Startup CPG

The Grocery Run train is headed to Seattle! ??? Join us for a stop with Town & Country Markets, the family-owned markets known for bringing amazing food to their shelves while staying true to their local community. Come meet?Dwight Richmond, Director of Center Store! Don’t miss the panel, networking, and a chance to share your product—so brands, pack your samples and come ready! ??https://lnkd.in/gBScbEur Plus! Checkout these incredible brands sampling at the event: ↗? B.T.R. NATION: they make on-the-go snacks that are both low in sugar & made with the simplest of ingredients: bold, real flavor, no compromises. ↗? Churn: Founded by a Michelin star trained chef, Churn makes grass fed flavored butters in California. ↗? GEM: they believe real food is the foundation for holistic health. They are on a mission to make food as medicine real through solutions that are simple and delightful to digest. ↗? Farmented Foods: Farmented Foods works with organic farmers to turn their ugly vegetables into delicious, flavor-packed ferments. ↗? Green Belly Foods Inc.: Our Colorado craft hot sauces are inspired by vibrant Guatemala - flavor focused fire finished! ↗? Howl at the Spoon: Howl at the Spoon offers plant-based sauces made with natural ingredients for vibrant flavor and ultimate convenience—just rip, tip, and drip! ↗? Millie's Sipping Broth: Millie's Sipping Broth is the perfect blend of vegetables, herbs, and comforting savory seasonings - all in a tea bag. ↗? NARRA: Narra is a minority-founded & woman-owned brand, with its flagship line of Oat Milk Lattes, powered with tea for balanced energy without the jitters. ↗? Ojaswe Co.: Ojaswe Co. is flipping the script on pantry staples, bringing big, bold flavors to the table —while creating narket access for regenerative North American farmers. ↗? Pistakio: We reimagine pistachios by making spreads that are authentic, fun, and approachable. ↗? Seeking Ferments: Gut-healthy probiotic drinks straight from your local farm, infused with culture and community, crafted through a sustainable process that’s good for the planet and good for your tummy! ↗? Something Sweet Dough: Something Sweet is a premium, pre-portioned, ready to bake frozen brown butter cookie dough. ↗? Vybe Snacks: Vybe is an innovative snack brand redefining snacking with savory, nutrient-dense, zero-sugar snacks inspired by global flavors—crafted for health-conscious consumers seeking clean, functional, real-food alternatives. This is another unreal opportunity for CPG founders to meet each other, buyers specific to their region, and have the opportunity to showcase products for buyers! . . . #cpg #emergingbrands #retailer #meetup

For a food startup, there’s only so much budget to go around. Here’s the reason that Expo West became a reality for Eat Happy Kitchen to participate in: We owe it all to the Startup CPG community. They’re legit doing amazing things. Among them: ?? They have free Webinars for their members that seriously cut the learning curve. ?? They host in-show events at Expo West that really help us startups in a meaningful way. For example, last year they helped us connect with buyers from national retail brands AND finance experts with deep experience in CPG brands who could help guide the future funding of our businesses. We’ve benefitted greatly from both. ?? They offer more affordable booth space at what’s otherwise a pretty costly event, and since their space features all up-and-coming brands, it’s very well-traveled. ?? It’s a true community. We startups are conquerers-in-the-making, but nobody conquers alone and StartupCPG is an incredibly powerful and diverse community that encourages all of us all the time. Plus, we’ll always be grateful for StartupCPG recognizing our Puttanesca Sauce with an amazing 2024 Shelfie Award. ?? ?? To any emerging food brand needing guidance, community, and a leg up in the learning curve--get involved in the Startup CPG community ASAP! #ExpoWest #TradeShow #StartupCPG #FoodFounder #Startups Kiki Huddleston Patricia Menegoto Daniel Scharff

Would you get brand artwork tattooed on you for a free year's supply of your favorite product? Rotten thought 'yes', and they were right! . . . #cpg #candy #tattoo #emergingbrand

We're always thrilled to welcome new members to our community! ???? Bonjerk - Asian-inspired spiced jerky Natty Ice Cream - high protein ice cream with 40g protein and 400 calories per pint Lazy food Co. - easy-to-make healthy meals Minus: A Compound Foods Company - coffee alternatives Esog Drinks - botanical lemonades made from locally sourced organic herbs and naturally sweetened with honey Dyuloka - Japan-made fragrance oil for hair Halmoni - mother-daughter duo hand-packing their family kimchi recipe Southern Caramel, LLC - caramel candies PAMOS BEVERAGE CO. - cannabis cocktails and spirits HARISSA HOT HONEY - all-natural spicy honey made in small batches Welcome to the Startup CPG fam! . . . #cpg #emergingbrands #welcome #slackcommunity

???... Swing for the fences, founders! At Startup CPG, we’re all about championing emerging brands, and we’re excited to support founders in partnership with NielsenIQ! That’s why we’re thrilled to share that Daymond John—renowned entrepreneur, investor, and Shark Tank icon—will be a judge for the 2025 NIQ Founders Pitch Slam! This is your chance to impress Daymond and take your emerging CPG brand to the next level! Applications are open NOW through March 29th, with over $700K in prizes up for grabs—including a $50,000 cash grand slam! Don’t miss out—apply now and knock it out of the park! https://lnkd.in/dZnYXQek . . . #NIQFoundersPitchSlam #NIQ #EmergingBrands #StartupCPG

Our NIQ Series continues, and this time we’re talking about the functional beverage category! NielsenIQ experts are here to break down the data trends that emerging brands need to know. ?? Ready to step up your data game? Startup CPG has an exclusive offer with NIQ to give you 3 Byzzer? data reports for free! Check the link in the comments. . . . #niq #cpg #industrydata #welovedata #functionalbeverage

It's Tuesday, which means it’s time for new episodes of the StartupCPG podcast! ?? Founder Feature: Susan Buckwalter Hartman of Recoup Beverage Grace Kennedy sits down with Susan Hartman, co-founder of Recoup Beverages, to discuss the journey of building a gut-healthy hydration brand. Susan shares how she met her co-founder, Siwat, and how his personal health journey inspired the creation of Recoup. ?? Bootstrap Heroes: Bumpin Blends, Lentiful and drink wholesome Daniel Scharff speaks with three visionary founders who have built and scaled their businesses without external funding. Joining the discussion are Lisa Eberly Mastela, MPH, RD of Bumpin Blends, Ben Bacon of Lentiful, and Jack Schrupp & Tessa Schrupp of Drink Wholesome—leaders who have mastered lean operations, strategic growth, and creative problem-solving. ??? Tune in now! Listen to the Startup CPG Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! . . . #cpg #emergingbrands #podcast #healthbrands #AI

The countdown to Grocery Run SF sponsored by Specialty Food Association is on!!! Get ready for our best Grocery Run yet, SAN FRANCISCO! ?? We’ve teamed up with Good Stuff Distributor, Inc. to bring you our first-ever distribution-style Grocery Run event in SF! WHY YOU CAN’T MISS THIS: ?? Meet top Bay Area retail buyers face-to-face ?? 30 exclusive sampling booths for selected brands ?? Direct access to category managers from prestigious retailers ?? FEATURED RETAILERS INCLUDE ?? Berkeley Bowl Produce Inc. ? Piazza’s Fine Foods ? Good Eggs ? Loop Neighborhood Markets ? Gus's Community Market ? Rainbow Grocery Cooperative, Inc. ? Woodland’s Market ? Grocery Outlet ? Le Marché Cezanne ? Piedmont Grocery ? Sunbasket ? Safeway Albertsons ? Market Hall Foods ?? Grab your tickets via the link in the comments! . . . #cpg #sanfrancisco #emergingbrand #foodandbeverage

Still reminiscing about Expo West ???? Swipe to relive some highlights from the Startup CPG section! Which brand stood out to you the most? . . . #cpg #emergingbrand #expowest #tradeshow #brands

From the Alley Rally to Expo West 2026! Huge congrats to?William K., founder of Krack’d Snacks, our Backpack Brand Winner! ?? Krack'd Snacks won the popular vote at our epic Alley Rally party, earning a?FREE BOOTH?at Expo West next year. They’re redefining indulgence with keto-friendly, low-sugar, and vegan treats made with premium, non-GMO ingredients like single-origin Ecuadorian cacao. No weird additives, no sugar crashes—just pure, delicious snacking. Join us in celebrating Krack’d Snacks, and we’ll see you at Expo West 2026! . . . #cpg #emergingbrand #backpackbrand #expowest