COMMUNITY

Growing a new product business is hard to do alone

Emerge is a learning and resource network for growing CPG brands. Access the industry expertise, business solutions and trusted guidance you need to grow sustainably and expand your distribution, operations, financing and sales. Increase revenue, velocity, and secure more shelf space with an annual membership.

Read more about Emerge, the education, resources, business solutions and expertise you’ll access to with an annual membership!

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Emerge helps brands reach their growth goals!

A Community for Emerging Brands, 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 in the Emerge community. Connect with leading industry experts, build and nurture healthy trading partner relationships to strengthen the food and grocery retail industry, together. Emerge provides valuable educational content, mentoring and investment networking opportunities.

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Education

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

Community

Connect with mentors and like-minded founders to share experiences, best practices and valuable insights

Exposure

Be discovered by investors, explore financial options to help your brand succeed. Partner with distributors, suppliers, manufacturers, CPG retailers and industry leaders who are looking for products like yours.

Network

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

Mentoring for All Emerging Brands

From beverages to baby 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 intentionally and strategically. 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, 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

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.

Stephanie Louie

Strategic Brand Builder

Passionate about uncovering key insights and ideating, developing and launching new brands and products.

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Stephanie Louie

Founder and Chief Strategist

An entrepreneur at heart, Stephanie Louie is a passionate brand builder who loves to see businesses thrive as they find their North Star. She is a firm believer in developing strategies that are based on key insights, and leverages those insights to build businesses, brands and products that meet the needs of today’s consumer. She has worked with businesses large and small, and her areas of expertise include: Brand Strategy & Positioning, Go-to-Market Strategies, Consumer Research (both Qualitative and Quantitative), Target Consumer / Consumer Personas, Innovation Strategies, Design-Thinking Ideation, Product Development & Testing, Naming, Integrated Marketing, Messaging, and Digital Marketing.

Art Papazian

Business Consultant: Sales & Distribution

Business Strategist Guiding Emerging Brands with Sales & Distribution Growth

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Art Papazian

Business Consultant: Sales & Distribution

Business Strategist Guiding Emerging Brands with Sales & Distribution Growth. Experience and expertise in Specialty, Natural and Ethnic.

Ashley Sutterfield

Strategic Co-Packer Expert

Guides packaged food entrepreneurs in preparing for the right co-packer in order to increase their capacity and grow their business.

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Ashley Sutterfield

Business Consultant: Strategic Co-Packer Partnerships

Guides packaged food entrepreneurs in identifying a co-packer and preparing for the transition to scale their business strategically.

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Benefits

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

We can’t wait to meet you!

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