About Us
Company Story
Founded by industry veterans, Southside Innovations bridges emerging health-forward brands with established retail channels. We specialize in functional beverages (e.g., those with gut health or energy-boosting benefits), nutritious snacks, and performance supplements: aligning with 2026 trends toward metabolic wellness and clean-label innovation. Our approach combines operational excellence with market insights to create opportunities.
Our Team
Peter Bizzarro
Peter Bizzarro
Peter Bizzarro
Managing Partner
30+ years of distribution experience, and founder of Jams RX. Expert in forging retailer relationships.
Chris Calicchio
Peter Bizzarro
Peter Bizzarro
General Partner
Beverage industry veteran and former sales manager at Pom Wonderful. Drives growth in drink categories.
Melaku Mendell
Peter Bizzarro
Melaku Mendell
Venture Partner
Product specialist in functional beverages and other health-forward brands. Bridges startups and enterprise partners.
Steve Pear
Jacob Julian
Melaku Mendell
Strategic Advisor
Former CEO of Odwalla and Cheribundi, with extensive experience in beverage and consumer packaged goods scaling.
Jacob Julian
Jacob Julian
Jacob Julian
Strategic Advisor
Sales executive with over a decade in revenue growth; former VP at Calypso Lemonade.