CPG Insider

04/29/2026

When Ted Volz couldn’t find a sports drink with ingredients he trusted, he did what a lot of athletes quietly do.

He grabbed applesauce.

Simple. Portable. Real food.

The problem was, it was built for kids, not performance.

Clean Energy turns that same idea into a certified organic, clean label pouch built specifically for sport.

No caffeine. No added sugar. Just real food that actually fuels performance.

In a $35B category dominated by engineered formulas, it reframes energy as fuel, not intensity.

We sat down with Ted to break down the gap he saw and how he built a new category around it.

Read the full feature at cpg-insider.com 🔗 in bio

03/24/2026

Going out or feeling good the next day used to be a tradeoff.

is building in the middle.

Electrolyte + vitamin drops designed to pair with cocktails, not replace them.

A small format shift, but a smart one.

We sat down with to break down the product, positioning, and where this category is heading.

Full story - link in bio 🔗

03/23/2026

Most “healthy muffins” miss the point.

They either taste like a compromise, or they rely on ingredients that don’t align with how people actually want to eat.

When Debbie Schemansky started making her own, it wasn’t to build a brand. It was to recreate the foods she loved without giving anything up.

No preservatives.
No seed oils.
No shortcuts.

Just something that actually tastes like a real muffin.

That conviction turned into

We recently featured and the story behind the brand on .insider - link in bio 🔗

02/19/2026

Most hydration brands focus on flavor first.

started with an engineer focused on systems.

Founder Ed Bedford designed both the electrolyte formula and a patent-pending bottle that opens stick packs with a twist. The intent was simple: remove friction so a well-built formula actually gets used.

Balanced electrolytes.
No artificial dyes.
No artificial sweeteners.

In our latest founder-led feature, we explore how an engineering mindset shaped the product, why usability mattered as much as formulation, and what it means to build patiently in a crowded category.

🔗 Link in bio

02/06/2026

Vivi is taking a different approach to whitening.

Instead of chasing short term brightness, they are building oral care around enamel health first.

From hydroxyapatite to formulation choices that actually respect teeth, this is a brand thinking long term in a category obsessed with fast results.

We broke down how Vivi came to be, what makes their approach different, and why enamel first matters more than most people realize.

Full feature is live. Link in bio. 🦷✨

02/04/2026

Water filtration has moved from a niche concern to a serious category, but not all systems are built with the same priorities.

Boroux has spent decades developing gravity-fed filtration systems for people who care about durability, clarity, and long-term performance. Their approach is rooted in engineering and standards rather than convenience shortcuts or trend-driven design.

In our latest CPG Insider feature, we take a closer look at BOROUX’s legacy gravity system, how it differs from typical countertop filters, and why filtration standards matter when it comes to something as foundational as drinking water.

Read the full feature here:
https://cpg-insider.com/brands/boroux-water-filter-review-the-legacy-gravity-system-formerly-known-as-berkey/

A full BOROUX water filter review, formerly Berkey. We cover the gravity filtration system, product lineup, real customer reviews, and the Berkey lawsuit context consumers are searching for.

02/04/2026

As more people pay attention to what’s in their water, standards matter.

has spent years building systems for people who care deeply about filtration quality, long before it became part of the broader wellness conversation.

Their gravity filtration approach prioritizes durability, clarity, and long-term reliability rather than convenience or quick fixes. It reflects a philosophy shaped by real use and experience, not trends.

This feature looks at BOROUX’s legacy system, how it differs from typical countertop filters, and why standards matter when it comes to something as foundational as water.

🔗 Link in bio

01/22/2026

Granola wasn’t meant to be one-note sweet.

took a Mediterranean approach. Building around whole ingredients, savory balance, and real texture rather than shortcuts or excess sugar.

From black seed and cinnamon, to za’atar herbs, to pistachio butter and kunafa, each SKU starts with flavor logic first, not trends.

In our latest founder-led feature, we dig into how Granolaful rethought granola from the ground up, and why protein, fiber, and restraint matter just as much as taste.

Read the full story 🔗 link in bio

01/21/2026

Before “not cutting corners” became part of the conversation, was already building that way.

Long before ingredient standards were trending in supplements, the brand committed to organic certification and higher sourcing requirements in a category known for doing the opposite.

In our latest story, we explore how being early shaped Organic Muscle’s products, why that decision made growth harder not easier, and how it ultimately helped set a standard others would later follow.

🔗 Link in bio

01/19/2026

Beef tallow is showing up more across snack foods, but almost no one has applied it thoughtfully to tortilla chips.

Our latest story looks at Vaca Chips a brand that made a deliberate choice early on: real masa, beef tallow instead of seed oils, and a process built for quality before scale.

In the article, we explore how those ingredient decisions shaped the product, why tortilla chips present a very different challenge than potato chips, and how Vaca is navigating a category that’s starting to evolve.

🔗 Link in bio