[Top Agency & Sweets and Snack Series] Food Marketing Secrets and AI Strategies With CJ Bruce
Release Date: 02/03/2026
INspired INsider Podcast
Alexander Landa is the Co-founder and CEO of Akiva, an AI-driven immersive learning platform that helps neurodivergent individuals build skills through engaging virtual reality lessons. Driven by his experience as a father navigating special education challenges, he founded Akiva to help families, clinicians, and educators foster meaningful progress. With over 25 years of leadership in software and tech startups, Alexander brings deep expertise in building and scaling innovative products. Under his leadership, Akiva continues expanding access to inclusive, science-backed learning experiences...
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CJ Bruce is the Founder and CEO of The Missing Ingredient, a Sacramento-based food marketing agency that helps healthful and sustainable food and beverage brands grow. The agency specializes in performance marketing, paid media, influencer campaigns, and AI-driven strategies. Since 2016, CJ has led a team of 15, working with brands like Amy’s Kitchen, Sumo Citrus, Baskin-Robbins, and Milk Bar. A certified plant-based chef and former food influencer, he combines his passion for food and technology to help brands stand out, connect with consumers, and scale. In this episode… What makes some...
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Dan Lee is a Partner at Pin High Strategies, a merchant banking and advisory firm serving independent sponsors and founder-led businesses on capital raising and strategic growth. He has spent 25 years investing in private companies across both debt and equity. Previously, Dan was a Partner at Garnett Station Partners and a co-founder of Comvest Capital Partners, which he helped grow from $250 million to $12 billion. He has partnered with more than 100 founders and small businesses to support long-term growth and value creation. In this episode… Strong businesses don’t grow from setbacks...
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Dan Lee is a Partner at Pin High Strategies, a merchant banking and advisory firm serving independent sponsors and founder-led businesses on capital raising and strategic growth. He has spent 25 years investing in private companies across both debt and equity. Previously, Dan was a Partner at Garnett Station Partners and a co-founder of Comvest Capital Partners, which he helped grow from $250 million to $12 billion. He has partnered with more than 100 founders and small businesses to support long-term growth and value creation. In this episode… Strong businesses don’t grow from setbacks...
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Justin Brooke is the Founder of AdSkills and AgentSkills, companies that help marketers and businesses master paid advertising and advanced AI tools for marketing and automation. Seva Ustinov is the Founder and CEO of Plurio by Elly Analytics, a marketing analytics platform that delivers full-funnel insights and AI-powered automation to optimize performance and growth. Paul Powers is the Founder and CEO of Physna, a world-leading 3D AI and geometric search platform that codifies 3D models into detailed data that is understandable by software applications. In this episode… Are you searching...
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Eric Berman is the Founder and Mastermind Leader of Speakeasy Mastermind, a private global community that brings experienced entrepreneurs together for collaboration, problem-solving, and business growth. He is also the Founder and CEO of Brandetize and Celebritize, companies focused on digital marketing and brand visibility for thought leaders, consumer brands, and influencers. Prior to these ventures, Eric co-founded CollegeClub.com, an early large-scale online community, where he held executive roles during its rapid growth. He also advises companies, works with venture capitalists, and...
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Rick Gardiner is the Founder and CEO of iAffiliate Management, a boutique performance marketing agency helping DTC e-commerce brands grow revenue through high-impact affiliate and partner programs. With over 20 years of experience, Rick has helped brands — from fast-growing startups to established names like Groupon and Home Chef — turn affiliate marketing into a scalable revenue engine. A former Division I athlete turned entrepreneur, he brings a disciplined, team-first approach and a passion for building aligned, high-value partnerships in an ever-evolving affiliate landscape. In this...
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Cameron LiButti is the Founder and CEO of Bidview Marketing, a data-driven performance marketing agency specializing in digital media, analytics, and development. With a background in engineering consulting and years of experience leading marketing ventures and high-performing teams, Cameron built Bidview on a principle of prioritizing ROI and tailored solutions over one-size-fits-all tactics. Under his leadership, the agency focuses on intentional growth strategies that turn attention into measurable business outcomes. Beyond Bidview, he shares expertise on modern SEO and marketing through...
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Adam Coffey is the Chairman and CEO of The Chairman Group, a high-level peer network for business leaders. Over his 25-year career as a CEO, he has built four companies for nine private equity firms, completed 58 acquisitions, and led exits totaling billions of dollars. A #1 best-selling author, US Army veteran, and international speaker, Adam shares actionable strategies in private equity, M&A, and building high-performance cultures, blending military discipline with cutting-edge business expertise. In this episode… Scaling a company to a billion-dollar empire requires strategy,...
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Yoni Tserruya is the Co-founder and CEO of Lusha, an AI-powered sales intelligence platform built for B2B teams. Under his leadership, Lusha has grown to serve over one million users and more than 15,000 customers worldwide, raising over $40 million in funding. With a background as an iOS developer, Yoni is passionate about product-led growth and building AI-driven tools that help sales teams automate outreach, personalize engagement, and have more effective, human conversations at scale. In this episode… Modern sales success depends on timing, relevance, and insight — not just volume....
info_outlineCJ Bruce is the Founder and CEO of The Missing Ingredient, a Sacramento-based food marketing agency that helps healthful and sustainable food and beverage brands grow. The agency specializes in performance marketing, paid media, influencer campaigns, and AI-driven strategies. Since 2016, CJ has led a team of 15, working with brands like Amy’s Kitchen, Sumo Citrus, Baskin-Robbins, and Milk Bar. A certified plant-based chef and former food influencer, he combines his passion for food and technology to help brands stand out, connect with consumers, and scale.
In this episode…
What makes some food products stand out while others fade into obscurity? Why do certain brands go viral, gaining devoted fans almost overnight, while others never leave the shelves? Could the secret lie in the right mix of marketing creativity, influencer partnerships, and technology?
As noted by food marketing veteran CJ Bruce, the intersection of creative passion, tactical strategy, and AI integration defines the modern path to success. He highlights the importance of building genuine relationships with influencers rather than relying on one-off partnerships, creatively engaging consumers through contests, and leveraging digital workflows to scale brands quickly. By combining micro-influencer campaigns, viral video content, and AI-driven processes, even niche products can gain cult followings and achieve measurable growth. He emphasizes that balancing technology with authentic human connection is key to capturing attention in today’s fast-moving food landscape.
In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with CJ Bruce, Founder and CEO of The Missing Ingredient, to discuss mastering food and beverage brand growth in the digital era. They explore how CJ uses AI to streamline campaigns, the strategies behind viral influencer marketing, and how to tap into emerging food trends for rapid growth. CJ also shares practical tools and workflows that help brands scale while staying agile.