Ogburn Consulting, LLC
If you’re building a brand, exploring new opportunities, or looking for what’s next in retail, I’d welcome the conversation.
Helping retailers discover what's next and helping emerging brands earn their place on the shelf.
I bring a unique perspective shaped by decades inside grocery retail and hands-on experience working with emerging brands.
About Justin Ogburn
What I Do
For Emerging Brands
For Retailers
I operate at the intersection of retail strategy and product innovation helping organizations identify opportunities, build differentiated assortments, and connect with the next generation of consumer products. I bring a unique perspective shaped by decades inside grocery retail and hands-on experience working with emerging brands.
My Approach
I’ve spent my career on both sides of the equation. I understand what retailers need and I understand the challenges founders face.
That perspective allows me to bridge the gap between innovation and execution.
For Retailers
For Emerging Brands
For Retailers
Retail success depends on differentiation and differentiation comes from finding the right products before everyone else does.
I work with retailers and strategic partners to:
- Identify emerging brands and product trends early
- Build pipelines of differentiated products
- Evaluate product-market fit and retail readiness
- Provide strategic insight into evolving consumer demand
For Emerging Brands
For Emerging Brands
For Emerging Brands
Getting into retail requires more than a great product, it requires alignment with how retailers think, operate, and make decisions.
I work with founders to:
- Refine product positioning and value proposition
- Align packaging and pricing with retail expectations
- Develop go-to-market and distribution strategies
- Navigate the path from concept to shelf
JUSTIN OGBURN RESUME
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Grocery retail executive and product innovation advisor with 25+ years of experience identifying emerging consumer trends, developing high-impact vendor partnerships, and bringing new products from concept to retail placement. Proven track record leading multi-billion-dollar merchandising operations, cultivating relationships across the retail and CPG ecosystem, and guiding early-stage brands through go-to-market strategy, positioning, and distribution. Combines deep industry expertise with a strong network of founders, buyers, and operators to build differentiated product pipelines and drive growth.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Innovation Strategy • Emerging Brand Development • Trend Identification
Merchandising & Assortment Strategy • Vendor Partnerships • Go-to-Market Execution
Consumer Insights • Cross-Functional Leadership • Strategic Growth
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Head of Marketing & Business Development
Ensign Partners | January 2026 – Present
- Lead marketing and business development strategy for a consulting firm focused on small and mid-sized businesses, driving growth through strategic positioning and client acquisition
- Advise business owners and executive teams on growth strategy, market positioning, and go-to-market execution across diverse industries
- Identify patterns across client organizations to inform strategic recommendations, strengthening positioning, customer engagement, and revenue growth
- Partner with founders and leadership teams to refine offerings, align with market demand, and improve scalability
Vice President of Sales
Titus Transport | November 2023 – December 2025
- Led national sales strategy for a logistics provider serving major grocery and retail clients, driving revenue growth through strategic partnerships and expanded account penetration
- Built and maintained executive-level relationships with key retail and CPG partners, strengthening position within complex supply chains
- Identified new market opportunities and aligned sales strategy with evolving customer needs across retail and consumer goods sectors
- Collaborated cross-functionally to align operational capabilities with customer demand and long-term growth strategy
Founder & Principal – Product & Retail Advisory
MadMen Enterprises & Independent Consulting | 2021 – Present
- Advise emerging consumer product brands on go-to-market strategy, guiding products from concept through retail readiness and market entry
- Leverage extensive grocery retail network to connect founders with decision-makers across merchandising and category management
- Provide strategic guidance on packaging, pricing, positioning, and distribution to align products with retail requirements and consumer demand
- Facilitated retail placement of ADDY, a natural green coffee supplement, into Fry's Food Stores locations across Arizona and Circle K stores
- Secured executive-level exposure for Vital Body with The Coca-Cola Company and Nestle positioning the brand for potential large-scale distribution opportunities
- Currently advising CocoLove, a coconut water beverage brand, on retail strategy and market entry
- Supported multiple early-stage brands (Craftails, Martini Mates, Beyond Stone, Mesh Tech, PX40/40, VitalBody, ADDY) in developing retail readiness and go-to-market strategy
President / Chief Administrative Officer
Copa Health | 2017 – 2019
- Led operations for a $100M organization, driving process improvement, cost reduction, and organizational performance
- Reduced overtime expense by 64%, generating $1.6M in annual savings
- Led strategic initiatives to optimize organizational structure, real estate assets, and operational efficiency
Fry’s Food Stores (Kroger) | 1989 – 2017
Director – Grocery & Liquor
- Led merchandising strategy across 119 stores, overseeing a $4.4B P&L and driving category growth and profitability
- Developed and implemented merchandising innovations that increased sales by $630K and improved profitability
- Collaborated cross-functionally to align product assortment with customer demand and market trends
Director – Business Development
- Designed and implemented customer and associate engagement strategies, improving overall satisfaction and participation across the division
- Developed innovative merchandising concepts that enhanced customer experience and drove measurable sales growth
District Manager
- Managed operations across 20+ stores generating approximately $1B in annual sales
- Led large-scale teams and executed merchandising and operational strategies across the district
EDUCATION
Business Management & Organizational Leadership – College of William & Mary
Leadership Development – Cornell University