The Firebelly Social Show

Samuel Anderson is a Managing Partner at BevAssets, a company focused on assisting beverage brands with distribution, operations, and logistics while promoting sustainable solutions. Known in the industry as "Beverage Man Sam," he has helped numerous brands navigate the complexities of the supply chain, contributing to their success in a market with a high failure rate. Besides his professional achievements, Samuel is an avid networker passionate about building community and meaningful connections. He also hosts the DrinkUp Podcast, where he shares insights and connects with professionals from LinkedIn. In this episode… Getting onto shelves can feel like the breakthrough moment for a beverage brand, but distribution alone does not mean consumers will actually buy. So what turns placement into real demand and lasting sales velocity? Samuel Anderson believes the answer is building demand one account at a time and giving consumers a reason to pull the product through the system. He points out that brands can secure hundreds of placements and still fail if they do not support those accounts with education, tastings, activations, repeat purchases, and consistent market presence. For emerging brands, sustainable growth comes from patience, persistence, and proving demand before expanding too far. On this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, Duncan Alney talks again with Samuel Anderson, Managing Partner at BevAssets, about why distribution doesn't equal demand. They discuss creating pull-through, prioritizing reorders over placements, and supporting markets before expanding. Samuel also shares why brands should build deep in their home market before scaling.

Samuel Anderson is a Managing Partner at BevAssets, a company focused on assisting beverage brands with distribution, operations, and logistics while promoting sustainable solutions. Known in the industry as "Beverage Man Sam," he has helped numerous brands navigate the complexities of the supply chain, contributing to their success in a market with a high failure rate. Besides his professional achievements, Samuel is an avid networker passionate about building community and meaningful connections. He also hosts the DrinkUp Podcast, where he shares insights and connects with professionals from LinkedIn. In this episode… A customer might order a cocktail with dinner and switch to a nonalcoholic drink before the night is over. How can beverage brands keep up when the same person wants different things from each drink? For Samuel Anderson, a beverage industry veteran with nearly four decades of experience, the key is connecting a product to the occasion a customer wants to enjoy. He recalls placing Coca-Cola displays beside rotisserie chickens to make the beverage a natural choice for a family dinner. That approach can help brands create demand by showing people how a drink fits into their lives. On this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, Duncan Alney talks with Samuel Anderson, Managing Partner at BevAssets, about the great beverage reset. They explore how moderation is changing drinking habits, the appeal of ready-to-drink cocktails, and why distribution doesn't guarantee sales. Samuel also shares how sampling and personalized recommendations can make customers feel like VIPs.

Dan Fahrner is the CEO and Co-founder of Shake Up Cocktails, an Indianapolis-based beverage brand crafting full-flavored canned cocktails with real ingredients. Under his leadership, Shake Up Cocktails has expanded regionally, built a loyal following, and become a case study in adapting to changing consumer tastes. With more than 15 years of experience in digital marketing and brand strategy, Dan combines brand storytelling and community engagement to connect with consumers and build demand. In this episode… A great product and a spot on the shelf used to give beverage brands a fighting chance, but today's consumers have more choices than ever. As drinking habits change and competition grows across categories, what does it really take for a beverage brand to stand out and keep customers coming back? As the beverage market becomes more competitive, Dan Fahrner sees brand identity, flavor innovation, and consumer experiences as essential to standing out beyond price and availability. After relaunching Shake Up around its Indiana fairground roots, he found that digital marketing alone couldn't drive growth, so his team embraced in-store samplings, local events, and community partnerships. His experience shows that getting a product onto shelves is only the beginning; lasting success comes from building genuine demand and giving customers a reason to buy again. On this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, Duncan Alney talks with Dan Fahrner, CEO and Co-founder of Shake Up Cocktails, about adapting to a changing beverage industry. They discuss shifting drinking habits and the rise of RTDs, why distribution doesn't guarantee demand, and how brand storytelling and grassroots marketing drive growth. Dan also shares what he would do differently if launching Shake Up today.

Dinos Stamoulis is the Co-founder and Chief of Awesomeness at Paleonola, a company dedicated to crafting delicious grain-free products made from real food ingredients. Under Dinos' leadership, Paleonola has grown from its farmers market roots into a nationally recognized brand, now available at Whole Foods nationwide, Publix, and through regional Costco rotations. A former pro hockey player, Dinos created Paleonola to fuel better performance through better nutrition. Today, he remains hands-on with the brand, from product development and community engagement to overseeing retail launches. In this episode… Getting a product onto a major retail shelf is only the beginning. The real challenge is turning that opportunity into repeat purchases, lasting customer trust, and a brand people choose again and again. How do founders make sure a big retail win becomes sustainable growth? Dinos Stamoulis believes that success after a retail launch comes from combining smart marketing, strong operations, and a product that delivers on its promise. He explains that awareness drives trial, but repeat purchases come from taste, quality ingredients, and creating something people genuinely feel good about consuming. His perspective shows why building a lasting food brand requires attention to every detail, from the shelf to the customer experience. On this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, Duncan Alney talks with Dinos Stamoulis, Co-founder and Chief of Awesomeness of Paleonola, about scaling a food brand through retail growth. They discuss Publix expansion, preparing for Costco, and driving repeat purchases. Dinos also shares advice on founder authenticity, operational focus, and protecting brand integrity.

Katrina Dalao is the Founder and Publisher of Grow to Market, a newsletter covering the business of food and beverage CPG through conversations, insights, and trends shaping modern brands. She highlights founders, operators, and industry experts while exploring how companies grow, evolve, and connect with consumers. Katrina brings a background in content management and multimedia production, along with a journalistic approach to covering the people and ideas driving change across the CPG landscape. Her work examines storytelling, design, culture, and strategy in building distinctive consumer brands. In this episode… Water has always been a basic necessity, but it is becoming something much more personal. As brands compete for attention in a crowded market, how did something as simple as hydration become a way for people to express their identity, values, and lifestyle? According to Katrina Dalao, a CPG insights leader, water has evolved from a functional purchase into a product tied to self-expression, design, and culture. She explains that packaging, brand values, and the experience around a bottle can transform an everyday item into something people want to carry, display, and associate with. Her perspective shows how even the simplest categories can find new opportunities when brands create meaning beyond the product itself. On this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, Duncan Alney talks with Katrina Dalao, Founder and Publisher of Grow to Market, about how water brands are moving from basic hydration to lifestyle-driven products. They discuss the rise of premium water, how packaging creates brand identity, and why consumers connect with certain water brands. Katrina also shares insights on how brands can compete through meaning and self-expression.

Isabella "Bella" Hughes is the Co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Better Sour, a modern candy brand reimagining sour gummies for today's consumer. Better Sour has expanded to over 4,000 stores nationwide, including Whole Foods, Costco, Sprouts, and Albertsons, and won a 2026 Bon Appétit Pantry Award.  Previously, Bella co-founded Shaka Tea, growing it to over 20,000 retail locations before its 2022 acquisition, along with Hawaiʻi Contemporary and Lezzetli Ice Cream. Her honors include Inc. Magazine's 2025 Female Founders recognition, Pacific Business News 40 Under 40, and Hawaiʻi Venture Capital Association's Entrepreneur of the Year. In this episode… Most gummy candy still treats sour like a stunt: a sharp coating, a sugar rush, and not much happening underneath. What would candy look like if sour were treated the way a chef treats acidity, as something layered, balanced, and worth savoring? For Isabella Hughes, the key lies in building flavor from the inside out. Drawing on sour flavors from her Iranian heritage and upbringing in Hawaii, she points to everything from tart fruit and dried snacks to calamansi, guava, pomegranate, and tart cherry as inspiration for a gummy that delivers a longer, more culinary kind of sour. The result is a more grown-up take on candy, designed for food lovers whose tastes have evolved beyond the familiar sweet-and-sour formula. On this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, Duncan Alney talks with Isabella Hughes, Co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer at Better Sour, about turning global flavor memories into sophisticated sour candy. They discuss candy for foodies, building a true "sour from within" experience, and using flavors like calamansi, guava, and pomegranate. Bella also shares how customer feedback shapes the brand.

Jill Frechtman is the Founder and Strategic Advisor at the Food Founder Collective, where she advises and mentors emerging food founders as they build and grow their brands. Before becoming an advisor, she built her food CPG brand, Fretzels by Jill, from scratch, growing it into a brand carried by retailers like Nordstrom and The Fresh Market and earning national media coverage on The Today Show and in The Wall Street Journal. Drawing on her advertising background and experience as a food founder, Jill helps entrepreneurs navigate branding, positioning, and the realities of building a food business. In this episode… Founders rarely get stuck because they lack ideas; more often, they're buried under too many of them. When every channel, tactic, and opportunity feels urgent, what actually helps an emerging food brand move forward? Jill Frechtman believes the breakthrough comes from building the founder, not just handing them another playbook. Her approach is to cut through the noise, identify the one thing that will move the business forward next, and pair that focus with honest feedback, accountability, and a safe group of peers. The result is more than better decision-making: founders gain the clarity and confidence to keep moving when the business gets hard. On this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, Duncan Alney talks with Jill Frechtman, Founder and Strategic Advisor at the Food Founder Collective, about helping emerging food founders build stronger brands and grow as individuals. They discuss clarity over cleverness, finding the one move that matters next, and positioning a product around what customers actually need. Jill also shares why persistence, pivoting, and asking for help are essential.

Keya Wingfield is the Founder of Keya's Snacks, a brand bringing bold Indian American flavors to the classic American potato chip, using single-origin spices from India and US-grown potatoes. Keya is a Food Network Spring Baking Championship winner, and her chips have gone viral, leading to national distribution in over 1,800 stores, including Sprouts Farmers Market. Known for her creative fusion of cultures, she uses food as a bridge to introduce Americans to a world of spiced (not spicy) flavors, all while infusing her brand with deeply personal family stories and meaningful design. In this episode… A potato chip may be one of America's most familiar snacks, but familiarity does not have to mean blandness. What happens when that blank canvas is layered with the flavors of Bombay and used to challenge how shoppers think about global food? By reinventing a snack people already enjoy, Keya Wingfield gives them an approachable way to discover new flavors. Drawing on her experience as an Indian American chef and food entrepreneur, she explains how a 29-spice Bombay blend first won over her plain-chip-loving husband, then became the foundation of a brand built around flavor that is "spiced, not spicy." Her approach shows how culturally specific food can belong in the center of the American snack aisle, not separated into an international section or diluted for mass appeal. On this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, host Duncan Alney is joined by Keya Wingfield, Founder of Keya's Snacks, to discuss how Indian American flavors can reshape the snack aisle. They explore the homemade origin of Bombay chips, why "spiced, not spicy" matters, and the challenge of moving global foods beyond the international aisle. Keya also shares advice on scaling thoughtfully without chasing every retail opportunity.

Kathie Pelliccio is the Founder and "Seed Queen" of Kathie's Kitchen, the company behind SuperSeedz, which produces award-winning, gourmet pumpkin seed snacks focused on healthy, flavorful eating. Since founding her company in 2004, Kathie has grown SuperSeedz into a beloved brand available at major retailers such as Whole Foods and Harris Teeter, with fans across the Northeast and an enthusiastic online following. Kathie is a food entrepreneur, mother of five, and lifelong advocate for wholesome ingredients, passionate about educating people on the nutritional power of pumpkin seeds and the joys of guilt-free snacking. In this episode… Healthy snacks often ask you to sacrifice something, whether it is flavor, crunch, or the simple pleasure of eating. What if the most satisfying option was not invented in a lab, but rediscovered in one of nature's oldest foods? According to Kathie Pelliccio, a longtime food entrepreneur and champion of simple ingredients, the answer is to make real food taste good enough that people choose it willingly. Her small-batch roasted pumpkin seeds offer bold flavors, a light crunch, and meaningful nutrition, including a cinnamon variety she calls "cinnamon toast without the toast." The result is more than a better-for-you snack; it is proof that eating well can still feel fun, familiar, and satisfying. In this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, host Duncan Alney is joined by Kathie Pelliccio, Founder of SuperSeedz, to discuss how real food can make healthy snacking more satisfying. They explore why pumpkin seeds deserve a place beside almonds and pistachios, how flavor wins over skeptical shoppers, and what persistence looks like after years of building a brand. Kathie also shares how she stays energized through pickleball, sleep, and hydration.

Björn Steinar Jónsson is the Founder and CEO of Saltverk, an Icelandic food company focused on making sustainable food built upon Nordic food traditions. Under his leadership, Saltverk has expanded its range of flaky salts, produced using 100% renewable geothermal energy, while reaching customers across 180 markets. An engineer by training, Björn combines technical expertise with a deep appreciation for Icelandic nature and craftsmanship, guiding the company's commitment to quality and sustainable growth. In this episode… Salt is one of the oldest ingredients in the world, yet the right process, story, and sense of place can make it feel completely new. How do you turn something so familiar into a brand people remember, seek out, and share? For Björn Steinar Jónsson, the key lies in staying close to the source and letting the product's origin shape every decision. Drawing from his experience as an Icelandic engineer and entrepreneur, he explains how Saltverk revived a centuries-old method by evaporating pristine Arctic seawater with geothermal energy, then built on that foundation with hand-harvested crystals, local botanicals, and full production transparency. His approach shows that a distinctive food brand is not created by adding more, but by protecting quality, craftsmanship, and a story customers can experience in the product. On this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, Duncan Alney talks with Björn Steinar Jónsson, Founder and CEO of Saltverk, about building a globally distinctive food brand rooted in Icelandic tradition. They explore reviving geothermal saltmaking, protecting craftsmanship while scaling, and turning origin and transparency into brand strength. Björn also shares advice on trusting your instincts and leading through uncertainty.