# Founder Feature: Sarah Hartmann of Vêsucré

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2025-09-26
- Length: 33m
- Episode: 197
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-09-26-founder-feature-sarah-hartmann-of-vesucre
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/c2f1b3f8

## Summary

Sarah Hartmann, founder of Vêsucré, explains how her zero-waste, plant-based frozen dessert brand scaled from a home kitchen to 450 stores across nine states, leveraging partnerships with Cornell’s Food Spark program and Wakefern Food Corp. She details the development of their clean-label 'plant de creme' formula using oat, sesame, and dates, and highlights their inclusive hiring model that employs a neurodiverse workforce. Hartmann also introduces The Makery, a new co-manufacturing and incubation hub in Oneonta, New York, designed to support other small food brands while providing employment opportunities for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

## Outline

1. Introduction: Sarah Hartmann and Vêsucré's Origin Story
2. Product Development: Creating Plant de Creme and Managing Texture
3. Scaling Strategy: Cornell Food Spark and Wakefern Partnership
4. The Makery Initiative: Co-manufacturing and Brand Incubation
5. Sustainability: Zero-Waste Practices and Oat Byproducts
6. Inclusive Hiring: The Role of Neurodiverse Employees

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Vêsucré (company)
- Wakefern Food Corp. (company)
- Cornell Food Spark (other)
- Springbrook Adult Day Hab (other)
- The Makery (company)
- RangeMe (tool)
- Shoprite (company)
- Fairway (company)
- Hannaford (company)
- Whole Foods (company)
- Day Out Snacks (company)
- Bertillon (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [244 - Jody Polishchuk from Sundays on how they made the first zero sugar creme cookie](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2024-02-16-244-jody-polishchuk-from-sundays-on-how-they-made-the-first-zero-sugar-creme-coo) (People of Packaging)
- [nutpods: Madeline Haydon](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-05-13-nutpods-madeline-haydon) (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)
- [Yasso: Amanda Klane and Drew Harrington](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-09-25-yasso-amanda-klane-and-drew-harrington) (How I Built This)
- [345 - Beyond the Dieline - The secret success behind Junebar! Tom Seymour and Keith McCullough](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-04-17-345-beyond-the-dieline-the-secret-success-behind-junebar-tom-seymour-and-keith-m) (People of Packaging)

## Citing this page

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