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Hey  ,

Do you find yourself stressed at the end of the year?

You’re not alone. As a founder, I used to feel completely overwhelmed every November and December, trying to:

• Crush Black Friday

• Execute holiday sales

• Hit ambitious end-of-year goals

• Balance work with the societal expectation to “relax” over the holidays

For years, I felt this way because I set unrealistic expectations for myself.

People often say, “Reach for the stars, and you’ll land on the clouds.” But the truth is, constantly falling short of unrealistic goals can take a toll on your confidence and mental health.

This year, I’m giving myself grace. Instead of striving for perfection, I’m setting professional goals I can realistically achieve—and even surpass.

Here’s what I’ve done differently:

• Set reasonable sales targets

• Built flexibility into my schedule

• Planned time off to spend with my family

The result? I feel happier, more balanced, and ready to truly enjoy the season.

How are you planning to rest and reflect as the year comes to a close?

Jordan Buckner

CPG NEWS

A roundup of CPG news that happened last week.

🛒 Retail Rollouts

• ⚡ Huxley, founded by Simon Solis-Cohen, is bringing its Superfruit Energy Drinks to Minnesota's Target stores, doubling its distribution and marking a major retail milestone.

• 🐮 Mooski, led by Robert Broome, has secured shelf space at all Nugget Market locations after refining its product and data story to meet retailer expectations.

• 🍈 Jack & Friends, founded by Jessica Kwong, now offers its jackfruit jerky in all Big Y World Class Market locations across the Mid-Atlantic region.

• 🍃 Tiesta Tea, co-founded by Dan Klein and Patrick Tannous, launches its premium loose-leaf teas in bulk bins across Sprouts Farmers Market's 400+ stores nationwide.

🚀 New Product Launch

• ☕ PKN, founded by Laura Shenkar, introduces the PKN JOY™ Barista Pecanmilk, a froth-friendly, buttery-textured alternative designed to elevate the coffee experience.

• 🍪 Elavi, co-founded by Michelle Razavi and Nikki Elliott, debuts its Cookie Butter Cashew Butter, a clean-label spread blending indulgent nostalgia with functional nutrition.

• 🩺 Suru, founded by Shira Miller, launches Suru Balance Shakes in Chocolate Fudge and Vanilla, targeting blood sugar support with 20g of plant protein, prebiotic fiber, and zero sugar.

• 🎁 Cafe Aroma, run by CEO Ruth Santuccio, unveils Cafe Aroma Especial, a gift-ready, 100% Arabica whole-bean espresso blend with festive packaging.

• 🍦 Swee, co-founded by Diogo Valente and Tiago Rebelo, brings its viral, low-sugar, non-dairy ice cream to Bristol Farms locations across Los Angeles.

🤝 Brand Partnerships

• 🍛 Little Spoon, founded by Ben Lewis, teams up with Brooklyn Delhi for the Sunny Butter Chicken Plate, a kid-friendly, Indian-inspired comfort meal.

• 🧂 Carbone Fine Food, co-founded by Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi, and Jeff Zalaznick, partners with Osmo to launch a premium salt collection inspired by Italian flavors.

• 🌾 Fly By Jing, founded by Jing Gao, collaborates with Lundberg Family Farms on a Sichuan Chili Crisp Jasmine Rice that combines bold flavors with sustainability.

💸 Investments and Acquisitions

• 💧 Bawi Agua Fresca, co-founded by Victor Guardiola and Jordan Hicks, secures $3.5M in seed funding to scale operations and expand its Latino-inspired beverage brand.

🎉 News to Celebrate

• 💪 Amrita Health Foods, founded by Arshad Bahl, boosts production output by 10% through recipe tweaks and larger batch sizes, improving net margins.

• 🍌 Fila Manila, founded by Jake Deleon, sees a surge in sales as consumers seek its clean-label Banana Ketchup amid import bans on questionable alternatives.

In collaboration with Amber Caro from Marketbite.

Have news to share?

SUBMIT YOUR STORY

PODCAST

196. Scaling Kahawa 1893 Coffee

One of the biggest challenges growing a brand is aligning sales and operations. What systems did you put in place to do so? I talk with Corey Stary, VP Revenue & Ops at Kahawa 1893 on when their spreadsheets broke, and how they set the business up for the next stage.

Joining us is Wiley Jones, co-founder of Doss to talk through how to build your operational system.

Listen on:

APPLE PODCAST

SPOTIFY

OPERATION

Create a Sustainable Quality & Food Safety Program for Your Emerging Brand

Food and beverage companies are finding it increasingly challenging to manage the various requirements of an effective, yet flexible, Quality and Food Safety (Q&FS) approach. 

Our Q&FS experts, Rocelle and Rhonda, explain how internal and external factors influence both the coman and the client during the commercialization process.

They’ll share strategies to implement a successful Q&FS program through a few key steps: assessing the coman’s current food safety program, developing a safety guide for expectations to protect your brand, and thoroughly implementing this plan at the coman facility.

Learn more

MANUFACTURING

Exploring Packaging Materials: A Guide to Sustainable Choices

Sustainable packaging has become essential for CPG Brands. Modern consumers are looking for brands that prioritize environmental responsibility, and sustainable packaging is one of the strongest ways to demonstrate this commitment.

Choosing the right packaging can help brands reduce waste, improve recyclability, and ensure long-term environmental impact.

Learn more

FINANCE

Navigating Financial Challenges in the CPG Industry with Aion

CPG industry financial challenges often pose significant obstacles to growth and operational efficiency. This insightful article, dives deep into the crucial strategies for navigating these challenges effectively.

Learn how to transform your approach to managing operational cashflow and securing quick access to credit.

Learn more

JOIN

BRANDS

FOR BRANDS

If launching or scaling your own food and beverage business is a  goal of yours, let us help you realize your dream and avoid unnecessary struggle. Join as a Premium Member.

PARTNERS

FOR PARTNERS

Work with Founders to identify their problems and share solutions to help them overcome the challenges of growing their companies. Join as an Expert Partners.

About Foodbevy

Foodbevy helps food and beverage brands grow from startup to scale through inspiration, education, and partnership.

Jordan Buckner

Founder

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