Launching a CPG brand is always a grind — but reinventing pork sausage with chef-crafted recipes, premium cuts, and a sixth-generation family farm story? That’s a whole new challenge.

In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, Dan sits down with Cassie Maschhoff, co-founder of Lottie’s Meats, the sister-run brand elevating pork with gourmet sausages and ground blends made from real ingredients, responsible sourcing, and culinary craftsmanship. Cassie shares how she and her sister Chelsea turned family heritage and Michelin-level technique into one of the most exciting new meat brands on the market.

You’ll hear how Cassie:

• Transformed a sixth-generation Illinois family farm legacy into a modern, premium pork brand.
• Partnered with her chef-trained sister to craft sausages using only pork loin, pork shoulder, and clean, real ingredients.
• Navigated nine different co-packers to finally find partners who could uphold their exacting standards.
• Built early traction through restaurant partnerships, farmers markets, pop-ups, and brewery takeovers in Denver.
• Created cult-favorite products like The Lottie and perfected flavors through years of behind-the-scenes R&D.
• Balanced the demands of cold-chain logistics, short shelf life, and monthly production while still growing fast.

We also get into the bigger picture:

• Why pork has gotten a bad rap — and how Lottie’s is changing that perception.
• The operational realities (and chaos) of scaling a perishable food brand.
• How retail, DTC, and food service each play their own role in Lottie’s growth.
• Why differentiation, quality, and ironclad non-negotiables matter when working with co-packers.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a modern food brand — from sourcing to storytelling to scaling in an unforgiving supply chain — this conversation is full of hard-won lessons and real-world strategies.

🍽️ Whether you’re a foodie, a founder, or someone fascinated by how craft brands break through, Cassie’s story is proof that pork can be premium, purposeful, and genuinely delicious again.

Brands & Mentions:

• Scribe Winery
• Nugget Markets
• US Foods
• Get Right’s Bakery
• Culinary Institute of America
• Maine Beer Company (“Lunch” IPA)
• Lottie’s Family Pork Farm Network
• Shooka Sauce
• Jennies House
• Realsy

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Lottie's Meats
02:48 Crafting Quality Sausages
05:41 Navigating Co-Packing Challenges
08:48 The Founder's Journey
11:32 Scaling and Distribution Strategies
14:20 Innovative Marketing Approaches
17:25 Product Development and Consumer Feedback
20:07 E-commerce and Digital Marketing Strategies
23:05 Community Engagement and Partnerships
25:59 Speed Round and Personal Insights

Launching a consumer brand is never easy — but launching a brewery without alcohol? That’s a whole new challenge.

In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, I sit down with Joe Chura, founder of Go Brewing, the non-alcoholic beer brand redefining how we think about social drinking. Joe shares his journey from idea to launch, the countless recipe iterations, and the marketing moves that helped Go Brewing quickly find its place in a competitive industry.

You’ll hear how Joe:

• Turned a personal vision into one of the fastest-growing non-alcoholic breweries in the U.S.
• Perfected the brewing process through relentless testing and innovation.
• Built an online-first business with Shopify at the core of its growth strategy.
• Leveraged subscriptions to create community and recurring revenue.
• Collected and used customer feedback to guide new products and campaigns.
• Balanced storytelling, social media, and PR to build credibility and excitement.

We also dig into the bigger picture:

• Why health-conscious consumers are fueling the non-alcoholic movement.
• How “hybrid drinking” is changing beverage culture.
• Where Joe sees opportunities in THC-infused beverages and beyond.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a modern CPG brand — from brewing to branding to building community — this conversation will inspire and challenge you.

🍺 Whether you’re sober curious, an entrepreneur, or just fascinated by where consumer trends are heading, Joe’s story is proof that you don’t need alcohol to build a buzz-worthy brand.

Brands mentioned:

• Go Brewing
• Easy Man
• Rich Roll
• 75 Hard
• Heineken
• Athletic Brewing
• Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller
• Just for Men
• Simpler Hair Color
• Naperville Running Company
• Jolie

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to Go Brewing and Non-Alcoholic Beers

07:33
The Journey to Starting Go Brewing

15:33
Brewing Process and Challenges

19:59
Launching and Marketing Go Brewing

28:24
Subscription Model and Customer Engagement

37:52
Future Trends in Non-Alcoholic Beverages

In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, Dan sits down with Francine Voit, co-founder of Pistakio, to talk about how she turned an underused nut into a standout brand — and made pistachios fun, accessible, and delicious for everyone.

Fran shares the inside story of how Pistakio started as a college capstone project, went viral with creative sampling stunts (including a tiramisu purse that made it through TSA!), and grew into a fast-scaling DTC and retail brand — all while staying taste-first and relentlessly scrappy.

You’ll hear:
✅ The simple sampling strategy that built word-of-mouth and early traction
✅ How Pistakio turned customer feedback into product improvements
✅ Creative ways they inspire customers to use their spreads in everyday recipes
✅ Why taste-first product development beats trendy buzzwords
✅ How Fran thinks about growing retail, DTC, and content — without paid ads

If you love founder stories packed with practical CPG marketing lessons and organic growth tactics, this one’s for you.

Tune in, grab a snack (maybe a pistachio or two), and enjoy!

Products and brands mentioned during this episode include:

• Pistakio
• Faire
• Bezi Labneh
• Lottie's Meats
• Michele Ferrero

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Pistachio and Francine Voit
02:27 The Inspiration Behind Pistachio Products
05:25 Product Development and Market Entry
09:04 Sampling Strategy and Initial Sales
14:39 Balancing Direct-to-Consumer and Retail Sales
17:46 Viral Marketing and Content Creation
19:55 Retail Partnerships and Growth Strategies
21:50 Advice for Aspiring Founders
24:09 Speed Round and Personal Insights