Scaling CPG Brands Without Burning Out | Andy Harrow (Second Seat Partners)

Scaling CPG Brands Without Burning Out | Andy Harrow (Second Seat Partners)

From The Operator's Table by Cris Morgado

November 18, 2025 · 35 min

About this episode

Andy Harrow discusses sustainable scaling strategies for early-stage CPG brands without burnout.

Veteran CPG operator Andy Horrow , founder of Second Seat Partners , joins Cris Morgado on The Operator’s Table to break down how early-stage and emerging CPG, food & beverage brands can scale sustainably —without grinding themselves into the ground. In this episode, Andy shares lessons from years inside PepsiCo/Gatorade , protein and beverage startups, and now as a “second seat” operator helping founders with go-to-market, retail velocity and profitable growth . You’ll hear Andy’s take on: His shift from big corporate roles to launching Second Seat Partners The “co-pilot / wingman” model and the kind of founders he can help the most Why most brands aren’t ready for Walmart or Costco (and what to prove first) How to think about cash, margins, COGS and marketing spend without sinking the business Building distribution in alcohol & beverage through the three-tier system and deep distributor relationships Growing in concentric circles instead of chasing national scale too early The mindset behind his Substack, “Less Grind, More Joy” , and why joy, walking and reflection matter just as much as strategy and KPIs How community, friendships and a strong “second seat” network…

People in this episode

Host: Cris Morgado

Guest: Andy Harrow

Topics covered

  • CPG
  • food & beverage
  • sustainable scaling
  • entrepreneurship
  • retail velocity
  • profitable growth

Keywords

  • PepsiCo
  • Gatorade
  • Second Seat Partners
  • go-to-market
  • cash management
  • distribution
  • community

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Substack, PepsiCo, Gatorade

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