The Food Means Business Podcast

Djenaba Johnson-Jones
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Hosted by Djenaba Johnson-Jones, former marketing executive turned entrepreneur and founder of food business incubator, Hudson Kitchen, The Food Means Business podcast features the personal stories and “secret ingredients” behind what it's like to abandon your day job to start a food business. Join our community of fellow food business owners and subject matter experts to learn and laugh with us as we explore a start-up world that’s a little more culinary and a lot less corporate these days.

  1. How Strong Partnerships Built Avsome Brand with Coby Farrow

    JAN 29

    How Strong Partnerships Built Avsome Brand with Coby Farrow

    Coby Farrow didn’t set out to launch a beverage brand.  But when a restaurant concept he was working on fell through, he couldn’t shake the idea of turning avocado seed tea into something bigger. What started as a kitchen experiment quickly became a crash course in CPG, with plenty of hurdles along the way, as Coby embarked on a years-long journey to establish Avsome Brand. In this episode, Coby shares how he navigated the challenges of formulation, why partnerships have made all the difference, and why slow growth is sometimes the smartest path. If you’re an aspiring clean beverage founder, this is one conversation you won’t want to miss! In this episode, you’ll learn… [00:00] Intro [00:38] Coby shares how he’s transitioned from chef to CGP founder [02:58] When Coby first discovered avocado seed tea and his first iterations of Avsome [08:47] How partnerships have shaped the trajectory of Avsome Brand and why networking is key to CPG success [13:30] The iterative process of creating Avsome Brand [20:37] How Avsome Brand found it’s name (and how it’s pronounced) [23:12] Avsome Brand’s launch plan and why growing slowly is often the best route to CPG success Get full notes and a transcript at: https://www.thehudsonkitchen.com/podcast/ To get more Food Business Bites right in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter at thehudsonkitchen.com.

    29 min
  2. Rewriting the Rules of Social Drinking with JW Wiseman of Curious Elixirs

    JAN 22

    Rewriting the Rules of Social Drinking with JW Wiseman of Curious Elixirs

    JW Wiseman started his career in marketing and not specifically in the food industry. But that didn’t stop when he decided to branch out into the CPG industry via non-alcoholic cocktails. After years in the corporate world and seeing how alcohol was embedded into networking and socializing in the sphere, he wanted an alternative, and one that used better ingredients than what he could find on the market at the time. Enter: Curious Elixirs, a booze-free cocktail company whose mission it is to redefine how society drinks socially by providing healthy adult beverages that taste great and look cool too. In this episode, JW shares how he started his company, how he’s grown it without investors, why his marketing experience isn’t a substitute for hustle, and how he tries to find balance in his life outside of entrepreneurship. This episode is a must-listen for any aspiring CPG entrepreneurs. In this episode, you’ll learn… [00:00] Intro [00:36] How JW went branched out into non-alcoholic cocktails from a marketing background (and how that related to his experience with alcohol  in his corporate career) [04:37] How JW formulated his own product ideas before approaching a formulator [07:30] Why the hustle is so important when it comes to marketing [12:22] How JW has been able to grow Curious Elixirs without investment money [14:25] The flavors of each Curious Elixir and how they were developed [18:17] JW’s best advice for a new CPG entrepreneur [21:47] How JW takes care of himself outside entrepreneurship Get full notes and a transcript at: https://www.thehudsonkitchen.com/podcast/ To get more Food Business Bites right in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter at thehudsonkitchen.com.

    26 min

  3. 12/18/2024

    Using Influencers to Help Build Awareness for Your CPG Brand With Mike Currie

    When you’re starting out creating a CPG brand, one of the most challenging aspects can be simply getting eyes on your product. It’s hard to sell when no one knows you exist, and it’s also hard to create an audience from scratch. But what if you could borrow someone else’s audience to jump start the process? In this episode, Mike Currie, fractional CMO and marketing advisor, is here to break down how to get started with influencer marketing. He’s sharing what influencer marketing actually is, why you might want to use it, and how you can fairly compensate influencers in a way that is mutually beneficial.  Plus, he’s covering how you can find influencers who are as excited about your brand as you are and how they can help build a strong community around your CPG brand. If you’re up for using influencers to get the word out about your brand, this conversation is for you! In this episode, you’ll learn… [00:00] Intro [00:36] How Mike’s CPG career has evolved from corporate to entrepreneur [03:29] What a CMO is and how they support growing businesses [07:11] What influencer marketing is and how it works [13:32] How you can pay influencers to work with your CPG brand and how you can tell if the relationships are working for you [19:37] How influencers can help you build a community for your brand [25:25] How fitness and quality time keep Mike grounded Get full notes and a transcript at: https://www.thehudsonkitchen.com/podcast/ To get more Food Business Bites right in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter at thehudsonkitchen.com.

    30 min

  4. 12/11/2024

    Allergen-Free and Kid-Approved: How Happy Wolf is Revolutionizing Kid’s Snacks with Jana Goodbaum

    Jana didn’t necessarily plan to start a CPG business… she just wanted better snacks for her kids that they would actually eat.  But after struggling to find the products that would work for her family, she turned to making her own, first in the kitchen at home and then eventually through her company, Happy Wolf, a snack bar company using allergen-free and no sugar added ingredients. Despite all her marketing research and experience, Jana admits that she was still naive about all the aspects that come along with building a CPG company. So in this episode, she’s sharing the lessons she’s learned from building Happy Wolf, including some of their unique challenges, her perspective shift around success, and how having a strong business partnership relationship has made all the difference for her. If you’re considering breaking into the kid’s snack market, this conversation is a good one! In this episode, you’ll learn… [00:00] Intro [00:48] How Jana made her cubicle to business owner transition (and how her children influenced her decision) [08:56] How Jana approached her business partnership and how she navigates that relationship [16:59] The unique challenges facing a refrigerated kid’s product like Happy Wolf [18:47] How Jana focuses on customer education and experience as a major part of Happy Wolf’s marketing strategy (and the origin of their unique name) [24:37] What Jana wishes she’d have known before getting into the CPG industry [27:01] What success looks like for Jana these days Get full notes and a transcript at: https://www.thehudsonkitchen.com/podcast/ To get more Food Business Bites right in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter at thehudsonkitchen.com.

    35 min

  5. 12/04/2024

    Mixing Family and Business: How Poppa’s Custard Built Their Business on a Solid Foundation with Josh Johnson

    At the beginning of his career, Josh Johnson didn’t plan on starting a CPG company with his wife and sister, but now that he’s here, he wouldn’t have it any other way. While business and family might be a volatile mix for some, but when it comes to the Poppa’s Custard Company, that’s part of the magic.  In this episode, Josh Joshson joins me to share how he planned out his transition from corporate to a custard company, how he’s created a business with the people he loves most, how they structured the company to play to each family member’s strengths, and what the sales strategy looks like for a specialized product like chilled custard. If you’ve wondered how a successful family business runs, this is one conversation you can’t miss! In this episode, you’ll learn… [00:00] Intro [00:53] How Josh transitioned from consulting to custard [05:26] How Josh prepared to take the leap before quitting his corporate job [11:14] As a family business, how Josh balances the “family” vs the “business” part of his relationships with his wife and sister [18:16] Why the Poppa’s Custard company chose and designed their product  [21:24] What the sales strategy looks like for a speciality product like Poppa’s Custard [24:51] Josh’s best advice from someone just starting out [27:56] How Josh takes care of himself outside of his family business Get full notes and a transcript at: https://www.thehudsonkitchen.com/podcast/ To get more Food Business Bites right in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter at thehudsonkitchen.com.

    37 min
  6. From Sourcing to Shelves: How You Can Build a Resilient CPG Supply Chain with Eran Mizrahi of Ingredient Brothers

    11/27/2024

    From Sourcing to Shelves: How You Can Build a Resilient CPG Supply Chain with Eran Mizrahi of Ingredient Brothers

    When it comes to creating amazing CPG products, one often overlooked aspect is the difficulty of actually sourcing the necessary ingredients, especially if they are specialty. And that’s where Ingredient Brothers comes in. In this episode, Eran Mizrahi, co-founder of Ingredient Brothers, is here to break down supply chain logistics for us. He’s sharing the importance of having company partners you trust, why you need to build relationships in the food industry, and how he helps founders solve supply chain problems.  If you’ve wondered how to create steady supply chains, this is one conversation you can’t miss! In this episode, you’ll learn… [00:00] Intro [00:53] Eran’s entrepreneurial background [03:28] How Eran and his co-founder chose their respective roles and responsibilities [06:18] When businesses should start looking for partners like Ingredient Brothers [07:44] The importance of building relationships in the CPG industry [13:03] What supply chain problem-solving looks like for Ingredient Brothers [15:12] Why CPG founders need to understand their customer base, from a supply-chain perspective Get full notes and a transcript at: https://www.thehudsonkitchen.com/podcast/ To get more Food Business Bites right in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter at thehudsonkitchen.com.

    23 min
  7. Making It to Market: Why Good Logistics Is Essential for Your Bottom Line with Andrew Lynch

    11/20/2024

    Making It to Market: Why Good Logistics Is Essential for Your Bottom Line with Andrew Lynch

    You can make an amazing product, start the best marketing campaign, and partner with national chains… But if your product doesn’t make it to the stores, or more importantly, your end user, none of that actually matters. In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Andrew Lynch of Zipline Logistics on why young CPG brands shouldn’t overlook the logistical aspects of their business. Andrew shares how he got his start in logistics, what it really means to businesses, how it affects their bottom line, and why it might be worth getting support from a partner like Zipline. If you’re struggling with delivery, transportation, and getting product on your retailers shelves, this is one conversation you can’t miss! In this episode, you’ll learn… [00:00] Intro [01:31] Andrew shares the origin of Zipline Logistics [07:18] Why logistics are so important, especially for young CPG companies [11:25] Why it might be worth outsourcing logistics to companies like Zipline [16:25] How to know when your CPG brand is ready to start outsourcing logistics [18:46] How Andrew takes care of himself as a long-time entrepreneur Get full notes and a transcript at: https://www.thehudsonkitchen.com/podcast/ To get more Food Business Bites right in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter at thehudsonkitchen.com.

    25 min
  8. Finding the Right Partners: Building a Strong Foundation For Your CPG Brand with Alison Seibert

    11/13/2024

    Finding the Right Partners: Building a Strong Foundation For Your CPG Brand with Alison Seibert

    When it comes to PR and marketing for CPG brands, good design and strategic plans are important… But what if you could spread the word about your product through authentic relationships with partners who are just as enthusiastic about your product as you are? In today’s episode, I’m joined by Alison Seibert, founder of The James Collective, to talk about her unique approach to building relationships and building the foundations for a long-lasting CPG brand.  She shares how she thinks about PR, marketing, and communication from a CPG perspective, the importance of understanding both your customers and potential partners, and how to find the partners who can help you take your product to the next level. If you’re in the growing phase of your CPG business, this is one episode you can’t miss!  In this episode, you’ll learn… [00:00] Intro [00:41] How Alison built her PR and communication company (and how she niched down to working with CPG and beverage businesses) [09:42] How Alison connects companies and facilitates partnerships in her sphere [13:48] Why CPG owners need to be fully confident in their product [16:27] The importance of understanding your audience and buyer in the CPG space [21:31] How to foster meaningful relationships with partners and influencers (not making it purely transactional) [26:21] Alison’s well-rounded view of self-care for entrepreneurs Get full notes and a transcript at: https://www.thehudsonkitchen.com/podcast/ To get more Food Business Bites right in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter at thehudsonkitchen.com.

    32 min
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About

Hosted by Djenaba Johnson-Jones, former marketing executive turned entrepreneur and founder of food business incubator, Hudson Kitchen, The Food Means Business podcast features the personal stories and “secret ingredients” behind what it's like to abandon your day job to start a food business. Join our community of fellow food business owners and subject matter experts to learn and laugh with us as we explore a start-up world that’s a little more culinary and a lot less corporate these days.

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  • Creator
    Djenaba Johnson-Jones
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    81
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Food Means Business Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Food Means Business Podcast