# #183 - How AI is Helping CPG Brands with Lentiful and FocusFuel

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2025-02-18
- Length: 42m
- Episode: 123
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-02-18-183-how-ai-is-helping-cpg-brands-with-lentiful-and-focusfuel
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/d23a65c8

## Summary

Ben Bacon, founder of Lentiful, and Daniel Herz, co-founder and CEO of FocusFuel, discuss how AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT are transforming CPG operations. Bacon details using AI for email marketing, customer database analysis to identify trends and celebrities, and product formulation adjustments based on review sentiment. Herz explains how FocusFuel used AI for brand naming, copywriting, and creator analytics from day one, treating the technology as a 'CMO in your pocket' to accelerate decision-making and content production for their caffeine gummy brand.

## Outline

1. Introduction: Ben Bacon and Lentiful's AI Strategy
2. Ben Bacon: Email Marketing and Customer Insights with Claude
3. Ben Bacon: Product Development, Formulation, and Retail Prospecting
4. Ben Bacon: Administrative Tasks, Content Calendars, and Prospecting
5. Daniel Herz and FocusFuel: AI-First Branding and Operations
6. FocusFuel: Creator Analytics and Brand Storytelling

## Topics

- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Lentiful (product)
- FocusFuel (product)
- Claude (tool)
- ChatGPT (tool)
- Perplexity (tool)
- Zapier (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Advice Line: Tapping AI as a Resource for Your Business](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-01-01-advice-line-tapping-ai-as-a-resource-for-your-business) (How I Built This)
- [Advice Line with Jonah Peretti of Buzzfeed](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-05-07-advice-line-with-jonah-peretti-of-buzzfeed) (How I Built This)
- [The Next Chapter of SEO: How Manufacturers Get Recommended by AI w/ Grace Wright](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-09-15-the-next-chapter-of-seo-how-manufacturers-get-recommended-by-ai-w-grace-wright) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [359 - The most interesting way AI is disrupting packaging design with Andy Kurtts from Buttermilk Creative](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-09-21-359-the-most-interesting-way-ai-is-disrupting-packaging-design-with-andy-kurtts) (People of Packaging)
- [Tool of the Week Segment | Episode 35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/built-2-scale/2026-02-10-tool-of-the-week-segment-episode-35) (Built 2 Scale)

## Citing this page

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