The Pour Decisions Podcast

What happens when you take one of India's most popular superfoods and introduce it to the American snack aisle? In this episode of Pour Decisions, Dino Sarti sits down with Iqbal Singh, Founder of FitFox, to discuss how he's building a fast-growing snack brand around fox nuts (also known as makhana), a nutrient-dense superfood that has been a staple in India for generations. Iqbal shares his journey from working as a convenience store cashier to launching a brand now found in more than 300 stores across the U.S. in less than a year. The conversation dives into retail strategy, distribution, product innovation, consumer education, and why FitFox earned five Golden Tickets through WAFC's Next on Shelf program. Whether you're a founder, retailer, investor, or simply curious about emerging food trends, this episode offers valuable insights into bringing an entirely new category to market.

What if perfectly good food never had to end up in the trash? In this episode of Pour Decisions, Dino Sarti sits down with Gabby Vondrak and Gus K. from Too Good To Go, the global marketplace helping retailers, restaurants, grocery stores, and convenience chains reduce food waste while creating new revenue opportunities. With operations spanning 20 countries and millions of users worldwide, Too Good To Go has become one of the most impactful sustainability platforms in food retail. Gabby and Gus share how the company's famous "surprise bags" work, why partners like Whole Foods embraced the model, and how retailers can turn surplus inventory into customer acquisition, incremental sales, and environmental impact. They also discuss food waste misconceptions, the economics of surplus food, opportunities across grocery and convenience retail, and the future vision for reducing waste throughout the supply chain.

What does it take to build a career that spans Coca-Cola, sports nutrition, alkaline water, and premium hydration? In this episode of Pour Decisions, Dino Sarti sits down with Don Halstead of Perfect Hydration to discuss his decades-long journey through the beverage industry. From launching products with Coca-Cola and working in sports nutrition during its early innovation boom to helping scale Alkaline88 and now supporting Perfect Hydration, Don shares lessons learned from every stage of the business. The conversation covers retail fundamentals, distributor relationships, hydration trends, sports nutrition innovation, and why industry events like WAFC continue to play an important role in helping emerging brands connect with buyers and grow. Whether you're building a beverage brand, working in retail, or simply fascinated by the stories behind successful consumer products, this episode is packed with insights and entertaining industry stories.

What if the biggest innovation in grocery stores isn't on the shelf—it's the shelf itself? In this episode of Pour Decisions, Danny Stepper sits down with Mike Ebert of Aperion, a division of Hussmann Corporation, to explore how AI-powered refrigeration monitoring, electronic shelf labels, and connected retail technology are transforming the grocery industry. Mike shares how retailers are using predictive AI to prevent refrigeration failures before they happen, why Walmart's rollout of digital shelf tags is accelerating industry adoption, and how stores are balancing the cost of implementation with long-term operational gains. Whether you're a retailer, brand operator, technology leader, or simply curious about the future of grocery, this conversation offers a fascinating look at the infrastructure powering modern retail.

What happens when a fourth-generation grocer decides to reinvent kombucha? In this episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti sits down with George Goodwin, Founder of Kōbu Kombucha Powder, to discuss his family's grocery legacy, the rise of health-focused consumer products, and how he transformed kombucha into a convenient stick-pack format designed for modern lifestyles. George shares the story behind Goodwin's Organics, how his mother's health journey influenced his passion for wellness, the science of gut health, and why Kōbu combines prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and hydration in one product. Whether you're interested in beverage innovation, functional wellness, retail entrepreneurship, or building a purpose-driven brand, this conversation is packed with insights.

What makes a great broker—and why do so many brands get it wrong? In this episode of Pour Decisions, Dino Sarti sits down with Taylor Clute, Vice President of Partnerships & Marketing at RecorGroup, to discuss the evolving role of brokers in CPG, how brands should evaluate retail partners, and why transparency and accountability are more important than ever. Taylor shares his journey from Advantage Solutions to Kings Hawaiian, SnackNation, Wonderful Pistachios, and ultimately RecorGroup, where he's helping redefine what a modern broker partnership should look like. The conversation also dives into retail strategy, beverage trends, GLP-1s, health-conscious consumers, and the future of grocery. Whether you're a founder, retailer, investor, or operator, this episode offers valuable insights on building stronger partnerships and winning at retail.

What does it take to build a family business that lasts 130 years? In this episode of Pour Decisions, Dino Sarti sits down with Thomas McNutt, fourth-generation owner and operator of Collin Street Bakery, to discuss the remarkable history behind the world's best-selling fruitcake, how a mail-order business became a national retail success story, and why their latest products are flying off shelves across the country. Thomas shares the fascinating origin story of Collin Street Bakery, the family dynamics behind a multi-generational business, lessons learned from scaling from direct-to-consumer into 5,000 retail locations, and how they're transforming a seasonal brand into a year-round food company. Whether you're a founder, retailer, food entrepreneur, or family business operator, this conversation is packed with insights on growth, innovation, retail strategy, and building a lasting legacy.

Most brands spend millions building awareness—but many lose shoppers before they ever make a purchase. In this episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti sits down with Andrea Álvarez and Xavier Pena of Brand X to discuss how brands can better connect with Hispanic consumers, improve retail execution, and turn marketing investments into measurable sales growth. The conversation covers shopper marketing, cultural relevance, in-store activation, retail partnerships, and why understanding culture—not simply translating language—is one of the biggest competitive advantages available to brands today.

What if the most valuable career investment in the food industry isn't a sales meeting—but showing up, serving others, and building relationships over time? Recorded live at the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) Conference, Dino Sarti sits down with Lori Brown, Director of Business Development at Nucal Foods and current Headlight of the Illuminators, for a conversation about leadership, mentorship, education, and the organizations helping shape the future of the grocery industry. Lori shares her journey from grocery cashier to industry leader, discusses the mission of the Illuminators, explains how WAFC's educational programs have transformed careers, and highlights why servant leadership continues to be one of the most powerful forces in business. The conversation also explores scholarships, the Food Industry Management Program, USC's food industry leadership programs, the Next on Shelf initiative for emerging brands, and the importance of building authentic relationships throughout your career.

What does it take to become an Olympic gold medalist, a two-division UFC champion, and then transition into building one of the fastest-growing beer brands in America? In this episode of Pour Decisions, Dino Sarti sits down with combat sports legend Henry Cejudo to discuss his incredible journey from a childhood of adversity to becoming one of the most decorated combat athletes in history. Henry shares lessons from wrestling, the UFC, overcoming devastating losses, and why he's now betting on Real American Beer as his next championship pursuit. From mindset and manifestation to branding, business, and legacy, this conversation is packed with insights for athletes, entrepreneurs, and anyone chasing big goals.