Jason Woodward: From US Navy Commander To Owner Of Clear Alaskan Glacial Water
Building a successful consumer brand in a saturated market is tough, especially when working with a commodity like water. How do you break through the noise, leverage authenticity, and build consumer trust when logistics, production challenges, and fierce competition stack the odds against you?
Jason Woodward, an entrepreneur with a background as a US Navy Commander and real estate professional, shares how he tackled these challenges head-on. He highlights the importance of spotting white space opportunities, building a strong partner team with complementary strengths, and leveraging regional authenticity to stand out. He recommends that entrepreneurs remain vulnerable, ask better questions, and surround themselves with industry experts to navigate complex sales and distribution channels. Jason also stresses the power of using naturally occurring product advantages to differentiate in crowded categories.
In this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, Duncan Alney talks with Jason Woodward, Owner of Clear Alaskan Glacial, about building a mission-driven premium bottled water brand. Jason discusses the power of authentic regional branding, overcoming logistics challenges in Alaska, and why a strong internal team and asking the right questions are critical to success. He also shares rebranding strategies, breaking into CPG markets, and the importance of trusted partnerships.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
[2:01] Jason Woodward shares his journey from Navy Commander to bottled water entrepreneur
[3:55] How entrepreneurial instincts led to reviving a failing water company
[7:26] The role of strong team dynamics in building successful businesses
[9:10] How logistics challenges create a competitive advantage in the Alaska market
[12:30] Jason explains how Clear Alaskan Glacial’s naturally high pH benefits health-conscious consumers
[15:17] The complexities of the CPG sales process and distribution channels
[18:16] Jason’s takeaways from attending Expo West for the first time
[20:24] Clear Alaskan Glacial’s distribution process
[28:20] How building a business requires a team, not solo efforts
About Jason Woodward :
Jason Woodward is the Owner of Clear Alaskan Glacial, a premium bottled water brand sourced from Alaska’s Eklutna Glacier. Under his leadership, the company emphasizes sustainability, offering naturally alkaline water with a high pH and minimal processing. Jason is also a retired U.S. Navy Commander, Admiral of the Alaska Naval Militia, and a serial entrepreneur, having co-founded the successful Sudsy Salmon Car Wash chain before moving into the beverage industry. His commitment to environmental stewardship and quality has positioned the Clear Alaskan Glacial as a respected name in the fine water industry.
Resources Mentioned in this episode
Quotable Moments:
"When you look at a purified source of water, meaning it's been stripped everything out of it."
"You shop the source or the true source stuff versus the stuff that's been manufactured."
"Lost in general have lost the confidence in their water sources after Covid, for whatever reason."
"Water is a very competitive market, but it's also very much logistics heavy."
"Our team is very good. We're very different in the way we approach things and think about things."
Action Steps:
Build a strong, complementary team: Diverse partners prevent blind spots and create a solid foundation for business growth.
Leverage regional authenticity for branding: Using your location's natural identity builds instant trust and emotional connection with consumers.
Be transparent and flexible with distribution strategies: Offering clear, flexible distribution options strengthens customer relationships and improves operational margins.
Stay vulnerable and ask better questions: Admitting gaps in knowledge and seeking expert advice accelerates learning and avoids costly mistakes.
Invest early in scalable production capabilities: Upgrading operations before growth demands hit ensures reliability, scalability, and customer satisfaction.