#183 - How AI is Helping CPG Brands with Lentiful and FocusFuel

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Feb 18, 2025

Ben Bacon, founder of Lentiful, discusses how AI revolutionizes CPG brands by streamlining marketing and product development. He highlights using AI tools like Claude for targeted email marketing, customer insights, and product innovation. Daniel Herz, co-founder of FocusFuel, emphasizes how AI aids branding and investor pitches, acting as a 'CMO in your pocket.' Together, they explore the balance of efficiency and human oversight in AI integration, making it essential for modern brands to leverage this technology for growth and consumer engagement.

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ADVICE

AI-Powered Email Marketing

Use AI tools like Claude for email marketing, as it can outperform human-written emails.
Give Claude specific instructions, including word count and desired tone, for optimal results.

INSIGHT

Analyzing Customer Reviews with AI

AI tools like Claude can analyze customer reviews to identify key product features and customer preferences.
Upload customer demographics and brand guidelines to Claude to help it learn your brand's tone and target audience.

ANECDOTE

Targeted Prospecting with AI

At a Fancy Food show, Ben used Claude to research retailers, learning Hannaford's focus on sustainability.
This allowed him to tailor his pitch and secure a valuable conversation, demonstrating AI's power for targeted outreach.

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In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff sits down with Daniel Herz, co-founder and CEO of FocusFuel, and Ben Bacon, founder of Lentiful, to dive into how AI is transforming the way brands operate, market, and grow in the CPG space.

Ben shares how AI tools like Claude have revolutionized his email marketing, product development, and even customer insights, helping him craft better messaging, streamline operations, and identify key customer trends. He reveals how AI helped Lentiful optimize its product formulations, enhance email engagement, and even uncover celebrity customers.

Daniel Herz explains how FocusFuel has used AI from day one—starting with name and branding ideation, all the way to email marketing, prospecting, and even investor pitch decks. He highlights how AI acts as a “CMO in your pocket,” optimizing marketing strategies, refining consumer targeting, and speeding up decision-making.

Together, they discuss the power of AI in making small teams more efficient, the importance of human oversight, and where AI is headed in the CPG industry. Whether you're a startup founder or just AI-curious, this episode is packed with actionable insights on how to leverage AI for your brand’s success.

If you'd like to submit how you're using AI or for another call-in episode click the form here https://bit.ly/cpgstories

Listen in as they share about:

AI for Marketing & Email Copywriting
AI for Customer Insights & Database Analysis
AI for Sales Prospecting & Retail Strategy
AI for Product Development & Formulation
AI for Operations, Admin, and Legal Tasks
The Future of AI in Business

Episode Links:

Ben Bacon
Website: https://eatlentiful.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminpbacon/
Daniel Herz
Website: https://thefocusfuel.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-herz/

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:

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Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.com
Episode music by Super Fantastics