BONUS: Winter Fancy Food Show Recap
The Startup CPG Podcast
Startup CPG
4.9 • 642 Ratings
🗓️ 26 February 2025
⏱️ 41 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this bonus episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff is joined by Patricia Menegoto and Kiki Huddleston from the Startup CPG team, as well as Brendan Cravitz from Azabu Foods x Meatless Future and Maxi Heidenblut from Häppy Candy, to recap the Winter Fancy Food Show in Las Vegas.
The team shares behind-the-scenes insights on what made Startup CPG's section a must-visit for retailers and buyers, the power of community-driven brand support, and how small brands can maximize their trade show experience. Brendan and Maxi discuss their brand highlights, key buyer meetings (including Whole Foods!), and the ROI of attending a show like Fancy Foods.
From cross-pollination of brand connections to tips on making the most of networking events, booth setups, and pitch opportunities, this episode is packed with actionable insights for emerging food and beverage brands.
Thinking about showcasing your brand at the next Fancy Food Show or joining the Startup CPG community? Tune in now!
Listen in as they share about:
- Fancy Food Winter Show Experience & Highlights
- Factors that Helped Brands Succeed at the Show
- Differences Between Fancy Food Show and Other Trade Shows
- Lessons Learned for Future Shows
- Why Join the Startup CPG Section?
- Future Opportunities
Episode Links:
Kiki on LinkedIn
Patricia on LinkedIn
Brendan on LinkedIn
IG: @meatlessfuture_jp @meatlessfuture_us @azabufoods
Maxi on LinkedIn
IG: https://www.instagram.com/haeppy.candy/
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.
Show Links:
- Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)
- Join the Startup CPG Slack community (20K+ 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
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | It is a bit smaller than the fancy foocho in New York, definitely smaller than Expo West. |
| 0:16.3 | But there's a lot of benefit that comes with that because you have more time with the buyers and they |
| 0:21.6 | will actually stop by your booth. You have more interactions. You can have like longer conversations |
| 0:27.7 | with them, I think. So it was a bit more intimate. And overall, it was the perfect first show for |
| 0:33.2 | us to exhibit because it is a bit smaller than the other show. The quality of people showing their foods is more in line with what our products are. |
| 0:43.2 | There's a lot less of the big guys. |
| 0:45.2 | It's a lot more of brands like ours, so people know what they're going for. |
| 0:49.0 | It's those buyers with that mindset. |
| 0:50.8 | Yeah, definitely excited. |
| 0:54.1 | Hey, folks, we are freshly back from the Fancy Food Winter Show in Las Vegas, |
| 0:58.0 | and I want you to live the show vicariously through this podcast. So I've invited Patricia |
| 1:02.8 | and Kiki from my team. It was their first time being in Vegas for the winter show. |
| 1:06.8 | And also, two of the brands from our startup CPG section. They're all going to tell you what was the show like for them as a first timer. |
| 1:14.3 | And the brands will talk about what was it like exhibiting at the show? |
| 1:17.1 | Who did they get to talk to? |
| 1:18.4 | How did they prepare? |
| 1:19.4 | What buyers were there and tips for brands exhibiting in the future? |
| 1:23.2 | Overall, the show was a really incredible experience for us. |
| 1:25.7 | The section was amazing. |
| 1:27.4 | We really thanked the Specialty of Foods Association |
| 1:29.7 | for helping us put on just such a high energy section. |
| 1:32.7 | We also got to run an all day female founder lounge one afternoon. |
... |
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