Hardware Podcasts

R&D RADIO: Lara Tiro of Rebel CPG — The PB&J Framework, COGS, and How to Scale a Food Product the Right Way

The Startup CPG Podcast · 25 May 2026 · 31m · Episode 310

What this episode covers

Lara Tiro, founder of Rebel CPG, explains her PB&J framework (Product, Packaging, Pricing, Process, Brand, Buyer, Baseline, Joy) for scaling food products, emphasizing that understanding COGS is critical to avoid financial failure. She details the transition from home kitchen recipes to commercial formulas, using a case study of Wholesome Yum’s frozen baby food to illustrate the complexities of scaling, packaging, and food safety. Tiro highlights the importance of managing ingredient behavior changes at scale, such as the use of tamarind seed gum and palm oil alternatives, and stresses that 'done is better than perfect' in product development.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Rebel CPG, Wholesome Yum, sbi
Materials
tamarind seed gum, xanthan gum
Also
CFIA, Bemis University, IFT

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