Meeting CPG friends IRL
And what's next on my calendar
Hi, it’s Kelly!
Welcome to my new Substack! Here, I’ll be sharing all the cool CPG products in my home, industry happenings, and everything that’s on my radar. And what better way to kick things off than by sending a big thank you to all the industry friends I saw in real life at Monday’s coffee meetup!
Erica, the founder of Philo, had the brilliant idea to host a meetup before the Fancy Food Show, giving us a chance to network, prep for the show, and connect with old friends and new faces in the CPG community. I loved the concept and jumped in to co-host with Bread & Butter. Oases Café was already on my radar, thanks to French Squirrel’s pop-up and Preme sampling. I adored the vibe and curation of emerging CPG brands there, so when I reached out with the meetup idea, they were very welcoming. Monday’s meetup was everything we hoped for and more!
It was inspiring to see founders, strategic partners, industry tastemakers, and media all in one space, meeting and making connections. It was perfect.
A huge thank you to Oases Café for hosting us. Oases is a mindful lifestyle collective offering all-day dining with nourishing options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their menu blends Ayurvedic principles with regional culinary traditions to create a balanced, clean dining experience. They prioritize locally and seasonally sourced produce. Oases also has a beautifully curated Bazaar retail space and Oases House for programming and private events. Such a vibe!
If you loved the vibes at our meetup, here's the next event you won’t want to miss (I’ll be there!)
Philo is a full-service event design and production studio inspired by "Philoxenia," the ancient Greek art of hospitality. They specialize in creating intentional and beautiful activations for CPG, food & beverage businesses, providing opportunities for meaningful connections with customers and the community. Check out Philo on Instagram or explore their portfolio to learn more. You can also listen to my interview with Erica on Emerging Brands Podcast here.
Philo’s next community event is July’s Mediterranean Aperitivo Hour Feast with Friends.
Dreaming of crisp white wine, briny olives, juicy peaches, and long lunches by the Mediterranean sea... but stuck in NYC? Us too! Join Philo & Gotcha Focaccia, featuring Brami & Ellenos Yogurt, for a summer in the Med, no passport required!
What to expect:
A full aperitivo spread & cheese board curated by Gotcha Focaccia, with bites and dips from Brami and more. Think mini tomato sandwiches, tinned fish, peach & burrata salad, bright summer pasta salad, salty snacking beans, olives, and more!
A creamy Greek yogurt sweet treat from Ellenos.
A refreshing Spritz Bar with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.
Opportunities to make new friends and deeper connections.
Featured brands include Natoora, Faccia Brutto, Metro Cheese Club, Heraclea Olive Oil, Nice Cans, Curious Elixirs, and Primis Imports.
Limited early bird tickets are available now. Use code KELLY for a discounted ticket!
Where: Frank’s House, 133 Clinton Ave, Brooklyn, NY
When: Wednesday, July 30th, 6-8:30 pm
Lastly, if you’re in need of trademark or legal contracts, Bread & Butter has a summer sale until tomorrow (Friday)!
If you’re pre-launch or scaling, this is your chance to check in on the legal side of your brand and avoid expensive mistakes down the road. All documents are written by attorneys who specialize in emerging brands, so you’re not stuck piecing together risky DIY templates. Shop contract templates
And if there’s one thing I’ll always tell emerging brand founders… don’t DIY your trademark. Hiring an expert trademark attorney can make or break your brand. I happen to work with one of the top trademark attorneys in the country (hi Nicole!), and we collaborated to launch Bread & Butter. Protect your brand, avoid rebranding costs, and keep building something you actually own. Start your trademark strategy here
Talk to you next week!
Kelly