357 - Dustin Steerman is putting Vert on the map and changing how packaging is bought

People of Packaging · 24 Aug 2026 · 35m

What this episode covers

Dustin Steerman, founder and CEO of Vert, explains how his company is disrupting the flexible packaging industry by combining digital printing with a service-first model. He details Vert's expansion from a cannabis-focused startup into a broader supplier for sports nutrition and pet treats, supported by a new 35,000-square-foot facility in Longmont, Colorado. Steerman emphasizes that their competitive advantage lies in solving the friction of packaging procurement through 24-hour quote turnarounds and managing complex multi-state regulatory artwork versioning.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Startup CPG Podcast · 28m

    Founders Feature: Lucy Dana of One Trick Pony

    Lucy Dana, founder of One Trick Pony, explains how her brand pivoted from a standard jar to an upside-down packaging design that eliminates oil separation in their two-ingredient Argentinian peanut butter. She details the operational headaches of early production, including lid fitment issues and a container shipment disaster, and how solving this customer pain point shifted the brand from fighting for retail placement to receiving inbound interest from major club retailers. Dana discusses leveraging viral social media content to drive this demand, her background at Uber and Blue Bottle Coffee, and her strategy as a solo founder scaling from natural channels to mass retail.

  • The Startup CPG Podcast · 29m

    Founder Feature: Lex Evan of Lexington Bakes

    Lex Evan, founder of Lexington Bakes, discusses his transition from a 20-year graphic design career at Johnson & Johnson to creating luxury baked goods with radical ingredient transparency. He explains his trademarked 'no naughty ingredients' philosophy, the decision to print supplier logos like Nielsen-Massey and Artisana on packaging, and the recent shock of his co-manufacturer going out of business. Evan shares how staying true to his vision led to winning a NEXTY Award at Expo West and offers advice on protecting time as a solo founder.

  • The Startup CPG Podcast · 39m

    Ep. 8: Build a Food Business with Teeth - Chloe Sorvino, Forbes Magazine

    Chloe Sorvino, a staff writer at Forbes covering CPG and the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, explains how contract manufacturing lowers barriers to entry for startups while enabling rapid innovation through off-the-shelf formulas. She highlights the challenges of sustainable packaging, citing Regrained's failed compostable packaging attempt due to product integrity issues, and advocates for B Corp certification as a legal mechanism to protect founders' values. Sorvino also details the Forbes 30 Under 30 selection criteria, emphasizing bootstrapping and equity protection, illustrated by examples like Gold Beauty and Vital Farms.

  • Thoroughly Considered · 50m

    8: Packaging

    Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt of Studio Neat discuss the strategic role of packaging in their direct-to-consumer business, contrasting their minimalist, mail-optimized designs with Apple's high-end retail packaging. They detail specific solutions for products like the Neat Ice Kit and Cosmonaut, explaining how they balance custom printing with off-the-shelf components from suppliers like U-Line to manage costs and assembly labor. The conversation highlights the trade-offs between aesthetic delight and operational efficiency, particularly when dealing with third-party fulfillment centers and shipping constraints.

  • The Startup CPG Podcast · 29m

    Reinventing the Pizza Bagel: Bagelverse's Jacob Cooper on Nostalgia and CPG

    Jacob Cooper, founder of Bagelverse, explains his pivot from eight years as a CTO in AI to launching a nostalgic pizza bagel brand with flavors like spicy vodka and barbecue chicken. He details the complex supply chain requiring two separate co-packers for bagels and pizza assembly, and his strategy of validating demand through pop-ups before securing manufacturing. Cooper emphasizes the critical importance of high-quality packaging for emerging brands and his long-term, relationship-focused approach to securing retail placements with major retailers like Target and Whole Foods.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by People of Packaging. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.