# Opportunity Knocks: Get Direct Access to Top Retailers

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2026-04-26
- Length: 25m
- Episode: 298
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-04-26-opportunity-knocks-get-direct-access-to-top-retailers
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/0fe6db5a

## Summary

Daniel Scharff and Caitlin Bricker, a former retail buyer at Startup CPG, announce the launch of Opportunity Knocks, a new platform designed to give emerging CPG brands direct access to retailers like Raley's, The Fresh Market, Hungryroot, and Whole Foods UK without brokers. They explain that the platform will drop biweekly opportunities via the Startup CPG newsletter, allowing brands to submit applications during two-week windows. Bricker and Scharff provide critical advice for success, emphasizing the need for transparent ingredient lists, packaging visuals, and founder stories on brand websites, as well as crafting 'incrementality' stories that demonstrate growth potential to buyers.

## Outline

1. Introduction to Opportunity Knocks
2. Platform Mechanics and Retailer Partners
3. Website Essentials for Retail Readiness
4. Crafting the Incrementality Story
5. Formulation Trends and Final Advice

## Topics

- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Startup CPG (company)
- Opportunity Knocks (product)
- Raley's (company)
- The Fresh Market (company)
- Hungryroot (company)
- Whole Foods UK (company)
- Shelfie Awards (product)

## 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)
- [094: How New Startup Products Get Into Big Retailers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-09-22-094-how-new-startup-products-get-into-big-retailers) (Product Startup)
- [Advice Line with Pete Maldonado of Chomps](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-05-02-advice-line-with-pete-maldonado-of-chomps) (How I Built This)
- [183: Getting a New Hardware Product into Retail Stores](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-07-07-183-getting-a-new-hardware-product-into-retail-stores) (Product Startup)
- [058: How to Pitch Your Product to Retail Stores](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2020-12-21-058-how-to-pitch-your-product-to-retail-stores) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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