In this episode, Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Casey's Chris Stewart, VP of Merchandising, Phil Wilhelm, Senior Director of Center Store, and Lee Wilburn, Senior Director of Package Beverages, for an update on its 2nd Innovation Summit. This was the second Summit the 2,900+ store Midwest convenience chain held in partnership with RangeMe, during which selected brands met in-person with Casey’s category leaders for the opportunity to get on the shelves.

Among the topics discussed are:

• An update on brands onboarded from the 1st Innovation Summit
• New brands that are in the process of being onboarded from the second Summit
• Casey's 'test and learn' process with new brands
• Enhancements to the Summit process, including an earlier timeline, focus on quality over quantity and a deeper level of engagement with brands during the in-person meetings
• What Casey's looks for in brands and products
• Advice for brands looking to participate in future Summits

This is a must-listen episode for any brands looking to get on the shelves at Casey's!

This episode features the full panel discussion on the CPG Growth Journey from the recent ECRM/retailmediaIQ Founders’ Innovation Day event held December 10 in NYC.

The panel, moderated by ECRM’s Joseph Tarnowski, featured three brand-owners, each at varying stages of growth: Obi Linton, Co-Founder of Nicobi Foods, a 5-year old brand that is growing fast; Luke Schneider, Founder of Fire Department Coffee, which launched about a decade ago and now has national distribution; and Hector Saldivar, Founder of Tia Lupita Foods, which successfully exited this year with a sale to Vilore Foods.

The founders shared insights about each stage of their brand’s growth journey covering the following topics:

• Early-stage funding: Creative ways to secure capital and resources to support growth
• The value of patience and perseverance for early-stage brands
• The value of taking a focused approach to growth
• When, why and how to pursue an exit strategy

This was a fun and engaging discussion, with a ton of takeaways for brands looking to successfully navigate their growth journeys!

In this episode, Joe from ECRM sits down with Kiowa Kavovit, founder of Eco Bandage, to discuss her journey of creating a waterproof, colored liquid bandage and skin protectant that "seals, heals, and conceals." What began with a Shark Tank appearance at age six has evolved into a decade-long formulation process to create a sustainable, flexible liquid bandage that replaces traditional sticker bandages.

Kiowa shares her first major retail success with Meijer and details how the brand recently secured a Golden Ticket at Walmart's Open Call. The conversation also covers the critical pivot from minimal eco-packaging to retail-ready boxes to combat theft and improve shelf presence while still keeping to Eco Bandage's mission of sustainability.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Product Innovation: How Eco Bandage offers a cellulose-based, flexible alternative to "crusty" liquid bandages, available in various skin tones and fun colors.

The "Bleeding Thumb" Pitch: The story of how Joe accidentally sliced his finger before a meeting, allowing Kiowa's mom to demonstrate the product live and secure an order from Meijer.

International Retail Expansion: The brand’s growth trajectory, from winning the ECRM Buyer's Choice Award in 2024 to launching internationally in Canada’s Sobeys stores.

Packaging Strategy: Why the company shifted from loose bottles to a "two-pack" box design to solve shelf-footprint issues and offer better value, and how it leveraged ECRM's Contract Manufacturing events to do so.

Future Innovations: A sneak peek at upcoming product lines, including liquid pimple patches that can be worn under makeup and clinical applications for hospitals.

Throughout the conversation, you'll gain insights on how to best engage buyers and category managers, and what it takes to grow your CPG brand!