Hi! I’m Kelly Bennett—a New York City–based brand strategist for pre-launch CPG food & beverage founders and host of Emerging Brands Podcast®, where I share the stories behind the brands people want to shop next.

I got my start in CPG by bootstrapping a nationally recognized plant-based restaurant in Downtown Las Vegas. I 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, I collaborated with emerging CPG brands we 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, industry network, and market insight I now bring to founders.

Today, I help pre-launch CPG founders turn better-for-you product ideas into brands people want to shop. I work with them 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.

I also share the brands I use at home on my Substack, At Home with Kelly Bennett