# Founder Feature: Francesca Pittaluga of Ciao Pappy

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2025-06-27
- Length: 33m
- Episode: 165
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-06-27-founder-feature-francesca-pittaluga-of-ciao-pappy
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/8da4f3cc

## Summary

Francesca Pittaluga, founder of Ciao Pappy, explains how she transitioned from fashion to building a premium 'Italifornia' pasta sauce brand rooted in her father's recipes and California sourcing. She details the strategic decision to launch in high-end specialty retailers like Erewhon before expanding to Whole Foods, and the challenges of finding reliable co-packers to scale production while maintaining quality. Pittaluga also discusses the difficulties of fundraising in the current climate, her focus on sustainable regional growth within California, and the importance of community resources like the Startup CPG Slack for finding partners.

## Outline

1. Introduction: Francesca Pittaluga and Ciao Pappy
2. Origin Story: Blending Italian Heritage with California Ingredients
3. Product Development: Creating Clean-Label Sauces
4. Retail Strategy: Specialty Stores to Whole Foods
5. Manufacturing Challenges: Finding and Managing Co-Packers
6. Funding and Growth: Navigating a Tough Capital Environment
7. Founder Wellbeing and Future Plans

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Founder wellbeing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/founder-wellbeing)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Ciao Pappy (product)
- Whole Foods (company)
- Bristol Farms (company)
- Erewhon (company)
- Goop (company)
- Startup CPG (company)
- Belmark (company)
- Rao's (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [What It Really Takes To Build a Food Business: Part 1](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-10-18-what-it-really-takes-to-build-a-food-business-part-1) (How I Built This)
- [Advice Line with Angie & Dan Bastian of Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-04-02-advice-line-with-angie-dan-bastian-of-angies-boomchickapop) (How I Built This)
- [Jovial Foods: Carla Bartolucci](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-06-07-jovial-foods-carla-bartolucci) (How I Built This)
- [Aviator Nation: Paige Mycoskie](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-01-01-aviator-nation-paige-mycoskie) (How I Built This)
- [Live From The HIBT Summit: Stacy Madison of Stacy's Pita Chips](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-03-12-live-from-the-hibt-summit-stacy-madison-of-stacys-pita-chips) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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