In this episode of The Startup CPG Podcast, Grace Kennedy sits down with Breanna and Jared Golestani, the co-founders of Kokada, to discuss their journey from a kitchen experiment during the pandemic to launching a nationally distributed brand. As a husband-and-wife duo, they share how their love for food (and each other) led to the creation of their delicious coconut-based spreads and snacks.
Breanna and Jared dive into the origins of Kokada, inspired by Breanna’s experiences playing volleyball for the Jamaican national team and her passion for creating a low-sugar, coconut-based treat. They recount their early days at farmers’ markets, their big break winning the NOSH Pitch Slam, and how they navigated funding, scaling, and building a supply chain—including working with international co-packers.
They also highlight their new product launch, Kokada Dunks, a better-for-you twist on nostalgic snack packs. They discuss retail strategy, the importance of in-store demos, balancing growth with sustainability, and lessons learned in securing financing without compromising their long-term vision.
Tune in now!
Listen in as they share about:
- Origins & Inspiration for Kokada
- Scaling & Expansion Strategy
- Challenges in Supply Chain & Inventory Management
- Marketing & Driving Sales in Retail
- Funding & Financial Approach
- New Product Launch: Kokada Dunks
- Advice for Other Founders
Episode Links:
Website: https://kokada.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/breanna-atkinson-golestani-588136b7/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-golestani/
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Show Links:
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- Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.com
- Episode music by Super Fantastics
