UGLY TALK: CPG FROM CART TO SHELF
Scaling a CPG brand isn’t a straight line. It’s a constant negotiation between time, cash, and execution.
Founders are often building brand, product, production, and retail relationships all at once. Early decisions around packaging, pricing, and co-packers are hard to reverse, and what works at markets or DTC doesn’t always translate to shelf success.
This Ugly Talk focuses on the real, behind-the-scenes work of moving from cart to shelf—where founders make tough tradeoffs, fix early mistakes, and learn how to scale without burning out in one of the most competitive CPG markets in the world.
🎯 Why You Should Attend
You’re growing a CPG brand and feel like everything is urgent, all at once
You’re navigating early retail conversations and unsure what actually matters to buyers
You’ve made branding, packaging, or production decisions that now feel limiting
You’re juggling operations, sales, and relationship-building with limited time and capital
You want real examples of what worked, what failed, and how founders course-corrected
You’ll leave with clearer signals on where to focus your time, how to avoid common scaling traps, and how to grow deliberately in a competitive retail environment.
🙋 Who You’ll Meet
Emerging CPG founders selling food, beverage, beauty, wellness, or lifestyle products
Operators managing production, fulfillment, and retail accounts
Founders transitioning from DTC, pop-ups, or markets into wholesale and retail
Ecosystem players supporting CPG growth: buyers, distributors, advisors, and community builders
🎤 Who’s on the Panel
John Davis - Co-founder and Co-CEO of Byte’m
Jack is the founder of Byte’m Brownies, a fast-growing dessert brand reinventing the classic brownie into craveable, bite-sized treats. Bootstrapped from idea to launch, Byte’m has quickly gained traction through sharp branding, disciplined execution, and a focus on product-first growth. Jack brings a builder’s perspective on launching consumer food brands, validating demand early, and scaling thoughtfully without outside capital. His work centers on turning simple products into memorable brands that resonate with modern consumers.
Grace Finerman - Founder of Date Smarter LLC
Grace Finerman created Date Smarter amid journey as a TV news anchor and reporter, juggling unpredictable hours, telling impactful stories both from the desk and out in the field. Life was fast-paced, with 3 AM wake-up calls for morning shifts and long nights covering breaking news. Amid the chaos, she realized how important it was to fuel her body with nourishing, wholesome foods that still allowed her to indulge.
Jacob Tubis - Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Byte'm Brownie Bites
Jacob Tubis is the co-founder of Byte’m Brownie Bites, a fast-growing premium snack brand bringing bakery-quality brownies to retail nationwide. He leads brand, retail strategy, and go-to-market execution as Byte’m scales across grocery and experiential channels. Jacob is also the co-producer of the Giant BBQ Battle, one of the largest food and music festivals in the country, giving him deep experience in experiential marketing, large-scale consumer engagement, and brand partnerships. He brings an operator-first perspective grounded in building products people actually show up for.
Damiano Messineo - Founder & CEO of Loopini
Damiano Messineo is the founder and CEO of Loopini, a New York-based company reinventing frozen pizza using the nutritious lupini bean. Dubbed "The Passionate Prince of Pizza" by investors on The Elevator Pitch, Damiano is on a mission to transform pizza into a functional superfood without sacrificing taste.
Under his leadership, Loopini has expanded into major retailers including Whole Foods and Wegmans. Currently training to become an endurance athlete, Damiano is on a journey to finish an Ironman 70.3 while eating pizza every day, proving that Loopini can fuel high performance.
Moderator:
Glenn Johnson - Marketing Consultant at Fractional CMO
Glenn Johnson works with small brands, startups, and founders to address their marketing needs. “Everyone needs something different, I craft a plan to help you address what you need, and a strategy to get it done.”
A former VP/Creative Director at a Madison Avenue agency specializing in luxury and bespoke audiences, he brings expertise across multiple verticals. As a category-agnostic brand storyteller, he helps founders define their mission, vision and develop their brand business.
💬 What We’ll Talk About
From cart to shelf - Making the leap from direct sales to retail: what to do, tips and timing decisions. Sometimes “selling out” online means managing store inventory.
Branding and packaging pivots - Turning inspiration into design and finding the right partners
Production and co-packers - Choosing the right one(s), negotiating minimums, managing quality, and scaling without losing control.
Finding and proving market fit - Interpreting sell-through, managing buyer feedback and customer engagement in real time.
Retail relationships that matter - How founders build trust with buyers, engage incubator programs and grow within stores, regions and manage key accounts.
Time, energy, and burnout - How founders prioritize when everything feels critical—and what they stop doing to survive.
Why NYC is the CPG capital - The advantages, pressures, and unique dynamics of building a CPG brand in New York.
🤝 Supported By
GREY Journal – Media partner spotlighting modern entrepreneurs (featured on Apple News + Google News).
🤝 Venue Partner
The Yard - Private offices & coworking spaces for individuals and teams.
⭐ About Ugly Talk:
Started in 2019, Ugly Talk has been transforming business setbacks into breakthrough “aha!” moments by hosting unfiltered, no-nonsense events where battle-tested entrepreneurs share their raw lessons and insights.
With a growing presence in cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami, we’ve built a vibrant community of thousands of founders and industry leaders making a profound impact on the entrepreneurial landscape.
Official Website: UglyTalk.com
🗣📢 Important Notice for Ugly Talk Attendees
Admission & Confirmation
Attendance is by approval only. Approved guests will receive a confirmation email along with a calendar invite. Invitations are non-transferable. Additional event details will be shared as the event approaches.
Code of Conduct
By attending, you agree to:
Maintain respect and professionalism, adhering to all venue rules, policies, and applicable laws.
Refrain from harassment, discrimination, unwelcome sexual advances (verbal or physical), intimidation, or inappropriate photography/recording.
Report any violations to the event hosts immediately.
Violations may result in immediate removal from the event and exclusion from future invitations.
Liability & Risk
Participation is voluntary and at your own risk. The event organizers, hosts, sponsors, and venue are not liable for personal injury, lost or stolen belongings, or any other damages incurred during the event.
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Official Event Page: [Link]