#140 Buyer Spotlight: Foodservice Buying with Lizz Ingrassia & Allie Cotter, Fresh Thyme
The Startup CPG Podcast
Startup CPG
4.9 • 642 Ratings
🗓️ 30 April 2024
⏱️ 48 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
This episode was sponsored by Hummingbirds. Go to www.hummingbirds.com
This episode was sponsored by Simply Depo. Go to www.simplydepo.com
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, join Daniel Scharff as he dives into the world of foodservice with Lizz Ingrassia and Allie Cotter of Fresh Time Market. Delving into their journey from restaurant dining to packaged retail meals, Liz and Allie share their expertise on the importance of flavor, customer-centricity, and understanding consumer needs in product selection. With foodservice comprising a significant portion of store sales, they discuss the role of branded and non branded items and much more.
Discover the challenges and triumphs of launching new products smoothly, working with suppliers, distribution strategies, and balancing labor issues with innovation. Learn valuable collaboration tips, including understanding store operations and
delivering proposals aligned with customer expectations.
Tune in to gain actionable strategies for enhancing brand credibility, fostering successful partnerships, and creating memorable experiences for consumers!
Listen in as Lizz and Allie share about:
- Vendor Relationship and Negotiation
- Product Testing and Quality Assurance
- Inventory and Distribution Planning
- Marketing and Promotion
- Monitoring and Feedback
- Support and Promotions for Brands
- Sampling Tool and Distribution Strategies
- Successful Brand Examples
- Contractual Issues and Operational Efficiency
- First-to-Market Advantage
- Consumer Shopping Behavior, Recalls, and Product Issues
Thanks to our episode sponsor, SimplyDepo (simplydepo.com). SimplyDepo is a super sales and merchandising platform designed to help emerging brands win independent stores. Powered by the technology, they help you find potential customers, digitize all ordering and merchandising activities, and get all the store insights you need to scale your business. Get in touch at info@simplydepo.com or visit simplydepo.com and make sure to mention hearing this message on the Startup CPG Podcast
Episode Links:
Fresh Thyme Website
Allie’s LinkedIn
Lizz’s LinkedIn
Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.
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- Join the Startup CPG Slack community (15K+ members and growing!)
- Follow @startupcpg
- Visit host Daniel's Linkedin
- Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.com
Episode music by Super Fantastics
Hummingbirds Link:
- to find case studies, content + an exclusive chance to win a FREE custom managed campaign. Visit hummingbirds.com/startupCPG
Simply Depo Link:
- Improve your sales reps' efficiency for solid management support to scale your business, email info@simplydepo.com or visit simplydepo.com
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Did you know that startup CPG has an official in-store demo partner? |
| 0:04.3 | I'm really excited to announce our partnership with grassroots marketing. |
| 0:08.0 | They are awesome for early brands. |
| 0:09.7 | They have no minimum number of demos. |
| 0:11.8 | They've got national coverage, and you get full reporting analytics. |
| 0:15.3 | They work with the big guys like Whole Foods and Sprouts, |
| 0:18.8 | but also the tastemakers like Central Market, |
| 0:21.1 | Mother's Market, and they're actually the official demo partner for Airwan. |
| 0:25.4 | For the startup CBG community, there's an introductory rate of 180 bucks for a three-hour |
| 0:29.8 | demo for the first three months. That'll help you get started, and then their rate goes up to |
| 0:33.6 | 200. Again, there's no minimum number of demos. That is a huge differentiator because some other agencies I've talked to want you to do |
| 0:41.1 | an enormous number of demos for each store that you try and a total number of |
| 0:45.6 | demos that can just be way out of your budget range. |
| 0:48.6 | It's really hard to find a good demo partner when you're a growing brand. |
| 0:52.4 | Grassroots is a great one. |
| 0:53.5 | If you'd like to chat with their team, email |
| 0:55.9 | hello at grassroots demos.com |
| 0:59.9 | and ask for the startup CPG community |
| 1:02.2 | discount or connect with Bridget |
| 1:04.0 | or David on our Slack channel |
| 1:05.9 | or LinkedIn. |
| 1:06.5 | Music I really love good food. |
... |
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