{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Startup CPG Podcast","title":"Founder Feature: Leanne Viola and Jesse Barruch of WHIMS","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/a1fd9b63\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2290,"description":"In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Grace Kennedy chats with Leanne Viola and Jesse Baruch, the co-founders of WHIMS Delights, a better-for-you confectionery brand. They share their inspiring journey of creating low-sugar, gluten-free, and dairy-free treats, born out of their personal health challenges. Leanne and Jesse discuss the obstacles they faced entering the CPG industry with no prior experience, the importance of financial responsibility, and their unique strategies for growth, from local store launches to scaling distribution. They also touch on balancing business and marriage, the power of communication, and the value of attending trade shows like Expo West.\n\nTune in to hear their insights on building a sustainable, health-conscious brand and how they’ve navigated the world of CPG!\n\nListen in as they share about:\nThe Creation of WHIMS Delights\nProduct Development\nManufacturing and Scaling\nBusiness Challenges and Costs\nRetail and Online Strategy\nRetail Expansion\nParticipation in Expo West 2025\nWork-Life Integration\nProudest Moments\nAdvice for Early-Stage Founders\n\nEpisode Links:\nWHIMS Delights  Website\nWHIMS Delights Instagram\nLeanne Viola LinkedIn\nJesse Barruch LinkedIn\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\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 Startup CPG Slack community (20K+ members and growing!)\nFollow @startupcpg\nVisit host Daniel's Linkedin \nQuestions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.com\nEpisode music by Super Fantastics","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}