Kelly Bennett is a New York City–based brand strategist for pre-launch CPG food & beverage founders and the host of Emerging Brands Podcast®, where she shares the stories behind the brands people want to shop next.

Her path into CPG began when she bootstrapped a nationally recognized plant-based restaurant. She built community before launch through social media, activations, and partnerships, then scaled it from the ground up—earning press in Forbes, CNN, and the LA Times, and expanding to multiple locations. Along the way, she collaborated with emerging CPG brands the restaurant sourced from, gaining firsthand insight into what early-stage founders truly need—and why consumers choose the brands that fit their lifestyle. Combined with 15+ years working with early-stage brands across hospitality, food, beverage, and lifestyle, this experience shaped the framework, network, and market insight she now brings to founders.

Today, Kelly helps pre-launch CPG founders turn better-for-you product ideas into brands people want to shop. She works with founders to differentiate in crowded markets, uncover selling points that make consumers integrate their products into daily routines—whether as a pantry staple or a weekend treat—and build buzz through activations, partnerships, content, and early retail placements.