✨ DFW CPG Brand Showcase – May 9
📍 James M. Collins Executive Education Center 3150 Binkley Ave, Dallas, TX 75205 🕕 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM
🎤 Panel: From Quest to Shelf: Winning HEB’s Quest for Texas Best
Hear from Moderator: Joshua Taylor, Executive Director at SMU Cox and Panelists: Crystal Royal, Supplier Diversity Program Manager at H-E-B & Arpitha Neravetla Founder of SpicyTude.
Show floor and lunch included.
Don’t miss it—come connect & grow!
See Linktree in bio to register.
#CPG #BrandShowcase #CPGCommunity
The CPG Strategic Acquisition Mindset
Join Joshua Taylor, Executive Director SMU Cox Williams S. Spear Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership to learn how large CPG companies think about identifying, engaging with, and ultimately acquiring startup CPG brands.
This session is ideal for founders who want to understand how to intentionally position their companies for a strategic acquisition over the medium to long term.
What you’ll learn
🔹 What large CPG companies look for in acquisition targets
🔹 How to build and nurture relationships with large CPG organizations
🔹 How to scale your CPG startup to become an attractive acquisition target
Register Now: See Linktree in Bio
#CPG #StartupGrowth #StrategicAcquisition #founders
DFW CPG invites you to Join Josh Taylor, Founder & Head Coach of Brand/Slam, for a session on the CPG Growth Model, an end-to-end framework for rapid scaling and growth.
Learn how positioning, channels, pricing, and operations work together as one system, and how to continuously refine each through real market feedback. The focus is on identifying the most important, repeatable drivers of growth and aligning decisions across the business with clarity and discipline.
Register DFW CPG invite you to Join Josh Taylor, Founder & Head Coach of Brand/Slam, for a session on the CPG Growth Model, an end-to-end framework for rapid scaling and growth.
See Linktree in bio to register.
#CPGGrowthModel #BusinessScaling #MarketFeedback #GrowthDrivers #StrategicPositioning #PricingStrategy
Grateful for the incredible support of our Gold Sponsor, Vela Wood!
Your partnership helps us create meaningful connections and impactful programming for DFW CPG. Thank you for being part of the journey.
#GoldSponsor #CPG #CommunityMatters #SponsorAppreciation
Last week’s Retail Unlocked Main Event wouldn’t have been the same without our incredible host and Gold Sponsor, PREP Kitchens.
From the moment guests walked in, the energy was high, the room was buzzing, and the space created the perfect backdrop for candid conversation about what it really takes to land on retail shelves. We’re grateful to PREP for opening their doors to the DFW CPG community and for their continued partnership in supporting emerging and expanding brands across North Texas.
If you’re a food founder looking for licensed commercial kitchen space, flexible memberships, and a community designed to help you launch, grow, and scale, PREP Kitchens is built for you. They provide the infrastructure and support food entrepreneurs need to move from idea to execution and beyond.
Interested in learning more or scheduling a tour?
Melinda Hudson, Sales & Community Manager
[email protected]
469-317-1714
They’re currently welcoming new members and would love to connect with DFW CPG brands looking for a supportive home base for production and collaboration.
Thank you again, PREP Kitchens, for investing in this community and the founders we serve. We’re proud to build alongside you.
Retail Unlocked: Buyer Realities, Founder Lessons, and Proven Go-to-Market
Join us in person for an exciting dive into the retail world! Discover buyer realities that shape decisions, hear firsthand founder lessons that reveal what works (and what doesn't), and get the scoop on proven go-to-market strategies to boost your success. Whether you're a startup enthusiast or industry pro, this event is packed with insights to unlock your retail potential!
Our Panel:
Tia Ellis, Founder of Wildflower Insight
Addison Labonte, Founder of Sweet Addison's
Salvador Duran, Buyer at Costco Wholesale
Register: See Linktree in bio to register
*Hors d'oeuvres and cocktails will be served
*NEW* Event Location:
Prep Dallas Commercial Kitchens
1499 Regal Row
Dallas, TX 75247
#RetailEvent #BuyerInsights #FounderStories #StartupCommunity #DallasEvents #CPG
A huge thank you to our gold sponsor, SIX+ONE!
We are incredibly grateful for their amazing support! Your generosity and partnership help make DFW CPG a success.
#GoldSponsor #ThankYou #CommunityPartners #SponsorshipMatters #Sponsor #cpg
A huge thank you to our gold sponsor, the clarity wizzard!
We are incredibly grateful for their amazing support! Your generosity and partnership help make DFW CPG a success.
#GoldSponsor #ThankYou #CommunityPartners #SponsorshipMatters #Sponsor #cpg
A huge thank you to our gold sponsor, PREP!
We are incredibly grateful for their amazing support! Your generosity and partnership help make DFW CPG a success.
#GoldSponsor #ThankYou #CommunityPartners #SponsorshipMatters #Sponsor #cpg
Join us on Thursday, October 23 for our next DFW CPG Huddle, “Understanding Strategic Acquisitions: How Big CPGs Choose the Brands They Buy.”
Josh Taylor of SMU Cox’s William S. Spears Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership for a behind-the-scenes look at how strategic acquisitions happen in the consumer-packaged goods world.
As growth slows in mature markets, acquisitions have become the primary growth engine for large CPGs — but what exactly are they looking for in an emerging brand?
Josh will unpack:
• Why acquisitions matter: How portfolio gaps, consumer trends, and channel expansion drive deal activity
• How buyers evaluate targets: What “strategic fit” really means — from margins to mission alignment
• The acquisition process: From early relationship-building to diligence, valuation, and integration
• Lessons for founders: How to position your brand, build credibility, and get on the radar early
If your long-term goal includes being acquired — or simply building a business that could be — this huddle will show you how to think like a buyer and operate like a brand worth buying.
REGISTRATION - SEE LINKTREE IN BIO
#CPG #ConsumerGoods #BrandAcquisition #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #StrategicPlanning
You are invited!
BIG-BOX BREAKTHROUGH:
Scaling Your Brand into Retail Giants & Mastering Fulfillment Partnerships
📅 Tuesday, November 13th
🕕 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Smurfit Westrock, 125 E. John Carpenter Fwy Suite 1500, Irving TX
Unlock the Secrets to Retail Expansion
Are you ready to take your brand from regional favorite to national powerhouse? Join us for Big Box Breakthrough—an inside look at how emerging CPG brands can successfully scale into major retailers like Walmart, Sam’s Club, Costco, Albertsons, and 7-Eleven.
Hear firsthand from Jared Drinkwater, CEO of Low and Slow Snacks, Leslie Kardokus, of GTM sales consultants, and Brian Groves RJW logistics group. and retail experts who’ve navigated the complexities of mass distribution, supply chain readiness, and fulfillment partnerships—and come out stronger on the other side.
What You’ll Learn
✅ Proven strategies for landing on big-box shelves
✅ Building operational strength to support rapid growth
✅ Mastering packaging, logistics, and compliance for scale
✅ Leveraging fulfillment partners to stay efficient and profitable
Who Should Attend
• CPG Founders & Brand Builders
• Operations & Supply Chain Leaders
• Emerging brands preparing for national retail distribution
REGISTER HERE: See Linktree in bio
#RetailSuccess #BrandGrowth #CPGStrategies #EmergingBrands #RetailExperts #cpg
Join us for our October 9, 2025, Huddle, "Breaking into Retail: A Roadmap for Emerging CPG Brands".
Texas is a massive opportunity for emerging CPG brands—but breaking into retail here isn’t as simple as sending samples and crossing your fingers.
In this DFW CPG Huddle, Amish Puri (VP Sales, SPINS) will walk founders through the reality of retail expansion:
The Texas grocery landscape: Which retailers' matter, how assortment decisions get made, and why “local foragers” aren’t just a buzzword.
Sustainable growth strategies: How to avoid the all-too-common scenario of scaling too fast and running out of cash.
Retail partnerships that fit: Bigger isn’t always better—Amish will show you how to evaluate which partners align with your brand’s mission and stage.
Pitching like a pro: The must-have elements of a retail sales pitch, from data storytelling to highlighting your 4Ps.
Data as your advantage: Why velocity, market gaps, and contribution to category growth matter more than glossy decks.
📉 Amish will unpack an illustrative brand that “won” national distribution too early—and went bankrupt.
📈 Another illustration shows a brand that chose mission-aligned retailers, grew steadily, and became a consumer favorite.
You’ll leave with a clear picture of how to chart your own roadmap into retail—and how to avoid the costly detours.
#CPG #RetailSuccess #EmergingBrands #CPGStrategies #TexasRetail #SustainableGrowth
REGISTER HERE: See Linktree in Bio
