Evaluating market size and feasibility to successfully launch new CPG brands.
Program Overview
A game-changing opportunity for food and beverage consumer product innovators. Whether you’re launching a new brand or expanding your product lineup, getting the right data and strategy in place can mean the difference between a blockbuster success and a costly misstep. That’s where MCE SmartLaunch for CPG comes in...
MCE SmartLaunch is designed to help small and mid-sized Consumer food and beverage companies make informed decisions before launching a new product. By leveraging data-driven insights, it identifies consumer needs, uncovers white space opportunities, and evaluates the size and potential of the target category. Through market analysis and competitive benchmarking, the program provides a clear roadmap for product development, ensuring brands enter the market with confidence and a strategic advantage. Whether refining an existing idea or exploring new opportunities, this program equips businesses with the knowledge needed to maximize success and minimize risk.
Program Elements:
SmartLaunch participants receive personalized guidance from a dedicated, full-time program manager with extensive food industry experience. Our program manager will work closely with you to understand your company's specific needs in bringing your new CPG product to market. Our 12 week program includes:
Exclusive Access to Nielsen & SPINS Satori Data – The same powerful market insights used by major brands
Workshops & Hands-On Data Analysis – Turn raw numbers into actionable growth strategies with expert mentorship
A Supportive Cohort – Connect with like-minded entrepreneurs who are on the same journey
Is This Program for You?
You’re an existing business looking to expand with new flavors, packaging, or product lines
You want to understand market size and demand before making big investments
You’re looking for expert insights, mentorship, and industry connections
You believe in data-driven decision-making and want access to powerful retail analytics
Timeline & Eligibility
Thanks to our partnership with FocusMaine, this program is FREE for existing MCE Food Accelerator clients and available at a deeply reduced rate of $700 for new participants—making it an incredibly affordable way to set your brand up for success.
Our first cohort is underway! Please follow this page for updated information regarding future programming. Should you have any questions, please email Program Manager, Naomi Neville.
What People Are Saying
— Andrew Schundler, CHUH
"I had the opportunity to join the SmartLaunch program for my brand CHUH and it was an outstanding experience. The data the team pulled was incredible - I was blown away at the detail and information I was given access to. Seeing how other brands were handling promo, the number of stores they were in, etc. is essential as a young brand trying to figure out how we handle all these pieces. I would 100% recommend any brand to take part in this amazing program."
— Liam Fisher, Maine Garum
"Programs like this are a source of confidence for emerging brands."
— Joshua Scherz, Maine Canned Fish
"Mark & Naomi are a wealth of resources in the Smartlaunch Program from MCE. Their experience in business of all sizes and from both distribution and marketing really helped me understand where our product had an opportunity for success in the distribution and retail world."
2025 SmartLaunch CPG Program Wrap-Up
MCE has just completed the inaugural SmartLaunch CPG program, funded by FocusMaine and designed to help Maine’s food and beverage entrepreneurs bring products to market with confidence.
Over the summer, a cohort of 11 early-stage brands worked through a structured, data-driven curriculum that provided access to Nielsen and SPINS Satori market data—resources typically out of reach for small businesses. Paired with expert mentorship from seasoned CPG leaders, the program equipped participants with real-time insights into consumer demand, category trends, and competitive dynamics, preparing them for strong, scalable product launches.
