This is our first episode of our new Duck Pond Podcast where we bring on founders, creatives, and brilliant minds to get behind the scenes on how to bring a product onto store shelves. From branding, marketing, to packaging and hardships.

Today we're featuring Grace Finerman, found of Date Smarter, a healthy candy snack alternative that has been shaking up store aisles.

She's been spearheading rapid growth having recently celebrated her 1 year anniversary and has been awarded the Fairway Find of 2025.

We’ll dive into:

1. How Date Smarter positions itself in the candy and snack market

2. Why packaging design plays such a key role in brand storytelling

3. What it takes to grow a direct-to-consumer (DTC) brand in today’s crowded landscape

4. Insights into marketing strategies that helped fuel rapid growth

✨ Learn how Date Smarter is making candy smarter, healthier, and just as crave-worthy.