The Nombase Podcast

As brands grow, it's easy to focus on the next retailer, the next marketing initiative, or the next distribution opportunity. But sustainable growth starts with a deeper understanding of your brand identity, who it's for, and what makes it truly different.In this episode, Eric Ramstad of Farmwell Drinks, Shaakira DeLoach of Ginja Snap, and brand strategist Kelly Criswell of Mudge to discuss how emerging brands can build around a niche, attract the right consumers, and create a foundation for long-term growth.From rebrands and packaging decisions to demos, consumer feedback, and community building, the conversation explores the questions founders should be asking as they refine their positioning and prepare to scale.You will learn:• How to identify the consumers most likely to become loyal customers• Why simplifying your messaging can strengthen your brand and improve consumer understanding• How to use demos and direct customer feedback to refine positioning and packaging• What creates meaningful differentiation when competitors can copy your ingredients or category• How to evaluate whether your current positioning can support future growth and expansion

This conversation began as a Nombase webinar, and due to listener demand, we turned it into a podcast episode.In this episode, Evan Walther of Oceans walks through a discussion with Troy Bonde, co-founder and CEO of Sauz, William Hicks, CEO and co-founder of Magic Mind, and Ian Myers, founder of Oceans, on what really happens when a CPG brand moves from early traction into serious growth.They get into the messy middle between roughly $2M and $20M in revenue, when product market fit is real, but the team, cash flow, operations, and retail systems are suddenly under pressure.You will learn:• How Sauz handled a Target PO bigger than its lifetime revenue• Why founder bandwidth becomes the first real scaling bottleneck• How Magic Mind improved cash flow by renegotiating supplier terms• Why unit velocity matters more than top line revenue in retail• When to spend on packaging before paid marketing• How to use retail media, demos, and display to drive trial• Why early hiring mistakes can create more drag than leverage• How to know when your systems are breaking before your team doesIf your brand is working, but everything's starting to feel stretched, this episode will help you understand what's normal, what's avoidable, and what to fix before growth breaks the business.

Chris Robb, founder of Supernatural Ventures and early investor in brands like Bachan’s, shares how he evaluates founders before revenue, what separates breakout brands from the rest, and what most CPG companies waste money too early.What founders will learn:• Why unit velocity matters more than total revenue in early retail growth• How to price your first fundraising round without hurting future raises• What kind of packaging is the one area early brands should overspend on• How to use retailers and store buyers as real world product validation before scaling• What Chris looks for in founders before investing pre-revenue capitalChris also breaks down how Supernatural Ventures approaches pre-seed investing, why he avoids heavy marketing spend early on, and how brands can build momentum organically before raising larger rounds.

OpenSky Ventures has backed brands like Fishwife, Magic Mind, and Habiza, and is actively deploying capital into the next wave of innovative businesses. They focus on brands with early traction, strong customer loyalty, and clear potential to scale into lasting, differentiated brands.In this episode, Stephanie Nwokolo Hussey, Principal at OpenSky Ventures, breaks down exactly what they look for, how they evaluate founders, and how to know if your brand is a fit before you pitch.You will learn:• How to prove real brand strength through repeat rates, subscriptions, and early customer loyalty signals• What investors actually want in a deck, including must show metrics and common deal breaking mistakes• How to stay capital efficient by controlling marketing spend, supply chain costs, and team structure• How to build a go to market strategy using organic growth, community tactics, and customer first channels• How VCs separate real trends from hype using examples like protein demand and GLP 1 driven behavior shiftsIf you are a food or beverage founder thinking about raising, this episode will help you quickly understand whether Open Sky should be on your target list.

Yuka is increasingly influencing what gets bought and what gets put back at shelf, with millions of consumers using it in real time while they shop. In this episode, we’re joined by Gabriella Sebag-Weingrad, who leads Yuka’s US business, to break down how it all works and what it means for food and beverage brands trying to stay competitive. For founders, understanding Yuka is no longer optional, it’s a competitive advantage.How Yuka’s scoring system actually works and which ingredients can instantly cap your score or drag it downThe specific additives and formulation choices most likely to get your product put back at shelfWhat happens after a scan, including when consumers switch, trade up, or abandon products entirelyHow brands are reformulating in response and what they’re removing without replacingWays to improve your score without destroying margin, taste, or shelf lifeHow to turn Yuka from a risk into a growth lever by positioning your product as the winning alternative

Building a great product is not enough, especially in a category that actively works against you.In this episode, Ayeshah Abuelhiga of Mason Dixie joins Hey!Hunger's Shireen Khera to talk about what it actually takes to win in one of the toughest environments in grocery. From getting customers to physically find your product to navigating low awareness, inconsistent merchandising, and long repurchase cycles, you'll see behind the scenes into the real work behind building a brand that sells: What it actually takes to get customers to find, try, and buy your product in a challenging categoryWhy getting on shelf is only the beginning and how to actively drive demand through demos, local marketing, and constant presenceWhy early brands should prioritize velocity and depth over expanding into more doors and how to know when you are truly ready to growHow to think about distribution, brokers, and expansion so you don't outgrow your ability to support the businessHow to understand your customer in a way that drives decisions on ingredients, pricing, and marginsHow to win the long game of building a brand in a category with high costs and slow repurchase cyclesWhether you are in frozen or any competitive category, you'll learn what it really takes to turn early traction into real, lasting growth.

Expanding beyond the US is one of the biggest growth opportunities for CPG brands, and one of the easiest ways to get wrong. In this episode, Ruth Fittock, managing partner of Tomorrow Brands, breaks down what it actually takes to launch successfully in the UK, a market worth billions in annual food and beverage sales. Drawing on experience with brands like Vitamin Water, PopChips, and Harmless Harvest, she shares what separates brands that scale from those that stall. This conversation goes far beyond geography. It’s a deep dive into assessing true product market fit, identifying category white space, and determining if your brand is actually ready to scale. It also covers how to pace retail expansion, build demand before distribution, navigate strict regulations, and adapt positioning for a more skeptical consumer. Whether or not global expansion is on your roadmap, you’ll hear practical information to help build a brand that can win anywhere.

Expo West 2026 is here and the BevNET and NOSH team is sharing what's at the top of their hit list. Managing editors Martín Caballero and Monica Watrous break down the biggest trends they expect to see on the show floor, from protein and fiber trends, to seed oil free formulations, regenerative ingredients, functional fatigue, GLP-1 friendly products, nostalgic flavors, and more. Can't wait to see you all at the show!!