the Episode: An overview of how commitment based, non-dilutive financing works and why it is a vital tool for brands scaling in retail environments. How Lunr utilizes its network and retail-specific experience to serve as a strategic partner for founders navigating the complexities of expansion. Practical advice for brands on what financial partners and retailers look for when assessing a company's readiness for growth.  Connect 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. Book a call with the Team to get started!

    29 min

  7. MAY 4

    Furthermore Ventures

    Investor and certified integrative health coach Alaina Sparks is a systems thinker working at the intersection of health, capital, and everyday life. After a distinguished 15 year career at Deloitte, where she led global financial relationships, designed innovation strategies, and built the firm's fintech practice, Alaina recognized a critical imbalance: capital powerfully shapes opportunity, yet an incredibly small fraction of it flows to women founders. In 2021, Alaina launched Furthermore Ventures, an investment platform specifically designed to back women led companies building healthier solutions across the everyday sectors that drive long term outcomes. Through Furthermore and her reflective health platform, what sustains us, Alaina explores how daily life quietly shapes wellbeing and how shifting the flow of capital can build a better future for everyone. Inside the Episode: How Furthermore Ventures functions as an investment platform that organizes syndicates of angel investors and aligned partners to back better-for-you, women led companies in food, agriculture, and everyday goods. Alaina shares the personal health journey and professional reflections that inspired her to bridge the gap between wellness and venture capital, focusing on how daily life impacts long term vitality. How leading fintech and global ecosystem strategies provided the foundational "systems thinking" required to build a modern investment platform. Connect 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. Book a call with the Team to get started!

    44 min

  8. MAY 4

    Lottie's Meats

    Having grown up on a sixth generation pork farm, Cassie Maschhoff spent a decade building a career in tech strategy and marketing at Google and Waze before returning to her family roots. Alongside her sister Chelsey, a Culinary Institute of America graduate and professional chef, she co-founded Lottie's Meats. Together, they are elevating pork in a clean and creative way, transforming a traditional staple into a premium, protein packed sausage brand that brings both flavor and fun to the kitchen. By blending professional culinary expertise with high level operations and marketing, Cassie and Chelsey have built a brand that prioritizes both quality and convenience. Cassie shares the story of how they merged their respective backgrounds in award winning kitchens and tech giants to launch a sister owned business that is now making waves in the premium meat category. Inside the Episode: Cassie discusses how she and her sister are challenging the historically male dominated pork industry by bringing a fresh, sister owned perspective to a traditional category. How Chelsey's culinary training and Cassie's strategic background create the perfect foundation for a modern food brand. Insights into the operational side of scaling a premium brand into major retailers like Target and Misfits Market. Shop at 200+ Targets & Nationally at Misfits Markets 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. Book a call with the Team to get started!

    29 min
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5
out of 5
11 Ratings

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
    293
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2022
  • Show Website
    Emerging Brands Podcast

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