Let's Eat with Mark Samuel

We talk beans, innovation in a sleepy space, the size of the category and product photography.

We talk nut butter sandwiches, scaling, taking on the big guys and content marketing.

We talk water from Hawaii, logistics, distribution and how to separate the story + talk on influencer agency.

We talk plant based cheese, the market in general, what works and what doesn't, and brand identity.

We talk nutrition and its connection to our physical and mental health.

We talk about starting a company with meat sticks and then creating an additional brand of sauce and seasonings, and how that came to be, plus we talk about influencer marketing. 

We talk frozen foods, innovation in the wings and cheese sticks category, CAN and US distribution, diving into what works, and strategic digital marketing. 

We talk about gut health, how foods affect us, and health in general as it relates to exercise and nutrition. 

We talk about his background in CPG, general investments, what they look for in a company, brand and founder, what the market looks like now and how to get through it. 

We talk seafood, tuna, lobster, mussels, and more, all premium, building out that growing category and growth marketing. 

We talk all things sales when it comes to CPG over the last couple years. 

We talk zero sugar chocolate, working and distributing from home, educating the consumer, and helping brands grow. 

We talk sauces, NorCal, raising capital, Costco, profitability and how to scale on Amazon. 

We talk better for you candy and go-to-retail strategy. 

We talk yogurt, building through social media, guy health and innovation in packaging. 

We talk better for you snacks, specific distribution, innovation, and digital and social marketing.

We talk sales, in the face of all the obstacles happening in CPG today. 

We talk food sauces and sustainability, innovation in that category, direct to consumer and the impact of storytelling. 

We talk granola, state of the CPG space, the brutal headwinds ahead for many brands, plus brokers. 

We talk bone broth, health benefits, growing over the last 8+ years and shopper insights. 

We talk dried fruit and other snacks, vertical integration with facilities in Mexico, owning the P&L and innovation, and helping brands sell on Amazon. 

We talk going from college basketball to making lemon water, mile deep in sales, raising capital and spending to get trial and big revenue, plus matching brands with content creators. 

We talk Liquid Death, going hard after your core customer and advertising with no filter, plus Dude Wipes and Chomps mentioned. 

We talk about upcycled beverages, new category, educating the consumer, and buying experience through tech.

We talk current state of CPG, market fit, and how to scale.

We talk better for you candy, taste and texture, expansion and getting product off the shelf.

We talk all things CPG, from DTC to retail to Costco roadshows, the good, bad and everything in between.

We talk about better for you chocolate, starting yet another CPG brand after seeing the good, bad, and everything in between, and helping brands grow on Amazon. 

We talk frozen pizza, better for you category, the right retailers and PR for the health and wellness space.

We talk beverages, San Francisco, scaling at retail, differentiating with flavor and bridging data between brands and retailers. 

We talk on functional beverages, moving to Bend, leaving a corporate job and advising those in CPG.

We talk protein bars, rebrand, lay of the land in CPG today (not all good), and branding and packaging. 

We talk about his book, Ramping Your Brand, and dive into all things growth, packaging, capital needs, trial, velocity, and more. If you're in CPG, read or listen to his book, and hopefully listen to this, it's just a glimpse of the knowledge he has in CPG. 

We talk cookies, improving margin, distribution, innovation with protein and branding. 

We talk frozen section, kids smoothies, convenience and all things CPG design. 

We talk beverages, launching with experience in digital, going to retail instead of DTC, and marketing. 

We talk investors, early stage investment, the contacts they have, how to present, what to know and how to be prepared. 

We talk beverages, working on a small budget and being scrappy, testing DTC before any retail launch and working with good food brokers. 

We talk about Magic Spoon's recent $85M raise, what investors are looking for in founders, market fit, unit economics and more.

We talk better nutrition for pets, price points at premium, and CPG strategy. 

We talk fresh fruit, then frozen, regional farmers, growing to 4K doors and how to sell on amazon. 

We talk founder's, personality, story telling, sales decks, and 3 key ingredients needed to help sell a CPG product into retail. 

We talk cookie dough, retail in San Francisco, pandemic, Shark Talk and lots and lots of DTC, plus packaging design. 

We talk probiotic shots and building out regionally, plus supporting sales and marketing. 

We talk investment, what brands should know, the state of the CPG industry and more.

We talk all things brands and buyers, how to submit, what a buyer may be looking for, innovation, flavor and more. 

We talk cookie dough, direct to consumer, indulgence, moving into retail and all things marketing at store level. 

Live episode at the CHFA show with Mike Fata. We talk all things CPG, plus health and wellness and why it's so important. 

We talk investments, access to capital, what makes a good brand, a good operator, getting to $100M, and more. 

We talk CPG from 2009 vs now, health and wellness, posting on social media as the founder, real mission and purpose, what it took to get to this point through scrappiness and most recently a $50M financing round, what's ahead, and why data is so important. 

We talk PR now vs years passed, expectations, what's a good story,  putting out content, and when to bring someone on.

We talk portable dog water bowls, creating a new category, the pet market in general and PR in CPG.

We talk upcycling chips, regional distribution, staying lean and supporting those in CPG.

We talk flatbreads and dips, farmer's markets, 55 of them a week, going from $0 to $14M to $0 and now starting it up again, family business, good products, and helping brands reach their full potential. 

Mark asks, "what is one piece of advice you'd give to a new founder in CPG?" And 19 different founders answered it. 

We talk PR today vs 10 years ago, market fit, and all things communication. 

We talk Bay Area, upcycling, rescuing nutritious grains, selling the ingredient vs creating own products, and email marketing. 

We talk DTC, amazon, website, ads, copy for those ads, cost to acquire, this is a good one if you have a CPG brand and want to sell online. 

We talk about the story of Jojo's, how it started, low to no sugar chocolate, distribution, raising capital, and helping CPG brands succeed. 

All things digital and social media marketing for CPG. We talk TikTok, Instagram, Reels, retail support, influencers and more. 

We talk European treats, the story behind it, how the founder and CEO met, supply chain, moving into breakfast, and giving back. 

We talk bath and body products, having experience in CPG sales to help, being a premium brand, nabbing a big retailer early and product packaging. 

We talk sales objectives from last year, who procures buyer meetings, how data or lack thereof can benefit you, showing incremental value as a brand, and why VALUE is so important. This is all things SALES. 

We talk on a company that houses 4 separate brands, all applying science and technology to its innovations, animal-free dairy, and more, plus marketing services for plant-based businesses. 

We talk drink mix, pivots, selling direct online and connecting consumers through sample boxes. 

Special episode where Alexa Martinez from IWON, asks Mark questions. We talk IWON, how it started, extruded snacks, distribution, money, growth and a once stop packaging stop. 

We talk cookie dough, NY to Cali, mass scale distribution, supply chain issues and copywriting for CPG industry. 

We talk sprouted almonds, experience in CPG, not quitting your day job, distribution, and helping cpg brands. 

We talk protein snacks, innovating in college, moving from commercial kitchen to scale, retail opportunities and contract manufacturing. 

We talk multivitamin powders, launching during covid, national launches with Sprouts and Whole Foods, when or when not to go DTC, and helping brands win. 

We talk flax milk, SoCal, regional partners, co-packing and putting branding pieces together.

We talk about 18 years in the business, canned foods, government business, transitioning to wholesale, bringing on his son and finance options. 

We talk banana chips, YouTube, influencers, market fit and accounting in CPG. 

We talk kombucha, starting in a tap room, creating a better product that was out there, and standing out in the crowd. 

We talk pizza and chinese buns combined, selling in China and making their way back to the US, having a banking background, and helping brand evolve. 

We talk low sugar donuts, nailing the taste and texture, hiring an R&D team, going from DTC to retail, and brand elevation. 

We talk savory nut butters, holding down a job while pursuing the start-up, expansion and more. 

We talk superfoods and granola clusters, owning a manufacturing facility, growth at retail and helping family brands in CPG.

We talk oat milk coffee, pivot from solo to business partner, growing in retail, expanding into US and AI to help response time through social. 

We talk about brand strategy services with Celsae from SmithDesign. 

We talk coffee, growth hacking, finding customers on different platforms and how to advise CPG brands. 

We talk refrigerated sauces, location in-store, trial, and next steps in the journey, and a directory for brands. 

We talk acquisition, then buying the company back, immunity in organic juice and broker relationships. 

2 CPG founders, offering gems on farmer's markets, retail and staying the course through slow, methodical growth. 

We talk nut butters, social media and content, passion for health and fitness, retail expansion and digital tools for CPG.

We talk frozen foods, starting in a restaurant, gorilla marketing, capital requirements and data driven analytics. 

We talk popchips, RightRice, being a seasoned CPG executive, challenges in a different category and a brand management platform. 

We talk oatmilk pudding, experience in CPG, distribution and packaging. 

We talk all things CPG sales when it comes to product, contacting a buyer, sales decks and more. 

We talk tasty foods, manufacturing from a kitchen to co-packing yourself, and on demand marketing. 

We talk popcorn, commercial kitchens, e-sports and consulting in CPG.

We talk all things sales, A Dozen Cousins, coming from big CPG, sales decks, innovation and more.

We talk food paint for kids, not having experience in CPG, growing the brand at Walmart, line extensions and more. 

We talk prebiotic energy bars, an 8 year journey, working with 2 other sisters, and cash needed to scale. 

We talk hydration, building a brand for 13+ years, coming in as CEO, being acquired, and a group that helps emerging brands. 

We talk all things sales when it comes to getting your product reviewed by a buyer. 

We talk oatmeal, name change and what it means, balanced nutrition and amazon management. 

We talk protein bars, investment banking, retail distribution, and wholesale strategy. 

We talk protein bars, experience coming from another industry, launching during pandemic, differentiating yourself in the category, and CPG consulting. 

We talk butt wipes, DUDES, $20M+ on Amazon, capital, Mark Cuban and PR.

We talk early start-up, from the kitchen, to bringing on a CEO, and raising millions, to having a full refrigerator at most Whole Foods, and brand relevance. 

We talk reusable bags, consumers who use them, DTC, manufacturing overseas, margin and CPG consulting. 

We talk about furniture, easy to ship, easy to move, easy easy easy (DTC play) and high quality packaging and production. 

We talk Biltong, South Africa, DTC, knowing your customers, and ads online. 

We talk about a 25 year overnight success, protein muffins, starting with $1400, the difference between then and now when it comes to innovation, celebrating capital raises vs good business, liquidity events, and helping with regulatory. 

We talk organic herbal products for moms, having a long standing brand, real innovation, DTC and how to get your product delivered to customers, faster. 

We talk non-alcoholic beer, DTC, starting in Canada and bringing it to the US, raising $4M and highlighted sales data. 

We talk camera covers, drone covers, a multiple sku business, direct to consumer, and race car advertising. 

We talk juice, experience in big CPG, launching in Target, how a product may or may not fit for DTC, and sales and operations solutions. 

We talk food bars, unique proposition, DTC, mistakes often made, and content creation. 

We talk snacks, manufacturing, sole ownership, 25 years in the biz, and a CPG focused platform. 

We talk coffee and tea, R&D, and got really into DTC model (check that part out), plus a merchandising solution. 

We talk better for you foods, sales decks, asking questions, believing in the product you sell, hiring a sales rep, and more. 

We talk plant-based gelato, being unique in the category, sustainability, how to differentiate yourself, and cpg analytics. 

We talk volleyball with a twist, Alibaba, growth through Covid, supply chain issues, and shipping opportunities. 

We talk CPG marketing. Packaging. Story. Founders involvement. Nike and Dove. Lots of gems in here. 

We talk cookie dough, being a one woman show, using a commercial kitchen, driving around to deliver each day, going into retail and public relations. 

First we hit pushups, then we talk refrigerated bars, going into business with family, positivity in the mission, building the business in Canada and now focusing on the US, the goal of going public, and helping brands advertise.

We talk all things sales, bone broth, sales decks, having a great team and great brand, listening more than talking and more. 

We talk innovation in tea, pitching at events, networking, raising capital, building a direct to consumer business, and reenergizing marketing and advertising.

We talk bar category (refrigerated), why the founder is so important to the sales process, not using a deck to sell, synergy between great brands, and more. 

We talk beer that's not beer nor is it non- alcoholic beer, first to market, where it sits in retail, moving into DTC, manufacturing on your own, and advertising on different platforms. 

We talk single serve coffee, Denver, sustainability in innovation, new products, and sponsoring socially distant events. 

We talk sales deck, having data or not, creating value for the retailer, dancing with the buyer, outlook for 2021 and more.

We talk low sugar condiments, competitive bbq, health and fitness enthusiasts, broader consumers, and helping brands who use Shopify. 

We talk shampoo and conditioner, direct to consumer, hiring agencies rather than in-house and collecting data. 

We talk overnight oats, keys to sales success, believing in the product, listening more than talking, what should be on the deck, and importance of innovation. 

The first of its kind, we are flipping the script and Mark is being interviewed. Adam Brown from Sircle interviews Mark on how IWON started, products then vs now, what was different about running a bag company, what would his kids say about him, and the best elevator pitch for balanced nutrition. 

We talk sugar free marshmallows, co-packers vs commercial kitchens, direct to consumer and design and web services. 

We talk cereal, big retail launches, having a branding background, and email and ad marketing.

We talk cookie dough, growing from mom's kitchen to a copacker, working 2 jobs while starting the business, bootstrapping, and recruiting. 

We talk bars, probiotics, kids size, DTC and acquiring more customers. 

We talk water, fitness, growing through the pandemic and helping CPG brands. 

We talk toothpaste, Lenny Kravitz, his dad being a dentist, launching in retail and how to save on amazon errors. 

We talk superfoods, growing from farmer's market to a region of Whole Foods, building the business on your own, and PR for CPG.

We talk hemp infused beverage, legality, distribution, becoming vertically integrated, and a cpg platform solution. 

We talk about chocolate spread, building for scale, deep CPG experience, and a social and PR platform. 

We talk about micro wins, work, family, health, and stacking them over the quarter, and goal setting.

We talk about fats over sugar when it comes to bars, velocity at retail, raising $10M+ and sustainability in CPG. 

We talk supplements, experience investing in others, building DTC, and public relations. 

We talk Hudson Kitchen, commercial kitchens, growing the business and opportunities ahead. 

We talk heavenly sweets, packing 10K units by hand, raising $5M+, and a one stop shop for packaging. 

We talk plant-based ice cream, new innovations, being a rapper and having a jingle, being unique, and helping brands bring product to market.

We talk fiber-infused water, growing to 15 people, distribution and velocity and consulting in CPG. 

We talk sparkling water, $4M in sales, crowdfunding, a big win, and cannabinoid product innovation.

We talk dried fruit, with the rinds, DTC, local grocery launches, next innovations and upcycled byproducts.

We talk PB&J, making them in a commercial kitchen, DTC with a refrigerated product and upgraded 3PL.

We talk ice cream, Brooklyn, being in a band, and selling the you, not the we.

We talk baby food, bringing on John Foraker and Jennifer Garner, growing into thousands of doors, profitability focus, and executive search for CPG industry.

We talk entertainment industry, kombucha, raising capital, private label and communication in CPG.

We talk UCLA, caffeine, going from glass to cans, and digital marketing.

We talk passion play, healthy snacking, building retail over last 10 years, moving into DTC and service in logistics.

We talk Weller, growing up in a CPG family, selling in the new CBD category, and having a great tasting product as being a necessity.

We talk Jamaican culture, better-for-you drinks, effects of COVID, and email marketing.

We talk health and fitness, Manitoba Harvest, hemp, plant-based foods, inputs and outputs, and honesty, integrity and competency. 

We talk innovation in plant milk, distribution, farmers market, raising capital and supply chain.

We talk Sports 1, podcasts, failures, gratitude, accountability and personal brand.

We talk kombucha, having a great product to sell, and being competitive.

We talk coffee creamers, building for profitability, and business coaching. 

We talk plant-based beverages, perishable products, raising capital and becoming a leader in the set.

We talk Cellucor and XTend, $400M in sales, advantages of having a good product, the importance of team, and next phases for Nutrabolt.

We talk coffee, crowdfunding, DTC, and regional brokers.

We talk about VMG's mission, looking at a P&L, getting margins right from the start, direct to consumer, importance of knowing what you're good at, and spreading positivity

We talk low sugar snacks, consumer fit, failures leading to success, and health focused food consulting.

We talk all things CPG, sales and marketing, really have fun with this first LIVE experience. 

We talk CPG packaging and design, some of our favorite brands, and what founders should look for when making design decisions.

We talk about Marin County, health and wellness, building a CPG brand over 15 plus years, and all things marketing

We talk IWON Organics, CPG sales, regional strategy, and being blessed to have Aaron on the team.

We talk biltong jerky, being careful with choosing retailers, and helping brands engage.

We talk grain free foods, raising capital and transportation at a high level.

We talk coffee, working with family, raising $30M, and technology in food processing.

We talk about disrupting the cereal category, how to be successful with direct to consumer and how social media and digital advertising should be managed.

We talk sugar free cookies, direct to consumer and payment processing on another level

We talk Indian inspired snacks, pivots made after COVID, and gathering customer data to get you into a particular retailer.

We talk cleaning supplies, having a co-founder, and CPG strategy.

We talk hemp clothing, how it's made, and how to help brands sell at retail.

We talk collagen and kids protein, experience in supplements, and managing podcasts.

We talk ice cream, being lactose intolerant, raising capital, and behavior insights.

We talk coffee, growing the business regionally, and business insurance. 

Jason Del Grande, Heffernan Insurance

Aman Ailaini, People Cold Brew

We talk fruit bars, retailer shut downs, and selling the outer perimeter.

We talk cookies, always selling as an entrepreneur, and insights on transportation.

We talk cookie dough, adaptogens and digital marketing services

We talk hydration packets, highly educated founders, and a big round of financing.

We talk healthy waffles, direct to consumer, and new-aged, direct mail services.

We talk canister chips, the need for capital to grow, and retail marketing.

We talk about edible cutlery, yes, eating your spoon after use, and how to build your amazon business.

We talk granola, food service at google, and strategic marketing for brands.

We talk Marin County, coffee infused alcohol, and helping brands navigate business.

We talk beef sticks, growing into a multi-million dollar business and outsourced marketing.

We talk t-shirts, Lakers, water and how to market your brand.

We talk farmer's market, tasty hummus and raising velocities at store level.

We talk college parties, men and women's hygiene and how to connect consumers with new products.

We talk walking up stairs with kegs of coffee, 12,00 locations and packaging by an all-star.

We talk unicorn drinks, Starbucks and licensing.

We talk soups, Walmart and why location, location, location is so important!

We talk better for you candy, what it was like to grow up in an entrepreneurial family and how to adapt as a business.

We talk water lily seeds, adjusting to the times and cpg services.

We talk balanced snacking, direct to consumer and nutritional labels

Episode 10: We talk pressed salad bars, salad dressing and super-food mixes, store positioning, price point awareness, having healthy margins and the importance of business insurance.

We talk dairy free yogurt, San Francisco, how raising capital during the pandemic is challenging and how Green Gut Wellness can help with brand messaging. 

We talk  cold pressed juice, how to bottle, business before and after Covid-19 and how to work with a beverage co-packer. 

We talk nutrition bars, co-packers, COVID-19 and how it affects the business, and 3PL, logistics. 

We talk empanadas, how they're cooked, how COVID-19 has affected the business and how Park City Group can help CPG brands. 

We talk nutrition gummies and consultative services for helping emerging brands. 

We talk cookies, and experiential services for retail.

We talk ice cream and retail merchandising.

We talk Jimmy Bars, where and why it was started, how much raised, how he nailed airports and where are they in 12 months. Also Local Demo Service, a sales and marketing company for food and beverage products. 

We talk Genius Juice, raising capital in CPG, Shark Tank, and how The Digestible Brand can help you.