Caroline Grace

Product & Prosper

The retail growth strategy & execution team building CPG brands into retail winners.

Most brands have big retail dreams. We have the playbook to get them there. At Product & Prosper, we help promising CPG brands build the strategic foundation to succeed at retail—then work with them to get on shelves and in carts nationwide. 

Let's build your path to retail success.

Apply here → www.productandprosper.com

Founder & CEO

The Prosper Lab

The Faire growth team for CPG.

We help CPG brands get more traffic + sales on Faire.

Apply here → www.productandprosper.com/faire

Startup CPG

San Diego Community Leader

Salut Botanical Drink Infusions

Wholesale Sales Manager

Flow Marketing

Developed brand and content strategies to help executives, entrepreneurs, and innovative companies go from expert to online thought leader.

Senior Brand Strategist

Daydream Dessert

Barnett Strategies, LLC

Executed Barnett Strategies projects for marketing and sales consulting clients.

•	Maximized marketing and lead gen for Barnett Strategies, increasing CEO’s LinkedIn engagement by 75% and post views by 130%
•	Facilitated development of sales presentation, messaging, and cold outreach lead gen strategy for Weather 20/20
•	Suggested website optimizations and content strategy approach for Edquity
•	Conducted cold outreach lead gen program for Pepper, booking 9+ high-quality sales meetings. 
•	Managed the nurturing of inbound sales leads for Light.co, email reply rate increased to 60%

Sales & Marketing Consultant

TripleBlind

•	Facilitated partnership marketing strategies with Eagle Alpha, Accenture AIP+, and UnionBank of the Pacific
•	Managed the nurturing of inbound sales leads
•	Launched and orchestrated LinkedIn Ad and PPC strategy
•	Recommended strategic website optimizations that increased conversions 51% in one month

Sales & Marketing Coordinator

The Resort at Fredericksburg

Managed brand and creative direction for winery and resort startup. Designed logos, menus, and marketing collateral.

Brand Manager & Sales Associate

Premama Wellness

Managed social strategy, brand partnerships, paid ad design, high-touch customer service, SEO and PR strategy, launched new affiliate and ambassador programs, and defined an updated brand guide. Spearheaded Scrum project management techniques to maximize team productivity.

Brand & Marketing Strategist

I help CPG brands win at retail.

How? Through a growth studio with the suite of tools, tactics, processes, and teams that totally flip the script on retail success:

👉 The Product & Prosper® Program: We're retail success architects who transform great products into must-stock brands with undeniable traction in just 6 months.

👉 The Product Lab: The product sampling program getting you exclusive feedback from up to 400+ industry experts, so you know exactly how to transform your product into one people rave about.

👉 The Prosper Lab: The Faire growth team getting you more traffic + sales on Faire through expert profile optimization and hands-on management.

👉 The Retail Lab: The retail mastermind community––a private Slack community of 500+ brands and retail experts here to support you through every challenge of getting on and staying on the shelf.

Our unique approach goes beyond traditional retail strategy or sales. From crafting a rock-solid brand foundation to building a robust sales strategy, we collaborate 1-on-1 with emerging brands through every step of their retail journey. Our holistic strategy ensures you're not just another product on the shelf, but a brand that buyers actively seek out.

Looking to transform your retail dreams into a reality? Let's connect!

In past lives, I've been:

•a 2x nationally award-winning poet •a D2C copywriter & conversion strategist • a social media strategist • a creative director • a brand strategist • a GTM marketer • a B2B tech sales consultant • a food & beverage sales rep • a webinar host • a digital nomad • a self-published novelist • a certified Scrum Master • a certified ski instructor •  a certified fashion design manager  •  a certified cheese taster.

Now, I'm on your team. ❤️

productandprosper.com

Helping emerging CPG brands gain sales traction and go to their first retailers.

For several years, I’ve felt a strong pull to pass on what I’ve learned from building, operating, and scaling businesses—so other founders don’t have to learn everything the hard way.

I’m a fourth-generation entrepreneur. I grew up earning my “swequity” in family businesses, spending nights and weekends working the floor, the back office, and everything in between. Business wasn’t something I studied—it was something I lived. That early exposure shaped how I think: practical, operator-first, and focused on results.

That background ultimately led to the creation of CPG Xperience.

CPG Xperience is built for emerging and growing food & beverage brands that want real access, real feedback, and real opportunities—not just expensive booths and empty promises. We help brands get in front of buyers through smarter trade show participation, ECRM sessions, booth-share programs, and hands-on representation. Our focus is simple:
less overhead, more exposure, better conversations, and clearer next steps.

Through Shepherds Consulting Group and CPG Xperience, my role is to help brands:

Increase sales and productivity

Navigate retail, wholesale, and DTC more confidently

Understand how buyers actually think

Build the right relationships at the right time

Reduce wasted spend, stress, and guesswork

I’ve spent the last several years working across food, beverage, logistics, transportation, and operations, gaining experience on all sides of the CPG equation—brand side, vendor side, distributor side, and buyer side. From eCommerce and DTC to wholesale, warehousing, logistics, vendor management, and team leadership, I’ve seen what works—and what absolutely doesn’t.

The CPG landscape has changed fast, especially post-COVID. Costs are up. Margins are tight. Attention is harder to earn. Brands don’t need more noise—they need clarity, access, and execution.

That’s where mentorship comes in.

Mentorship is how we grow. It’s how we avoid repeating the same mistakes and accelerate what already works. When you’re deep in your own business, it’s hard to step back, think objectively, and see the path forward. Having someone who’s been there, understands the landscape, and has the relationships to open doors can be a game-changer.

That’s what we aim to be:
a sounding board, a connector, and a partner in your growth.

If you’re an emerging CPG brand looking to scale smarter—or a founder who wants guidance, access, and honest feedback—reach out. I’d love to hear what you’re building and see how we can help.

📞 717-982-9644

Shannon Peffley

Bringing CPG X: The Xperience to life.

Slowly checking boxes.
Building it the right way.

From an idea → to conversations → to visuals → to real momentum. This show isn’t about doing another expo. It’s about creating a space where emerging brands are actually found, relationships are built, and everyone involved wins.

Savannah, GA
📅 Sept 14–16, 2027

If you have any interest in sponsoring — or know a service provider, distributor or partner that should be part of this — tag them in the comments. Let’s build this together and make it a show people actually talk about for the right reasons.

And yes — there will be a profit share for the brands involved with purchasing affordable booth space.

Because collaboration > gatekeeping.

More to come. We’re just getting started.

Creating Adventure-Driven Experiences that Inspire Connection, CPG and Outdoor Industry Entrepreneur

🚨 Final 2 Spots Available 🚨

We’re down to two remaining brand presentation slots for an upcoming Canned, Dry & Boxed Foods buyer session in Dallas.

This is a curated opportunity (and affordable) to have your brand presented directly to national and regional retail buyers who are actively reviewing products in this category.

Ideal for brands that are:
Retail-ready or close to it
Clear on pricing, margins, and supply chain
Looking for real feedback and real conversations
Focused on smart growth, not hype

If you’ve been sitting on the fence about where to spend your time and dollars this year, this is one of those high-signal, low-noise opportunities that actually moves the needle.

Comment “Dallas” or DM me if you want details and to see if it’s a fit.

Let’s put the right brands in front of the right buyers — intentionally.

CPG X FS Octopus Mike Levinson, RD

Thursday gratitude

Thank you to everyone who has reached out, supported, checked in, shared an intro, or even just been a little nosy about what I’m building with CPG X.

For the first time in over 10 years, I genuinely feel like I’m creating something for others, not just executing inside a system or playing the same industry game on repeat.

This hasn’t been about chasing attention or titles.
It’s been about fixing things that don’t work for founders.

Lowering barriers.
Creating access.
And building something rooted in trust, not transactions.

The messages, calls, and quiet encouragement matter more than most people realize—especially when you’re building something new in an industry that doesn’t love change.

If you’ve supported, questioned, pushed back, or simply paid attention—thank you. (tagged some of you below not everyone unfortunately, sorry if I missed you)

It’s noticed. And it’s appreciated.

More to come. Always.

CPG X

Mike Levinson, RD Gregory Willis Rick Chavez Matt Cotton Wade Yenny Gavin Konkel Ashley Rogers Deidre Mares David Mintz David Peffley David Abadin 🪩 Brenda Steele Natalie McDonald, MBA Melissa Pashko Darren Viscount Robert Johnson Wayne Bennett Tyler Barich Sarah Davidson

CPG X is hitting the road in 2026 — and we’re doing it differently.

Trade shows don’t have to be a gamble.
They don’t have to drain budgets.

And they definitely shouldn’t feel like you’re just standing in a booth hoping someone stops by.

In 2026, CPG X will be on the ground at the shows that actually move the needle for emerging and scaling brands 👇

📍 Where you’ll find us:
 • NAMA Show – Las Vegas
 • Sweets & Snacks Expo – Las Vegas
 • CPG X Service Provider Conference – Denver (lodging included)
 • IDDBA – Orlando
 • Summer Fancy Food Show – NYC
 • NACUFS – New Orleans
 • Newtopia Now – Denver
 • NACS Show – Las Vegas
 • IAAPA Expo – Orlando
 • The Hospitality Show – Miami Beach
 • SUPERZOO – Las Vegas

Why this matters:
We’re not chasing logos or booth traffic.
We’re creating real access — to buyers, distributors, service providers, and decision-makers that brands actually need.

✔️ Lower barrier to entry
✔️ Curated introductions
✔️ Education + execution
✔️ ROI over hype

If you’re a brand tired of throwing money at shows and hoping for results…

Or a service provider who actually wants to add value, not pitch…
Let’s talk.

📩 Comment “CPG X” or shoot me a message
 🔗 Or visit joincpgx.com

Where emerging brands are found — and supported.

Trade shows are starting to feel like a drag.

They’re expensive.
They’re exhausting.

And too often, brands leave with lighter wallets and heavier boxes of samples… but no real traction.

Booths cost tens of thousands.
Travel, hotels, shipping add up fast.
And somehow the ROI conversation always gets pushed to “after the show.”

That’s exactly why we built CPG Xperience (CPG X).

We help brands:
Spend less getting in front of buyers
Get real meetings, not just foot traffic
Focus on conversations that convert, not badge scans that go nowhere

Walk away with actual next steps, not “circle back in Q4”

No oversized booths.
No unnecessary extras.
No paying to be ignored.

Just a smarter, more efficient way to show up, tell your story, and move the needle.

If you’re tired of the traditional trade show grind and want real ROI, let’s talk. (brands walked away with over 300 contacts)

Drop a comment or DM me if you want details.

#CPGX #TradeShows #CPG #EmergingBrands #SalesStrategy #RetailReady #ROI

There are a lot of mixed opinions about RangeMe — and honestly, most of them are understandable.

Some brands swear by it.
Some brands are frustrated by it.
Most brands probably expect it to do more than it was ever designed to do.

Here’s the truth 👇
RangeMe is a tool — not a magic bullet.
And like any tool, results depend on how and when you use it.

If you treat RangeMe as:
A replacement for sales outreach ❌
A guarantee of buyer meetings ❌
A “set it and forget it” platform ❌

You’re probably going to be disappointed.

But if you use RangeMe for what it’s actually built for:
A digital line sheet buyers can reference
A credibility touchpoint alongside real-world conversations
A way to support meetings you already have (not create them from thin air)
A long-game visibility tool, not an instant win

👉 Then it can be beneficial.

The brands that get value from RangeMe usually:
Have their profiles dialed in (clear positioning, pricing, margins, readiness)
Are active in the industry beyond just uploading products
Use it in combination with shows, meetings, intros, and relationships
Understand that buyers still buy from people, not platforms

No platform replaces doing the work.
No tool replaces relationship-building.
And no single channel works in isolation.

RangeMe isn’t good or bad — it’s contextual.

Used correctly, it can support growth.
Used incorrectly, it becomes another line item brands blame instead of learning from.

Curious where others have landed on this — love hearing both sides of the Xperience.

CPG X Wayne Bennett Sarah Davidson Tyler Barich Lisa B. Greg F. Joseph Tarnowski

Start working on your business and not in your business!

They need clarity.

Too many founders are guessing:
 • Which service providers actually help
 • What buyers really think of their brand
 • Where to spend money (and where not to)
 • How to scale without burning cash

That’s exactly why we built this 👇

CPG X – Service Provider Conference
 Denver, CO | May 26–28
 The Inverness Denver

This is a 2.5-day working conference for growing CPG brands that want real progress — not badge scans and sales pitches.

What makes this different:
 ✔ No expo floor
 ✔ No selling from a stage
 ✔ No chasing people for meetings

Instead, you’ll get:
 • Hands-on sessions focused on scaling smarter
 • Honest feedback from real buyers
 • Direct access to vetted service providers (sales, ops, marketing, supply chain, retail readiness)
 • Time and space to build relationships that actually move the needle

This isn’t about being the loudest brand in the room.
It’s about leaving with clarity, alignment, and a plan.

If you’re tired of guessing and ready to build your brand the right way, this was built for you.

Drop a “Denver” in the comments or DM me for details. Link to Apply

Only bringing in 60 brand founders (food and lodging included)

Working together in this industry shouldn’t be controversial, yet the level of gatekeeping out there is wild.

There is more than enough business and opportunity to go around. Growth doesn’t require shutting doors on others, hoarding information, or taking more than you give. The best outcomes happen when brands, operators, and partners actually collaborate—and everyone wins.

I understand the grind of building a brand, a platform, or a following. But refusing to work together, rooting against others, or protecting turf at all costs doesn’t move the industry forward.

Collaboration isn’t weakness.
Abundance isn’t naive.
And success isn’t a zero-sum game.

If this message makes you uncomfortable, it might be worth asking why.

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Hey Mike Levinson, RD take a look at these numbers!

Today, NACS announced the annual store count for U.S. convenience stores. 

There are 151,975 convenience stores in the United States, a slight decrease of 280 stores (0.2%) compared to the year prior, according to the 2026 NACS/NIQ TDLinx Convenience Industry Store Count.

While the overall store count dipped slightly, the number of convenience stores selling fuel increased by 768 stores (0.6%) to 122,620, the highest number in eight years. Convenience stores sell an estimated 80% of the fuel purchased by consumers in the United States. Overall, 80.7% of convenience stores sell fuel.

With the U.S. population at an estimated 343 million according to the U.S. Census Bureau, there is one convenience store for every 2,257 people in the United States.

The industry continues to be dominated by smaller operators. Overall, 95,672 stores are owned by a company that has 10 or fewer stores, 63% of the total store count. Companies operating 500-plus stores own 33,810 stores, or 22.2% of the overall total.

Looking to individual states, Texas continues to have the most convenience stores (16,504 stores), or more than one in 10 stores in the United States. Alaska has the fewest stores (185), the same as the year prior.

NielsenIQ | Jeff Lenard | Christopher Rapanick | Ben Nussbaum | Jeff Burrell

For more insights, read today's NACS Daily article: https://lnkd.in/ebNikZJR

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Caroline Grace

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The Battle

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Shannon Peffley's LinkedIn Performance

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