jobTopia with Tony Moore
It's better to ride a trend than bet against it - a famous investor once said. Join me each week as I interview executives to discover industry trends and the future of work.
Episodes

Mar 28, 2023
Mar 28, 2023
35 min
What's more American than a local coffee shop serving up its version of a cup o joe? 20 years ago Jared Smith and his brother Paul started Fives Lakes, bought a roaster, and began their business journey. Jared joins me as he shares the inside story of roasting the perfect coffee bean and their successful business plan to be a regional player.
Welcome to Five Lakes: Home of the Highly Caffeinated Angry Brew. Small batch Michigan coffee roasters with eight locations in MI and IN.
Origin Story
Purchasing a roaster
1st coffee shop in their town
The roasting process
Store-bought VS fresh roasted
Coffee bean blends, caffeination
Current business model
Key learning – opened 2 stores too far away and had to close them
8 regional stores – spoke and wheel model and a 9th scheduled this year
Some foodservice, universities, casinos no retail grocery at this point
Expanding into RTD coffee with Michigan States University
Scaling a coffee company
Be willing to work a lot and trust people
Be winning or learning
HR Strategy
GMs and assistants
Store Director
Communications
Trainer
Responding to trends
Don’t be attached to an idea or menu item
Iced and frozen drinks are trending
Systems that actually work
What does the future hold?
Season 3, Episode 15
Five Lakes Coffee
Connect with Jared Smith
Connect with Tony
About me and my mission and the podcast:
Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to discover unique brands and learn about the people and strategies successful companies are implementing in the CPG and Food and Beverage Industry? The brands featured here take us into the world of innovation, sustainability, good for you, lifestyle, QSR, Foodservice, Distribution, DTC, Club, and more.
I am a fun-loving business leader, podcaster, husband, dad, cyclist, and Convention of States volunteer in my spare time. My mission is to discover the people and ideas behind these different, better, and special companies.
Entrepreneurs and CEOs, are you:
Searching for distributor or broker partners?
Actively prospecting commercial buyers to gain more points of distribution?
Searching for the right person to add to the team?
My Direct Response Marketing Service attracts exactly what you need to help your brand thrive and grow.
Here is a NOVEL approach to ATTRACT distributors, buyers, people (DEMO)
Contact me: Tony@timpl.com
Follow me on LinkedIn: Different, Better, Special Brands
Join Our Community
Music from Uppbeat and ZapSplathttps://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/get-the-funk-inLicense code: SF3WUKBUJQULFHXE

Mar 24, 2023
Mar 24, 2023
32 min
The Ready To Drink category (RTD) is set to explode past $10 billion in the next 5-10 years. The fastest-growing segment within RTD is the spirits category. Andrew Rodbell and his co-founder identified a "whitespace" in the marketplace 6 years ago. Today they are the category leader, and Andrews joins me today and reveals his #1 business philosophy that guides their decisions.
Origin story
Whitespace
Trends
Market size
Going against the norm
Canning line
Sales strategy
Marketing and Influencers?
Points of Distribution
Who is the target market - the buyer persona?
Where to find these cute little cans
Season 3, Episode 14
Post Meridiem Spirit Company
Connect with Andrew Rodbell
Connect with Tony
About me and my mission and the podcast:
Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to discover unique brands and learn about the people and strategies successful companies are implementing in the CPG and Food and Beverage Industry? The brands featured here take us into the world of innovation, sustainability, good for you, lifestyle, QSR, Foodservice, Distribution, DTC, Club, and more.
I am a fun-loving business leader, podcaster, husband, dad, cyclist, and Convention of States volunteer in my spare time. My mission is to discover the people and ideas behind these different, better, and special companies.
Entrepreneurs and CEOs, are you:
Searching for distributor or broker partners?
Actively prospecting commercial buyers to gain more points of distribution?
Searching for the right person to add to the team?
My Direct Response Marketing Service attracts exactly what you need to help your brand thrive and grow.
Here is a NOVEL approach to ATTRACT distributors, buyers, people (DEMO)
Contact me: Tony@timpl.com
Follow me on LinkedIn: Different, Better, Special Brands
Join Our Community
Music from Uppbeat and ZapSplathttps://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/get-the-funk-inLicense code: SF3WUKBUJQULFHXE

Mar 21, 2023
Mar 21, 2023
31 min
Food entrepreneurs shoulder massive financial risks. Many seek out experts to work with for guidance and support. Former 5-star pastry chef, Cassity Jones, the COO of Frontier Kitchens, has a new mission: guide the new generation of food stars to get established in the business of food and launched into retail, foodservice or DTC.
Cassity joins me to discuss the newest food trends and pitfalls entrepreneurs must avoid if they are to beat the odds.
origin story
Frontier Kitchen - food business accelerator / university
rising stars - Rice Culture & Go Oats (As Seen on Shark Tank)
Pitfalls
Financial acumen, cost control, too rigid, lack of support, can't handle success
Trends
Season 3, Episode 13
Frontier Kitchen
Connect with Cassity Jones
Connect with Brenda Cromer
Connect with Tony
Sampling is the best effective way to boost sales and expand your brand! You wouldn't only give a prospect a spec sheet! Let the marketplace SAMPLE your BRAND! Here is a NOVEL approach to ATTRACT people (DEMO)
About me and my mission and the podcast:
Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to discover unique brands and learn about the people and strategies successful companies are implementing in the CPG and Food and Beverage Industry? The brands featured here take us into the world of innovation, sustainability, good for you, lifestyle, QSR, Foodservice, Distribution, DTC, Club, and more.
I am a fun-loving business leader, podcaster, husband, dad, cyclist, and Convention of States volunteer in my spare time. My mission is to discover the people and ideas behind these different, better, and special companies. My skills are in leadership, talent acquisition strategies, corporate hiring, sales, entrepreneurship, and backseat driving. I created a novel 6-week candidate attraction program talent acquisition that engages the 70% of the workforce not actively applying for jobs. See the DEMO. Say goodbye to traditional!
Contact me: Tony@timpl.com
Follow me on LinkedIn: Different, Better, Special Brands
Join Our Community
Music from Uppbeat and ZapSplathttps://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/get-the-funk-inLicense code: SF3WUKBUJQULFHXE

Mar 17, 2023
Mar 17, 2023
34 min
Starting worlds away from the food industry as a bioengineer at UPenn, Mama Mancini’s CEO Adam Michaels joins me today and shares how he found his true passion and purpose in food.
We dissect consumer trends in the wake of recessionary pressures. As more people choose to eat at home over eating out and choose to buy private labels over branded ones, Mama Mancini's decision to be a one-stop shop in the deli is the right one.
Crack open a beer and enjoy this episode with Adam.
origin story
first principles
Italian heritage brand
“Grandma quality” - fresh, clean, eating
One-stop shop deli solution
Consumer insights
Trends: Recessionary pressures
Branded vs. Private label
Culture
Mama Mancini’s winning categories in the QVC customer choice awards 2022:🏆 Most Recommended Brand🏆 Best Meatball🏆 Best Sauce🏆 Best Plant-Based Item
Season 3, Episode 12
Mama Mancini’s
Connect with Adam Michaels
Connect with Tony
Sampling is the best effective way to boost sales and expand your brand! You wouldn't only give a prospect a spec sheet! Let the marketplace SAMPLE your BRAND! Here is a NOVEL approach to ATTRACT people (DEMO)
About me and my mission and the podcast:
Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to discover unique brands and learn about the people and strategies successful companies are implementing in the CPG and Food and Beverage Industry? The brands featured here take us into the world of innovation, sustainability, good for you, lifestyle, QSR, Foodservice, Distribution, DTC, Club, and more.
I am a fun-loving business leader, podcaster, husband, dad, cyclist, and Convention of States volunteer in my spare time. My mission is to discover the people and ideas behind these different, better, and special companies. My skills are in leadership, talent acquisition strategies, corporate hiring, sales, entrepreneurship, and backseat driving. I created a novel 6-week candidate attraction program talent acquisition that engages the 70% of the workforce not actively applying for jobs. See the DEMO. Say goodbye to traditional!
Contact me: Tony@timpl.com
Follow me on LinkedIn: Different, Better, Special Brands
Join Our Community
Music from Uppbeat and ZapSplathttps://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/get-the-funk-inLicense code: SF3WUKBUJQULFHXE

Mar 14, 2023
Mar 14, 2023
33 min
Wine Spies CEO, Addison “Agent Cru” Rex shares the unique twist to the flash sale model. Now the oldest wine flash sale retailer, they navigated through an industry with super niche products, specific needs & thousands of SKUs, by building their own unique system.
As a discount retailer, how do you deliver on the promise of great quality and great taste? How do you reach, engage AND cater to all of the different tastes within the marketplace?
These spies do it 365 days a year... Grab a glass as we uncork the declassified matter.
Flash Sale Model
Two core competencies: tech company & e-commerce marketing company
Profit margins as a discounter
$400 billion industry
DTC over $20 billion
3 tier system
E-commerce
Brick-and-Mortar
Merchandising ~2,000 SKUs
Copyright
Their subscription model vs the "Freemium" model
Trends
Become an Operative
Connect with Addison Rex
Connect with Tony Moore

Mar 10, 2023
Mar 10, 2023
31 min
Alex Hult's NHL Hockey Career may have ended too soon, but his passion and desire to work hard didn't retire. On his honeymoon with Sarah, Mrs. Nevada 2011, he discovered an interesting phenomenon with a flight of cocktails. Small-batch food and drinks create more tasty, memorable experiences - as he explains on the podcast. Needing a runway of capital to get started, he turned to friends and family to help launch Flights Restaurants. After the concept took off, he expanded to multiple markets and now is launching a nationwide franchisee program. Please put your tray tables in their upright and locked position and prepare for take-off with Alex Hult as he joins me today on the Winning at Work podcast.
Origin Story
Theme
Business Plan
Franchise Concept
Key Learnings
Trends
Season 3 Episode 10
Flights Restaurants https://flightsrestaurants.com/
Alex Hult is not on social media - you will discover why.....
Connect with Tony Moore https://www.linkedin.com/in/differentbetterspecialbrands/
Sampling is the best effective way to boost sales and expand your brand! You wouldn't only give a prospect a spec sheet! Let the marketplace SAMPLE your BRAND! Here is a NOVEL approach to ATTRACT people (DEMO)
About me and my mission and the podcast:
Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to discover unique brands and learn about the people and strategies successful companies are implementing in the CPG and Food and Beverage Industry? The brands featured here take us into the world of innovation, sustainability, good for you, lifestyle, QSR, Foodservice, Distribution, DTC, Club, and more.
I am a fun-loving business leader, podcaster, husband, dad, cyclist, and Convention of States volunteer in my spare time. My mission is to discover the people and ideas behind these different, better, and special companies. My skills are in leadership, talent acquisition strategies, corporate hiring, sales, entrepreneurship, and backseat driving. I created a novel 6-week candidate attraction program talent acquisition that engages the 70% of the workforce not actively applying for jobs. See the DEMO. Say goodbye to traditional!
Contact me: Tony@timpl.com
Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/differentbetterspecialbrands/
Join Our Community
Music from Uppbeat and ZapSplathttps://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/get-the-funk-inLicense code: SF3WUKBUJQULFHXE

Mar 7, 2023
Mar 7, 2023
36 min
From a cultural perspective, having a global, remote staff solving global supply chain issues brought local creativity into focus. As IB scaled, Eran identified gaps and saw an opportunity to align his business with suppliers, giving IB's clients the ability to scale, maintain quality and also improve margins.
Eran's mission is to close the gap between customers and the manufacturer, the person who's actually producing the goods, and improve that relationship.
Join me as I learn from Eran how food manufacturers scale their businesses through smart supply chain choices. Of course, it starts with choosing the right partner!
Origin Story
Dropped out of college
From culinary school to finance and back to food
Shout out to NUTS.com
How he runs a business - the philosophy (OKRs)
Bootstrapping
Regulatory issues
Trends!
Season 3 Episode 9
ingredient brothers https://www.ingredientbrothers.com/
Connect with Eran Mizrahi https://www.linkedin.com/in/eranmizrahi/
Connect with Tony Moore https://www.linkedin.com/in/differentbetterspecialbrands/
Sampling is the best effective way to boost sales and expand your brand! You wouldn't only give a prospect a spec sheet! Let the marketplace SAMPLE your BRAND! Here is a NOVEL approach to ATTRACT people (DEMO)
About me and my mission and the podcast:
Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to discover unique brands and learn about the people and strategies successful companies are implementing in the CPG and Food and Beverage Industry? The brands featured here take us into the world of innovation, sustainability, good for you, lifestyle, QSR, Foodservice, Distribution, DTC, Club, and more.
I am a fun-loving business leader, podcaster, husband, dad, cyclist, and Convention of States volunteer in my spare time. My mission is to discover the people and ideas behind these different, better, and special companies. My skills are in leadership, talent acquisition strategies, corporate hiring, sales, entrepreneurship, and backseat driving. I created a novel 6-week candidate attraction program talent acquisition that engages the 70% of the workforce not actively applying for jobs. See the DEMO. Say goodbye to traditional!
Contact me: Tony@timpl.com
Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/differentbetterspecialbrands/
Join Our Community
Music from Uppbeat and ZapSplathttps://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/get-the-funk-inLicense code: SF3WUKBUJQULFHXE

Mar 3, 2023
Mar 3, 2023
33 min
Season 3 Episode 8
Bear's Fruit https://www.bearsfruit.com/
Connect with Amy Driscoll https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyelizabethdriscoll/
Connect with Tony Moore https://www.linkedin.com/in/differentbetterspecialbrands/
Let the marketplace SAMPLE your BRAND! Here is a NOVEL approach to ATTRACT people (DEMO)
Amy Driscoll brings her emerging brand experience from Coca-Cola to the Winning at Work podcast as she shares how she and her co-founder are building a Master Brand within the gut health category. They started with Kombucha and expanded into the larger beverage set of sparking water. She joins me today from her brewery and tap room in Brooklyn, New York.
Origin Story
Brand Promise
Business Model
Distribution
The Brewery
Gut Health
Kombucha and Sparking Water set
Challenges
Key Learnings
About me and my mission and podcast:
Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to discover unique brands and learn about the people and strategies successful companies are implementing in the CPG and Food and Beverage Industry? The brands featured here take us into the world of innovation, sustainability, good for you, lifestyle, QSR, Foodservice, Distribution, DTC, Club, and more.
I am a fun-loving business leader, podcaster, husband, dad, cyclist, and Convention of States volunteer in my spare time. My mission is to discover the people and ideas behind these different, better, and special companies. My skills are in leadership, talent acquisition strategies, corporate hiring, sales, entrepreneurship, and backseat driving. I created a novel 6-week candidate attraction program talent acquisition that engages the 70% of the workforce not actively applying for jobs. See the DEMO. Say goodbye to traditional!
Contact me: Tony@timpl.com
Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/differentbetterspecialbrands/
Join Our Community
Music from Uppbeat and ZapSplathttps://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/get-the-funk-inLicense code: SF3WUKBUJQULFHXE





