Building a Beverage Brand with Yanni Hufnagel, Founder of Lemon Perfect

In this episode of The Strong New York Podcast, host Kenny Santucci sits down with Yanni Hufnagel, Founder and Executive Chairman of The Lemon Perfect Company, to explore the journey of building one of the fastest-growing beverage brands in America.Yanni shares the highs and lows of launching Lemon Perfect—a flavorful, zero-sugar lemon water —and what it takes to stand out in the highly competitive beverage industry. From reformulating products and landing major retail partnerships to maintaining resilience through it all, Yanni offers a candid look at the entrepreneurial grit behind his success.They discuss the health benefits of Lemon Perfect, its mission to revolutionize how America hydrates, and Yanni’s unexpected path from NCAA basketball coach to wellness-driven CEO. With only 10 calories and packed with vitamin C, Lemon Perfect is more than a beverage—it’s a movement.Tune in for an inspiring conversation about hustle, hydration, and the relentless pursuit of greatness.00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message00:15 Strong New York Event Announcement00:38 Welcome to the Podcast00:56 Guest Introduction: Yani Huff Nagel01:15 Discovering Lemon Perfect01:36 Challenges in the Beverage Industry02:55 The Evolution of Lemon Perfect04:55 Overcoming Setbacks and Reformulation12:49 Packaging and Market Strategy28:49 Future Goals and Reflections30:22 Building a Culture of Retention and Health30:43 Disrupting the Beverage Industry32:48 From Basketball Coach to Entrepreneur36:47 The Challenges of Entrepreneurship40:28 Celebrity Endorsements and Strategic Partnerships44:30 Innovation and Future Plans48:03 Expanding Distribution and Market Reach56:01 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Being STRONG is more than just how much weight you can lift. The Strong New York Podcast is dedicated to inspiring you to become your strongest self- in the gym, in business, in relationships and in life. Join Kenny as he sits down with his strong as fuck buddies and shoots the shit on what it takes to be strong willed, strong minded and physically strong. Season one features everyone from entrepreneurs and local business owners to doctors and industry leaders in the fitness and wellness space. With over a decade of experience, Kenny Santucci has made himself known as one of New York City’s top trainers and a thought leader in the health and wellness industry. After transforming his life at 15 years old through fitness, Kenny made it his mission to transform the lives of those around him. Kenny has trained some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Jon Bon Jovi, Liev Schreiber, and Frank Ocean, and has been tapped as a fitness expert sharing his training approach with Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Runner's World, SHAPE, Well+Good, among other publications. Kenny is the creator of STRONG New York, NYC's only Health and Fitness Expo. Strong New York is an immersive day of workouts, wellness experiences, panel discussions, and inspiring conversations with the best in-class wellness professionals, industry leaders, and change makers who are sharing their expertise on today's hottest wellness trends and first-hand experiences on how to optimize your overall health and life. You can find Kenny at The Strength Club, his private training and group strength training facility in the heart of Manhattan located on 28th and 5th Ave in New York City.