In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Grace Kennedy speaks with Katie Lefkowitz, founder of Harken Sweets, about her journey from concept to creating a successful better-for-you candy brand. Katie shares how her personal health journey inspired the development of candy bars infused with superfoods like dates and oats, offering healthier alternatives to traditional sweets.

Katie covers Harken’s rapid expansion from a local launch in New York City to distribution in over 4,000 stores nationwide, including Walmart and Safeway, within just one year. Katie explains the challenges of product development, scaling manufacturing, and managing cash flow as a bootstrapped business. She also provides actionable advice for founders on navigating retail relationships, trade shows, and building an engaged community through social media.

Katie also highlights her strategic approach to operations, the importance of persistence, and how her team is preparing for further innovation and growth in 2025. This episode provides valuable insights for entrepreneurs in the CPG space looking to scale effectively while maintaining brand focus. Listen now!

Listen in as they share about:

• Katie’s Journey to Founding Harken Sweets
• Product Development Challenges
• Early Launch Strategy
• Marketing and Growth
• Operations and Cash Flow
• Personal and Team Dynamics
• Future Plans and Advice for Entrepreneurs

Episode Links:

Website: https://harkensweets.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katielefkowitz/ 

Don'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 (20K+ members and growing!)
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• Visit host Daniel's Linkedin 
• Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.com
• Episode music by Super Fantastics