Hosted by Duncan Alney
We feature leaders of mission-driven food and beverage brands. Come listen to origin stories - and insights about current industry trends, connecting with your audience, building a community, making the world a better place, and of course, #founderlife.
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On this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, Duncan Alney talks with Eric Gutknecht, CEO of CharcutNuvo, about redefining the organic sausage industry. Eric discusses how early involvement in a family business can shape a leader, CharcutNuvo's philosophy and operations, the benefits of deliberate sourcing, in-house manufacturing, and dedication to improving the community and environment.
Read MoreOn this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, Duncan Alney talks with Josh Sizemore, a seasoned entrepreneur, about his journey in the food and beverage sector. Josh discusses his latest new restaurant venture and its thoughtful approach to hospitality, the impact of personal hardships and health scares on his perspective on life and entrepreneurship, work-life balance, and insights on the rising "better for you" food trend.
Read MoreOn this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, Duncan Alney talks with Aisha Chottani, Founder and CEO of Moment, about creating a beverage that encourages calmness and mental clarity. Aisha discusses how businesses can address larger societal issues, shares her social media engagement strategies, explains the intention behind creating the Strawberry Rose flavor, and offers tips for maintaining a positive dynamic when working with a spouse in a startup.
Read MoreOn this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, Duncan Alney talks with Carlee Kelly, Founder and Chief Product Innovator of Lettuce Eat, about innovative food development and nutrition science. Carlee shares her unique route into food innovation, the importance of meeting consumer health needs within a challenging food landscape, microbiome health and its role in today’s food choices, and the complexity behind project management in food innovation and product development.
Read MoreOn this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, Duncan Alney talks with Nadia Liu Spellman, CEO and Founder of Dumpling Daughter, about turning cherished memories into a unique culinary brand. Nadia shares how she grew her brand while maintaining the essence of her family's culinary legacy, the role of social media in reaching new customers, the inspiration behind her cookbook, and marketing strategies for boosting the visibility and growth of a food business.
Read MoreOn this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, Duncan Alney talks with Ted Dumbauld, Founder and Co-CEO of SoNo 1420, about distilling and marketing in the spirits industry. Ted shares the inspiration behind starting SoNo 1420 at the intersection of alcohol and the evolving cannabis space, the story behind its naming, the innovative concept behind Threesome Cocktails, and the upcoming breakthroughs in THC-infused, non-alcoholic beverages.
Read MoreOn this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, Duncan Alney talks with Laura Jakobsen, Co-founder and CEO of RIOT Energy, about creating a clean alternative in the energy drink industry. Laura talks about RIOT Energy's fight against artificial ingredients and commitment to natural alternatives, how a genuine commitment to health and wellness trends can shape product development, approach to innovation and customer feedback, and self-care strategies for balanced entrepreneurship.
Read MoreOn this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, Duncan Alney talks with Jason Reposa, Founder and CEO of Good Feels, about revolutionizing stress reduction and enhancing our daily rituals with cannabis-infused drinks. Jason discusses the inception of Good Feels, how it maintains its light-hearted company culture while focusing seriously on work, the unique positioning of Good Feels in a competitive cannabis market, and the trends in hemp and licensed cannabis beverage sales.
Read MoreOn this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, Duncan Alney talks with Sara Delaney, Founder and CEO of Sarilla, about building a socially impactful business through tea. Sara shares her inspirations for creating Sarilla, the impact of her time in Rwanda, the importance of prioritizing your health as a founder, and the value of ingredient quality and transparency in beverage production.
Read MoreOn this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, Duncan Alney talks with Robert (Bob) Zender, Director of Marketing of Uglies Kettle Chips, about upcycling imperfect potatoes into delicious snacks. Bob discusses Dieffenbach’s history and commitment to sustainability and starting Uglies, its direct impact on reducing food waste and supporting farmers, how Uglies contribute to alleviating global childhood undernourishment, and the crucial role of strategic marketing and community engagement in its growth.
Read MoreOn this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, Duncan Alney talks with Sam Mitchell, Co-founder of roo.bru, about launching and growing a healthy beverage brand. Sam discusses how his dissatisfaction with coffee led to the inception of a new energy drink roo.bru, how organic ingredients can offer a cognitive boost without the downsides of usual stimulants, what sets roo.bru apart, and how to balance friendship and business in a startup environment.
Read MoreOn this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, Duncan Alney talks with Mika Shino, Founder and CEO of Issei, about cultural innovation in the candy industry. Mika shares her journey of creating better-for-you snacks that resonate with traditional roots and modern demands, the challenges and insights of bringing innovation into a competitive candy market, how diversity and inclusion in the CPG space benefit consumers and cultures alike, and the triumphs and lessons from Issei's early production challenges.
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