The Most Expensive Mistake You Can Make With Fresh Capital And What to Do Instead
Nombase Podcast
After raising capital, most founders feel like they have finally unlocked the ability to grow. But what you do next can determine whether that capital creates momentum or quietly sets your business back. In this episode, Day Out Snacks founder Becky Pleat sits down with Phil Trowler, former finance lead at Olipop, to discuss the specifics on how early stage CPG brands should actually think about deploying capital, building financial discipline, and preparing for what comes next. You will learn: The most expensive mistake founders make right after raising capital Why expanding into more...
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The Brilliant but Simple Way to Win in a Tough Category
Nombase Podcast
Building a great product is not enough, especially in a category that actively works against you. In this episode, Ayeshah Abuelhiga of Mason Dixie joins Hey!Hunger's Shireen Khera to talk about what it actually takes to win in one of the toughest environments in grocery. From getting customers to physically find your product to navigating low awareness, inconsistent merchandising, and long repurchase cycles, you'll see behind the scenes into the real work behind building a brand that sells: What it actually takes to get customers to find, try, and buy your product in a challenging...
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Over $200 Million Is Up for Grabs, But Only If You Launch the Right Way
Nombase Podcast
Expanding beyond the US is one of the biggest growth opportunities for CPG brands, and one of the easiest ways to get wrong. In this episode, Ruth Fittock, managing partner of Tomorrow Brands, breaks down what it actually takes to launch successfully in the UK, a market worth billions in annual food and beverage sales. Drawing on experience with brands like Vitamin Water, PopChips, and Harmless Harvest, she shares what separates brands that scale from those that stall. This conversation goes far beyond geography. It’s a deep dive into assessing true product market fit, identifying category...
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NIQ’s Take on Expo West: Where to Lean In and What’s Losing Momentum
Nombase Podcast
Expo West is a massive event, and it can take weeks to fully process what you saw and what it actually means. There is a lot of noise, but if you look closely, the real signals start to emerge and point to where the industry is headed next. In this episode, we sit down with Sherry Frey of NielsenIQ to make sense of it all through the lens of real consumer data. We break down what is really happening with protein and how consumers are thinking about it in their diets, why regenerative and transparent sourcing are gaining traction, which flavor trends are sticking, and how the ongoing GLP 1...
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Why Profitability Isn’t the First Goal for CPG Startups, and What Else Recent Exits Reveal
Nombase Podcast
In today’s CPG landscape, profitability isn’t always the first milestone founders should focus on. As capital markets and deal structures, investors and acquirers are often looking for something earlier in a brand’s lifecycle: clear product market fit, strong velocity, and the potential to scale efficiently. In this episode, Ryan Williams, founder of Northall and creator of the Fabid deal database shares what recent investment and acquisition activity reveals about how value is actually being built in food and beverage CPG. Together they explore why some brands attract premium...
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Expo West 2026 Hit List: The Trends, Brands, and Big Bets We're Looking For
Nombase Podcast
Expo West 2026 is here and the BevNET and NOSH team is sharing what's at the top of their hit list. Managing editors Martín Caballero and Monica Watrous break down the biggest trends they expect to see on the show floor, from protein and fiber trends, to seed oil free formulations, regenerative ingredients, functional fatigue, GLP-1 friendly products, nostalgic flavors, and more. Can't wait to see you all at the show!!
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Lessons From Investors Who Decided to Build Their Own CPG Brand
Nombase Podcast
What happens when three CPG investors decide to build a brand themselves? Kiva Dickinson of Selva Ventures joins fellow cadootz! cofounders Jordan Carpenter and Rachel Mansfield, all seasoned CPG investors, with Rachel also bringing her perspective as a leading creator, to share how experienced industry insiders launch differently. They break down how they defined their non negotiables before formulation, modeled margins and profitability from day one, and avoided common pricing and channel strategy mistakes. The cadootz! team also unpacks key decisions around manufacturing, reformulation for...
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As Ultra-Processed Foods Face Scrutiny, a New Certification Offers Better For You Brands an Edge
Nombase Podcast
Ultra-processed foods are facing growing pressure from policymakers, retailers, and consumers who are rethinking what belongs on shelf and in their carts. In this episode, Bill Creelman, Founder of Spindrift, and Megan Westgate, Founder of the Non-UPF Verified program and the Non GMO Project, discuss a new certification designed to evaluate both ingredient integrity and how products are actually made. Spindrift recently became the first beverage brand verified under the Non-UPF standard. Bill shares what the verification process required behind the scenes, how sourcing and manufacturing...
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From Big Idea to Scalable Beverage: The Realities of Innovation
Nombase Podcast
You may have a winning beverage you perfected in your kitchen or sell at the farmer’s market, but it’s a long road to making it work at scale. In this episode, MSI Express leaders Chuck Woods and Greg Schildmeyer share what it really takes to turn a bold idea into a profitable, manufacturable product. They’ll reveal how to avoid costly formulation and packaging mistakes, when to consider formats like stick packs versus liquids, and which trends actually have staying power. Plus, find out why aligning innovation with production reality is the key to building beverages that last....
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Kroger and FoodHealth Introduce a New Health Scoring System for Grocery
Nombase Podcast
Health is no longer just a marketing claim. It is becoming part of how retailers evaluate products, guide shoppers, and shape category growth. Kroger’s rollout of a new health scoring system powered by FoodHealth reflects this shift. In this episode, Laura Brown, Director of Nutrition at Kroger, and Sam Citro Alexander, founder of FoodHealth, break down how the system works, why Kroger adopted it, and what it means for brands building at retail. Founders and operators will learn how the FoodHealth Score is calculated, how nutrient density and ingredient quality factor into evaluations, how...
info_outlineTikTok offers a big opportunity for food and beverage brands, but it also brings real challenges. It moves fast, culture shifts daily, and creativity matters more than polish, all while the path from discovery to purchase gets shorter.
In this episode, Mike Westgate, Vertical Director of Food, Beverage and Alcohol at TikTok, shares what he has learned as the platform has grown into a major space for discovery, community, and commerce. He breaks down discovery commerce, the role creators play as an extension of your sales force, the creative tools that help brands produce content efficiently, and the trends shaping what people buy. Mike also touches on organic versus paid content, early mover advantages, and how brands of every size can compete on the platform.