Vanessa McPhill is a Freelance Marketer and Amazon Ads Manager Partner who works with brands to craft online and offline strategies to drive awareness and growth. On this episode of ITS, Vanessa walks Ali through Amazon: How to think about it, why a full-funnel approach is key, why it's a retail and media partner, and what the heck A+ content is.

Nicholas Naclero is Founder of Mmmly, the new classic cookie brand offering indulgent snacks that are actually good for you. On this episode of ITS, Nick and Ali talk about his learnings from the first 3 years of business, how our choices are now about efficiency, why the consumer has returned to the center, and his Wefunder campaign.

Mark Haas is the CEO of the Helmsman Group, a company that has helped companies like Magic Spoon, Urban Remedy, Kellogg’s, and Haven's Kitchen build sustainable, scalable, and profitable CPG products. On this episode of ITS, Ali and Mark talk about innovation: what makes it great, why to build it from the ground up, and how to work best with an outside partner.

Anna Whiteman is a Principal at Coefficient Capital, a multi-stage investment fund focused on consumer and technology investments. On this episode of ITS, Anna and Ali talk about what they saw at Expo West, beyond the brands and booths. They discuss the state of CPG today, how VC's are thinking about emerging brands, and why a return to pragmatism is a good thing for companies building in 2024.

This episode is a little different. Adam Brown is the Founder and President of Sircle Media, a social media agency that specializes in helping CPG and Beverage brands win online and in-store. On this episode of ITS, Adam interviews Ali all about Haven's Kitchen's new product line: AIOLI! They go through innovation, sales, marketing - and the WHY and HOW of the new line. Ali shares an Amazon discount code toward the end, so listen up!

Laurel Orley is the Co-Founder and CEO of Daily Crunch, the company that makes sprouted nut snacks with flavors like Nashville Hot, Dill Pickle and Cherry Berry. On this episode of ITS, Laurel tells Ali how she launched the company with a framework she learned during her career as a marketer at brands including #Dove #LiptonTea, #Suave and #Hellman’s.

Maddie Kennedy is Senior Brand Manager at Haven’s Kitchen, and on this episode of ITS, she and Ali talk EXPO WEST. Maddie shares how she's planning on getting the most out of the biggest trade show in the industry: from brand collaborations, to evergreen collateral, to team happiness tips.

Ray Goulbourne is a foodservice expert with experience at high growth CPG brands including Banza, Simulate, Mason Dixie, and Sir Kensington's. On this episode of ITS, Ray breaks the channel down for Ali: From defining objectives and choosing a segment, to execution and scale. There's even a cheat code in the last few minutes, where brands looking into foodservice can start their research.

Melissa Seligmann is the COO at Thingtesting, a review and discovery platform built to help people discover and share their candid reviews of brands. On this episode of ITS, Melissa and Ali talk about what's hot, what's not, and how Thingtesting's new growth tools are helping brands showcase foot traffic, analyze basket data, and expose their products to a new, engaged consumer.

Eleanor Hayden is the founder of Hayden Consultancy - a shopper marketing consulting firm that works with brands like Olipop, Magic Spoon, Dream Pops, Catalina Crunch, Purely Elizabeth, Haven's Kitchen, and more. On this episode (Eleanor's 2nd!) of ITS, Eleanor walks Ali through all the ways brands can spend on digital marketing with retailers (and Instacart)...Sharpen your pencils!

Lia Haberman is a marketing consultant for brands including AT&T, Robert Half, Riot Games, Viral Nation, and more. She is also an instructor of Influencer Marketing and Social Media Marketing at UCLA Extension, and writes a weekly Creator Economy newsletter called ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) to help over 15K industry pros stay up to date on platform news, social trends, and brand campaigns. On this episode of ITS, it's all about the algorithms and how brands can optimize their social...

Parker Olson is the founder of Forij, the naturally sweetened, low sugar granola and granola bars, packed with superfood ingredients and concentrated mushroom extracts. On this episode of ITS, Parker and Ali talk about the state of CPG, Parker's next move, and also, a little bit about mushrooms.

Adria Campbell is the Chief Revenue Officer at Malk Organics, the premium, plant-based milk company known for it's celebrity-created Erewhon smoothies. On this episode of ITS, Adria walks Ali through the way she runs sales, the KPI's she's established for her team, how she hires, and what her secret is with buyers. They also talk the perils of seasonal sku's and why Social Nature is the demo of the future.

Kendall Dickieson is the social media and influencer marketing consultant helping brands like Graza, Canopy, and immi become best friends with their consumer. On this episode of ITS, Kendall talks all things social, content, and how to make community more than a buzzword.

Crystal Ung is the Founder and CEO of Bowlcut, the sauce brand named after everyone’s favorite 80s haircut, building next generation Asian-American flavor. On this episode of ITS, Ali and Crystal talk about Operating Principles, leadership, and how Bowlcut is the culmination of Crystal's life and career.

Taja Dockendorf is the Founder and Chief Creative Director of Pulp+Wire, an award-winning consumer packaging, branding, and digital agency that's worked with brands like Petco, Magnolia Bakery, Bob’s Red Mill, and Vermont Creamery. On this episode of ITS, Taja breaks down what makes branding, digital content, and packaging both visually compelling and rooted in functionality and effectiveness.

Hayley Painter is the co-CEO and co-Founder of Painterland Sisters, an organic skyr yogurt company a mission to connect consumers with family farmers. On this episode of ITS, Hayley tells Ali why she and her sister Stephanie began packaging their thick, creamy yogurt, how they're changing the narrative on dairy farming, and what the future holds for the sisters and their community.

Nate Rosen is the founder of Express Checkout, a newsletter dedicated to the latest news and trends across CPG, retail, eCommerce, and supply chain. On this episode of ITS, Nate and Ali talk economic recovery, c-stores, and best practices for developing, writing, and building subscribers for newsletters.

Marissa Hohner is the CEO & founder of Good Time Creative, the agency best known for creating trade show exhibits, experiential installations, influencer kits, and custom merch for brands like Chomps, Belgian Boys, Culture Pop, Ulta, Gatsby, Celsius, and Imperfect Foods. On this episode of ITS, Marissa and Ali talk about best ways to express your brand without spending more than you should, and what some brands may be missing without realizing it.

Patrick Schwarzenegger is the CEO of Mosh, the brand on a mission to educate consumers about brain health. On this episode of ITS, Patrick shares how his experience as an angel investor has shaped MOSH, how brain health is evolving as a category, and why fixing your "leaky buckets" is critical to profitable growth.

Chris Gallant is the CEO of Chamberlain Coffee, the brainchild of YouTube phenomenon Emma Chamberlain. On this episode of ITS, Chris and Ali talk about creator-founded brands, how they can pull apart from the personality that started them, the persistence of retail, and why "cans in hands" is a must for a coffee brand.

Beatrice Dixon is the co-founder, Chief Innovation Officer, and CEO of the Honey Pot Company, a plant-derived hygiene powerhouse for humans with vaginas. On this episode of ITS, Beatrice and Ali talk about the origins of Honey Pot (it started with a dream), and the realities of the CPG business: from community management, to investor issues, to working with retailers focused on a "simplify to amplify" environment.

Sabeena Ladha is the founder and CEO of Deux, the good-for-you cookie dough company. On this episode of ITS, Sabeena walks Ali through the processes she's honed after her years at Lays, Diamond Foods, McKinsey and M13. Hint: It's all about testing and learning.

Lauryn Chun is the founder of Mother-in-Law’s, the crowd favorite brand that started the fermented foods craze way back in 2009. On this episode of ITS, Ali and Lauryn compare the economic environment today with 2010-2012, and discuss the creativity, scrappiness, and innovation that emerged from challenges.