Emerging Brands Podcast

Adrienne DeLisio is the Executive Director of Naturally New York, where she leads initiatives to foster sustainable business practices, drive conscious growth, support entrepreneurship, and nurture leadership within the Greater New York natural products community. With over 20 years of experience in brand marketing, Adrienne has a proven track record of building high-impact partnerships and executing collaborative brand initiatives that achieve strategic audience growth. Prior to her role at Naturally New York, Adrienne served as the Events and Partnerships Manager at ForceBrands, where she developed and executed event marketing strategies that engaged targeted audiences and built brand awareness. Her exceptional networking skills allowed her to create impactful industry and consumer events, enhancing connections between brands and their audiences. Adrienne's passion for brand building and commitment to community engagement continues to make her a key contributor to the industry. Learn more about the impactful work happening at Naturally New York for CPG brand founders!

Eat Gold Organics founder Brandon Milbradt, combines her passion for storytelling and wellness to create chocolate bars that blend science and enchantment. Drawing from her personal experiences and commitment to functional foods, she has crafted plant-based chocolate infused with adaptogens, mushrooms, and nootropics, designed to nourish both body and mind. Collaborating with experts in nutrition, ethnobotany, and award-winning chocolatiers, Brandon ensures every bar is a balance of flavor, health, and sustainability. Her mission is rooted in authenticity and a love for the planet, creating indulgent, healing chocolate that spreads joy and well-being to all. On this episode, Brandon takes us behind the scenes of how she bootstrapped the brand, selling in 200+ retail shops, and real talk about fundraising. Such an honest conversation of what it’s like to be a single working parent building a new brand at the same time!

As vice president of content and summits at New Hope Network (the team behind Expo West, Newtopia Now & more!), Jessica brings over 17 years of experience in the CPG industry, specializing in content, events and community experiences. Her career is dedicated to crafting strategic, innovative solutions that empower retailers, brands, investors and service providers across the CPG ecosystem. Driven by a commitment to using business as a force for good, Jessica believes that a thriving industry fuels positive change—benefiting communities, economies and lives everywhere. Outside of work, she can be found running (slowly), baking (messily) and enjoying her beautiful home state of Colorado. Learn CPG trends and brand launches that are on Jessica’s rador and upcoming summits!

Sophia Cheng grew up in Singapore and Hong Kong and started her career in management consulting. After looking for products that remind her of home, she founded Oddball. Oddball is a plant-based jelly snack. It doesn't use gelatin but instead uses agar agar which is what is traditionally used in Asian cooking. Oddball have 4 flavors available - Double Berry, Mango, Grapefruit, Grape - are all inspired by Sophia’s childhood. Sophia takes us behind the brand of her upcoming launch!

Primis Imports was created with the intention of providing the highest quality early harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oils and premier food items from Greece and beyond. Connecting to his Greek roots, Damian Primis founded the brand in 2022. It was during the pandemic where is career in music was on pause with Broadway shows and tours being cancelled. Damian decided to experiment in CPG. You can now find Primis Imports at the current rotation at Pop Up Grocer, The Goods Mart, and lots of cool shops. Damian shares the behind the scenes of launching his new everyday olive oil, what to look for while tasting olive oil, harvest dates, and more!

With an extensive background in brand marketing, working at Snap Inc., Intuit, and Publicis Groupe, Megan Pruett took her newfound sobriety and transformed it into a business that is on its way to revolutionize the non-alcoholic industry. For The Love Of is a premium alcohol-removed wine company. Our brand was designed for all wine lovers who are intoxicated by the rich flavors, earthy aromas, and delicate textures of wine for one reason and one reason only—the love of it. Learn about the unique wine process of For The Love Of and how Megan is preparing to launch!

Veronica Panzardi is a recovering IBanker, who would rather do anything than have a mediocre meal. Veronica is the founder of Edggies, the easiest way to eat your veggies. Edggies are air dried veggie sprinkles that help busy people eat healthier, making adding nutrition as easy as sprinkling salt. Edggies delivers a portable, shelf stable, and flavor neutral solution. Veronica is an Argentine American founder with a cofounder/poodle, named Mortadella. She takes us behind the scenes of her upcoming launch!

Berk Bahceci founded Heraclea olive oil, known for its beautiful packaging of Turkish olive oil and bringing awareness on how to make olive oil more sustainable w/ fair-trade principles. He had a major career pivot story as he went from graduating law school to quitting being a lawyer his first year to turn his family's olive grove into an entrepreneurial business with his now wife. The branding elements of Heraclea were very important to Berk as he wants to educate American consumers on high-quality Turkish olive oil and have packaging that stands out among Spanish and Italian olive oils.  He brings us behind the scenes of building Heraclea from the ground up. From farming, harvesting, bottling, and fair-trade practices, Berk shares it all!

The original Pink Salt concept was launched in 2019 at the Fulton Galley Food Hall, located on Chicago’s famed “Restaurant Row.” Completing only brief stages at Au Cheval and Nico Osteria, opening and running a restaurant was a bold leap. Using the space as a launchpad, Pink Salt quickly became one of the city’s most sought-after Thai establishments. During the pandemic, Pink Salt transitioned into a pop-up series, diving deeper into regional Thai cuisines and exploring the nuances of Thai food. Reviving traditions while creating new ones, Palita handcrafted sauces and pastes that brought her menus to life. When customers began requesting extra sauces to take home, she happily obliged, as they were a true labor of love. Today, Pink Salt thrives as a supper club and dinner series, popping up in exciting venues across the city, including Soho House, Blind Barber, Nine Bar, Longman & Eagle, Ramen-San, and Lululemon, among others. Palita Sriratana is a proud second-generation Thai and a self-taught cook. Born in central Illinois, she spent summers growing up outside of Bangkok with extended family, learning how to cook. Despite career changes, Palita always returned to food because it connects her to her identity. Learn how Palita is building Pink Salt in this next stage of growth!

Kate worked as a brand strategist before becoming the first hire at United Sodas. She thrives on the challenges of startup life and enjoys working closely with a small team. Outside of soda, you’ll find her woodworking in her Brooklyn apartment. United Sodas is reimagining soda for the modern day. With better ingredients and no artificial aftertastes, each can is organically sweetened and just 35 calories, delivering full flavor in every sip. Learn behind the scenes of the newest formulation and growth of United Sodas!