# 327 - The best soda you haven't heard about (probably)!

- Show: [People of Packaging](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging)
- Published: 2025-10-21
- Length: 26m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-10-21-327-the-best-soda-you-havent-heard-about-probably
- Listen: https://encase.substack.com/p/327-the-best-soda-you-havent-heard

## Summary

Gina Ho, co-founder of Hawaiian Soda Co., explains how the brand scaled from a 2020 kitchen idea to over 1,500 retail doors by prioritizing differentiation through packaging and authentic ingredients. She details the strategic decision to use 12oz sleek cans to stand out in Hawaii and the operational shift from shrink sleeves to direct-print cans as volume grew. The conversation also covers the complexities of expanding from a regional Hawaiian brand to the mainland US, including finding co-manufacturers and navigating logistics.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-10-21-327-the-best-soda-you-havent-heard-about-probably#t=1) Introduction and Brand Origin
- [6:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-10-21-327-the-best-soda-you-havent-heard-about-probably#t=410) Product Formulation and Scaling Journey
- [10:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-10-21-327-the-best-soda-you-havent-heard-about-probably#t=648) Mainland Expansion and Co-Manufacturing
- [14:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-10-21-327-the-best-soda-you-havent-heard-about-probably#t=851) Packaging Strategy: Sleek Cans and Direct Print
- [19:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-10-21-327-the-best-soda-you-havent-heard-about-probably#t=1181) Retail Packaging: 4-Packs and Variety Packs

## Topics

- [Packaging design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/packaging-design)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Hawaiian Soda Co. (company)
- Foodland (company)
- World Market (company)
- 12oz Sleek Can (product)
- Shrink Sleeves (material)
- Direct Print Cans (product)

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- [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)
- [Founder Feature: Houston Buehrle of Little Zing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-01-02-founder-feature-houston-buehrle-of-little-zing) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Guayakí Yerba Mate: David Karr and Chris Mann](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-28-guayaki-yerba-mate-david-karr-and-chris-mann) (How I Built This)
- [Got herbs? Bringing sparking herbal teas to market with Hrbvor's founder, Zahira Marmar](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2021-12-07-got-herbs-bringing-sparking-herbal-teas-to-market-with-hrbvors-founder-zahira-ma) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Looking on the Starryside with co-founders Liz Seelye & Erin Fasano](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-04-12-looking-on-the-starryside-with-co-founders-liz-seelye-erin-fasano) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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