Closing the CPG Gender Gap with The Female Quotient's Shelley Zalis
In this episode, Shelley Zalis, CEO of the Female Quotient, discusses the stark gender gap in CPG leadership and its impact on business performance. She highlights that women make up 85% of purchase decisions yet are vastly underrepresented in senior roles, citing caregiving responsibilities and unequal promotion practices as key barriers. Zalis shares concrete ROI data showing that companies with gender‑balanced teams see higher relevance and sales, and she outlines practical solutions—from mandatory parental leave to unbiased pay structures and inclusive advertising—to close the gap. The conversation also touches on the backlash against DEI initiatives and reinforces that gender equity is fundamentally an opportunity for growth, not a charitable add‑on.
Gatorade Gets A 'Lyte' Overhaul and Laird Goes On A Buying Spree
In this episode of CPG Week, Monica Watrous and Lucas Southard discuss PepsiCo’s revamp of Gatorade, introducing new packaging and a three‑pillar "Advanced Hydration System" aimed at the 150 million Americans who experience mild dehydration, including a new longer‑lasting electrolyte blend....
CPG Due Diligence: The Operator Framework Behind a $800M Exit | Keith Levy Part 1
In this episode, M&A Science host Kisan Patel dives deep with operating partner Keith Levy, a veteran of the consumer packaged goods world who spent 24 years at Anheuser‑Busch, led Royal Canin, and oversaw Mars Wrigley’s acquisition of KIND before...
The Bagel That Broke the Internet: Tory Bartlett and the Rise of PopUp Bagels
In this episode of the Hospitality Hangout, CEO Tory Bartlett (often called Jimmy) shares his journey from washing dishes at Hooters to leading the fast‑growing pop‑up bagel brand that went viral online. He discusses how his military reserve service, years...
Being a Food Whisperer: How Lineage Applies Inside the Box Thinking in Food Logistics
In this episode, Kevin Lawton talks with Dr. Stephen Neal, VP of Global Food Optimization at Lineage Logistics, about the evolving role of food safety and value‑added services in cold‑storage warehousing. Neal explains how Lineage has expanded from simple cold‑air...
Phygital Commerce Media with Liquid Death's Benoit Vatere
In this episode of the CPG Guys, Benoit Vatere, Chief Media Officer of Liquid Death, discusses how the brand leverages entertainment‑focused media to turn a commodity product—water—into a cult‑like cultural statement. He explains that by choosing the "unexpected" and comedic...
Burger King Goes On A 60,000-Person Hiring Spree | Fast Five Shorts
Burger King announced a nationwide hiring push for up to 60,000 new team members across its 6,500 U.S. restaurants, driven by strong same‑store sales and traffic under its "Reclaim the Flame" turnaround plan. The strategy, launched in 2022 and expanded...
Starbucks’ Bet On The Third Place | Fast Five Shorts
Starbucks is accelerating its turnaround by unveiling upscale "uplifted" store designs featuring lounge‑style seating and local art, while also rolling out a new barista compensation package that includes quarterly performance bonuses of up to $1,200 per year, expanded card‑tip options,...
Mounting Risks for Global Beef Prices: What's Driving Market Uncertainty?
In this episode of Platts Commodities Focus, analysts discuss tightening global beef markets driven by constrained US cattle supplies, China's new safeguard tariffs, and the impact of the Middle East war on freight costs. US herd shrinkage and reduced Mexican...
Inside PepsiCo’s Supply Chain Command Center with Brad Rogers, Supply Chain Planning Director at PepsiCo
In this episode of Unpacked, Brad Rogers, Supply Chain Planning Director at PepsiCo, walks listeners through the design and operation of PepsiCo’s Northeast beverage command center. He emphasizes the human‑centric, cross‑functional approach that keeps the center proactive rather than reactive,...
It’s All in the Sauce: The Eric Skae Playbook Behind Rao’s and Carbone’s Billion-Dollar Growth
In this episode, Eric Skay, the mastermind behind turning Rao’s and Carbone into multi‑billion‑dollar brands, shares how he identified undervalued assets, leveraged data‑driven distribution, and built powerful networks to accelerate growth. He explains how Rao’s grew from modest 5% growth...
Retail Daily Minute | Starbucks Uplifts Chicago Stores, Ahold Delhaize Expands Pay-by-Bank & Edibles.com Enters Physical Retail
The episode spotlights three retail developments: Starbucks' pilot of a cozy, “uplifted” Chicago store under its Back to Starbucks strategy, Ahold Delhaize’s expansion of a pay‑by‑bank payment option across Giant Food and Stop & Shop, and Edibles.com’s launch of a...
Carrefour Grocery Shopping via ChatGPT | Fast Five Shorts
Carrefour has launched a grocery shopping integration inside ChatGPT in France, allowing users to get recipes, check product availability, build a basket, and choose delivery or click‑and‑collect without leaving the chat interface, though checkout remains on Carrefour’s site. Host Laura...
Ep. 98: Hot Commodities: Sugar, Sustainability, and the Fight for Fair Trade (Ft. Fair Trade America)
In episode 98 of Sustainability Defined, hosts Cecilia and Nathra dissect the sugar industry, tracing its production, global trade, and historical significance while highlighting its volatility and the impact of U.S. protectionist policies. They explore how sugar permeates everyday foods,...
The Future of CPG: Why Collectibility and Clean Ingredients Are Winning
Gary Vaynerchuk discusses the launch of Very Lucky, a clean‑ingredient fruit gummy that includes a collectible sticker, tying together his VFriends universe and a growing trend of collectibility in CPG. He explains how the product’s ultra‑clean formulation—driven by his wife...
How Regional Grocers Can Win With Fresh Over The Next Decade | 5IM
Jeremy Levine, senior director at Alvarez & Marsal’s Consumer & Retail Group, explains why fresh departments are a strategic priority for regional grocers, driven by consumer shifts toward healthier, protein‑rich diets and away from processed foods. He highlights that fresh...
Rising Prices Mask Weakening Demand in Canada's Food Manufacturing Sector
In this episode, Farm Credit Canada’s new Chief Economist Craig Johnston breaks down the 2026 Food & Beverage Report, highlighting that while sales are projected to rise in 2026, they are driven by higher prices rather than volume growth, which...
Key Themes at SXSW 2026 with Omnicom's Greg Brown
In this episode, Omnicom SVP of Innovation Greg Brown breaks down the six strategic themes from Omnicom’s SXSW 2026 recap, highlighting the shift from a reach‑driven economy to a trust‑driven, AI‑infused landscape. He explains how brands must move from traditional...
Coke CMO’s Lessons on Advertising, Innovation and Surviving Corporate Politics - Walter Susini
In this episode, former Coca‑Cola CMO Walter Susini shares lessons from leading a global icon, emphasizing the power of distinctive brand assets like the Christmas jingle, polar bears, and the contour bottle. He explains why Coca‑Cola sticks with the same...
NYC Bagel Bosses: Bagel Bosses of NYC on Tradition, Trends, and the Future of Bagels
In this lively episode recorded at the New York Restaurant Show, host Michael Schatzberg chats with three NYC bagel entrepreneurs—Melanie Frost of Es a Bagel, Matt Palmer of Zucker's Bagels, and Matt Kliegman of Black Seed Bagel—about their origins, growth...
Retail Daily Minute | QVC Group's Going Concern Warning, Starbucks Sweetens the Deal for Baristas & Burger King Goes on...
The episode highlights three major retail stories: QVC Group issued a going‑concern warning, revealing $6.6 billion in debt and declining revenues that threaten its survival; Starbucks announced a new performance‑based pay program and weekly wages for baristas, aiming to boost earnings...
Mayo-Mustard Merger, Creatine Craze and HOP WTR On Top
The podcast highlighted McCormick's pending merger with Unilever's food division, uniting brands like Hellmann's and French's. Constellation Brands agreed to acquire HOP WTR, a functional sparkling water, while Create Wellness secured $20 million to expand into powdered beverages. Q Mixers announced its first...
The Future of Grocery: Introducing GroceryLab with FMI's Doug Baker
In this episode, Doug Baker, Vice President of Industry Relations at the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), discusses the grocery sector’s lag in technology adoption and introduces Grocery Lab, a hands‑on, cross‑functional event slated for June 2‑4, 2026 in Detroit’s historic...
Guest Lecture: Sourmilk's Kiki Couchman
Kiki Couchman, co‑founder of Sourmilk, has spent the past 14 months building a gut‑health focused Greek yogurt brand that is now stocked in New York grocery aisles. She and partner Elan Halpern left tech and finance jobs in early 2025 to...
From Huel to Hellmann's, Big Food Makes Its Moves
Danone announced a $1.1 billion acquisition of British meal‑replacement brand Huel, signaling a deeper push into the plant‑based sector. Frozen‑food startup Laoban raised $7.2 million to expand beyond dumplings into broader Asian categories. Unilever is reportedly negotiating the sale of its food...