#58 Ingredient Sourcing 101

The Startup CPG Podcast · 23 Aug 2022 · 48m · Episode 35

What this episode covers

Lillian Cartwright, co-founder and CEO of ShelfLife, explains how emerging food and beverage brands can transition from informal sourcing channels like Amazon or Sysco to wholesale ingredient suppliers. She details the importance of preparing internal specification sheets, forecasting volumes, and understanding the supplier landscape, which includes brokers, distributors like Smirks, and flavor houses. Cartwright also covers critical logistics such as managing lead times, seasonality, warehousing costs, and negotiating payment terms and contracts to stabilize supply and pricing.

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