Martin Forde

About Martin Forde

I build brands in retail. I help the next generation of emerging brands launch and scale in national retail. I build the strategy and support in execution. My purpose and passion in the CPG industry is helping source and guide the next category disrupters into retailers most aligned for their needs. This is rooted from my experience at Dr. Squatch, as an early-stage employee and the first sales hire who defined and executed the brands initial retail launch strategy. Today, through my work as a Co-Founder and Partner at Highline Brands we are building a retail brokerage purpose built for modern brands. With respected industry veteran Diane Roy, we bring a combined decades of experience and a fresh disruptive perspective to the outdated brokerage model. Our team is committed to deep partnership and unbeatable service levels for our brand clients. Highline Brands is differentiated from other brokers by offering go-to-market retail strategy consulting as a standalone service. This is informed by my experience and strategy that scaled Dr. Squatch to a 9-figure retail business. We are specialists in the Grocery Channel, with a particular emphasis and focus on Safeway Albertsons. We offer coverage for national, regional, natural, and limited SoCal specialty. We are Mass Retail experts, with deep relationships and experience at both Walmart and Target. Outside of CPG, I am passionate about infill housing development. As a first time homebuyer I bought a hoarder house, gut renovated it and utilized ADU laws to transform my single family home into a duplex. I am always seeking connections, partners and operators in the real estate community to help my long term vision of helping to solve the housing crisis. I spend my free time in the mountains. A lifelong athlete - I’m a 3x ultramarathoner, 5x regular marathoner, former D1 athlete and US National team member. Always welcome connection with inspiring, conscious, driven people from all backgrounds. Reach out if I can be of service!

Experience

1. Co-founder & Partner

   Highline Brands

   Aug 2025 — Present · Los Angeles, CA, US

Education

• Oregon State University

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Double Major, Management & Entrepreneurship. Economics Minor

  2011 — 2015

Skills

• Leadership
• Time Management
• Public Speaking
• Teamwork
• Team Building
• Social Networking
• Direct Sales
• Team Leadership
• Data Analysis
• Sales Operations
• Fundraising
• Strategic Planning
• Sales Management
• Customer Service
• Project Management
• Sales Presentations
• Microsoft Excel
• Sales
• Training