# R&D RADIO: Travis Zissu from Scale Food Lab

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2026-04-13
- Length: 28m
- Episode: 291
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-04-13-r-d-radio-travis-zissu-from-scale-food-lab
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/a54e307f

## Summary

Travis Zissu, founder of Scale Food Labs, an FDA-registered pilot facility in Golden, Colorado, explains how his company helps emerging CPG brands transition from benchtop formulas to scalable production. He details a rigorous process involving sourcing from commercial-grade suppliers, iterative prototyping, and stress-testing pilots by manipulating heat and stirring to uncover failure points before full-scale manufacturing. Zissu highlights current industry trends, including a supply chain shortage for beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) whey protein through 2027, the risks of GI distress with fiber-forward products, and the potential of cell-based meats. He emphasizes that founders must accept a '90% acceptance' threshold for launch, as home kitchen recipes rarely translate perfectly to industrial machinery.

## Outline

1. Introduction: Travis Zissu and Scale Food Labs
2. Client Case Study: From Expo West Idea to Distributor-Ready Product
3. Facility Capabilities: Equipment, Form Factors, and Retort Simulation
4. The Development Process: Sourcing, Prototyping, and Iteration
5. Stress-Testing Pilots: Discovering Failure Points Before Scale
6. Advice for Founders: The 90% Rule and Scaling Realities
7. Ingredient Trends: BLG Whey, Fiber Risks, and Cell-Based Meat

## Topics

- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Scale Food Labs (company)
- Culinary Institute of America (other)
- GNT Natural Colors (company)
- Chew Innovation (company)
- Beyond Meat (company)
- Pepsi (company)
- Nestle (company)
- Grunds (company)
- Starbucks (company)
- beta-lactoglobulin (other)
- inulin syrup (other)
- Cornell Food Lab (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Advice Line with Pete Maldonado and Rashid Ali of Chomps](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-02-19-advice-line-with-pete-maldonado-and-rashid-ali-of-chomps) (How I Built This)
- [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)
- [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)
- [Advice Line with Katlin Smith of Simple Mills](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-01-23-advice-line-with-katlin-smith-of-simple-mills) (How I Built This)
- [What It Really Takes To Build a Food Business: Part 2](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-10-25-what-it-really-takes-to-build-a-food-business-part-2) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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