Founder Feature: Amie Kesler of Carolyn's Krisps

The Startup CPG Podcast · 19 Dec 2025 · 29m · Episode 230

What this episode covers

Amie Kesler, founder of Carolyn's Krisps, explains how she scaled her dairy-free, gluten-free snack brand from selling cheddar crisps out of a cubicle to operating four commercial facilities. She details the R&D process of adapting her grandmother's recipe using coconut-based cheese and the operational shift from hand-rolling to using an extruder, which initially caused texture issues before being refined. Kesler also discusses her retail strategy of leveraging independent retailers like Fresh Market, managing pack size and pricing, and gaining buyer insights by opening a pop-up snack shop in Chicago that stocks other small brands.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • How I Built This · 1h 03m

    Catalina Crunch: Krishna Kaliannan. From Homemade Keto Cocoa Puffs to Breakfast Aisle Breakthrough

    Krishna Kaliannan, founder of Catalina Crunch, explains how a diagnosis of type one diabetes and epilepsy led him to develop a high-protein, low-carb cereal using ingredients like pea protein and monk fruit. After initial failures in tech startups, he iterated on recipes in his New York apartment, eventually moving to Indiana to build his own manufacturing capability when co-packers rejected his volume. The brand scaled from a $1 million DTC startup to a $100+ million brand with retail presence in Whole Foods and Costco, navigating complex supply chain challenges and ingredient cost fluctuations.

  • How I Built This · 1h 06m

    Mary's Gone Crackers: Mary Waldner

    Mary Waldner, a psychotherapist diagnosed with celiac disease at age 43, created Mary's Gone Crackers to solve her own dietary needs, eventually growing the brand into a multi-million dollar business sold in major retailers. Working with her husband Dale, she navigated the technical challenges of manufacturing a sticky, gluten-free dough, including adapting cookie depositor machinery and inventing custom flattening equipment. The company secured initial funding from friends and family, faced intense pressure from venture capitalists who attempted to take control, and was ultimately acquired by Japanese rice cracker manufacturer Kameda for approximately $45 million.

  • People of Packaging · 47m

    354 - Beyond the dieline with the incomparable Jake Karls from Mid-Day Squares

    Jake Karls, co-founder of Mid-Day Squares, explains how the company evolved from hand-making bars in a condo kitchen to building a custom manufacturing facility producing 150,000 squares daily after facing rejection from 26 co-packers. He details the strategic decision to place their refrigerated snacks in the fresh aisle to avoid the 'sea of sameness' in dry nutrition bars and discusses the launch of their viral 'No-Bread PB&J' line, which was developed to mitigate cocoa price surges. Karls emphasizes the importance of radical social media transparency and storytelling to build an emotional connection with consumers, turning early pandemic crises into growth opportunities by going 'on offense.'

  • People of Packaging · 1h 10m

    350 - Beyond the Dieline - Dr Juan from PNuff Crunch joins Tom Seymour

    Dr. Juan Salinas, founder of Pnuff Crunch, discusses his transition from food science roles at Nabisco, Cadbury, Kraft, and Nestle to launching his own functional snack brand. He details the operational challenges of scaling production, specifically the costly mistake of over-purchasing long-run packaging film rolls and the strategic pivot to digital printing and smart plate design to manage inventory. Salinas also recounts his viral Shark Tank appearance, where Mark Cuban’s intervention saved the pitch, leading to Cuban’s investment, and explains how Pnuff Crunch’s high-protein, high-fiber formulation targets modern dietary trends including GLP-1 companion foods.

  • How I Built This · 1h 17m

    Jovial Foods: Carla Bartolucci

    Carla Bartolucci, co-founder of Jovial Foods, explains how she pivoted from distributing Bionaturae pasta to launching her own brand after a contentious lawsuit and partnership breakdown. She details the discovery of Einkorn, an ancient wheat, as a solution for her daughter’s gluten sensitivities, and describes the labor-intensive process of sourcing seeds and developing recipes. Bartolucci also outlines her unconventional marketing strategy of hosting cooking retreats in Tuscany to build community and trust with gluten-free consumers, while maintaining strict control over growth to remain independently owned.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Startup CPG Podcast. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.