Welcome to Sipping Success, your ultimate podcast for wine, spirits and alcohol. In this episode, we dive into the world of beverages, featuring Todd Baldwin, co-founder of Crafted, who shares insights into his journey and the impact of Crafted on the CPG industry.

• 1:00 Min - Todd Baldwin's Background and the Founding of Crafted: Todd shares his journey from Greensboro, North Carolina, to co-founding Crafted after recognizing the need for better food and culture representation through live-streaming cooking content.
• 4:00 Min - Transition from Live-Streaming Cooking Content to Short-Form Video Marketing: Crafted's initial focus was on live-streaming cooking shows. However, they pivoted to short-form video marketing on platforms like TikTok, which proved more effective in driving brand engagement and sales.
• 11:00 Min - Recent Advancements in Attribution and Hyper-Targeted Marketing: Todd explains the new features in Crafted's platform, such as improved attribution tools and hyper-targeted marketing capabilities, which help brands track the effectiveness of their campaigns and optimize their marketing strategies.
• 15:00 Min - Partnerships and Collaborations Driving Crafted's Success: Crafted has formed strategic partnerships with marketing agencies and other businesses to enhance their service offerings, particularly in influencer marketing and content distribution.

Todd Baldwin provides an inspiring look into the evolution of Crafted and how the company helps brands leverage short-form video content to drive retail sales. His journey emphasizes the importance of adaptability and customer-focused innovation in achieving business success.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/mushroom-media-marketing/

https://www.mushroommedia.io/

http://www.usecrafted.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-baldwin-113685117/

Episode Summary: In this episode of Sipping Success, host Casey Haakinson interviews Ken Green, CEO of Robojo Coffee, and Ben Czajka, founder of Robojo Coffee. They discuss the origin, development, and future of their automated coffee vending solution, exploring the challenges and successes they've faced along the way.

Key Topics Discussed:

• 1:00 Min - The Inspiration and Background of Robojo Coffee: Ben Czajka shares his journey from owning a chain of coffee shops to creating Robojo Coffee. Inspired by the future of automation and the challenges of managing employees, he envisioned a streamlined, automated coffee solution.
• 3:30 Min - The Journey from Concept to Implementation: The duo details the meticulous process of researching, developing, and deploying their automated coffee machines, starting with initial concepts and evolving into sophisticated, high-tech kiosks.
• 7:00 Min - The Impact of the Labor Market on Their Business: They discuss how the constrained labor market, especially in the service industry, has amplified the need for their automated solutions, providing a consistent and reliable alternative to traditional coffee shops.
• 10:00 Min - Product Offerings and Customization: Robojo Coffee offers a variety of beverages, including lattes, cappuccinos, and iced drinks, with customizable options such as different milk types and flavors to cater to diverse customer preferences.
• 14:00 Min - Expansion Plans and Current Locations: Initially focusing on Ohio, with installations in hospitals, Robojo Coffee plans to expand nationwide and eventually enter the Canadian market, targeting various non-traditional locations.
• 16:00 Min - Industry Trends and Staying Updated: The team stays current with industry trends through trade shows, publications, and direct customer interactions. They also focus on trends like the growing demand for non-dairy options and iced beverages.
• 18:00 Min - Key Partnerships and Collaborations: Robojo Coffee has formed strategic partnerships with large food service providers and local coffee roasters to ensure high-quality products and effective distribution.

Conclusion: Ken and Ben share insights into the evolving world of automated coffee vending, emphasizing the importance of innovation, customer focus, and strategic partnerships. They highlight the potential of Robojo Coffee to revolutionize the coffee industry and offer advice to aspiring entrepreneurs.

Contact Information:

https://www.mushroommedia.io/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/mushroom-media-marketing/about/

https://robojocoffee.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-i-green/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-czajka-a775884/

In this episode of Sipping Success, host Casey Haakinson interviews Jamie Valenti- Jordan, the CEO of Catapult Commercialization Services Incorporated. Jamie shares his extensive experience in the food and beverage industry, from his early career at Campbell Soup and Del Monte Foods to founding Catapult. He discusses the importance of innovation in food production, the challenges of scaling new products, and his commitment to supporting emerging and scaling brands.

• 1:00 Min - Jamie’s Background: Jamie's journey from an internship at General Mills to his roles at Campbell Soup and Del Monte Foods, and eventually founding Catapult Commercialization Services.
• 3:00 Min - Founding Catapult: The creation of Catapult as a consultancy to provide technical and operational solutions for food and beverage companies, leveraging a network of experienced professionals.
• 6:00 Min - Challenges and Innovations in the Food Industry: Jamie discusses the lack of long-term R&D in large food companies, the role of technological innovation in overcoming food production challenges, and the need for collaboration between industry and academia.
• 12:00 Min - Catapult’s Team and Operations: An overview of Catapult's diverse team, including product developers, engineers, marketers, and quality experts, and how they support clients in bringing new products to market.
• 15:00 Min - Future of Food Innovation: Trends in plant-based products, the importance of sustainable food production, and Jamie’s work with the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).

Jamie Valenti-Jordan’s insights provide a comprehensive look at the challenges and opportunities in the food and beverage industry. His commitment to innovation and support for emerging brands highlights the importance of collaboration and continuous improvement in food production. Listeners are encouraged to connect with Jamie and explore the resources available through Catapult Commercialization Services and the IFT.

https://www.mushroommedia.io/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/mushroom-media-marketing/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/fvmh97c/

https://catapultserv.com/