# Reinventing the Pizza Bagel: Bagelverse's Jacob Cooper on Nostalgia and CPG

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2026-10-09
- Length: 29m
- Episode: 381
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-10-09-reinventing-the-pizza-bagel-bagelverses-jacob-cooper-on-nostalgia-and-cpg
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/7704bc4c

## Summary

Jacob Cooper, founder of Bagelverse, explains his pivot from eight years as a CTO in AI to launching a nostalgic pizza bagel brand with flavors like spicy vodka and barbecue chicken. He details the complex supply chain requiring two separate co-packers for bagels and pizza assembly, and his strategy of validating demand through pop-ups before securing manufacturing. Cooper emphasizes the critical importance of high-quality packaging for emerging brands and his long-term, relationship-focused approach to securing retail placements with major retailers like Target and Whole Foods.

## Outline

1. Introduction: Jacob Cooper and Bagelverse
2. Career Pivot from AI CTO to CPG Founder
3. Supply Chain Complexity with Two Co-Packers
4. Trade Show Strategy and Follow-Up Discipline
5. Retail Strategy and Packaging as Key Investment
6. Current Distribution and Future Plans

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Packaging design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/packaging-design)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Bagelverse (company)
- Bagel Bites (product)
- Cheese Annie's (product)
- Wegmans (company)
- Target (company)
- Whole Foods (company)
- Walmart (company)
- Summer Fancy Food (other)
- Startup CPG (other)
- Shelfie Award (other)
- Little Bagel (product)
- Pop Up Grocer (company)
- Happier Grocery (company)
- Amazon EC2 (other)
- Alexa (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [214 - Alex Cree on how he met Mark Cuban and innovated a new food product](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-09-20-214-alex-cree-on-how-he-met-mark-cuban-and-innovated-a-new-food-product) (People of Packaging)
- [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)
- [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)
- [339 - Beyond the Dieline ep 1 with Tom Seymour and Jessica Kwon from Moka Energy!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-02-05-339-beyond-the-dieline-ep-1-with-tom-seymour-and-jessica-kwon-from-moka-energy) (People of Packaging)
- [354 - Beyond the dieline with the incomparable Jake Karls from Mid-Day Squares](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-07-22-354-beyond-the-dieline-with-the-incomparable-jake-karls-from-mid-day-squares) (People of Packaging)

## Citing this page

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