Building a Global Snack Brand Through Retail First With Hassan Alireza of The Daily Crave
Release Date: 08/27/2025
How To Scale DTC, Amazon, and Retail Simultaneously With Chad Massura
Minds of Ecommerce
Chad Massure is the Founder and CEO of Rosy Soil, a company creating peat-free, carbon-negative potting soils designed to nurture both plants and the planet. He grew up gardening with his grandmother, a background that sparked his passion for sustainable horticulture and inspired him to reimagine what soil could be. Before founding Rosy Soil in 2022, he worked in the impact and food space, helping build ventures focused on sustainable food access and social good. Since then, Chad has guided the brand from a small startup to a rapidly scaling company while maintaining a strong commitment to...
info_outline
Scaling With Micro-Influencers: Lessons From Goorin’s Ambassador Strategy With Nicky Cutler
Minds of Ecommerce
Nicky Cutler is the B2B Marketing Manager at Goorin Bros., a premium hat and apparel company known for its cult-favorite line of trucker hats featuring embroidered animal patches. A seasoned marketer, Nicky led Goorin’s to over $1 million in affiliate revenue in two years by building and scaling Goorin’s ambassador and influencer programs. He previously worked across sales and retail leadership at Goorin and also launched his fashion brand earlier in his career. Blending brand building, community storytelling, and retail insight, he’s become known for driving culture-first marketing...
info_outline
Inside Saalt’s Playbook for High-Converting TikTok LIVE Sessions With Cherie Hoeger
Minds of Ecommerce
Cherie Hoeger is the Co-Founder and CEO of Saalt, a woman-owned period care brand known for its sustainable, reusable cups, discs, and leakproof underwear. With expertise in leveraging education-driven customer engagement and innovative sales channels, Cherie has led the company to become the #1 period care brand on TikTok Shop. Before Saalt, she worked as a technical writer for over a decade and launched multiple ecommerce ventures. As a social entrepreneur, she has steered Saalt’s mission to donate tens of thousands of cups and underwear globally to fight period poverty. In this...
info_outline
Scaling Brand Loyalty Through Social Impact: Lessons From Barefoot Wine With Michael Houlihan
Minds of Ecommerce
Michael Houlihan was the Co‑founder, President, and CEO of Barefoot Wine, an iconic brand that he and his partner Bonnie Harvey launched in a laundry room in 1986 with no money and no knowledge of the wine industry, and built one of the top wine brands in the US and in 28 countries. It was eventually acquired by E. & J. Gallo. A renowned writer, speaker, and consultant, Michael co-authored the New York Times best-selling book The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand. He currently divides his time between mentoring entrepreneurs and working on...
info_outline
Newton’s Proven Playbook for Influencer Marketing Success With Aaron Zagha
Minds of Ecommerce
Aaron Zagha is the Chief Marketing Officer at Newton Baby, a company specializing in innovative, science-backed sleep products for babies and families. With a professional background in corporate finance and a data-driven marketing approach, Aaron oversees the brand’s marketing strategy, branding, and growth. He previously led international ecommerce operations for Teleflora. Under his leadership, Newton Baby collected over two million pounds of ocean-bound plastic and grew the brand through impactful influencer marketing. In this episode… Influencer marketing is one of the fastest-growing...
info_outline
Scaling Restricted Products With AppLovin: Lessons From cbdMD With Wade Brown
Minds of Ecommerce
Wade Brown is the Vice President of Marketing at cbdMD, a publicly traded company known for its CBD and cannabis product lines. He is a seasoned executive with expertise across ecommerce, B2B and B2C channels, digital advertising, and strategic partnerships. Wade has led marketing for restricted product categories, including CBD, THC beverages, firearms, and tactical gear, with leadership roles at SupplyKick, Inc Authority, NatureWise, among others. At cbdMD, he drives customer acquisition and creative ad strategies, spearheading the launch of the Herbal Oasis infused beverage line and...
info_outline
Building a Global Snack Brand Through Retail First With Hassan Alireza of The Daily Crave
Minds of Ecommerce
Hassan Alireza is the Founder and CEO of The Daily Crave, a California-based snack company that crafts better‑for‑you, non‑GMO, wholesome snacks sold worldwide. He launched the business in May 2012 with Veggie Chips and Sticks, which quickly gained traction in national retail chains. Under his leadership, the brand has expanded its lineup to include award-winning quinoa chips and, more recently, Crunchy Fries To-Go, which are made from high-quality non-GMO potatoes and are both gluten-free and kosher. Hassan’s vision focuses on delivering snacks that are delicious, crunchy,...
info_outline
The Conversion Optimization Strategy No One Talks About With Raphael Paulin-Daigle
Minds of Ecommerce
Raphael Paulin-Daigle is the Founder and CEO of SplitBase, a conversion optimization agency specializing in luxury, lifestyle, and fashion ecommerce brands. Since 2015, he has helped companies like Dr. Squatch, Hyperice, Amika, Kiehl’s, NYX Cosmetics, and YSL Beauty generate millions in additional revenue while preserving brand integrity. Known for creating the 3P’s methodology and the Testing Trifecta, Raphael combines analytics, qualitative research, and A/B testing to align growth with brand value. A TEDx speaker and the host of the Minds of Ecommerce podcast, he shares strategies that...
info_outline
Authentic Storytelling in Ecommerce: Lessons From recteq’s Marketing Playbook With Judd Pratt-Heaney
Minds of Ecommerce
Judd Pratt-Heaney is the VP of Marketing and Ecommerce at recteq, a leading pellet grill and barbecue lifestyle brand known for its innovative, durable wood pellet grills and strong community focus. With over two decades of experience in marketing leadership, Judd held senior roles at Reckitt Benckiser, HARMAN International, and WWE, working across brand management, global communications, sponsorship strategy, and integrated marketing. At recteq, Judd directs both content and performance marketing, using storytelling to build community and drive ecommerce across the grill and outdoor lifestyle...
info_outline
How MUD/WTR Created Emotional Resonance in a Saturated Market With Shane Heath
Minds of Ecommerce
Shane Heath is the Co-founder and CEO of MUD/WTR, which produces coffee alternative beverages designed to provide natural energy and focus. Under Shane's leadership, MUD/WTR has gained significant recognition for its unique branding, evolving into a popular choice among consumers seeking healthier alternatives to traditional caffeinated drinks. Shane's background in design and his ability to create a compelling brand narrative have been pivotal in MUD/WTR’s success. In this episode… Most brands don’t fail because they’re bad — they fail because no one cares. In a saturated ecommerce...
info_outlineHassan Alireza is the Founder and CEO of The Daily Crave, a California-based snack company that crafts better‑for‑you, non‑GMO, wholesome snacks sold worldwide. He launched the business in May 2012 with Veggie Chips and Sticks, which quickly gained traction in national retail chains. Under his leadership, the brand has expanded its lineup to include award-winning quinoa chips and, more recently, Crunchy Fries To-Go, which are made from high-quality non-GMO potatoes and are both gluten-free and kosher. Hassan’s vision focuses on delivering snacks that are delicious, crunchy, flavorful, and made with clean ingredients that offer nutritional value.
In this episode…
Many brands assume that direct-to-consumer sales is the only way to scale in today’s digital-first marketplace. But can leaning too heavily on DTC actually weaken your growth and profitability? Could retail partnerships and smart channel strategy be the real key to building a sustainable brand?
According to Hassan Alireza, a retail and food distribution veteran, retail has always been the most reliable engine for long-term growth. He highlights that snacks are expensive to ship directly, often eroding margins and forcing smaller brands to burn cash. By leveraging established distributors and platforms like Amazon Vendor Central, he maintains efficiency and avoids costly logistics pitfalls. The result is steady expansion without sacrificing financial health. He emphasizes that scaling should be about playing to your strengths, using ecommerce as a marketing tool, and protecting profitability through balancing channel strategies.
In this episode of Minds of Ecommerce, Raphael Paulin-Daigle interviews Hassan Alireza, Founder and CEO of The Daily Crave, about why retail still wins over DTC. They discuss the challenges of shipping snacks directly to consumers, the importance of leveraging Amazon without losing control of pricing, and how innovative product launches help attract new customers. Hassan also shares insights on relaunching with Amazon Seller Central and other fresh marketing strategies.