#227 - Operations Ask-Me-Anything with Jamie Valenti-Jordan

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Recorded16 Dec 2025

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In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff speaks with Jamie Valenti-Jordan, CEO of Catapult Commercialization Services, a leader in food and beverage product development, scale-up, and manufacturing strategy. Jamie brings decades of experience guiding brands from concept to commercialization, and a mission-driven focus on helping innovators build sustainable food systems for a rapidly growing population.Throughout the conversation, Jamie breaks down the realities of bringing products to market—from choosing the right product developer to navigating the complexities of frozen logistics, ingredient sourcing, and co-manufacturing partnerships. He offers clear, pragmatic frameworks for evaluating partners, managing risk, and building cost-effective operations, while emphasizing the importance of communication, collaboration, and long-term relationship building.Daniel and Jamie also explore the structural challenges early-stage brands face when entering manufacturing environments not optimized for small batches, and why founders must understand the economics and constraints of their partners to negotiate effectively and scale responsibly.Listen in as they discuss:How to identify and evaluate independent product developersChallenges and cost drivers in frozen DTC logisticsWhere and how emerging brands can source core ingredientsSampling strategies and pilot runs for early-stage commercializationThe operational realities behind low minimum order quantitiesHow co-manufacturers structure their costs and capacity planningBest practices for visiting facilities and developing working relationshipsKey considerations when reviewing co-packer contractsThe role of transparency, expectations, and shared accountabilityEpisode LinksWebsite: https://www.catapultserv.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fvmh97c/ Product Developer Database Submissions: https://bit.ly/productdevelopersepg contact: [email protected], mention Startup CPGJoin the Startup CPG Slack: startupcpg.comDon't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.Show Links:Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)Join the Startup CPG Slack community (30K+ members and growing!)Follow @startupcpgVisit host Daniel's Linkedin Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at [email protected] music by Super Fantastics

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.