# Advice Line with Pete Maldonado and Rashid Ali of Chomps

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2026-02-19
- Length: 48m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-02-19-advice-line-with-pete-maldonado-and-rashid-ali-of-chomps

## Summary

Pete Maldonado and Rashid Ali, co-founders of the meat stick brand Chomps, discuss the 'proteinification' of the food industry and how a recent, costly product recall reinforced their commitment to consumer safety. They advise Yari Dariz of Yadi Artisanal Empanadas on scaling strategies, suggesting a commissary model and delivery to manage seasonality, and counsel Zachary of Noble Pies on proving velocity and incrementality to break into big-box retailers like Whole Foods. Finally, they guide Josh Shrinko of Achigan on when to transition his smallmouth bass lifestyle brand from part-time to full-time, emphasizing focus on high-margin product lines like lures.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-02-19-advice-line-with-pete-maldonado-and-rashid-ali-of-chomps#t=0) Introduction: Pete Maldonado and Rashid Ali of Chomps
- [2:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-02-19-advice-line-with-pete-maldonado-and-rashid-ali-of-chomps#t=139) The Proteinification of Food and Chomps' Recall Strategy
- [7:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-02-19-advice-line-with-pete-maldonado-and-rashid-ali-of-chomps#t=436) Scaling Yadi Artisanal Empanadas: Commissary Models and Seasonality
- [20:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-02-19-advice-line-with-pete-maldonado-and-rashid-ali-of-chomps#t=1220) Breaking into Big Retail: Noble Pies' Velocity and Incrementality
- [31:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-02-19-advice-line-with-pete-maldonado-and-rashid-ali-of-chomps#t=1879) Achigan's Path to Full-Time: Focusing on Lures and Scaling Demand
- [46:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-02-19-advice-line-with-pete-maldonado-and-rashid-ali-of-chomps#t=2799) Chomps' 13-Year Journey: Ignorance, Patience, and the Roller Coaster

## Topics

- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Chomps (product)
- Yadi Artisanal Empanadas (company)
- Noble Pies (company)
- Achigan (company)
- Whole Foods (company)
- Target (company)
- Fresh Direct (company)
- Trader Joe's (company)
- QVC (company)
- Shopify (other)
- DoorDash (other)
- Uber Eats (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Bonus Episode: Khalil Khamis of Crafty Ramen](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-05-02-bonus-episode-khalil-khamis-of-crafty-ramen) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#101 Celebrating 10 Years of Growth: Family, Foodservice, and Forging your Own Path with Soom's Amy Zitelman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-08-01-101-celebrating-10-years-of-growth-family-foodservice-and-forging-your-own-path) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [R&D RADIO: Travis Zissu from Scale Food Lab](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-04-13-r-d-radio-travis-zissu-from-scale-food-lab) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [354 - Beyond the dieline with the incomparable Jake Karls from Mid-Day Squares](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-07-22-354-beyond-the-dieline-with-the-incomparable-jake-karls-from-mid-day-squares) (People of Packaging)
- [#66 Sharing is Caring: How Alison Cayne & Haven's Kitchen share cooking confidence and industry knowledge](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-10-25-66-sharing-is-caring-how-alison-cayne-havens-kitchen-share-cooking-confidence-an) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

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