{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Startup CPG Podcast","title":"R&D RADIO: Rachel Zemser, Founder of A La Carte Connections","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/44c6ce9f\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1709,"description":"\nIn this debut episode of R&D RADIO, a series hosted by Adam Yee, Adam sits down with Rachel Zemser, founder of A La Carte Connections. With 30+ years in the field and hundreds of products brought to market, Rachel shares the advice that stops most entrepreneurs in their tracks: before you spend a dime on R&D, find your co packer.\n\nRachel explains why the manufacturing process represents 60% of what you're actually building, walks through how to use platforms like Keychain and PartnerSlate to start that search, and shares the real story of bringing Island Vibe — musician Pretty Kenny's cocktail mixer — from kitchen concept to award-winning pasteurized beverage. She and Adam also dig into the sweetener landscape: why allulose and erythritol are letting formulators down on functionality, why small amounts of real sugar are quietly making a comeback, and date sugar's surprising FDA classification.\n\nListen in as they discuss:\n\nWhy co packer conversations should come before any R&D\nHow having a food scientist gets you taken seriously by manufacturers\nThe Island Vibe cocktail mixer story: concept to production run\nCo packer negotiating dynamics — and why founders need to bend more than they think\nThe \"cleanish label\" trend: small amounts of real sugar returning for functionality\nWhy allulose won't crystallize and erythritol won't brown\nDate sugar's status as a non-added sugar under current FDA guidance\nEpisode Links:\n\nRachel Zemser - Food Science Industry Consultant, A La Carte Connections\n🔗 Website: www.alacartconnections.com\n🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/culinologist/\n\nDon'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.\n\nShow Links:\n\nTranscripts 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)\nJoin the...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/pMuUaMpWaAi3tfCEgC2OkLBVzokuLjLsIzwDIbGFqi4/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9hMTFl/MTgxNTNlZTAwZjU1/ZmNmNWM1ZjkwMDg5/NTU4MS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}