From a start-up Founder to a compassionate consultant with hustle.
Who I am
A born and raised East Coaster, I attended the accredited Lower Merion High School, graduated from Villanova University in 2001, and lived in New York for just shy of a decade. An early career filled with color and diversity and a start in the food and beverage industry got me hooked. It also came with the realization of knowing I could make a difference. That is how I would describe my education and work history before I put on the hat of start-up CPG Founder. The day I decided to start a healthy beverage company was when the entire course of my life changed, and the passion that came with it ignited. I can say with certainty you cannot know what it is like to live the life of a start-up Founder unless you actually live it. It is not the path of least resistance but the path of relentlessness, adventure, and lightning-speed learning.
My business partner and I founded The Living Apothecary in 2012, and we didn’t stop until our exit in late 2020. What started with communal commercial kitchen space, a small delivery van, and farmers’ market stands in the Bay Area, with great hustle, turned into a 23,000sf manufacturing facility, distribution in states across the country, and a loyal and talented team dedicated to our success.
We ran the gamut manufacturing cold pressed juice, almond milk, and our most prominent star, naturally fermented water kefir teas. We graced the shelves of Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Vintage Grocers, Erewhon Market, Costco, Safeway, and beyond. We got press. We raised multiple rounds of investment. We compiled a stellar board of highly accredited CPG all-stars. I found myself giving interviews at BevNet Live, tirelessly working booths at Expo West, and building humbling business relationships that stand to this day.
I took risks. I doubled down. I sacrificed. I lived the brand. Post our exit, my true passion lies in assisting other brands in breaking down walls, growing past their expectations, and feeling strongly supported and guided through every phase of growth.
What I bring
Throughout my decade-long career as a Founder of a CPG brand, I have encountered every imaginable challenge. I managed high maintenance short shelf life products, experienced incredible highs and scary lows, and made it through with immense experience, knowledge, and grit. Building a brand is as much about product and route to market as it is about strategy, psych, and connections. It’s a strange secret sauce formula, and it can be exciting and excruciatingly frustrating navigating through seemingly uncharted waters.
This is where I got you. I will be as much a confidant as a solutions consultant who will not stop until your course to success is where you desire it to be. I will listen, take a deep dive into whatever area you put forth, and integrate seamlessly and with as little effort on your part as possible. The goal is for you to run your company with ease and confidence and for this path to lead you to your ultimate goals.
“Shari is a pleasure to work with. She gets right in there, rolls up her sleeves and won’t relent until the job is done. She quickly became part of the team.”
- Tracy P. CPG Client