Emerging CPG brands took the stage at the 2026 BUILD Tank, hosted by C.A. Fortune, a leading privately held national consumer brands sales and marketing agency, and its BUILD business unit, the company’s dedicated platform for scaling emerging brands through sales, marketing and retail connectivity. The pitch slam-style event featured brands ranging from Octonuts, a California-based company offering clean-ingredient nut products, to Fun Times Soda, a nostalgia-inspired craft soda brand founded by former Floor Is Lava and Top Gear host, Rutledge Wood. Seven brands in total presented their story, packaging and product innovation to receive direct feedback from 10 buyers representing nine national and regional retailers.
"As the food and beverage marketplace grows more competitive and consumers become more selective about the products they buy, BUILD Tank has become an invaluable forum for brands to receive candid, actionable feedback directly from the people who influence what wins on shelf," says Meagen Arensdorff, SVP of emerging brands and corporate strategy at C.A. Fortune. “It's an experience like no other and the impact is incredibly powerful in driving the brand's strategy in retail.”
On the morning of the event, C.A. Fortune’s insights team briefed attendees on the latest consumer trends shaping retail today. As grocery prices continue to rise and private label expands across premium and functional categories, (including a 22% increase in Gen Z shoppers engaging with private label) consumers are becoming more selective in how and where they spend. Emerging brands face steeper competition for shelf space, making differentiation more important than ever. In fact, 31% of consumers are reading labels more closely while also making faster decisions at shelf based on price and product attributes.
The retailer panel, featuring leaders from Sprouts, Whole Foods, Albertson’s, Lunds & Byerlys, Rosauers Supermarkets, Meijer, Raley’s, New Seasons–Lazy Acres, Natural Grocers Co-Op and more, also shared perspective on evolving shopper behavior and the growing importance of digital engagement in driving in-store traffic.
To drive education and engagement across the C.A. Fortune team, the event was live streamed to the entire firm. As a result, this year's event introduced a “Viewer's Choice" award, giving attendees the opportunity to vote for their favorite brand. Octonuts took home that honor, while Liam's, an allergen-friendly frozen meal company, earned the award for “Best Pitch” and Better Sour, a culinary-inspired candy brand celebrating sour fruit flavors from around the world, was named “Best Product.”
BUILD Tank is the centerpiece of C.A. Fortune's four-day BUILD national sales meeting, a one-of-a-kind experience designed to accelerate emerging brands through direct access to retailers, real-time feedback and the full power of C.A.’s integrated teams.
“The opportunity to share our story and receive direct retailer feedback was incredibly valuable as we continue to grow Liam’s,” says Angie Nelson, co-founder and CEO of Liam’s. “We’re grateful to the C.A. BUILD team and retail partners who made the experience so impactful.”
BUILD Tank continues to reinforce C.A. Fortune’s commitment to helping emerging brands grow through direct retailer access, real-time feedback and the connectivity needed to win in today’s evolving retail landscape.
C.A. Fortune is a leading, privately held national consumer brands sales and marketing agency focused on helping brands win at retail and across commerce. Built to lead in CPG, the company brings together sales, marketing, insights, e-commerce, and more to drive connected growth for its partners. Serving brands from emerging, to insurgent, to enterprise level, C.A. Fortune combines national scale with a hands-on, results-driven approach.
