# Founder Feature: Amie Kesler of Carolyn's Krisps

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2025-12-19
- Length: 29m
- Episode: 230
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-12-19-founder-feature-amie-kesler-of-carolyns-krisps
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/b53b7efc

## Summary

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.

## Outline

1. Introduction: Amie Kesler and the origin of Carolyn's Krisps
2. R&D and ingredient formulation: Dairy-free and gluten-free challenges
3. Scaling manufacturing: From hand-rolling to extruders and facility growth
4. Retail strategy: Independent retailers, Fresh Market, and brokerage
5. Pop-up snack shop: Buyer perspective, pricing, and relationship management

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Carolyn's Krisps (product)
- Fresh Market (company)
- The Hatchery (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Catalina Crunch: Krishna Kaliannan. From Homemade Keto Cocoa Puffs to Breakfast Aisle Breakthrough](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-07-06-catalina-crunch-krishna-kaliannan-from-homemade-keto-cocoa-puffs-to-breakfast-ai) (How I Built This)
- [Mary's Gone Crackers: Mary Waldner](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-07-10-marys-gone-crackers-mary-waldner) (How I Built This)
- [354 - Beyond the dieline with the incomparable Jake Karls from Mid-Day Squares](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-07-22-354-beyond-the-dieline-with-the-incomparable-jake-karls-from-mid-day-squares) (People of Packaging)
- [350 - Beyond the Dieline - Dr Juan from PNuff Crunch joins Tom Seymour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-05-27-350-beyond-the-dieline-dr-juan-from-pnuff-crunch-joins-tom-seymour) (People of Packaging)
- [Jovial Foods: Carla Bartolucci](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-06-07-jovial-foods-carla-bartolucci) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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