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Where local CPG leaders find success through collaboration and shared vision

The Dallas-Fort Worth area is quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing hubs for business headquarters, and the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry is no exception. The region is home to billion-dollar food and beverage enterprises, early- to late-stage brands, investors, and other CPG participants. Our members are changing the way we eat, drink, and live. The region’s CPG community is growing by the day, and its products are making a mark across the globe.

DFW CPG exists to cultivate the growth of DFW’s CPG ecosystem for consumer packaged goods businesses, starting with food and beverage. We serve as the catalyst for a thriving, impactful and nationally-recognized community that supports the community’s collective success. 

By combining and sharing our strengths, our effort is aimed at enhancing the success of our members and the community as a whole through knowledge sharing, mobilizing resources, and community building. 

“CPG” stands for consumer packaged goods. And by that, we mean products that are packaged for sale to consumers. Our organization focuses on companies that produce food and beverage products, but CPG includes other categories, such as personal care, apparel, supplements, etc. We are not focused on food or beverages sold in restaurants (unless they’re also sold in retail, such as soda or beer).

 If you’re new to the CPG world, we’re here to help educate and support your endeavors.

Brand Spotlight

Riccardi Ventures, LLC

Our community is comprised of anyone with an interest in food and beverage CPG. We welcome early-stage to mature brands, product and service suppliers (food processors; ingredient suppliers; sales/marketing firms; brokers; equipment financing firms; and other industry professionals), investors (angels, venture capitalists, private equity firms, and corporate venture arms), and retail distributors. 

Every month DFW CPG hosts industry leaders who share their expertise or a meet up fostering connection, sharing, and learning with our peers. 

Look below at the Events section to see upcoming and past events.

There are no future events scheduled at this time.

Two Years of DFW CPG Happy Hour

We celebrated our Second Anniversary hosted by Caldwell Partners. Our keynote of the evening will featured four emerging brand powerhouse CEOs headquartered right here in DFW! Watch the playback to see content around success stories, tips on how to scale a startup CPG brand, and local resources to accelerate your brand. 

• Chi Nguyen, Founder and CEO of Purpose Tea
• Susan O'Brien, Founder of Hail Merry
• Justin Forsett, Founder and CEO of Hustle Clean
• Joe Oblas, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Stryve Biltong

Elevate Your Brand Happy Hour

Our Elevate Your Brand Happy Hour was hosted by our friends at Ponder Foods. There were 3 breakout rooms that were meant to serve as a place for meaningful networking and casual conversation on given topics. 

• Room 1: Growing your brand and prepping for Expo East
  Ben Ponder, Ponder Foods Co-Founder and CEO
• Room 2: What to expect at Expo East
  Gina Spampinato, Lead Account Manager, New Hope Network 
• Room 3: Learn more about SKU Dallas
  Emily Kealey, SKU Dallas Program Manager

Dallas Startup Week 2021, Powered by Capital One: CPG Successes!

From body wipes to the food aisle - DFW’s consumer products are on fire! Featuring a roundtable of innovators, the leading CPG accelerator, industry experts and brand founders who share insights to help you create and grow your own brands. Hosted by DFW CPG, the leading area CPG community whose mission is to make an impact in building strong local businesses through a thriving ecosystem. Panelists included: 

• Ciara Dilley, VP of Transform Brands, Frito-Lay
• Michelle Breyer COO, SKU Austin
• Wayne Luciano, President and Co-Founder, Just Like Home Kitchen Recipe
• Justin Forsett, CEO and Founder (and former NFL Pro Running Back), Hustle Clean
• Moderated by DFW CPG Co-Chair of Marketing and Brand: Genevieve Poirier-Richards, President, The Marketing Spectrum Consultants.  

Virtual Happy Hour

We enjoyed a virtual Happy Hour hosted by our friends at Tejas Packaging. There were hosted breakout rooms that were meant to serve as a place for meaningful networking and casual conversation on given topics.

For the first time, we also had general discussion rooms for un-hosted networking opportunities.

Virtual Event: CPG Investing and Raising Capital 

Are you a CPG startup or emerging business and looking to take your brand to the next level? If so, this was the event for you! Our moderator, Jeff Richards, CEO of Mooala Brands connected with our incredible investor community about sourcing investments to scale your business. Presenters included: 

• Moderator: Jeff Richards Founder and CEO, Mooala Brands
• Panelist: Blake Wiley Co-Founder, Access Capital
• Panelist: Jessica Gaffney CEO and Executive Director, Beam Founders
• Panelist: Heather Buffo, Republic Venture Growth and Partnerships Lead

Virtual CPG Happy Hour 

Come hang out with us for our virtual Happy Hour on April 8th from 4:30 - 6:00 PM CST hosted by our friends at 7-Eleven. There will be breakout rooms that are meant to serve as a place for meaningful networking and casual conversation on given topics. 

Breakout room hosts include: 

• Emerging Brands: Marisa Bertha Sr. Director New Business Development & 7-Ventures
• Investor Room: Blake Wiley Co-Founder, Access Capital Partners 
• Finance Solutions: Felipe Vega Founder, Strategic Business Advisor, Iron Clad Consulting

Hometown Resources Available to the DFW Entrepreneur

Join us for a conversation with Dallas Community Leaders to discuss available resources to DFW Entrepreneurs. Panel speakers include: 

• Lisa Tran, Managing Director of Corporate Engagement & Strategic Partnerships at the SMU Cox School of Business
• Bill Chinn, CEO of The DEC Network
• Trey Bowles, Co-Chair of the Mayor's Task Force on Innovation and Entrepreneurship

I Heart CPG Happy Hour with Naturally Austin and SKU

Do you love Texas CPG? So do we! For the first time, but certainly not the last, Naturally Austin, SKU, and DFW CPG are joining forces to bring you the “I ❤️ CPG” Happy Hour.

There will be 5 breakout rooms that are meant to serve as a place for meaningful networking and casual conversation on the following topics: 

• 2021 e-Commerce Strategies with Brice McBeth, Founder of Reap Commerce
• CPG Recruiting / Finding Top Talent in 2021 with Dustin Cherry from ForceBrands
• Legal & CPG with Ryan Gravelle and Jerry Galvan from Kastner/Gravelle
• Social Media Trends 2021 with Kelsey Lawrence from Nine Supply Co.
• Nutritional Labeling & Trends with Allison Beadle and Megan Lacy from WildHive Marketing

For a donation fee, 55 participants can get a box that includes Austin and Dallas-based #CPG products, a recipe from the Dragon Spirits Marketing team to create an alcoholic/non alcoholic concoction during the happy hour, lemons, limes, and a cocktail stirring spoon. The boxes are first come, first serve! Must be able to provide home address (no PO boxes) and cell phone to receive your delicious box of goodies. You do not have to purchase a box to attend.

CPG Resources 

We're excited to bring together CPG experts from the Specialty Food Association, New Hope Network, BevNET, and Startup CPG. These organizations support early-stage CPG companies and are a resource to many. Live Q&A at the end! 

Speakers include... 

• Tressa Kennedy, Specialty Food Association
• Sam Owen, New Hope Network
• Jeffrey Klineman, BevNET
• Karina Martinez, Startup CPG

November DFW CPG Meeting

Join us for a conversation with Tapan Shah from PepsiCo and Jennifer Bernhardt from Danone Manifesto Ventures.

Tapan is a principal at The PepsiCo Ventures Group and is focused on identifying, securing, and nurturing PepsiCo’s partnerships with emerging food & beverage companies.

Jennifer is with the venture arm of Danone, a global food & beverage company built on four businesses: Essential Dairy and Plant-Based Products, Waters, Early Life Nutrition and Medical Nutrition. Danone's investment portfolio is made up of both international brands (Active and Evian) and brands in local markets (Silk, Vega, and Horizon Organic).

DFW CPG Halloween Virtual Happy Hour

Our happy hour will be hosted by STOUT and will have 4 breakout rooms with the following hosts:

• Marisa Bertha of 7-Eleven
• Brice McBeth of Reap Commerce
• John Lahti of Stout
• Blake Wiley of Access Capital Partners

Amazon Prime Day 2020 

Join the founder of Reap Commerce, Brice McBeth, as he discusses how to strategically approach Amazon Prime Day for your brand.

One-on-One Chat with Angie Bastian
Join us (virtually) for a one-on-one chat with Angie Bastian, Co-Founder of Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP. Angie is a nationally-recognized CPG leader and expert. Her passion for entrepreneurship and service will inform and inspire!  

Virtual Event: Fundraising after COVID-19 and the Value of E-Commerce Strategies

Speakers for this event will include:

• Adam Michaels, Mondelez International, Director for Insights & Analytics
• Jay Desai, Kainos Capital
• Dave Gassko, Kainos Capital
• Felipe Vega, Iron-Clad Consulting
• Brien Davis, AltaCrest Capital

Special guest, Kirstin Ross, from SKU will share exciting news!

Webinar: Feeding the Amazon Flywheel

4 MUST-HAVE Amazon strategies to protect your brand, build new channels, and propel your success in today's climate. Hosted by:

• Brice McBeth, Founder & CEO of Reap Commerce 
• Bill Senenko, Senior Director of Account Management at Ideoclick

Survive and Thrive: How Brands are Adapting their E-Commerce Strategies in 2020

Speakers at This Event Included... 

• Brice McBeth, Founder & CEO of Reap Commerce 
• Bill Senenko, Senior Director of Account Management at Ideoclick
• Special Guest - Sam Owen, Account Manager at New Hope Network
  

Rick Jordan

Co-Founder

Rick Jordan is an active legal adviser in the consumer products space. He assists investment funds and high-growth brands with financing rounds, day-to-day matters, and exits. Rick serves as Co-Chair of Polsinelli’s Venture Capital and Emerging Growth Companies practice.

Richard Riccardi

Co-Founder

Richard Riccardi is an early-stage food company board member and investor. He is active as a mentor and connector in the Dallas and Austin CPG communities. Previously, he led Food Source, his family’s food processing business, for 25 years until its acquisition in 2016. He is also an attorney and CPA. 

Kainos Capital Partners

Ponder Foods

Hail Merry Snacks

7-Eleven

IronClad Consulting Services, LLC

Hanks Brokerage, Inc.

Bridge Leasing Group

Tin Star Foods

Tejas Works

See recent news features highlighting our group, events, and more.

July 2020 | Dallas Innovates

DFW CPG to Support the ‘Nation’s First Consumer Products Accelerator’ Coming Soon to Dallas-Fort Worth

"Dallas-Fort Worth hosts a variety of accelerators for its evergrowing community of entrepreneurs. Coming this fall is a niche program tailored to later-stage startups specifically focused on consumer packaged goods (CPG)...." Continue Reading

January 2020 | Dallas Innovates

F&B/CPG: How a New Initiative Plans to Catalyze a Growing Industry in Dallas-Fort Worth

"The food & beverage and consumer packaged goods (CPG) business sectors seem to be easily overlooked, although many of the sectors’ brands are found on grocery and retail store shelves..." Continue Reading

September 2019  | Dallas Innovates

Brewing Up Business: Phil Romano and George Esquivel on Crafting a Company

"Dallas-Fort Worth has a national reputation as a leader in the food and beverage sector. And with high-profile entrepreneurs Phil Romano and George Esquivel at the helm, recent industry event turned into a 40-minute master class..." Continue Reading

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