The Nombase Podcast

Most founders think getting a distributor is the hard part. Scott Rosenbaum, co-host of the Business of Drinks podcast, has spent 20 years in beverage alcohol distribution and knows landing one is just the beginning. In this episode, he mentors Daeyna Grant, a first-time founder building Gold Crush, an RTD rum-based cocktail, one bar and liquor store at a time. Together, they break down what it actually takes to land the right distributor — and how to make the relationship work once you do.You will learn:What a distributor actually owes you — and what you still have to earn on your ownHow to get a distributor’s attention before you have much leverageThe trade-off between a bigger distributor and one that can give your brand more attentionWhat data and reporting you should expect — and how to fill the gaps when you don’t get itHow to build enough demand that distributors start coming to you instead of the other way around

Today's grocery aisle is splitting between shoppers looking for the best deal and those who are happy to pay more for brands they believe are worth it.In this episode, Scott Sanders, Business Intelligence Lead at Carbone, and Jeff Lovering, Chief Data Scientist at Customer Marketing Group, talk through what that shift means for CPG brands. They share practical ways to think about pricing, promotions, and growth—and how to figure out whether your biggest opportunity is pricing, awareness, positioning, distribution, or something else entirely.You'll learn:How to determine whether your brand has earned a premium priceThe difference between a pricing problem, an awareness problem, and a positioning problemWhy premium brands can thrive—even in a value-driven economyHow consumers decide whether your product is "worth it"When promotions drive growth—and when they simply mask bigger issuesHow to use data to diagnose what's really limiting your growthWhat today's split economy means for your long-term brand strategy

Landing a major retail account can change a brand overnight, but only if the operational foundation is ready to support it. Join Paul Verdu and Mitch Wedemeier from Octopi, a co-manufacturing partner backed by Asahi Group, to break down what really happens when brands scale into large national and club retailers. You'll learn:• Why landing a retailer like Costco or Target often creates a 90 to 180 day production sprint and what must happen within that window• The critical documentation required including specs, certifications, and material data to enable a smooth transition between co manufacturers• How differences in co-manufacturer equipment and capabilities impact product quality, timelines, and scalability• Common surprises around packaging, lead times, and retailer requirements and how to plan for them early• How to balance forecasting, inventory risk, and production flexibility to avoid stockouts amid unpredictable reorder cycles

Yuka is increasingly influencing what gets bought and what gets put back at shelf, with millions of consumers using it in real time while they shop. In this episode, we’re joined by Gabriella Sebag-Weingrad, who leads Yuka’s US business, to break down how it all works and what it means for food and beverage brands trying to stay competitive. For founders, understanding Yuka is no longer optional, it’s a competitive advantage.How Yuka’s scoring system actually works and which ingredients can instantly cap your score or drag it downThe specific additives and formulation choices most likely to get your product put back at shelfWhat happens after a scan, including when consumers switch, trade up, or abandon products entirelyHow brands are reformulating in response and what they’re removing without replacingWays to improve your score without destroying margin, taste, or shelf lifeHow to turn Yuka from a risk into a growth lever by positioning your product as the winning alternative