Date Smarter’s founder, Grace Finerman, knows what it's like to be busy. As a former TV news anchor and reporter, she was constantly on the go and realized the need for food that was both healthy and delicious.

Grace took this realization and created Date Smarter, a brand that's breaking up with unhealthy snacks by proving that healthy eating doesn't have to mean giving up on flavor.

Inside the Episode:

• How Grace's background as a news reporter helped her launch and grow her business

• The inspiration behind Date Smarter's unique products, including their signature chocolate-covered date caramels

• Grace's strategy for creating a brand that's both healthy and indulgent

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This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds is the go-to platform built for creator-powered retail activations—connecting everyday creators with CPG brands to spark shelf-level awareness, drive in-store momentum, and generate authentic content in the markets that matter most. Learn more!

Sri Kalapala is a snack lover turned founder with a background in healthcare technology, business strategy, and operations. Sri took his background and his passion for snacking to create Kailo, a brand proving that snacks should be both delicious and truly good for you.

Kailo is a protein bar crafted for those who value real ingredients — no fillers and no artificial additives.

Inside the Episode:

• How Sri's personal quest for a truly clean snack led to the creation of Kailo

• The inspiration behind Kailo's packaging, influenced by streetwear, music, and art, and how Sri wanted to use these elements to evoke emotion in his branding

• Kailo's commitment to using only real, whole ingredients and why it's so critical to their mission

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This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds is the go-to platform built for creator-powered retail activations—connecting everyday creators with CPG brands to spark shelf-level awareness, drive in-store momentum, and generate authentic content in the markets that matter most. Learn more!

Samantha Sherman's career started in the fast-paced world of fine dining. From working at an esteemed restaurant in Boston to managing a team for celebrity chef Mario Batali, she quickly found success. But after a decade in the industry, the pandemic prompted her to take a new, more personal path.

Samantha leaned into a passion for healthy living and wellness, enrolling in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. What began as a way to meet clients quickly evolved into The Hampton Grocer, a farm-to-front-door delivery service in her new hometown of Montauk. The business eventually grew into a thriving granola company with multiple flavors — all baked with love.

Inside the Episode:

• How Samantha started to get her granola into people's hands by putting her product out at local farmers markets, getting direct feedback from customers that helped her build the brand

• The pivotal moment of recognizing and embracing a product-market fit, shifting from a delivery service to a focused granola company based on customer demand

• The importance of strategic growth, scaling a beloved family recipe from small, nine-jar batches to a thriving CPG brand while maintaining quality and authenticity

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This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds is the go-to platform built for creator-powered retail activations—connecting everyday creators with CPG brands to spark shelf-level awareness, drive in-store momentum, and generate authentic content in the markets that matter most. Learn more!

Tom Malengo is a true veteran of the CPG industry. With over 40 years of business experience, Tom has become a trusted advisor to hundreds of emerging CPG brands, using his business acumen and genuine desire to help founders navigate their entrepreneurial journeys.

Tom is also the co-founder of Brandjectory, a platform that connects emerging CPG founders with the investors and experts who can help them grow. Through a series of monthly virtual meetings, Brandjectory provides crucial education, exposure, and engagement, giving founders the direct support they need.

Inside the Episode

• Why Brandjectory was created and the specific challenges it helps emerging CPG brands solve

• The key things founders need to know when looking for investment and expert guidance

• How Brandjectory's model of virtual meetings provides a unique advantage for busy founders and industry professionals

Connect!

This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds is the go-to platform built for creator-powered retail activations—connecting everyday creators with CPG brands to spark shelf-level awareness, drive in-store momentum, and generate authentic content in the markets that matter most. Learn more!

Quani Burnett brings over 7 years of beauty experience across marketing, community, and influencer partnerships for brands such as Youth to the People, Briogeo, Rhode, Paula’s Choice, and more. After witnessing firsthand how textured hair was underserved in prestige beauty, Quani set out to create a brand that would change that.

She founded Soft Rows, a premium textured hair brand created in partnership with Women of Color chemists and cosmetologists, rooted in salon culture, driven by science, and vetted by community. With over 65% of the U.S. population identifying as having textured hair—but only 5% of prestige products catering to it—Soft Rows is reimagining textured hair care with salon-inspired, science-backed solutions designed for every curl type.

Inside the Episode:

• How Quani’s career in beauty inspired her to launch a brand dedicated to textured hair.

• Blending salon culture, science, and community testing to create effective, innovative formulations.

• What beauty founders can learn about serving an underserved market with authenticity and intention.

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This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds is the go-to platform built for creator-powered retail activations—connecting everyday creators with CPG brands to spark shelf-level awareness, drive in-store momentum, and generate authentic content in the markets that matter most. Learn more!

Claire Matern grew up immersed in New York City's vibrant food scene. Her family ran a specialty food and cheese store for two decades, instilling in her a lifelong mission: to demystify cooking, take the intimidation out of ingredients, and inspire people to get creative in the kitchen.

That passion led her to create JONI, a brand that celebrates the unique and versatile ingredient, verjus (pronounced vair-joo). Verjus, which translates to "green juice" in French, is the tart juice from young grapes picked before the main harvest. It’s a centuries-old culinary secret that Joni is bringing to the forefront.

Inside the Episode:

• How Claire's upbringing in her family's food business shaped her entrepreneurial journey

• The story behind building a brand around a lesser-known ingredient like verjus

• What founders can learn about building a mission-driven brand that makes niche ingredients approachable and inspiring

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This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds is the go-to platform built for creator-powered retail activations—connecting everyday creators with CPG brands to spark shelf-level awareness, drive in-store momentum, and generate authentic content in the markets that matter most. Learn more!

Marc Jonna’s career in the specialty retail and wine industry spans more than two decades. He began in his family’s business, The Merchant of Vino, where he studied wine and specialty foods from a young age and helped expand the company into an eight-store chain. After its acquisition by Whole Foods in 1999, Marc became the company’s National Wine Buyer and later joined the National Leadership Team—playing a pivotal role in elevating Whole Foods into a major wine retailer.

In 2006, Marc co-founded Plum Market with his brother, creating a Midwest-based chain that has become a leader in natural, organic, and specialty grocery. In this episode, he shares his journey from family business to national leadership, and the lessons he’s learned about building a modern grocery brand that thrives in today’s competitive market.

Inside the Episode:

• How Marc’s experience at The Merchant of Vino and Whole Foods shaped the vision for Plum Market

• Philosophy of merchandising natural, organic, and artisanal products

• Advice for CPG brands on scaling, differentiation, and staying competitive in retail landscape

Find Plum Market

This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds is the go-to platform built for creator-powered retail activations—connecting everyday creators with CPG brands to spark shelf-level awareness, drive in-store momentum, and generate authentic content in the markets that matter most. Learn more!

While working long hours for Oscar-winning producers, Xeba fell seriously ill with a debilitating gut condition. Her healing journey—focused on diet and lifestyle changes—sparked the idea for the snacks she wished existed during her recovery: clean, indulgent, and designed for sensitive stomachs.

Preme is a gut health brand that believes true nourishment comes from both premium ingredients and a sense of indulgence. Using prebiotic fiber prescribed by functional medicine doctors, Preme crafts snacks with sensitive stomachs top of mind—helping people feel good while enjoying food they love.

Inside the Episode:

• How Xeba’s personal health journey inspired the creation of Preme

• How to build a gut-health brand that balances function and flavor

• What emerging founders can learn about turning personal challenges into breakthrough products

Shop here!

This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds is the go-to platform built for creator-powered retail activations—connecting everyday creators with CPG brands to spark shelf-level awareness, drive in-store momentum, and generate authentic content in the markets that matter most. Learn more!