BONUS: Winter Fancy Food Show Recap

Feb 26, 2025

Brendan Cravitz, founder of Azabu Foods and Meatless Future, and Maxi Heidenblut, founder of Häppy Candy, dig into the vibrant experiences from the Winter Fancy Food Show. They highlight the power of community-driven brand support and innovative collaborations, like the meatless gyoza. Key takeaways include effective networking strategies, the importance of storytelling in product pitches, and memorable interactions with retailers like Whole Foods. This discussion is packed with actionable insights for food and beverage brands looking to make a mark!

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Episode notes

Intro

00:00 • 5min

Navigating Trade Shows: Community and Strategy

05:29 • 11min

Innovative Collaborations at the Winter Fancy Food Show

16:23 • 2min

Insights from the Winter Fancy Food Show

18:18 • 18min

Insights from a Live Product Pitch at a Major Event

36:13 • 2min

Navigating Trade Shows as a Solo Founder

37:56 • 3min

In this bonus episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff is joined by Patricia Menegoto and Kiki Huddleston from the Startup CPG team, as well as Brendan Cravitz from Azabu Foods x Meatless Future and Maxi Heidenblut from Häppy Candy, to recap the Winter Fancy Food Show in Las Vegas.

The team shares behind-the-scenes insights on what made Startup CPG's section a must-visit for retailers and buyers, the power of community-driven brand support, and how small brands can maximize their trade show experience. Brendan and Maxi discuss their brand highlights, key buyer meetings (including Whole Foods!), and the ROI of attending a show like Fancy Foods.

From cross-pollination of brand connections to tips on making the most of networking events, booth setups, and pitch opportunities, this episode is packed with actionable insights for emerging food and beverage brands.

Thinking about showcasing your brand at the next Fancy Food Show or joining the Startup CPG community? Tune in now!

Listen in as they share about:

Fancy Food Winter Show Experience & Highlights
Factors that Helped Brands Succeed at the Show
Differences Between Fancy Food Show and Other Trade Shows
Lessons Learned for Future Shows
Why Join the Startup CPG Section?
Future Opportunities

Episode Links:
Kiki on LinkedIn

Patricia on LinkedIn
Brendan on LinkedIn
IG: @meatlessfuture_jp @meatlessfuture_us @azabufoods
Maxi on LinkedIn
IG: https://www.instagram.com/haeppy.candy/

Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.

Show Links:

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Join the Startup CPG Slack community (20K+ members and growing!)
Follow @startupcpg
Visit host Daniel's Linkedin
Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.com
Episode music by Super Fantastics