# Building a Clean-Label Tart Cherry Beverage with No Natural Flavors and No Added Sugar in the Midst of a Booming Ingredient Trend

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2026-07-10
- Length: 27m
- Episode: 336
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-07-10-building-a-clean-label-tart-cherry-beverage-with-no-natural-flavors-and-no-added
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/543bfa76

## Summary

Lindsey Fredrick, founder of Tart, explains how her personal struggle with 35 food allergies led to the creation of a clean-label tart cherry beverage using only five organic ingredients, no natural flavors, and no added sugar. She details the strategic decision to manufacture mineral water in-house to reduce shipping costs and the packaging pivot from burgundy to a standout red can that drives shelf visibility. Fredrick also discusses her rapid launch timeline, from January 1st to exhibiting at Winter Fancy Food Show, and how organic certification became a key competitive advantage in securing retail partnerships in California and Texas.

## Outline

1. Introduction: Lindsey Fredrick and Tart's Clean-Label Philosophy
2. Formulation: In-House Mineral Water and Ingredient Transparency
3. Packaging Design: The Pivot to Red and Shelf Visibility
4. Launch Strategy: Winter Fancy Food Show and Zero Expectations
5. Retail Rollout: Organic Certification and Regional Expansions
6. Marketing: Solo Founder Activations and De-influencing Trends

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Tart (product)
- Winter Fancy Food Show (other)
- San Pellegrino (product)
- Vital Fit Nutrition (company)
- Tom Brady (other)
- Sprouts (company)

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- [How I Built Resilience: Kara Goldin of Hint](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-04-01-how-i-built-resilience-kara-goldin-of-hint) (How I Built This)
- [Lily’s Sweets: Cynthia Tice](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-09-30-lilys-sweets-cynthia-tice) (How I Built This)
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- [360 - Beyond the Die Line - The pitch was awful. They liked the bar! Tom Seymour and Ree Dolnick](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-10-08-360-beyond-the-die-line-the-pitch-was-awful-they-liked-the-bar-tom-seymour-and-r) (People of Packaging)

## 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/2026-07-10-building-a-clean-label-tart-cherry-beverage-with-no-natural-flavors-and-no-added. 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.