# How to Make the Most of Expo West as an Emerging CPG Brand | Little Latke, Gato Dates & Hola Mija Chips

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2026-04-20
- Length: 32m
- Episode: 295
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-04-20-how-to-make-the-most-of-expo-west-as-an-emerging-cpg-brand-little-latke-gato-dat
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/e21383bd

## Summary

Taylor Blue, founder of Little Latke, explains how exhibiting in the Startup CPG section at Expo West allowed her to launch a non-GMO, seed oil-free formula and two new flavors, securing new accounts through targeted sampling. Gabriella Labi and Tonya Reznikovich, co-founders of Gato Dates, recount their emotional journey from a second-place finish to winning a free Expo West 2027 booth via the Alley Rally vote, highlighting the importance of scrappy, viral marketing. Jesse Suarez, founder of Hola Mija Chips, details how persistent one-on-one retailer meetings and patience with buyers led to immediate orders and long-term relationships with retailers like Buy Rite and Mother's Market.

## Outline

1. Introduction: Startup CPG Expo West Overview
2. Taylor Blue and Little Latke: First-Time Exhibiting and New Formulas
3. Gato Dates: Alley Rally, Voting Drama, and Winning the 2027 Booth
4. Jesse Suarez and Hola Mija Chips: One-on-One Meetings and Buyer Relationships
5. Advice for First-Time Exhibitors and Persistent Retailer Engagement

## Topics

- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Little Latke (product)
- Gato Dates (product)
- Hola Mija Chips (product)
- Startup CPG (company)
- Alley Rally (other)
- Expo West (other)
- Buy Rite (company)
- Sprouts (company)
- Mother's Market (company)
- Whole Foods (company)
- Misfits Market (company)
- Woodlands Market (company)
- Good Eggs (company)
- Thrive (company)
- Fair (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Advice Line with Sarah Kauss of S'well](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-06-20-advice-line-with-sarah-kauss-of-swell) (How I Built This)
- [Advice Line with Ben Goodwin of Olipop](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-09-03-advice-line-with-ben-goodwin-of-olipop) (How I Built This)
- [Advice Line with Lara Merriken of LÄRABAR](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-10-17-advice-line-with-lara-merriken-of-larabar) (How I Built This)
- [Advice Line with Stacy Madison of Stacy’s Pita Chips](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-10-16-advice-line-with-stacy-madison-of-stacys-pita-chips) (How I Built This)
- [013: From Kitchen to Amazon, Launching All-Natural Cake Mix for Dogs with Kelly Costello of Puppy Cake](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-07-26-013-from-kitchen-to-amazon-launching-all-natural-cake-mix-for-dogs-with-kelly-co) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-04-20-how-to-make-the-most-of-expo-west-as-an-emerging-cpg-brand-little-latke-gato-dat. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Startup CPG Podcast.