The Blog

The Modern Wholesale Playbook

How today's CPG brands find best-fit retailers, reach buyers, and scale without brokers.

Jan 30, 2026·12 min read

How to Negotiate Better Payment Terms with UNFI and KeHE

Learn typical UNFI and KeHE payment terms, how they impact working capital, and proven strategies to negotiate faster pay and better cash conversion.

Jan 29, 2026·11 min read

How to Brief Photographers and Use AI to Stretch a CPG Shoot

A founder's guide to briefing CPG photographers, building shot lists, and using AI scene generation to extend every shoot into months of usable content.

Jan 28, 2026·9 min read

How AI Visual Brand Monitoring Catches Mentions Without Hashtags

Discover how AI logo recognition finds untagged brand mentions on Instagram and TikTok. Tools, workflows, and DIY tactics for CPG founders.

Jan 27, 2026·12 min read

How to Find a Walmart Broker That Actually Performs

Learn how to find, vet, and pay a Walmart broker that actually performs. Tactical guide to Bentonville broker offices, Retail Link, OTIF, and commission expectations.

Jan 26, 2026·10 min read

Niche Distributors for Snacks and Protein Bars Beyond UNFI

Discover niche distributors for snacks and protein bars beyond UNFI and KeHE. Tactical guide to c-store, gym, and foodservice routes that protect margin and grow velocity.

Jan 25, 2026·11 min read

Affordable Social Listening Tools for Early Stage CPG Brands

The best free and low-cost social listening tools for early stage CPG brands. Track mentions, sentiment, and retail signals without enterprise pricing.

Where to Source Commercial Kitchen Equipment for CPG Production

Where to source reliable commercial kitchen equipment for CPG production. Used and new options, inspection tips, financing, and when to graduate to a co-packer.

Jan 24, 2026·11 min read

KeHE AAP vs National Free Fill Clause for Emerging Brands

Understand KeHE's AAP program, national free fill clauses, how they interact, and what emerging CPG founders should negotiate to protect cash and margin.

Jan 23, 2026·11 min read

How to Grow a CPG Brand on Instagram Beyond Follower Count

Learn how the Instagram algorithm actually ranks CPG content in 2026, what to post, what to stop doing, and how to use IG growth as proof of demand for buyers.

Jan 22, 2026·10 min read

How CPG Attribution Should Go Beyond Basic ROAS

Basic ROAS fails for CPG brands selling DTC, Amazon, and retail. Learn attribution models, incrementality testing, and how to build a CPG attribution philosophy.

Jan 21, 2026·13 min read

How to Read a CPG Broker Contract Before You Sign

Learn the broker contract clauses that matter most for CPG brands. Tail commissions, exclusivity, clawbacks, and what to negotiate before you sign.

Jan 20, 2026·12 min read

When to Hire a Deduction Recovery Service for Your CPG Brand

Learn how CPG deduction recovery services work, when the math justifies hiring one, pricing models, and how to vet providers like Glimpse, Confido, and Floret.

Jan 19, 2026·11 min read

How to Read Sprouts Store Level Data to Grow Sales

Learn how to access Sprouts store-level data, read distribution gaps versus velocity issues, plan demos, and run a monthly Sprouts business review.

Jan 18, 2026·11 min read

An Operations Checklist for Trade Show Season Prep

The operations side of trade show prep. Production capacity, sample logistics, EDI readiness, and post-show order surge fulfillment for CPG brands.

Jan 17, 2026·10 min read

Why a Broker Probably Won't Get You Into Whole Foods Faster

Whole Foods rewards founder-led pitching more than most retailers. Here's when you don't need a broker, and the specific cases when you do.

Jan 16, 2026·9 min read

How to Design CPG Packaging That Sells at Target Stores

How CPG founders design packaging that wins at Target. Shopper expectations, shelf realities, sustainability cues, and common mistakes that kill placements.

Jan 15, 2026·9 min read

How to Use AI on Whole Foods Vendor Portal Data

How CPG founders use ChatGPT, Claude, and dedicated tools to analyze Whole Foods vendor portal data, spot voids early, and improve sell-through.

Jan 14, 2026·9 min read

Commission vs Retainer for Your CPG Broker Agreement

Learn typical CPG broker commission rates, when retainers make sense, hybrid structures, and how broker pay affects your P&L after distributor margin and trade.

Jan 13, 2026·11 min read

How GDSN Synchronization Works for CPG Brands

Learn what GDSN is, how to set it up with GS1 and a data pool, and how clean product data prevents deductions, slotting holds, and shelf issues.

Jan 12, 2026·11 min read

How to Use AI to Analyze CPG Customer Reviews at Scale

Use AI sentiment and theme analysis to find product issues, marketing angles, and buyer pitch material in CPG customer reviews. Tools, methods, and tradeoffs.

Jan 11, 2026·11 min read

When to Hire an Independent Sales Rep vs a CPG Broker

Compare independent sales reps and CPG brokers across cost, coverage, and attention. A founder's decision tree for which to hire and when.

Jan 10, 2026·10 min read

DSD vs Distribution Center for Reorders and Replenishment

A practical comparison of DSD and DC distribution for CPG reorders, covering velocity, out-of-stock recovery, shelf protection, and reorder margin economics.

Jan 9, 2026·11 min read

How to Build a CPG Brand Identity That Earns Shelf Space

A founder's guide to building a CPG brand identity that resonates with shoppers, retail buyers, and the freelancers and agencies who help you scale.

Jan 8, 2026·11 min read

1WorldSync vs Syndigo for CPG Product Data Syndication

1WorldSync vs Syndigo for CPG product data syndication. Compare retailer coverage, features, pricing, and which platform wins based on your retailer mix.

Jan 7, 2026·10 min read

A First Time Founder Checklist for Vetting a CPG Broker

A scannable checklist for vetting your first CPG broker. Questions to ask, documents to request, references to verify, red flags, and day-one KPIs.

Jan 6, 2026·10 min read

How to Get Into the New at KeHE Program as a Startup

Learn how the New at KeHE program works, what it costs, and how startup CPG brands without anchor accounts can get accepted and succeed once they're in.

Jan 5, 2026·10 min read

Affordable Shopify Attribution Tools Beyond Triple Whale

Compare affordable Triple Whale alternatives for Shopify CPG brands. Multi-touch attribution, post-purchase surveys, and MMM-lite tools that fit a startup budget.

Jan 4, 2026·10 min read

How KeHE Receiving and Lead Times Actually Work

Master KeHE receiving timelines, CONNECT appointment scheduling, ASN and BOL accuracy, and how to recover when product gets rejected or shorted.

Jan 3, 2026·10 min read

How CPG Distributor Fees Actually Add Up Beyond Slotting

Break down every distributor fee that erodes your wholesale margin. Slotting, EDI, free fills, MCBs, shrink, and how to negotiate or avoid them.

Jan 2, 2026·10 min read

Agency vs Freelancer for CPG Branding and Packaging Design

Compare hiring an agency vs a freelancer for CPG branding and packaging design. Real budgets, pitfalls, and a vetting framework for founders making the call.

Jan 1, 2026·11 min read