# 222 - Alison Cayne, CEO of Havens Kitchen, from the classroom to the kitchen

- Show: [People of Packaging](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging)
- Published: 2023-10-24
- Length: 38m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-10-24-222-alison-cayne-ceo-of-havens-kitchen-from-the-classroom-to-the-kitchen
- Listen: https://encase.substack.com/p/222-alison-cayne-ceo-of-havens-kitchen

## Summary

Alison Cayne, founder and CEO of Haven's Kitchen, explains how her cooking school evolved into a CPG brand selling sauces in flexible pouches. She details the decision to use pouches over glass or hard plastic for sustainability, logistics, and user experience, noting the higher cost but strong brand differentiation. Cayne discusses the challenges of consumer willingness to pay for sustainable packaging and the strategic advantage of standing out on retail shelves against traditional glass competitors.

## Chapters

- [0:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-10-24-222-alison-cayne-ceo-of-havens-kitchen-from-the-classroom-to-the-kitchen#t=38) Introduction and Origin Story
- [4:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-10-24-222-alison-cayne-ceo-of-havens-kitchen-from-the-classroom-to-the-kitchen#t=241) From Cooking School to CPG
- [9:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-10-24-222-alison-cayne-ceo-of-havens-kitchen-from-the-classroom-to-the-kitchen#t=590) The Philosophy of Sauce and Home Cooking
- [15:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-10-24-222-alison-cayne-ceo-of-havens-kitchen-from-the-classroom-to-the-kitchen#t=915) Packaging Aesthetics and User Experience
- [22:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-10-24-222-alison-cayne-ceo-of-havens-kitchen-from-the-classroom-to-the-kitchen#t=1354) Sustainability and Lifecycle Analysis
- [30:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-10-24-222-alison-cayne-ceo-of-havens-kitchen-from-the-classroom-to-the-kitchen#t=1825) Cost, Supply Chain, and Retail Strategy

## Topics

- [Packaging design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/packaging-design)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Haven's Kitchen (company)
- Specright (company)
- TerraCycle (company)
- Blue Apron (company)
- Plated (company)
- Vita5 (company)
- Whole Foods (company)
- Sprouts (company)
- chimichurri (product)
- Romesco (product)
- ginger miso (product)
- Packaging Peeks (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Founder Feature: Alison Cayne of Haven's Kitchen](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-08-30-founder-feature-alison-cayne-of-havens-kitchen) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#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)
- [Founder Feature: Keya Wingfield of Keya's Snacks](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-03-13-founder-feature-keya-wingfield-of-keyas-snacks) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Bone Broth Tomato Sauce and a New Twist on a Family Recipe- Liana Krasnow, Noodo](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-06-12-founder-feature-bone-broth-tomato-sauce-and-a-new-twist-on-a-family-recipe-liana) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Single Origin Soy Sauce and Award Winning Branding with Christine Liu and Clarissa Wei of HEYDOH](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-06-05-founder-feature-single-origin-soy-sauce-and-award-winning-branding-with-christin) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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