Growing a new product business is hard to do alone
COMMUNITY

Growing a new product business is hard to do alone

Like mustard and ketchup, salt and pepper, the food and grocery retail industry succeeds when we all work together.

Emerge convenes everyone in one place – early-stage founders boasting a wide range of innovative products, the industry’s leading experts, regional & nationwide retailers and distributors, brokers and investors looking for new opportunities, and more!

Learn more about the critical guidance, mentoring and business solutions you’ll access when you join our community!

Emerge helps founders succeed!

A Community for Early-Stage Founders, Retailers, Investors and Industry Experts

Regardless of which part of the CPG, food and grocery retail industry you’re a part of, we have a home for you here in the Emerge community. Connect with leading industry experts, build and nurture healthy trading partner relationships and more – let’s strengthen the food and grocery retail industry, together! Emerge provides valuable learning, mentoring and investor networking opportunities.

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Education

Education

Unlimited access to courses, lessons, guidance and tools from leading industry experts

Community

Community

Connect with like-minded founders and industry experts to get the support you need!

Exposure

Exposure

Meet the right investors. Connect with distributors, retail buyers, contract manufacturers, 3PLs and media partners, all seeking innovative products like yours.

Network

Network

Draw on the deep expertise of the entire Emerge community to support your growth.

1:1 Mentoring

1:1 Mentoring

From beverages to personal care, spices to snacks, plant-based products to alternative sweeteners, you’ll find a community of experts wanting to help and guide you in growing strategically and nimbly. Emerge mentors have the whole community covered with a full range of experiences. Mentors with origins in Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) brands, specialty & natural foods, beverages, wellness, various healthy lifestyles like keto and paleo, personal care, and more. The Emerge mentor network has a wide knowledge of distribution models – direct sales, large and small distributors, wholesalers and brokers. Connect with angel investors, private equity and venture capitalists and strategic investors from larger brands. Whatever business guidance you’re seeking, we’ve got you covered!

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Featured Mentors

Kim Biddle

Influencer & Digital Marketing Expert

Experienced in Sales, Partnership and Influencer Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Online Marketing, and Digital Marketing.

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Kim Biddle
Influencer & Digital Marketing Expert
Experienced in Sales, Partnership and Influencer Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Online Marketing, and Digital Marketing.

Todd Brantley

Private Business Banking

Financial Advisor to early-stage CPG founders. Advising on pros and cons of various financing products and raising capital strategies.

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Todd Brantley
Private Business Banking
Financial Advisor to early-stage CPG founders. Advising on pros and cons of various financing products and raising capital strategies.

Jessyca Dewey

Digital marketing, content and social media.

Digital marketing strategy, content and social media for social change. Ex-VaynerMedia and Demand Media.

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Jessyca Dewey
Digital marketing strategy, content and social media for social change. Ex-VaynerMedia and Demand Media.

Betsy Gillette

Sales Management Expert

A 20-year industry veteran in conventional and natural retail, Betsy helps emerging and mid-sized Natural & Organic brands gain distribution at retail, develop promotional and trade strategies, solidify channel strategies, and manage broker relationships.

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Betsy Gillette
Co-Founder / CEO
Synergy is the sales force for brands that don't have their own. Betsy and her team assist brands with pricing and promotional strategy, broker management, the category review process, and data & analytics. Synergy assigns a lead person to help with overall strategy and to be the core communicator within the team. And we have a team of seasoned CPG sales professionals to manage natural and organic retailers in their assigned territory. Betsy is a 20-year industry veteran having experience in both conventional and natural retail with Jewel Food Stores in Chicago and Wild Oats in Boulder. Additionally she has held positions on the manufacturing side, with White Wave Foods and in distribution at UNFI. For the past 4 years Betsy held key roles at IGNITE Sales Management, most recently as SVP of Sales, where she helped emerging and mid-sized Natural and Organic brands gain distribution at retail, develop promotional and trade strategies, solidify channel strategies, and manage broker relationships. Additionally she managed the IGNITE portfolio of brands at Whole Foods Market, representing over $100MM in retail sales.
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Benefits

Benefits

Access exclusive industry opportunities (think buyers and trade shows!), category data & analytics, highly-relevant business solutions, discounts, media exposure and more!

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