Episodes

GT Dave, founder & CEO of GT’s Kombucha, spoke about the brand’s recent packaging refresh and what he viewed as significant problems in how consumers perceived each of the company’s product lines, how his perspective as a category creator impacted the moves, why he’s embraced a more public persona than in the past and reacted to the provocative “Forbes” profile of him.

Jessica Weiss Levison, founder/CEO of Peekaboo Organics, a maker of indulgent ice cream infused with hidden vegetables, spoke about the importance of identifying those who instantly “get” the concept, shared the unconventional way in which she met a Target buyer, her process for raising capital and a key way to avoid slotting fees.

Jamba Dunn, the founder and CEO of Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha discussed the duality of Rowdy Mermaid’s current trajectory and its long-term business strategy, the brand’s function-forward approach to formulation, why he was cautious about aligning with a private equity firm and how his role as CEO has changed over the years.

We spoke with Bubble founder & CEO Jessica Young about how she drew upon her experience as a chef and product developer to launch the health-focused online marketplace, how Bubble is enhancing visibility and sales for small brands via the platform and how she assessed opportunities and challenges for the company and thoughtfully communicated each to investors.

Lee Robinson, Director of Dairy & Beverage at Whole Foods Market, discussed best practices for engaging with retail buyers, why he urges entrepreneurs to be transparent about their business and innovation strategies, how he evaluates disruptive concepts, his perspective on the future of plant-based food and setting expectations for communication with buyers amid the current crisis.