Founder Feature: Bilal Othman of Huwa

The Startup CPG Podcast

Startup CPG

Startup, Food, Business, Beverage, Cpg, Entrepreneurship

4.9 • 642 Ratings

🗓️ 29 August 2025

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, our Editor, Caitlin Bricker, is joined by Bilal Othman, founder of Huwa, a premium olive oil brand with deep Palestinian roots. Bilal shares the compelling journey of how a multi-generational family tradition—olive farming in Palestine—evolved into a thoughtfully designed, U.S.-based brand that is as much about heritage and connection as it is about quality.

Gain insight into the cultural and agricultural significance of Huwa's olive oil, including its authentic single-origin sourcing, cold-pressing methods, and unique production process. Bilal also delves into the meaning behind the brand’s name, the intentional and nostalgic design of its packaging, and how Huwa serves as a bridge between generations, continents, and communities.

Whether you're a consumer, retailer, or entrepreneur, this episode offers a refreshing look at building a mission-driven business steeped in heritage and community.

Listen now!

Listen in as they share about:

Origins and Family History of Huwa
Brand Identity and Design
Legacy and Cultural Connection
Olive Oil Production Process
Differentiation from Mainstream Olive Oils
Appeal to Retailers and Consumers
Discovery and Role of Startup CPG

Episode Links:

Website: https://huwatasty.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bilal-othman-43245788/

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)
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Visit host Caitlin's Linkedin
Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.com
Episode music by Super Fantastics

Transcript

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0:00.0	A few years back when I ran a beverage company, we had to launch using those plastic sleeves to put our designs on the cans.
0:08.0	But they looked bad, the sleeves get stretched out, they don't cover the full can, and overall they just look and feel low quality.
0:14.0	Lucky for you, digital can printing technology has come so far over the last few years that now you can launch your beverage brand or new skews with a fully
0:21.7	printed look and it's at similar pricing to those plastic sleeves.
0:25.3	Our friends at CanWorks, which is the largest U.S.-based digital can printer, are happy to work with
0:30.1	our community at very low minimums, even one palette.
0:32.9	They've got locations in the East Coast, the West Coast, Texas.
0:36.0	Get in touch with them through our contact form.
0:38.2	It's at canworksprinting.com slash startup CPG.
0:42.7	Thank you. I think the core guiding principle of Hua is like, how can I stay connected to back home to my cousins back home?
1:05.0	Because as you get older, like, the nature of things is like you get married, they get married, they have kids, and like there's distance that forms. And that's very natural. And the second, how can I like stay, have an excuse to like essentially hang out with my dad on a random moment? And that's kind of the core ethos of it. I think it's just like I grew up at a certain age where I realized, oh, if I want these things to continue and I want them to be for the next generation where you have a connection back home or you even just view the thing of like working with your dad, it's a very big ethos I think in like the neighborhood I grew up in.
1:35.2	You kind of need to act on it now.
1:38.3	Hey everybody. This is Caitlin Bricker editor at startup CPG. We are back with another founder feature. Everybody
1:45.5	makes space in your pantry because today we're talking with Bilal Offman, founder of Hua.
1:51.4	Hua is an olive oil brand with deep roots. Belau's family has been nurturing olive trees in
1:56.3	Palestine for hundreds of years. Their extra virgin olive oil is some of the purest in the world,
2:02.5	handcrafted with the indigenous traditions they are striving to keep alive. I left this conversation
2:07.9	feeling inspired by the brand's family focus from trees to bottle. I hope you love this episode
2:13.7	as much as I loved the unforgettable brand experience of receiving my first bottle of
2:18.7	Hua. You'll have to listen in to learn more. Enjoy. Hey, everybody, welcome back to the
2:28.7	startup CPG podcast. This is Caitlin, and today I'm here with Bilal, often founder of Hua.
2:35.0	Belal, welcome to the show.
	...

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