- Scott Romano
"Retailers don't reward distribution.
They reward performance.”
I help founders of emerging CPG brands struggling to hit retail velocities build a comprehensive 90-day action plan designed to increase units per store per week by 20–30%, protect current distribution and build the performance needed to earn more.
The Vital Forage 90-Day Retail Velocity Framework is built on 34 years of grocery leadership at Sprouts and Albertsons and 1,000+ brand launches. A proven plan so you can avoid that dreaded discontinued notification.
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34+ Years Grocery Retail Experience Natural & Conventional: Sprouts & Albertsons
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Established Sprouts as the industry's preferred launch retailer for emerging CPG companies: More than 1,000 New Item Launches
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Industry Influence: Guest speaker: Newtopia, BevNET, Brandjectory, Lighthouse Navigator Foundation, Venture Fuel, Hirshberg Entrepreneurship Institute, many more…
Vital Forage Approach
Collaborative
Vital Forage helps emerging CPG brands build the strategic foundation required for long-term retail success. By identifying opportunities, eliminating blind spots, and developing a disciplined growth plan, we prepare brands to earn buyer confidence and thrive on the shelf.
Results-Driven
With more than three decades working inside grocery, alongside buyers, brands, and category leaders. I understand what it truly takes to win on shelf. Through Vital Forage, I work closely with founders to refine their strategy, strengthen their positioning, and build a retail-ready foundation that drives velocities and sustainable growth.
“I encourage any founder interested in either getting into Sprouts or who is already in Sprouts but wants to make sure you can hold the shelf that you reach out for Scott and his free 30-minute consultation. We hired him to help Proda navigate the Sprouts organization as we launched nationwide in April, and it was one of the best decisions that Proda has made to date! Please reach out for him, you wont regret it!”
Jeff Church
Co-Founder of Proda, Former Co-Founder of Suja
What do the brands say?
“What an incredible run you've had there Scott Romano, so many ripples of positive impact have come from your work and discoveries and platforming of incredible products, innovation, and entrepreneurs in this space. Something to be massively proud of.”
John Foraker
Co- Founder & CEO at Once Upon A Farm
“We absolutely love working with Scott. He has such an incredible pulse on the CPG and wellness market and understands what we need to optimize with our brand SuperMush. He has amazing relationships with retailers and we've only been working with him for a few months but are already seeing so many positive improvements. We would highly recommend any CPG brand partner with him for retail growth.”
Alli Schaper
Co-Founder & CEO at SuperMush
Scott’s extensive experience in reviewing thousands and guiding hundreds of emerging brands during his retail career clearly sets him apart from other brand strategists. If there’s one thing I wish we had done sooner as young founders, it would have been to engage with experienced veterans like Scott to shape our retail strategy.
Kris Taylor
Co-Founder & COO
“As we approached our milestone launch with Sprouts, we brought on Vital Forage to guide us through the head office communication, complex logistical tasks, internal pricing reviews, and profitability analysis. With so many departments and moving parts involved in a national launch, we knew we had an ace in Scott from day one. His deep connections within Sprouts HQ made the entire process remarkably seamless; he navigated internal relationships with ease and kept everyone aligned. After a few strategic calls, Scott built out a clear 90-day plan that hit all our marks and kept us moving forward with confidence through launch and beyond. Since then, we have successfully launched 5 sku’s, nationwide and are excited for the future and momentum Scott was able to foster. I'd happily endorse Vital Forage to any other brands that are looking to plan an initial proposal to Sprouts, or mapping out a future launch.”
Alex Ramirez
Sr. Manager - National Sales US GURU Beverage Co.
FAQ
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Click on the “Let’s Chat” button to schedule your FREE 30-minute Retail Growth Assessment call.
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5 Options Available
CULTIVATE
“Foundation for retail entry”
ACCELERATE
“Convert placement into traction”
ELEVATE
“Ongoing growth partnership”
SINGLE ENGAGEMENT OPTION 1
“See how I work, before you commit to a full engagement.”
SINGLE ENGAGEMENT OPTION 2
“You know exactly what you need. Let’s build it now.”
Schedule your free Retail Growth Assessment call today to learn more.
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Typical engagement is 3 to 6 months
The goal is to create meaningful, lasting impact.
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No, Vital Forage is not a broker.
Points of difference:
Vital Forage
Strategic Support
Brought in to solve specific problems
Guidance & Decision-Making recommendations
Works with the founder
Leverages experience to avoid costly mistakes
Provides deliverables: 90-day launch plans, pitch decks, processes, tools and more
Compensation - Typically, 3-6-month commitment
Typical Broker:
Manages retail execution
Manages retail partners
Owns buyer relationships
Helps secure distribution + manage accounts
Paid via commission on sales or retainer
Typically, long-term partnership
Compensation - Ongoing commission and or retainer with long-term commitment
“Let’s Chat!”
Schedule your free 30-minute Retail Growth Assessment to explore where Vital Forage can create meaningful impact for your brand.
