Founder Feature: Caroline Howard Walker Brothers

The Startup CPG Podcast · 13 Dec 2024 · 32m · Episode 102

What this episode covers

Caroline Howard, co-founder of Walker Brothers, explains how the brand leverages an inherited family scoby and in-house brewing to achieve superior flavor profiles in both non-alcoholic and hard kombucha. She details the strategic decision to build a 20,000-square-foot production facility early on, requiring significant capital raises before proving product-market fit, to avoid the limitations of co-packers. Howard also outlines their dual distribution model, using direct-store-delivery (DSD) for alcoholic products and chain-anchored distribution via UNFI and KeHE for non-alcoholic lines, while highlighting collaborations with Rishi Tea and Counter Culture Coffee to drive brand awareness.

Mentioned

Companies
Walker Brothers, Rishi, Counter Culture Coffee, GT's Kombucha, Lippman Brothers, Whole Foods, HEB, Fresh Market, UNFI, KeHE, Toko Chico, Spindrift
Also
Make Bardo

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