Welcome to the 250th episode of the Food Biz Wiz podcast, wizes! We are thrilled to have published 250 episodes of valuable, hard-to-access information from the packaged food and beverage industry.

As it’s our last episode, this episode is a bit different. It’s a short welcome episode for those just discovering the Food Biz Wiz Podcast Library for the first time. You’ll hear me share more about...

• How you can navigate our hundreds of podcast episodes with our BRAND NEW listener guide
• Ways to make the best use out of our content
• And how you can help us celebrate this milestone: leaving ratings and sharing our social media posts!

Did you miss our announcement on why we made this decision? Check out episode 249 just below this one. Click here to grab our listener guide so that you can access the most useful episodes NOW and find our full show notes here!

Wizes, we have some BIG news that we’ve been sitting on: episode 250 will be the last new episode of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast.

We were a little bit nervous about how you would receive this news, but we want to tell you the 3 reasons why we’re stopping here, AND how our decision-making process can help you with your next big business decision. So here’s what we’ll cover in today’s episode:

• Why and how we’re celebrating this HUGE milestone of 250 episodes of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast (and how you can join us!)
• The 3 reasons why we’re not publishing new podcast episodes after next week, despite the huge successes of the podcast
• What this big change means for you as our listeners, and how we can continue growing together!

We appreciate your listenership deeply and hope that you’ll join us as we explain the process behind why we’re taking this next step. You can find our full show notes at this link!

Retail Ready is OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT! 

Wizes – yes, we’re talking to you! – if you listen to this podcast and it’s exactly the information you need…then imagine what it’d be like to get expert CPG biz advice, tailored to YOUR situation, directly from me, Charlie, and our team inside of Retail Ready. Imagine what it’s like to be in a supportive community of other founders – and not alone – when a biz challenge or question comes up.

Today’s episode is for those of you who have been on the fence about Retail Ready®. In this episode, we welcome 10 women who are past and current Retail Ready® students, to hear how their business has grown since joining our program. Then, I walk you through the behind-the-scenes of Retail Ready®, telling you ALLLL about what you get when you join our program. We don’t want you to miss out, so JOIN US TODAY here!

Even though Alli hosts guests on the Food Biz Wiz podcast frequently, she is rarely the one being interviewed. This episode, we turn the tables on Alli and ask her to share the story behind how she got her buyer perspective. You’ll hear about…

• The challenges Alli navigated going from a consumer to a buyer in the thick of retail
• What the difference is between markup and margin and how easy they are to mix up!
• And why you need to save some bandwidth for after you get on the shelf!

As always, we want to connect further with you: which tidbit from this episode impacted you the most? Let us know via our Instagram or LinkedIn DMs, which are both linked in our full show notes here!

This episode is sponsored by our mini Reorder Checklist! This checklist can help you be more likely to sell off those shelves and receive reorders. You can find our simplified version at the link here OR, if you’re a Retail Ready® student, you can find the longform version and training directly within our course platform!

We have recently shared some of the mistakes that we see founders make in retail…now what about good starting points? In this episode of the Food Biz Wiz podcast, Alli focuses on THREE of her most important retail rules. These rules are applicable for all brands, but especially ones who are self-funded and building a brand that works for them! You’ll hear…

• How you can ensure that you’re getting into the right channels for success
• Why not to rely on that paid list of buyer contacts
• And what role brokers and distributors can truly play in your business

As usual, we want to know WHICH rule resonates most? DM us on Instagram or LinkedIn to let us know. Find the links to our Instagram and LinkedIn as well as all the valuable resources mentioned in our full show notes here!

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Roadmap! Receiving “insider” knowledge can make a world of difference for an emerging brand. We want to share Alli’s buyer expertise so that you know what it takes to get ON the retail shelf - be it a physical or digital shelf - AND have high sales once you're there! Find our free, nine-step guide to building a brand that flies off the shelf by clicking here so that you’re planning for each next step NOW!

The opportunity to sell our products in a franchise seems like a no-brainer. Right? Well, there is usually more to consider: distribution, our production capacity, and more! That’s why we’re so excited to share this “Is It Worth It, Charlie?” episode where Charlie and Natalia, the founder and owner of Curious Cat Bakery, discuss just this.

As Natalia thinks through whether she should start selling her frozen vegan croissants to a local franchise, you’ll hear more about…

• The main questions she wants to answer before saying yes 
• How she can ease into an agreement that will allow more organic growth
• And what her next steps after the conversation are!

We know plenty of you have likely wondered this same question, so we can't wait to hear which part of this episode you needed to hear most. Let us know by sending us a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn. Find our links and more about Natalia and Curious Cat Bakery at our full show notes here!

This episode is sponsored by our Secret Sauce Quiz! Do you want to know what’s working in YOUR biz? Then make sure to take our Secret Sauce Quiz! You’ll answer 10 quick questions on yourself and your biz, and then you’ll learn your brand's current strength & how you can leverage that this year. You’ll receive a curated list of free resources for your exact stage of business so that you can do MORE of what’s working. Click here to take the quiz and receive your results and resources today!

We know. When someone tells you what not to do, it’s easy to tune them out. Maybe they aren’t in your position or they don’t have experience with your challenges. But it’s quite the opposite in today’s episode. Charlie Berkinshaw, the founder and CEO of Element Shrub and our VP of Student Success here at Retail Ready®, joins Alli to discuss the top 3 mistakes he sees food founders make. Charlie has been running Element Shrub for over 9 years as a solopreneur, which means that he knows firsthand the challenges of this industry. You’ll hear…

• How running a business based on what other folks are doing can be costly
• What you can do to avoid running into unexpected costs when you don’t account for your labor
• And why you need to be eyes wide open on what a distributor might cost

Charlie’s sharing all this and more so that you can save yourself time and effort. If you’d like to learn more about Element Shrub and Charlie’s work here at Food Biz Wiz, then check out our full show notes here!

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Roadmap! Similar to how Charlie shares his “insider” knowledge in this episode, we want to share Alli’s buyer expertise so that you know what it takes to get ON the retail shelf - be it a physical or digital shelf - AND have high sales once you're there! Find our free, nine-step guide to building a brand that flies off the shelf by clicking here so that you’re planning for each next step NOW!

Online, on TV, and from your next door neighbor, you’ll hear tons of financial advice for your business. “Avoid debt at all costs.” “You need to spend money to make money.” “Advisors from Fortune 500 companies will always know better than you.” It can be confusing to say the least!

In this episode, Sarah Delevan, the Founder & CEO of Sarah Delevan Consulting & The Good Food CFO, joins us to shed light on some of the most common financial challenges food businesses face, debunk some misconceptions, AND share how brands can navigate those challenges. In this episode of the Food Biz Wiz podcast, you’ll hear more about….

• Why higher sales don’t automatically solve a cash flow problem
• How critical it is to know all of your product margins
• What you can do to take a holistic approach to your cash flow and margin
• Reframing how we see debt and why it’s not inherently bad to have debt

Wizes, we can’t wait for you to listen to this conversation! If you want to check out all the useful episodes mentioned, as well as more about Sarah, check out our full show notes here. You’ll also find our Instagram and LinkedIn links there as well!

This episode is sponsored by OUR MASTERCLASS! As Sarah and Alli discussed, you need to find out where your product’s right channels are. This is just one of the many things we discuss in our Masterclass, which includes tons of actionable tips for growing your CPG food business, plus hear more about joining us in Retail Ready®. Click here to sign up for a time to watch our free Masterclass!

We can all agree: it’s TOO easy to dust off a box of Girl Scout cookies. So when Girl Scout cookie season rolls around, I try to avoid buying their cookies at all costs. But this season, as a savvy young Girl Scout in my neighborhood used her bag of sales tricks on me, it got me thinking about what sales tactics work and don’t work in the CPG world.

In this brief episode, you’lll hear…

• The 3 easy sales tactics that you can borrow from this young seller for YOUR CPG sales
• One of the missed opportunities for increased sales that you can capture
• Plus more about my freebie to use with these tactics!

We want to see you share this episode with your fellow food founders. Make sure to tag us on Instagram and LinkedIn, which you can find in our full show notes here!

This episode is sponsored by our freebie workbook outlining 100 Buyer No’s. This workbook will walk you through prepping for any possible wholesale buyer objection and guide you in crafting a response that lets buyers know you are READY to get ON and sell OFF their shelf. It’s the perfect tool to have as you prepare for all your pitches. Find the free download here!

Hearing "your SKU is underperforming" from a retailer can easily put brands into a panic. It's natural. We don't want to be on the chopping block when category reviews come around.

That's why we're thrilled to share this "Is It Worth It, Charlie?" episode. In it, Mary Bentdahl, the Co-Founder, CMO, and Director of Sales for ShroomEats, joins Charlie to discuss how she was able to react and to adjust when she heard from a retailer that one of their SKUs was underperforming. You'll hear their conversation on...

• The importance of keeping cool when you learn of a SKU's underperformance
• How staying proactive in your retailer communication can support your SKU success
• What harnessing consumer feedback can do for course correcting sales

We're thrilled for you to listen into this episode and want to know which piece of Mary's experience resonated most with you. DM us on Instagram or LinkedIn, which are linked in our full show notes here. You can also find more about Mary and ShroomEats at our full show notes!

This episode is sponsored by our mini Reorder Checklist! As Mary mentioned, it’s valuable to have a list of go-to actions for selling off the shelf. This checklist can help you be more likely to sell off those shelves and receive reorders. You can find our simplified version at the link here OR, if you’re a Retail Ready® student, you can find the longform version and training directly within our course platform!

The Portland Good Food Mercantile is coming up soon and we know that tons of tasty food brands will be attending. As you prepare for this trade show and other trade shows, you might wonder…what do I really need to BE prepared for these shows?

That’s why we’re revisiting this episode with Joyce Attar. Joyce is the Director of Operations and member of the family that owns and operates Barbur World Foods, World Foods, and Ya Hala in Portland, Oregon. She’s also a member of the Good Food Merchant Alliance! She joins Alli to discuss…

• Where you can find a list of retailers that are values-aligned
• What BUYERS do to prepare for trade shows
• Why knowing your end customer and store audience is critical
• What piece of information not to miss in your buyer followup email

We can’t wait to hear which piece of Joyce’s advice that you’ll implement first in your next trade show. DM us on Instagram or LinkedIn to let us know, and check out our full show notes here to find more information on The Good Food Foundation and their work, as well as more on Joyce!

This episode is sponsored by OUR . Another quarter is beginning…do YOU have a strategy for starting and maintaining growth in your biz? If not, sign up for a time to watch our Masterclass! As we begin Q2, we want to make sure that you have an actionable retail strategy for how to increase YOUR sales. Check out our Masterclass for these tips, plus hear more about joining us in Retail Ready®. Click here to sign up for a time to watch our Masterclass!

Have you heard these myths about creating memorable brand names? Myth 1: All the good names are taken. Myth 2: It's too late to change your name. Myth 3: A name isn't that important. Well in this week's Food Biz Wiz episode, Alexandra Watkins, the Chief Executive Boss Lady of Eat My Words and a leading & outspoken authority on brand names, joins us to debunk these myths! In this episode, you'll hear all about...

• What Alexandra's “SMILE & SCRATCH Test” is for creating names
• Why it's not too late to re-brand and re-name your biz!
• How you can even use this process for product or line names
• And how you can enter the giveaway to win Alexandra's book, Hello, My Name is Awesome: How to Create Brand Names That Stick

Wizes, we are thrilled to share Alexandra’s actionable advice with you! Listen in and check out our full show notes here for all the details on Alexandra and how to enter our giveaway, plus how to receive a discount on Alexandra’s course!

We are back this week with part II of last week’s episode 237 with Kai Nortey! In this episode 238 of the Food Biz Wiz podcast, you’ll continue to hear Kai and Alli discuss more about Kai’s transparent, no sugarcoat experiences as a CPG founder.

If you missed part I in last week’s episode, we recommend that you check out that episode first! Kai Nortey is the CEO & Co-Founder of kubé, PBC (Public Benefit Corporation). Kubé is a Black woman-owned artisanal, premium, and luxurious full-fat coconut ice cream womanfacturer and social enterprise, based in Oakland, California. They make their own clean, full-fat coconut cream from mature coconuts, then blend it with organic plant-based food ingredients. 

Specifically, you’ll hear more about…

• How Kai has arrived at her non-negotiables in their business
• What the costs of taking VC from investors who aren’t aligned could be
• Why it’s worth exploring all your options and pivoting when necessary
• And what you can do to empower yourself before investment conversations!

Wizes, you can find all the resources mentioned in this episode, plus more about Kai and kubé in our full show notes here! As always, we want to hear: what perspective or wisdom did you need to hear most from Kai today? DM us via LinkedIn or Instagram and let us know!

Sign up for a time to watch my Masterclass! As we put Q1 behind us, we want to make sure that YOUR Q2 is armed with an actionable strategy on how to increase YOUR sales. Check out our Masterclass for these tips, plus hear more about joining us in Retail Ready®. Click here to sign up for a time to watch our Masterclass!

The CPG industry remains OPAQUE in many ways. It can feel hard to enter it prepared. That's why we're thrilled to have Kai Nortey, the CEO & Co-Founder of kubé, PBC (Public Benefit Corporation) join us to bring a transparent look at how she has built her business to work for her.

kubé is a Black woman-owned artisanal, premium, and luxurious full-fat coconut ice cream womanfacturer and social enterprise, based in Oakland, California. They make their own clean, full-fat coconut cream from mature coconuts, then blend it with organic plant-based food ingredients. You'll hear all about:

• The lessons that Kai learned directly from founders in the ice cream category
• What building the biz their way has meant for them and their community

• Some of the challenges of taking VC when you are a values and mission-forward brand

• And how important it is to find truly values-aligned partners to support your brand and its mission

Wizes, part II of this episode will be in episode 238 next week. Before then, we want to hear from you in our Instagram or LinkedIn DMs: was there something in this episode that surprised you or that you needed to hear? Find Kai's & kubé's information, as well as our social links, in our full show notes here!

This episode is sponsored by my LIVE Wholesale Success System training on March 26th and 28th! Do you often feel like you’re constantly winging your sales strategy? Like you never actually know if you’re saying the right things in a pitch or if you’re on the right track? If you answered yes to any of these, then come learn my Wholesale Success System. I'm teaching this system on Tuesday, March 26th and again on Thursday, March 28th. Pick the date that works for you, and register for free here!

We are thrilled to continue celebrating female founders' businesses and their CPG wisdom during this Women’s History Month. In this week’s episode of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast, we’re sharing our conversation with Tonia Farman, CEO and Co-Founder of Queen of Hearts, which makes the world’s first sustainable salad dressing, made with hemp seeds.

Tonia’s business is rooted in creating a positive impact for our food system. She has navigated multiple challenges and wins in her biz, so you’ll hear about…

• Actually leveraging YOUR strengths and how to find them
• Knowing what the signs of burnout from hustle culture are and when you should pause
• Using your data to guide what to focus on next and what to cut out
• And saying no as a means of guiding your growth thoughtfully and strategically

Wizes, we’d LOVE to hear what takeaways you needed to hear from Tonia in this episode or what you’re going to implement next. DM us or tag us over on Instagram or LinkedIn and be sure to check out Tonia’s podcast. Find all those links in the show notes here!

This episode is sponsored by our mini Reorder Checklist! In line with finding the right tactics that work for YOUR business, this checklist is a list of ways to onboard a new retailer so that you’re more likely to sell off those shelves and receive reorders. You can find our simplified version at the link here OR, if you’re a Retail Ready® student, you can find the longform version and training directly within our course platform!

Busy caregivers, busy founders, busy people have at least ONE thing in common. They all deserve healthy AND delicious snacks to fuel them! This is part of what propels B.T.R. NATION. In this episode of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast, I’m sitting down with Ashley Nickelsen, the Founder, CEO, and Chief Snack Officer of B.T.R. NATION. They are on a mission to help fix our broken food system one snack at a time!

I am thrilled for Ashley to share her story and how she has built B.T.R NATION (plus recently tripled their doors in the span of 2 months!). You’ll hear more about…

• Why determining your non-negotiables NOW can help support your strategy
• How staying rooted in your original “why” supports your authenticity
• The importance of finding the right partners at the right time
• And what a more genuine approach to working with influencers looks like

Wizes, as we mentioned in the episode, we want to hear what YOUR non-negotiables are after listening to this episode. Come DM us or tag us in your stories over on Instagram and on LinkedIn, which are both linked in our full show notes here!

Today's guest on the Food Biz Wiz podcast is Skyler Mapes, the Cofounder and CEO of EXAU, a high-quality Italian olive oil brand. Skyler has been named a Forbes 30 Under 30 and has grown EXAU by 6x over the past 6 years. Still, Skyler says "no" to constant growth and expansion. In this episode, we are thrilled to share our conversation on her journey to this point and the lessons that she has learned, including...

• Why the "slowness" of the food industry is relative and how you can use it to encourage thoughtful decision making
• Three words you need to hear to grow YOUR comfort zone
• The importance of doing self-healing work to root into your values more clearly
• And how their passion for olive oil helped land them a book deal!

Wizes, as Skyler and I mentioned in this episode, we'd LOVE it if you scroll wayyyy back in our social media profiles and tag us on our early content! You'll see that being a brand online is a constant work in progress and see Skyler's three key words in action. Find both the Food Biz Wiz and EXAU social media links in our full show notes here!

This episode is sponsored by our freebie workbook outlining 100 Buyer No’s. This workbook will walk you through prepping for any possible wholesale buyer objection and guide you in crafting a response that lets buyers know you are READY to get ON and sell OFF their shelf. It’s the perfect tool to have as you prepare for all your pitches. Find the free download here!

Most people don't believe me when I say this, but here’s a secret of mine: I am actually an introvert. I often dread the small talk of industry events and how draining these events can sometimes feel. But over years of attending industry events, I've come up with a game plan that has made attending events both more fun AND more valuable.

In this episode, I'll share my tried and true game plan with you, including...

• The THREE steps that I take to ensure a more mindful and impactful time at events
• How knowing and sharing your goals with others helps your brand
• And why you need to build in time to rest after events!

As I mentioned in the episode, I want to know what YOUR goal for your next event is, so feel free to tag us in your stories OR DM us on Instagram or LinkedIn so that we can cheer you on! Find our Instagram and LinkedIn via our full show notes here!

In business, we often feel that we might have to compromise on our values to see our brands grow. But on the Food Biz Wiz podcast, we want to highlight how you can still grow your brand AND center your values. That’s why in today’s Original Recipe episode, we are excitedly revisiting our episode with Ibraheem Basir, the CEO and founder of A Dozen Cousins. A Dozen Cousins produces delicious packaged beans, rices, and sauces inspired by Black and Latino recipes from throughout the Americas.

Ibraheem shares how he continues to emphasize being a values-centered company AND growing A Dozen Cousins into a national, retail-first brand. Tune in to hear him and Alli discuss…

• Why retail was where he focused first, instead of D2C
• What values A Dozen Cousins stands for and how they weave them into their work
• Their process for hiring diverse, values-aligned team members and building team culture

As Alli has mentioned, we want to connect further with you, our Food Biz Wiz listeners! We want to know: which piece of Ibraheem’s experience or wisdom inspired you the most for your brand? DM us on Instagram or on LinkedIn, which you can find linked in our full show notes. You’ll also find more information on Ibraheem, A Dozen Cousins, and all the resources mentioned linked there as well.

This episode is sponsored by our mini Reorder Checklist! In line with growing your brand through multiple tactics, this checklist is a list of ways to onboard a new retailer so that you’re more likely to sell off those shelves and receive reorders. You can find our simplified version at the link here OR, if you’re a Retail Ready® student, you can find the longform version and training directly within our course platform!

We often get into this trap of thinking: we've put hours of work in, so the sales will automatically follow. Right? The truth is that it's not always a 1:1 relationship, especially in e-commerce. That's why we're thrilled to have Maureen Mwangi, the Founder of Startward Consulting, e-commerce expert and brand strategist behind many of America's most beloved brands, join us on the Food Biz Wiz Podcast today! In today's episode, she shares multiple ways that you can architect your SKUs, seasonality, and branding to increase sales, even when you think that you’ve hit a plateau.

In this episode, you'll hear Alli and Maureen discuss...

• How having specific uses for each of your products benefits your brand
• The importance of using data to know your consumers
• How using data to inform your decisions makes your work more efficient
• What authentic branding can do to reach the right audiences
• And multiple other gems of strategic wisdom that you don’t want to miss!

You can find out more about Maureen, Startward Consulting, and their Sales Maximizer training in our full show notes here! There were so many gems in this episode so we want to hear from you: which will you incorporate first? Connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn (both in our full show notes) to share more with us!

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Roadmap! We want to share Alli’s buyer expertise so that you know what it takes to get ON the retail shelf - be it a physical or digital shelf - AND have high sales once you're there. Find our free, nine-step guide to building a brand that flies off the shelf by clicking here so that you’re planning for each next step NOW!

As we enter February and celebrate Black History Month with our Food Biz Wiz community, we are excited to revisit this episode with CPG industry veteran Sheryl O’Loughlin on how we can cultivate an inclusive CPG industry that supports Black futures and represents all of us! Sheryl is the co-founder of the JEDI (justice, equity, diversity and inclusion) Collaborative, the Women on Boards Project, former CEO of REBBL and Clif Bar and Company, and co-founder and former CEO Plum Organics.

In this episode, you’ll hear Sheryl and Alli discuss…

• Why prioritizing just, equitable, and inclusive practices is critical to our industry 
• What brands might be able to expect in their journey to becoming a brand that supports anti-racism, equity, and inclusivity
• How Jedi Collaborative's work can support YOUR brand’s particular JEDI journey
• And why these journeys are STILL important for brands who have small teams!

This episode is packed with important insights and we’d love to hear your takeaways. Connect with us through our Instagram or LinkedIn, which are both linked in our full show notes here. You can also find all the links mentioned in the episode there, too!

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® Masterclass! As we put the first month of 2024 behind us, we want to make sure that the rest of your Q1 is armed with actionable tips from Alli on how to increase YOUR sales. Check out our Masterclass for these tips, plus hear more about joining us in Retail Ready®. Click here to sign up for a time to watch our Masterclass!

We are back with our first “Is It Worth It, Charlie?” episode of 2024, with Karen Hetz. Karen is the Chief Happiness Officer of Kids’ Cake Boxes and she joins Charlie to discuss how she can decide what’s next for her business on the heels of her business’ third anniversary. Tune in to hear more about…

• What questions we can ask ourselves to orient how we move forward
• Why looking back at our original “why” can inform our future
• How we can rethink what it means to be successful in business and why pivoting and “failure” isn’t an inherently negative thing!

We’d love to hear what resonated most with you from this episode, wizes! Connect with us via Instagram or LinkedIn at the links in our full show notes HERE. You can also check out more on Karen and Kids’ Cake Boxes.

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® Masterclass! If you listened into this episode and wanted to be part of a supportive CPG community AND have Charlie’s insights on your biz challenges, then Retail Ready® is the perfect place for you. Check out our Masterclass for our actionable tips to increase YOUR sales in Q1, plus hear more about joining us in Retail Ready®. Click here to sign up for a time to watch our Masterclass!

Welcome to our first episode of season 20 of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast, wizes! As promised, we are kicking off this season with Sarah Davidson. Sarah is the Executive Vice President of ECRM, which connects producers with retail buyers through hybrid and in-person buyer meeting events. In her role at ECRM, Sarah has seen 1000s of buyer pitches. In this episode, you’ll hear…

• How ECRM connects the right buyers and the right suppliers through their events
• Common traits of the most successful buyer pitches and what NOT to do
• The importance of timing with resets and category reviews in mind

As I mentioned in our episode, one of my 2024 goals is to feel more connected to our listeners. Please find the links to our Instagram and LinkedIn (as well as the Sarilla article mentioned, Sarah’s contact information, and our past episode) in our full show notes here!

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Roadmap! Just as Alli and Sarah share their “insider” knowledge in this episode, receiving “insider” knowledge can make a world of difference for an emerging brand. We want to share Alli’s buyer expertise so that you know what it takes to get ON the retail shelf - be it a physical or digital shelf - AND have high sales once you're there! Find our free, nine-step guide to building a brand that flies off the shelf by clicking here so that you’re planning for each next step NOW!

In this brief first Food Biz Wiz episode of 2024, I want to share the game-changing business belief that I tried on over the past 2 years. Honestly, this belief has surprised me! It contradicts some of my typical business guidance, but for good reason. Press play to hear this specific belief and…

• How trying on this belief can help get you closer to your vision
• A reminder of why you might have started your business in the first place
• And one more way that you can get closer to your business vision

Wizes, I want to hear what YOUR response to this belief is. Be sure to DM me on Instagram or on LinkedIn and let me know. You can find both links in our full show notes here!

Joe Tarnowski, the VP of Content & Global Media at ECRM, joins me today on the Food Biz Wiz podcast to join forces in sharing our 2024 CPG predictions. ECRM works to connect suppliers and buyers in our industry and Joe brings 10+ years of CPG industry experience to inform his upcoming predictions. We can't wait to share more with you, so tune in to hear more about...

• The years-long trend that will continue into 2024
• Challenges that suppliers will continue to face from a buyer perspective
• How brands will adapt into non-traditional channels that support their way of biz
• Increased consumer know-how & education in their product choices
• And room for indulgent brands that aren't health or wellness focused!

Joe and I would LOVE to know which trends might have surprised you or which ones you wanted to hear. Come let us know by tagging us on social media or sending us a DM on IG or LinkedIn -- you’ll find our links and information in our full show notes, as usual!

One more thing here…if you’ve been on the fence about joining Retail Ready®, our program for CPG brands who want to land on more shelves and increase their sales, then NOW is the time to join! Savvy brands have a solid pitch and sales plan READY come January…but we know that they also want time to take a break during the holidays without feeling the guilt. That’s why we’re giving brands who join before year end extended access through March 31st. Give yourself the gift of ease and confidence by joining Retail Ready® today!

I've got to say, wizes: I'm a little bit nervous to share this episode. While we typically focus on directly CPG-related topics here on the Food Biz Wiz podcast, I'm going to talk about taking rest unapologetically in our business journey. Though you've likely heard me mention the importance of rest, I'm coming to you vulnerably as a reformed workaholic! You'll hear me discuss...

• My relationship to hustle culture and how it might relate to your work ethic as well
• How we can recognize our relationship to hustle culture and burnout so that we can stay rooted in our own business motivations
• Why we don’t have to see rest ONLY as a means to increased productivity
• And my 2024 challenge & your invitation to stay connected with it!

Wizes, I’m SO thrilled to commit to this 2024 challenge. If you’re interested in following along in my Rest Report, then make sure to sign up at our site here. Be sure to also check out our full show notes here, where we’ll add more podcast episodes on the topic of rest and mental health.

One more thing here…if you’ve been on the fence about joining Retail Ready®, our program for CPG brands who want to land on more shelves and increase their sales, then now is the time to join! We know savvy brands who join now want to have a solid pitching and selling plan in place come January…but they also want time to take a break during the holidays without feeling the guilt. That’s why we’re giving brands who join before year end extended access through March 31st. Give yourself the gift of a game plan for January, plus the ease of knowing you’ll have extra time in March to kick off your new year. Check out our full information here!

In the CPG industry, we often feel the pressure to “grow, grow, grow” in order to reach success. We have to keep our foot on the gas in order to get to where we want to be, faster. Truthfully though…it’s usually not sustainable for our mental health or for building a business that works for us. That’s why Anjali Bhargava joins this week’s episode of the Food Biz Wiz podcast.

Anjali Bhargava is the founder and CEO of Anjali’s Cup, which makes ayurvedic-inspired drink mixes and spice blends. Anjali self-describes as “the tortoise” in her business and has much to share about growing the confidence to build a business that works for her. Listen in to hear more about…

• How she decided to pivot from her original product
• Why she embraces being “the tortoise” in her business
• What the benefits of growing slower have been, including being more adaptable, leaner, and tuned into her intuition
• And how returning to her values time and again kept her on track!

Make sure that you check out our full show notes here to find Anjali’s Cup and connect with me on Instagram and LinkedIn!

If you’ve been on the fence about joining Retail Ready®, our program for CPG brands who want to land on more shelves and increase their sales, then now is the time to join! Check out our full information here!

As we approach the new year, goal-setting advice is par for the course. The thing is, everyone’s course might look different! That’s why in this brief episode, I encourage you to do things differently with your goals. You’ll hear me talk more about…

• The value of knowing YOUR “why” in setting your goals
• My “controversial” a-ha moment that I want all CPG founders to hear when goal setting
• And an invite to join us in our FREE Not Another Goal Workshop on December 6th to set our 2024 goals together

Interested in joining us to set 2024 goals together? Register for our FREE goal setting workshop, the Not Another Goal Workshop, on December 6th at 11am PST, at our link here! Be sure to check out our full show notes as well, where you can find where to connect with me on Instagram and LinkedIn, and you can ask me your questions on our workshop and on goal setting. We hope to see you at the workshop!

We have a brief episode this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, but we still wanted to take a moment to connect with you, wizes!

In this episode, you’ll hear…

• About resources to learn more about the history of Thanksgiving and Indigenous people in the United States and how you can learn about whose land you might live on
• An ask to share our podcast with YOUR food founder network so that we can reach more founders!
• PLUS an invitation to set 2024 intentions thoughtfully in our FREE online workshop on Tuesday, December 5th, titled “Not Another Goal Workshop.” We’ll share the WLF method for setting goals that actually stick!

Be sure to check out our full show notes here so that you can connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

In this week's episode of the Food Biz Wiz podcast, I'm answering the fourth quarter questions from YOU that have come up in our DMs over the past weeks. This episode hits multiple topics in one! You'll hear my rapid-fire, short and sweet answers to these questions:

• Should you give your retail buyers a gift? If so, what?
• What margins are buyers looking for during the holidays?
• Should I be giving buyers a minimum advertised (MAP) or maximum advertised price?
• And what can I do to plan for Q1 success in 2024?

Tune into this brief episode to hear all my thoughts on these! Make sure to check out our full show notes here so that you can connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn and let us know which answer you needed to hear most.

One of the most common questions we hear emerging brands ask is: how many SKUs should I launch into stores with? And for good reason. Determining the number of SKUs that you'll sell into retail depends on many factors AND it impacts many other aspects of your business. That's why in this week's "Is It Worth It, Charlie?" episode of the Food Biz Wiz podcast, Charlie and Kim Meyer (the CEO & Chief Kimbar Maker at Real Food For The Journey, LLC) team up to discuss the number of SKUs that she will launch.

In this episode, you will hear more on...

• How to think through best and worst case scenarios for your SKU numbers
• Why it could be useful to offer seasonal flavors
• And helpful reasons for starting off with small SKU numbers

Be sure to check out more about Kimbars and Kim Meyer, as well as the link to our Instagram and LinkedIn, in our full show notes here! We’d love to hear what part of this conversation was most helpful to you determining how many SKUs to launch.

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Roadmap! Just like Charlie does in this brand, receiving “insider” knowledge can make a world of difference for an emerging brand. Find our free, nine-step guide to building a brand that flies off the shelf by clicking here so that you’re planning for each next step NOW!

Instagram stories receive over 400 million views per day. Over a third of those views are for business accounts. As you double down on connecting with your audience during Q4 and beyond, does your brand have a strategy for creating engaging and effective Instagram stories? In this episode, we're revisiting a past episode to ensure that you have a do-able system in place for making story content.

You'll hear more about...

• Alli's 3 simple steps for creating engaging Instagram stories
• What goal format you can use to keep your stories clear and focused
• And how this process can ultimately save you time in the long run!

As we mentioned in this episode, we want to know which piece of advice resonated most with you or hear what you think of these episodes! Let us know what you think by DMing us on Instagram and via LinkedIn. Find the relevant past episodes for holiday pitching and the links to our Instagram and LinkedIn in our full show notes here.

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® Masterclass for growing YOUR food business! Check out our Masterclass for our actionable tips to increase your sales, plus an invite to join us in Retail Ready®. If you KNOW that you want access to ALL of my buyer insights and to be a part of our supportive, knowledgeable community, then Retail Ready® is THE place for you. Click here to sign up for a time to watch our Masterclass!

If you've been listening into this fourth quarter focus mini-series, then you'll know that for most brands, Q4 is not the time to pitch to buyers. So...what next, then? In this episode, I'm sharing the top THREE things that you can work on before Q4 ends to prepare for the new year, when buyers come out of the chaos of the holidays. You'll hear more about...

• What THREE things you need to work on
• Why it's essential to use this pitching "downtime" before Q1 rolls around
• And how you can be confident in this prep work before the new year!

I’d love to hear how you liked this style of mini-series and episodes. Let me know by DMing me on Instagram and on LinkedIn. You can find the links to my Instagram, LinkedIn, and also find all the episodes in this mini-series, linked in our full show notes here.

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® Masterclass for growing YOUR food business! Check out our Masterclass for our actionable tips to increase your sales now and in Q1, plus an invite to join us in Retail Ready®. Click here to sign up for a time to watch our Masterclass!

The holiday season is almost upon us. Whether you're pitching your product or not -- and check out my last episode if you're not sure whether you should! -- then there are still steps you can take now to maximize your holiday sales. In this episode, I'll share my top, simple tips for ensuring that you're ready to capture as many sales as possible. Tune in to hear...

• What you can do to build trust with your wholesale accounts in Q4
• My MOST important tip for dealing with buyers during Q4
• Why you could lose email subscribers if you don't do this thing before Black Friday
• And how you can win more D2C buyers!

Wizes, I want to know how you're liking this episode. Be sure to DM me on Instagram or on LinkedIn, which are both linked in the full show notes here!

As we head into Q4, a season of increased D2C and direct store shipping, do you know exactly  how much profit you’re making - or losing - as you ship your products? If you know you need to fine tune this ASAP, then join us in Retail Ready® NOW through October 24th and get your free ticket, worth $200, to our LIVE What Should I Charge? workshop. You’ll learn how to calculate your fixed vs variable costs, FOB vs. delivered pricing, potential discounts, and much more. Click through to our Retail Ready® information page HERE to find out more about joining us and receiving a bonus ticket to our October 25th workshop!

Now that we're IN Q4, time is ticking. Are you thinking about pitching your product before the year ends? If so, I want you to listen into this episode FIRST. I'll share more about what you need to know about pitching before the year ends, including...

• Whether you should pitch your product in Q4 at all
• What points your pitch needs if you are pitching your product in Q4
• What you can do instead of pitching if your product isn't a Q4 fit
• And strategies that you can use to entice retail buyers in this season!

Alright wizes, once you've listened in, I want to know where you're struggling. Send me a DM on Instagram, which you can find in our full show notes here, along with the link to our previous episode!

There's so much buzz around the 4th season and what it means for the retail and CPG world. How do we separate fact from fiction, when it comes to buyers in the 4th quarter? In this episode, I'm re-capping what you need to know about pitching in Q4 so that you make the most of your limited time.

In this episode, you'll hear..

• A month-to-month breakdown of what Q4 looks like for busy buyers
• How a potential staffing pinch will affect the grocery landscape
• Why it's "all bets off" for buyer communications after November
• And what you can do to hit the ground running in early 2024!

Wizes, let us know what lightbulb moment you had from this episode and what you’re going to be doing differently this Q4. What commitment are you making now to be more prepared in January? Tag me in your stories or DM me your commitment! Find my Instagram and LinkedIn in our full show notes here!

I WISH that Faire existed back when I was a buyer. If you're not familiar with Faire, Faire is an online B2B marketplace allowing independent retailers to find and to connect with brands like YOURS. In today's episode, Colin Ainsworth and Andy Bluestein from the Faire team join the podcast to share…

• How Faire works, both from a brand and retailer perspective
• Ways that brands can optimize their profiles for retailer discovery
• The perks that retailers and brands receive for using Faire
• And mistakes to avoid as a new or existing brand on the platform

Wizes, I want to know if you'll be updating your existing Faire profile soon, or even better, if you're finally going to join Faire after this episode! Snap a photo and tag me and the Faire team. Find the links to our Instagram, LinkedIn, and socials in our full show notes here.

This episode is sponsored by our mini Reorder Checklist! To support this episode’s theme, this checklist is a list of ways to onboard a new retailer so that you’re more likely to sell off those shelves and receive reorders. You can find our simplified version at the link here OR, if you’re a Retail Ready® student, you can find the longform version and training directly within our course platform!

Q4 is nearly upon us. Before your holiday D2C sales start ramping up, there's one, one hour task that can increase your holiday sales: implementing an abandoned cart automation. Even if you already have an abandoned cart automation set up, this episode will confirm best practices for you.

This episode will share...

• Reasons why your consumers might abandon a cart
• Resources to help determine where consumers are leaving in YOUR checkout process
• The step-by-step procedure for establishing an efficient abandoned cart email sequence, spread over five days
• WHAT each email should say
• And Alli's #1 tip for getting this task done!

Check out our full show notes for all the resources mentioned, including Alli’s Instagram and LinkedIn links. Let us know if it’s on your list to create or re-visit your abandoned cart automation before the holidays set in!

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready®! If you’re a Food Biz Wiz listener, then you are a savvy CPG founder. You’re here to refine your strategies and gain insight to become an even savvier founder. In short, you’re the perfect fit for Retail Ready®. Retail Ready® is our online program for producers who are looking to have a solid retail strategy and increase their sales with less guesswork. Click here for our enrollment page so that you can learn more and get your Q4 momentum started now!

A successful wholesale pitch depends on multiple factors. But one thing is certain: without these 5 P's, you are all the less likely to nail your pitch. In this episode, I share these 5 key topics that you need to have prepared for buyers.

In this episode, you will be able to...

• Recognize the 5 P's in a successful wholesale pitch: product, placement, pricing, promotion, and purchasing
• Understand the nuances of each "P" & how you can BE prepared for pitching
• Know where you might have holes in your pitch
• And have next steps for what to do if you don't have these 5 P's nailed down!

Wizes, I’d love to hear from you! DM me on Instagram or LinkedIn and let me know which of the 5 P’s you need to get down next. You can find my Instagram and LinkedIn links in our full show notes here.

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready®! If you listened in and know that you need support with YOUR 5 P’s, then you are the perfect fit for Retail Ready®. Retail Ready® is our online program for producers who are looking to have a solid retail strategy and increase their sales with less guesswork. Click here for our enrollment so that you can learn more and get your Q4 momentum started now!

Kathleen Casanova, the Executive Director of Project Potluck, joins us on this week's episode of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast. Project Potluck is a non-profit organization that connects CPG founders of color with resources & mentorship in our industry. Kathleen has TONS of perspective into what our CPG landscape looks like right now.

In this episode, you'll hear more about...

• The challenges that all founders can expect right now in the CPG industry
• Why the industry STILL feels hard and solutions she sees working
• The ways that Project Potluck supports founders of color and how allies can also support their work
• AND, how Food Biz Wiz is partnering with Project Potluck and hosting Wholesale Week, our week of short trainings for emerging CPG brands!

Wizes, if you’re looking to level up your CPG approach, join us in Wholesale Week! If you have questions on joining us, DM us on Instagram or LinkedIn. Find both links to our IG and LinkedIn, Project Potluck’s information, and Kathleen’s past episode in our full show notes here.

This week on the Food Biz Wiz Podcast, Charlie checks back in with Patricia Beets, the co-founder of Dell Cove Spices & More Co., in another "Is It Worth It, Charlie?" episode. Charlie and Patricia originally connected on whether or not she should exhibit at a trade show in episode 143 from April 2022. They discussed how to quantify the ROI for a trade show, what a realistic timeline for trade show prep is, and how she might otherwise use their potential trade show budget. 

In this episode, Charlie and Patricia check back in on...

• Patricia’s takeaways from being an attendee instead of an exhibitor
• Dell Cove’s reasoning for planning to attend 2 upcoming trade shows
• The money-saving tip from Charlie that Patricia still endorses
• And how they used the potential trade show budget for building their team!

Are you considering a trade show but nervous to miss out on it? Let us know via Instagram or LinkedIn DM how this episode resonated for you and what part you needed to hear most. Find links to our Instagram, LinkedIn, as well as other relevant trade show episodes in our full show notes here!

A packaging designer friend and I were chatting recently at an industry event about our CPG experiences. Within 10 minutes, we were listing off the common mistakes that we keep seeing well-meaning brands make over and over again. As industry vets, it’s easy for us to spot these mistakes instantly, but less easy for emerging brands. That’s why I'm taking our conversation and condensing it into this episode, so that we can save you time and money and help you avoid making these 5 CPG pitfalls!

In this episode, you'll hear a rundown of...

• The 5 mistakes, plus the 1 design mistake, that brands make all the time!
• What 5 things you absolutely need to prepare for a buyer meeting
• And strategies you can use to avoid making these mistakes in the first place

We want to hear from you! Which mistake might you have made and which one are you fixing first? Let us know via Instagram or LinkedIn DM. Find links to our Instagram, LinkedIn, and other resources in our full show notes here!

P.S.: You might hear me say in the beginning that this is episode 210, but rest assured that this is actually episode 209!

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready®! If you listened in and want a place where you can learn even more strategies for fixing these mistakes, then you are the perfect fit for Retail Ready®. Retail Ready® is our online course and community for producers who are looking to have a solid retail strategy and increase their sales with less guesswork. Click here for our enrollment so that you can learn more and get started TODAY!

You want to land on more shelves. So, you stop by your retail target and leave samples...but you might be doing more harm than good for your brand. In this week's episode of the Food Biz Wiz podcast, I'm debunking myths about sharing samples with wholesale buyers and what you need to do to make sure you get it right.

You’ll hear all about…

• The #1 mistake I see eager brands make when sharing their samples
• What happens when you make this mistake
• How you can be savvy about sharing your samples so that you don't waste time, effort, and money
• And why sharing samples isn't JUST about your product's taste!

Make sure to connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn and let us know what you’ll be doing differently the next time you share samples with a buyer. Find our Instagram and LinkedIn links, as well as other relevant podcast episodes, at our full show notes here!

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready®! If you listened in and want a place to ask specifics about best practices for sharing your samples and crafting a compelling pitch, then you are the perfect fit for Retail Ready®. Retail Ready® is our online course and community for producers who are looking to have a solid retail strategy and increase their sales with less guesswork. Click here for our enrollment so that you can learn more and get started TODAY!

Many CPG founders have been in this situation. A potential retail partner or a distributor or co-packer is asking you for something that you cannot afford or do not feel comfortable with -- but you do not feel like you can say "no." In this episode, Alli dives into how you can navigate these difficult conversations with negotiation. She’ll equip you with the mindset to know that you can work to create agreements that work for both parties and that ultimately, result in less stress for you!

Specifically, she covers:

• What happens when brands never say "no" or never negotiate
• The importance of knowing what you CAN offer – whether it's promos, marketing support, or other offers – in your negotiations
• Why can you also say "no" and it won't be the end of the world
• How you can receive support in figuring out what you can offer partners

Make sure that you follow this link to our full show notes, where you can connect with us via LinkedIn and Instagram to share where you’re using these tips next!

If you're wondering how other brands' journeys with co-packers or co-manufacturers are going, then this is the episode for you! In this "Is It Worth It, Charlie?" episode, Charlie checks back in with Kathrin Henon, the CEO and Founder of Planet Bake, around how her search for a co-packer has gone over the past year. Charlie and Kathrin first discussed whether co-packing was "worth it" for her in the August of 2022, in episode 158 of the Food Biz Wiz podcast.

Planet Bake makes vegan, gluten-free, better-for-you donuts. In this episode, you'll hear more about...

• What challenges Kathrin faced along her co-packer search
• Why your co-packer or co-manufacturer journey isn’t always linear
• How she pivoted to find what works for her biz
• And the lessons she learned in moving forward and what she recommends!

Be sure to check out our full show notes here with the link to the previous episode 158, Planet Bake's site, the resource Kathrin mentioned, and our Instagram and LinkedIn!

This episode is sponsored by our mini Reorder Checklist! This checklist is a list of ways to onboard a new retailer so that you’re more likely to sell off those shelves and receive reorders. If you’re thinking about how you can ensure that your sales in existing doors increase, then this is the perfect resource for you. You can find our simplified version at the link here OR, if you’re a Retail Ready® student, you can find the longform version and training directly within our course platform!

The COVID-19 pandemic forever changed how the CPG industry does business. Where we used to do primarily in-person events and meetings, much of our industry has now pivoted to include both virtual and in-person events. In this week’s episode 205 of the Food Biz Wiz podcast, I sit down with Sarah Davidson, the Executive Vice President of ECRM, the parent company of RangeMe, to talk about how they connect buyers and producers through their curated buyer meeting events.

When you listen in, you’ll hear all about…

• How ECRM pivoted with the COVID-19 crisis to include virtual events and why they offer both now
• What their sessions look like and all that their team does to ensure that meetings are valuable for producers and buyers
• Why their events are different from trade shows
• Some of the top things that buyers have been looking for in their events

Sarah has been in the CPG industry for 18 years, so tune in to hear her experience in creating valuable buyer meetings and events. Find the episode that I mention on optimizing your RangeMe efforts, as well as the ECRM links, Sarah’s information, and our Instagram and Linkedin links in our full show notes here!

Each week, I receive questions in my DMs around how brands can improve their D2C sales from their websites. I’ll often hear brands talk about how their sales aren’t where they want them to be or how they feel like they’ve put in so much effort and dollars to improve their sales – with little actual improvement.

Frustrating, right? In this episode, I’m taking a moment to discuss just why e-commerce sales can be so difficult. Listen in to hear…

• Why your D2C sales might have improved during the pandemic then dipped again
• What the reality of online sales is, so that you don’t have to beat yourself up!
• Where to start if your D2C sales aren’t where you want them to be

Make sure to check out our full show notes to connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn, and we’ll walk through doing the math on your conversion rates.

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® Masterclass for growing YOUR food business! Click here to watch our Masterclass and learn those tips, plus all that we cover with our course, strategic support & community!

Every brand is feeling the pinch of increased costs for shipping, packaging, ingredients, and more. If you're thinking about how you'll increase your prices to keep up with costs, then join us for this week's episode. We're re-airing an episode where Alli shares her simple steps for completing a price increase.

In this brief, 15 minute episode, you'll hear...

• That price increases are normal and an expected part of business
• What 4 steps should be in your price increase plan
• Why communicating multiple times with your buyers is necessary
• And what YOUR price increase game plan will be!

If you’ve been nervous to complete that price increase, then this episode will be key for you to finally complete it. Check out our full show notes here to find our LinkedIn and Instagram links so that you can connect with us and let us know your next step for your price increase!

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready®! If you listened in and want a place to ask specifics about your price increase plan (or more questions!), then you’d be the perfect fit for Retail Ready®. Retail Ready® is our online course and community for producers who are looking to have a solid retail strategy and increase their sales with less guesswork. Click here for our enrollment so that you can learn more and get started TODAY!

You've poured your heart and soul into your brand and now you're in the classic "chicken and egg" CPG challenge: “I need to build brand awareness for sales, but it’s hard to get into stores without a distributor.” Does this sound like what you've been thinking?

In this “Is It Worth It, Charlie?” episode, Charlie Berkinshaw and Giulietta Octavio, the founder and CEO of Ceybon, sit down and chat again. Charlie is our Retail Ready® VP of Student Success and the founder and CEO of Element Shrub. This time, Charlie and Giulietta discuss whether using a distributor is the right next step for Giulietta and her elixir brand. They explore the benefits and challenges of working with distributors so that she can make an informed decision on her next step.

Listen in to hear their key takeaways on...

• What you can expect distributors to do and not do
• Why it's important to prepare for best and worst case cash flow scenarios
• The value of knowing your COGS for mapping your cash flow
• How building a base of stores through different fulfillment options can help long-term and give you a middle ground before distribution

This episode dives all into the considerations that are helpful for determining if a distributor is right at this time. Be sure to check out our full show notes here to read more about Giulietta and her brand, Ceybon, as well as to hear more about Charlie and find our LinkedIn and Instagram!

This episode is sponsored by our mini Reorder Checklist! This checklist is a list of ways to onboard a new retailer so that you’re more likely to sell off those shelves and receive reorders. If you listened to this episode and are thinking about how you can ensure your sales in existing doors increase, then this is the perfect resource for you. You can find our simplified version at the link here OR, if you’re a Retail Ready® student, you can find the longform version and training directly within our course platform!

Are you a founder balancing multiple hats and self-funding your biz? Then this is the episode for you! Regina Trillo, former Retail Ready® student and the founder of Nemi Snacks, joins me to share her strategies for how she learned to prioritize all the life, work, and biz responsibilities.

In this episode, you'll hear Regina and I talk about...

• Why she actually strives for prioritization instead of “balance”
• The decisions that led her to stay self-funded
• Why checking in with your capacity is crucial for you and your biz's wellbeing
• How saying “no” is a superpower
• Plus, the mindset shifts that encourage you to move forward and learn

Be sure to check out our full show notes for our resources, including more about Nemi Snacks, MyPocketCFO, our LinkedIn and Instagram links, and more! Connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn and share which of Regina's tips you needed to hear most today.

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready®! If you’re like Regina and want ways to simplify your work and also be part of a supportive & knowledgeable CPG community that makes being a founder less lonely, then Retail Ready® is THE place for you. Check out our Masterclass for our tips for taking guesswork out of your strategy, plus an invite to join us in Retail Ready®. Click here to watch our Masterclass and learn those tips, plus all that we cover in our course, strategic support & community!

Wizes, we are THRILLED to celebrate 200 episodes of the Food Biz Wiz podcast! In this episode, we are taking a moment to celebrate this win with you. And in true Food Biz Wiz fashion, we will also be sharing ONE quick lesson on a business practice that allows you to find even more success.

Listen in for these key takeaways:

• How doubling down on what’s working in your business benefits you & saves you time
• Why we will be archiving the Food Biz Wiz Facebook group soon
• Plus, how YOU can figure out what’s working for your brand with our new, Secret Sauce Quiz!

Be sure to check out our full show notes here, where you can find our Instagram and LinkedIn links as well. Connect with us and let us know what practice you’ll be doubling down on next! 

One more thing: would you do us a favor and leave us a review on your favorite podcast player OR share this podcast with someone else in our industry? We appreciate you and your support over the past years! 

Join Charlie Berkinshaw on the Food Biz Wiz podcast as he sits down with Giulietta Octavio, the founder and CEO of Ceybon, to discuss whether adding a ready-to-drink product line to her existing lineup is worth it. Ceybon currently produces mood, brain, and sleep enhancing mushroom elixirs. With asks coming from both wholesale accounts and customers, Giulietta is considering all the intricacies of creating a new product line.

In this episode, you'll hear Charlie and Giulietta discuss...

• The consumer education necessary for her current product line
• Pros and cons of developing this new RTD line
• How she can approach cost-effectiveness, co-packing partnerships, cash flow management, higher volume sales expectations, and more
• And what assumptions may or may not hold true for crossing into a new line

If you're considering a product crossover or adding a new line, you won't want to miss this conversation. Join us in this discussion to determine if developing this RTD sparkling line is “worth it!” As always, find more information on Giulietta and Ceybon, as well as the links to our Instagram, LinkedIn, and Food Biz Wiz Facebook group in our full show notes here!

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready®! If you listened in and KNOW that you’d benefit from Charlie’s expertise on your questions & your CPG challenges, then Retail Ready® IS the perfect place for you! Retail Ready® is our online course and community for producers who are looking to have a solid retail strategy and increase their sales with less guesswork. Click here for our enrollment so that you can learn more and get started TODAY!

You’re a food crafter making tasty, high quality products in an industry with many challenges. Ever wonder if there’s a way to receive recognition for YOUR product? Look no further than the Good Food Awards. In this Original Recipe episode, we revisit a past episode where Alli and Sarah Weiner, the executive director of the Good Food Foundation, chat about how the Good Food Awards began and how & why you should apply. As of June 1st, 2023, the entry period is now open until June 30th!

Listen in to…

• Hear how the Good Food Awards celebrates thoughtful food crafters and products
• Learn about the evaluation process, which focuses on taste, social responsibility, environmental consciousness, and local influence
• Know how winning an award can benefit your brand’s recognition and sales
• And how and where to apply!

Will your brand be entering any products to the Good Food Awards? Let us know by sending us a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn, or joining our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group. Be sure to check out our full show notes here to find all the links mentioned, including a $10 off discount code for first-time entrants, the Good Food Awards’ site, and more!

This episode is sponsored by our Wholesale Success System Workshop! This FREE training is for all our listeners who know that they want to take control of their sales, land on more shelves, and have higher sales once they’re there. Alli will outline her simple sales system so that you can repeat this process in your biz. Follow this link to save your spot and join us!

Are you an emerging food entrepreneur feeling some growing pains, wondering how you’ll grow your production? Ashley Sutterfield, the creator of Co-Packing with Ashley and Owner of Sage Expert, joins us on this episode to lay out the 6 steps to scaling YOUR production with the RIGHT co-packer. Ashley has TONS of expertise to share with CPG brands that know they want to have a solid production process that works for them.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Know the key steps to prepare for effectively scaling production using copackers
• Plan ahead proactively for the next steps in finding your scaling solution
• Embrace values-based partnerships to ensure the right fit for your biz
• Understand the importance of thorough research and due diligence in choosing a co-packer

Alright wizes, which step surprised you most out of these 6? Let us know by sending us a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn, or joining our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group. Be sure to check out our full show notes here to find all those links, plus more information on how Ashley works with clients!

This episode is sponsored by my Wholesale Success System Workshop! This FREE training is for all my listeners who know that they want to take control of their sales, land on more shelves, and have higher sales once they’re there. I’ll outline my simple sales system so that you can repeat this process in your biz. Follow this link to save your spot and join us!

Don't let this mistake ruin your chances with wholesale buyers. Discover the common pitching mistake food founders make AND how to avoid it in this quick re-air of episode 108 of the Food Biz Wiz podcast.

After tuning in, you'll be able to…

• Identify the mistake and know how to avoid it
• Know crucial insights on a wholesale buyer's mindset that'll take you miles ahead
• Tailor more of your pitch to the buyer
• AND learn how you can hear more of my buyer insights!

Make sure to connect with me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and in the Food Biz Wiz Facebook group, linked in our full show notes here. We want to hear which step you’re taking next in your pitch!

This episode is sponsored by my Wholesale Success System Workshop! This FREE training is for all my listeners who know that they want to take control of their sales, land on more shelves, and have higher sales once they’re there. I’ll outline my simple sales system so that you can repeat this process in your biz. Follow this link to save your spot and join us!

Have you heard these common myths about guaranteed sales and consignment sales? Myth #1: Guaranteed sales are always better for your business. Myth #2: Consignment sales are too risky and never worth the effort. But, the truth is, there are pros and cons to each model and the best approach depends on YOUR business needs.

In this to-the-point episode, I'll dive into the truth and help you make informed decisions for your brand. You'll be able to...

• Differentiate between guaranteed and consignment sales
• Know the types of products best suited for guaranteed sales agreements
• Implement expert tips for creating successful partnerships
• Heed cautionary advice on potential risks associated with guaranteed sales practices

Be sure to check out our full show notes here, which have links to my Instagram, LinkedIn, and our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group. The Food Biz Wiz Facebook is a great place to connect with other CPG founders!

This episode is sponsored by my Wholesale Success System Workshop! This FREE training is for all my listeners who know that they want to take control of their sales, land on more shelves, and have higher sales once they’re there. I’ll outline my simple sales system so that you can repeat this process in your biz. Follow this link to save your spot and join us!

Are you an overwhelmed solopreneur, trying to balance family and business commitments while being told to just manage your time better? In this episode, Charlie Berkinshaw, our Retail Ready® VP of Student Success and the founder and CEO of Element Shrub, and Priya Patil, the founder and CEO of Belov’d Foods, discuss how they work to improve their organization and time management for balancing their family life AND CPG businesses.

Listen in to hear Charlie and Priya's takeaways on...

• Why Charlie embraces a "slow" approach to growth
• Which planning and organizational tactics Priya can use to optimize her time
• How having a CPG community has benefitted Priya's business

Make sure to check out our full show notes here, which have links to Alli's Instagram, LinkedIn, and our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group. The Food Biz Wiz Facebook group is a great way to connect with other food founders and share what YOUR next steps for organization are after listening in.

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready® Right Now! If you listened in and were wondering how YOU can have Charlie’s AND our community’s support on your CPG challenges, then Retail Ready® IS the perfect place for you! Retail Ready® is our online course and community for producers who are looking to increase their sales. Click here for our quickstart enrollment so that you can learn more and get started TODAY!

Ibraheem Basir, the founder and CEO of A Dozen Cousins, joins us for episode 193 of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast! If you haven’t heard about A Dozen Cousins, then you’re in for a special episode. A Dozen Cousins is the national bean, rice, and sauce company bringing Creole, Caribbean, and Latin American flavors to consumers in easy-to-cook meals.

You won’t want to miss hearing about…

• Why he focused on launching in retail first
• How he leveraged his food passion and industry experiences
• What values A Dozen Cousins stands for and how they weave them into their work
• Their process for hiring diverse, values-aligned team members and building team culture

Ibraheem’s wisdom in navigating the CPG scene is invaluable. Learn even more about his brand and send us a DM on Instagram, LinkedIn, or the Food Biz Wiz Facebook group by following this link to our full show notes. You can also find the links to the other episode and resources mentioned there, too!

This episode is sponsored by our mini Reorder Checklist! This checklist is a list of ways to onboard a new retailer so that you’re more likely to sell off those shelves and receive reorders. You can find our simplified version at the link here OR, if you’re a Retail Ready® student, you can find the longform version and training directly within our course platform!

Wizes, we hear questions like these all the time: “How should I describe my product?” or “Is it better if I choose this color over this color for my rebrand?” or “Which part of the store should I be merchandised in?” Your target audience is one of the biggest guides you have for making decisions on these questions.

If these sound like questions you’ve been thinking through, tune into a re-air of our episode with Christie Lee on how knowing your target audience can help you make pivotal decisions in your business. You’ll hear…

• What the difference is between who buys your product and who you’re speaking to
• Why it’s okay not to know your target audience perfectly right away
• How your target audience can inform your brand choices

Be sure to DM us on Instagram or LinkedIn, or in the Food Biz Wiz Facebook group, with your next step. Find our links at our full show notes here!

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® Masterclass for growing YOUR food business! If you listened in and KNOW that you want access to ALL of Alli’s buyer insights, plus to be a part of our supportive, knowledgeable community, then Retail Ready® is THE place for you. Check out our Masterclass for our actionable tips to increase your sales now, plus an invite to join us in Retail Ready®. Click here to watch our Masterclass and learn those tips, plus all that we cover with our course, strategic support & community!

You’re sitting in a meeting or on a phone call with a buyer and they throw out a percentage. Are they referring to margin? Markup? Which one? And what does that mean for YOUR brand? In this short episode, we break down…

• What margin and markup are
• Why you can’t afford to mix them up
• PLUS, why it’s okay to clarify with a buyer which they’re referring to!

Follow along with my live math example below:

Wholesale price: $5

Retail price: $8.50

Profit: $3.50

3.5 / 8.5 = 41% Margin

3.5 / 5 = 70% Markup

Find the two calculator resources that I mention, as well as the links to our Food Biz Wiz Facebook and my Instagram, linked in our full show notes here!

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® Masterclass for growing YOUR food business! If you listened in and KNOW that you want access to ALL of my buyer insights, plus to be a part of our supportive, knowledgeable community, then Retail Ready® is THE place for you. Check out our Masterclass for my actionable tips to increase your sales now, plus an invite to join us in Retail Ready®. Click here to watch our Masterclass and learn those tips, plus all that we cover with our course, strategic support & community!

Today’s episode 190 of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast visits an age-old CPG question: should I add new products to my product line or not? We hear Charlie Berkinshaw, the founder & CEO of Element Shrub and VP of Student Success here at Retail Ready®, and Priya Osuri, the founder & CEO of Anar Gourmet Foods, discuss whether she should add a line of frozen, ready to eat meals to her current line of dry spice blends.

When you listen in, you’ll catch…

• How Priya has determined what the financial AND opportunity costs of this project are
• Why Priya is exploring this new product line NOW
• And what metrics she’s using to determine if it’s a success!

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a solid example of how YOU can think through whether a new product line opportunity is right for your brand. Click here to our full show notes so that you can find more on Anar Gourmet Foods and connect with us in our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group!

This episode is sponsored by our freebie workbook outlining 100 Buyer No’s. This workbook will walk you through preparing for any possible wholesale buyer objection and guide you in crafting a rebuttal that lets buyers know you are READY to get ON and sell OFF their shelf. It’s the perfect tool to have as you prepare for all your pitches. Find the free download here!

Are you heading to the Good Food Awards and Mercantile in Portland this coming April? In this week’s episode 189 of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast, I chat with Joyce Attar. Joyce is the Director of Operations at World Foods Portland and is a member of the Good Food Foundation.

You won’t want to miss our conversation, where she shares key information for trade shows… including the Good Food Mercantile! After listening in, you’ll know:

• Where you can find a list of retailers that are values-aligned
• What BUYERS do to prepare for trade shows
• Why knowing your end customer and store audience is critical
• What piece of information not to miss in your buyer followup email

Get all this and more in this episode! As I mentioned, you can find out more about Joyce, World Foods Portland, the Good Food Foundation and Mercantile, my Instagram, and our Food Biz Wiz Facebook, all in our full show notes linked here!

This episode is sponsored by our mini Reorder Checklist! This checklist is the one I mention in this episode: it’s a list of ways to onboard a new retailer so that you’re more likely to sell off those shelves and receive reorders. You can find our simplified version at the link here OR, if you’re a Retail Ready® student, you can find the longform version and training directly within our course platform!

We’ve said this phrase 100s of times here on the Food Biz Wiz podcast. It’s literally the name of our signature course, Retail Ready®. So what does it actually mean for your brand and your product line to be “retail ready”? To be ready for retail channels, for a wholesale buyer to say yes enthusiastically to carrying YOUR product line?

Today, I dive into this exact topic to break down what it actually means to be “retail ready.” Listen in to hear…

• How I define what being “retail ready” means, in three parts
• What three steps YOUR brand can take to become “retail ready”
• Why joining us in our course, Retail Ready®, can quickstart your progress

You’ll hear all of this and more in this episode! As I mentioned in the intro, please DM me via Instagram or LinkedIn and connect with me in the Food Biz Wiz Facebook group! Find all those links in our full show notes here.

You guessed it. This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® Masterclass for growing YOUR food business! If you listened in and KNOW that you want access to ALL of my buyer insights, plus to be a part of our supportive, private student community, then Retail Ready® is THE place for you. Check out our Masterclass for my actionable tips to increase your sales now, plus an invite to join us in Retail Ready®. Click here to watch our Masterclass and learn those tips, plus all that we cover with our course, strategic support & community!

Food founders, I know. As soon as you hear the words “high maintenance”, the anxiety-inducing music starts to play in your head. Almost no one wants to be described as “needy” or “high maintenance”, ESPECIALLY from a buyer.

That’s why we’re resharing this episode. Listen in to hear…

• Why you want to avoid being high maintenance
• Our laundry list of 10+ behaviors to avoid with buyers
• AND how you can figure out the fine line between being persistent and being high maintenance

As always, find our Instagram, LinkedIn, and Food Biz Wiz Facebook group links at our full show notes here!

Plus, check out more on joining us in Retail Ready® HERE.

As entrepreneurs, it’s par for the course for us to navigate and decide between many business choices. In this episode, Charlie and Rebecca Styn consider a potential pivot for her brand and operations. Rebecca is the founder and owner of Room 33, a speakeasy bar located in Erie, PA, AND Blind Tiger Spirit-Free Cocktails, her non-alcoholic RTD cocktail brand.

Don’t miss this episode’s conversations on…

• The differences between Rebecca’s current strategy and her potential new strategy
• How her option to franchise her bar could support her CPG brand’s growth
• Which business processes and resources she’s using to help her decision

Listen in for all these considerations, plus more! Find out more about Room 33, Blind Tiger Spirit-Free Cocktails, Rebecca Styn, Charlie Berkinshaw, and more through our full show notes here!

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® Quarterly Planning Workshop! If you’re a RR student who KNOWS how important it is to do quarterly planning but need to commit to a time and process - I want you to join us in our live, online quarterly planning workshop on March 22nd. Check your email inbox and our private Retail Ready® Facebook group for more information on how to join us! Not in RR yet? Even better. When you join us inside of RR between NOW and March 22nd you’ll get a free ticket to this event! Check out more on joining us in Retail Ready® HERE.

Founders, managers, and CPG operators alike – we’re just about one month away from Q2. In this episode, Charlie and I dive into quarterly planning. We hear from so many founders that it’s something they know they should do, but yet…they don’t. We’re out to make sure you’re ready to plan your next quarter.

In this episode, we run through…

• The most common reasons we hear for not planning your quarters
• Why planning can be a form of self care for you and your business
• An overview of our own quarterly planning process at Food Biz Wiz

• Plus, how you can learn our in-depth quarterly planning process during our LIVE workshop!

Hear all this and more in this episode. To connect with me on Instagram or LinkedIn, or find our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group, click here to our full show notes!

Plus, check out more on joining us in Retail Ready® HERE.

Knowing just how to approach celebrities or influencers for brand collaborations is hard. That’s why we’re so excited to share this episode with you! Today, we chat with Carolyn Cesario and Julie Sullivan, the co-founders of Ground Up PDX. Ground Up PDX is a nut butter company that has a social mission to provide job training to women in the Portland area. They have just launched a new nut butter flavor with health and wellness expert, Liz Moody.

In this episode, you’ll hear more on…

• How Julie and Carolyn approach co-branded celebrity collaborations
• What tips they have for success in co-branded collabs
• Ground Up PDX’s new flavor with Liz Moody, their Strawberry Black Pepper
• How they balance their social mission with their day-to-day logistics and strategy
• And more!

As always, find more info on Ground Up PDX, Liz Moody, our Food Biz Wiz Facebook link, my Instagram handle, and more in our full show notes linked here!

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready® Right Now! If you listened in and were wondering how YOU can have Alli’s buyer support on your CPG questions, then Retail Ready® IS the perfect place for you! Retail Ready® is our online course and support community for producers who are looking to increase their sales THIS year. Click here for our quickstart enrollment so that you can learn more and get started TODAY!

Food founders, Expo West 2023 is just around the corner. If you’re going, then you’re in luck! We’re re-sharing an episode on how to finalize your preparations in the last month before the show. Listen to hear Alli’s buyer scoop on…

• What your biggest asset for trade shows is and how you can support your best asset
• How simple samples can save you time, energy, and money
• Why you DON’T need to be the first person to contact buyers after the show

Wizes, DM Alli on Instagram and let us know what tips you’ll be taking with you to those food shows! You can also join our conversations on food shows and more in the Food Biz Wiz Facebook group. Find both links at our full show notes here!

As mentioned in this episode, we’re offering a freebie workbook outlining 100 Buyer No’s. This workbook will walk you through preparing for any possible objection and guide you in crafting a rebuttal that lets buyers know you are READY to get on and sell off their shelf. It’s the perfect tool to have as you prepare for trade shows and pitches beyond. Find the free download here!

We’re thrilled to share episode 182 of the Food Biz Wiz podcast with Sadie Scheffer of Bread SRSLY. Sadie is the CEO and founder of Bread SRSLY, a gluten free sourdough bread company based in the Bay Area. In today’s episode, Sadie shares just how powerful setting clear expectations can be for your business, your employees, and your relationships.

Hear Sadie’s gems of knowledge, such as…

• What it actually means to set clear expectations in your business and relations
• How communicating expectations allows closer collaboration with your employees
• Why setting expectations from the start can make hard conversations easier
• Which one word is harming your conversations
• What Brené Brown’s “stealth expectations” are and how they’re holding you back

Listen in for all these gems and more. If you want to join our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group, DM me on Instagram, check out Bread Srsly, or find the book we mention, click through to our full show notes here!

This episode is sponsored by our Masterclass for growing YOUR food business! If you listened in and KNOW that you want access to ALL of my buyer and organizational insights, plus to be a part of our supportive, private student community, then Retail Ready® is THE place for you. Check out our Masterclass for my actionable tips to increase your sales now, plus an invite to join us in Retail Ready®. Click here to watch our Masterclass and learn those tips, plus all that we cover with our course, strategic support & community!

Ok, you’ve heard me talk about working ON your business, but what does working ON your business actually mean? In this episode 181 of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast, I run through what having dedicated CEO time for my biz means AND what I actually DO during it.

Tune in to hear…

• Tips for easily dedicating CEO time to working ON your biz
• Five business questions to support your business growth
• And why this time is so important for your business!

You can find the screenshot of these questions, the previous episode I mentioned, and the link to our Food Biz Wiz Facebook Group at our full show notes, linked here!

This episode is sponsored by our Masterclass for growing YOUR food business! If you listened in and KNOW that you want access to ALL of my buyer and organizational insights, plus to be a part of our supportive, private student community, then Retail Ready® is THE place for you. Click here to watch our Masterclass and learn those tips, plus all that we cover with our course, strategic support & community!

Does your brand offer multiple SKUs? If so, then you’re probably familiar with this dilemma: “how the heck do I balance giving customers a wide product choice with what’s efficient for our behind-the-scenes operations?”

If this sounds like a question you’ve been thinking about for your brand, then you’re in luck! Today’s episode 180 of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast is an “Is It Worth It, Charlie?” episode where Charlie Berkinshaw and April Wachtel, the founder of Cheeky Cocktails, discuss how to balance giving customers wide SKU options AND making BTS operations more efficient. Charlie is our VP of Student Success here at Food Biz Wiz and Retail Ready®, as well as the founder and owner of Element Shrub.

Here are just a few of the considerations Charlie and April discuss..

• How you can use your current SKU sales data to inform package choices
• What options you can give customers to differentiate between gifts and non-gifts
• Why this process is necessary for working with 3PLs

Catch these and more by listening into this episode! Find more information on April, Cheeky Cocktails, and our Food Biz Wiz Facebook Group at our full show notes, linked here!

As promised in the episode, we’re offering a freebie workbook outlining 100 Buyer No’s. This workbook will walk you through preparing for any possible objection and guide you in crafting a rebuttal that lets buyers know you are READY to get on and sell off their shelf. Find the free download here!

Food founders, have you been considering an influencer marketing campaign? Today’s episode 179 of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast revisits an episode with guest and Food Biz Wiz friend, Elle Defreitas. Elle is the co-founder of Wonderkind.Co, a design and marketing agency for food and beverage brands. She and Alli discuss the scoop on influencer marketing.

If you want to feel more confident about how to approach influencer marketing, listen in to hear…

• How you can find and contact influencers that are right for your brand
• Elle’s best tips for success with influencer marketing
• Pros and cons of affiliate marketing
• Plus, how influencer marketing can benefit your brand!

Make sure to share your thoughts on this episode with us by sending Alli a DM at her Instagram and joining our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group, which are both linked in our full show notes here!

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready®! We made an information & enrollment page for food founders who learn about Retail Ready® and enroll today! Find the Retail Ready® link HERE!

Today’s episode 178 kicks off SEASON 16 of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast!

Food founders, do you…

• Want to feel more connected to YOUR big WHY?
• Have a desire to FEEL different in your business?
• See a need for disruption in how we do business?

Now that we’ve covered how to set up, achieve, and track your goals in our previous episodes, we have one more game-changing belief to share with you around your 2023 goals. Tune in to hear how YOU can implement that belief this year!

Don’t forget to connect with us in the Food Biz Wiz Facebook group and send us a DM through Alli’s Instagram to share how you want to feel in your biz in 2023. Find both links at our full show notes here!

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready®! If you listened in and want to know more about how you can feel more confident about your biz, then Retail Ready® is THE perfect place for you! Retail Ready® is our online course, strategic support, and community for producers who are looking to feel confident in their business (and increase their sales on the way!) THIS year. Click here for more information so that you can get started TODAY!

Today’s episode 177 is our final episode of five in our Goal Setting Mini-series. Alli shares her process for tracking progress on your business goals. Her approach encourages you to stay accountable to yourself and to your business, leaving wiggle room for even when things get BUSY in your biz.

Listen in to hear how you can create a sustainable system for ensuring progress on those goals in the coming year. If you haven’t listened to our previous episodes in the series or want to connect with other CPG founders, follow this link to our full show notes for the linked episodes and our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group!

Please also note that because this episode was originally recorded at the end of 2021, the information Alli mentions about Retail Ready® at the end of the episode is no longer up to date. To get the most up-to-date scoop on Retail Ready®, check out our page here!

So you know your “why’s” and now you have a plan with tactics. But what happens when the doubt sets in? Or a setback comes up and you’re not sure how to handle it?

Does this sound familiar? As entrepreneurs, there’s often no set path for how to navigate our businesses or our goals. That’s why, in today’s episode 176, Alli shares the business superpower that she uses to help her move forward, despite feelings of being stuck, overwhelmed, or having no idea how to navigate a new business challenge that comes up. 

If you’re plagued by imposter syndrome, analysis paralysis, or plain ol’ fear of failure - you’ll want to tune in today. Click here for the first three episodes of our Goal Setting Mini-Series and for our full show notes!

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® Right Now page! We heard from enough of you that you didn’t have time to watch our masterclass, BUT you KNEW that Retail Ready® was the perfect tool to help you navigate the retail world. We made an information & enrollment page for food founders who want to skip the masterclass, forgo a sales conversation, and enroll in minutes. We’re increasing the price of Retail Ready® by $400 in January 2023, so join us now to lock in your 2022 pricing & lifetime access to our course, our strategic support, and our community. Find the Retail Ready® Right Now link HERE!

Oftentimes when we set goals, we don’t give ourselves a roadmap to get where we need to go. This episode 175 brings part 3 of 5 of our mini-series on goal setting and focuses on how to determine the tactics that you’ll use to achieve your 2023 business goals.

Listen in to hear:

• How to use the “lever framework” to brainstorm tactics resourcefully
• What criteria you should use when picking tactics
• Why it’s helpful to limit the number of tactics you pick

Make sure to check out our full notes to listen to our previous episodes in the series, join our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group, and follow us on Instagram!

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready®! If you want this type of support around your goals and accountability for YOUR CPG biz, then Retail Ready® is the place for you. Find out more here about how to join us in Retail Ready®!

Episode 173 brings part 2 of our 5 part mini-series on Goal Setting from last year! Alli shares her process of reverse engineering your goals by starting with your end goals and working backwards.

She zeroes in on:

• Why it’s so important to use specific numbers with our goals
• How to ask the right questions about your goals
• What timeline you should be using for your goals

Once you’ve listened in, we encourage you to set aside 30 dedicated minutes to work on these goals. Share what goals you’re setting  with us in the Food Biz Wiz Facebook, linked in our full show notes here! You can also find our last episode linked there, as well as Alli’s Instagram.

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® Right Now page! We heard from enough of you that you didn’t have time to watch our masterclass, BUT you KNEW that Retail Ready® was the perfect tool to help you navigate the retail world. We made an information & enrollment page for food founders who want to skip the masterclass, forgo a sales conversation, and enroll in minutes. We’re increasing the price of Retail Ready® by $400 in January 2023, so join us now to lock in your 2022 pricing & lifetime access to our course, our strategic support, and our community. Find the Retail Ready® Right Now link HERE!

This week we are sharing our first episode from our five part Goal Setting Mini Series from last year. In these final five episodes of the year, we'll be planning, mapping out, and discussing how to create systems for progressing on next year’s business goals.

Our first episode of the series starts with the WHY behind your goals. This will give us a foundation that will help us set up our goals intentionally and thoughtfully!

Click here for the full show notes, which include the link to our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group and information on how to connect with Alli on Instagram!

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready®! If you want this type of support around your goals and accountability for YOUR CPG biz, then Retail Ready® is the place for you. Find out more here about how to join us in Retail Ready®!

As promised, we are turning the tables again by interviewing Charlie this week! Charlie shares his producer perspective with us, from how he started Element Shrub to what his 2022 takeaways are.

In this episode, hear Charlie and Gabby talk about…

• Why brands need to track where they spend their time and the ROI on their activities
• What free fills are and why you’ll need to plan for them
• How knowing your COGs from day 1 can help you set yourself up for success
• Plus, why continuing to find the audiences that love your product is critical for your brand’s success!

Find our full show notes on this episode here, including the link to our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group! You’ll also find the link to last week’s episode, where Alli shared her BTS buyer insights.

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® Right Now page! We heard from enough of you that you didn’t have time to watch our masterclass, BUT you KNEW that Retail Ready® was the perfect tool to help you navigate the retail world. We made an information & enrollment page for food founders who want to skip the masterclass, forgo a sales conversation, and enroll in minutes. We’re increasing the price of Retail Ready® by $400 in January 2023, so join us now to lock in your 2022 pricing & lifetime access to our course, our strategic support, and our community. Find the Retail Ready® Right Now link HERE!

This week we turn the tables and interview Alli to hear just how she got into her buyer role and how she gained the buyer expertise she shares with us today.

Listen in to hear Alli and Gabby discuss:

• How Alli got into her buyer role and why she shares her buyer insights
• Why you need to see the full picture and have a plan for what comes next – after getting on the shelf, getting a distributor, and more!
• Why it’s so important to find a branding team that has package design experience
• How building a business that works for you and YOUR goals encourages your success

We have all of the resources mentioned in this episode at our full show notes here, including the margin calculator and video, links to the episodes mentioned, and the link to our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group.

Tune into next week’s episode, where we’ll interview Charlie on his journey and his 2022 takeaways!

This episode is sponsored by our 4th Quarter Masterclass for growing your food biz! If you listened in and wanted to have access to ALL of Alli’s buyer insights, plus our amazing, private student support community, then Retail Ready® is the place for you. Check out our Masterclass for Alli’s actionable tips to increase your sales NOW, plus an invite to join us in Retail Ready®. Click here to watch our Masterclass and learn those tips, plus all that we cover with our course, strategic support & community!

In our Original Recipe episode this week, we’re revisiting an episode with marketing expert Ryan Pintado-Vertner. Ryan is the founder and CEO of Smoketown, a brand consultancy that focuses on fractional CMO services and strategy practice to help mission-driven consumer brands maximize their growth and build more traction.

Alli and Ryan discuss:

• HOW using the “Jobs To Be Done” mindset can help you hone in on your target audience
• WHERE you ACTUALLY should focus your marketing efforts, as based on Ryan’s strategy
• Plus, what three marketing tactics that you can use are!

To check out Smoketown and our conversations on this episode in the Food Biz Wiz Facebook group, click here to our full show notes!

This episode is sponsored by our 4th Quarter Masterclass for growing your food biz! If you listened in and want to ask CPG questions to experts like Ryan, Alli, and Charlie, then Retail Ready® is the perfect place for you! Check out our Masterclass for actionable tips to increase your sales NOW, plus an invite to join us in Retail Ready®. Click here to watch our Masterclass and learn those tips, plus all that we cover inside our course, coaching & community!

This week, we’re sharing our episode on planning and achieving a successful crowdfunding campaign! Listen in to this episode with Courtney Boyd Myers (CBM), the founder of kelp jerky brand, Akua. CBM has launched multiple successful crowdfunding campaigns through Kickstarter.

Tune in to hear…

• How to know if a crowdsourcing or Kickstarter campaign is right for you
• What Courtney did to launch and plan for the campaign
• Why the first 24 hours after launch are critical
• Plus, what common mistakes to avoid in your campaign

To check out our conversations on this episode in the Food Biz Wiz Facebook group and to connect with Akua, click here to our full show notes!

Plus, click here to watch our Masterclass and learn insider tips, plus all that we cover inside our course, coaching & community, Retail Ready®!

We are back with another “Is It Worth It, Charlie?” episode this week! Charlie and Eileen McGurty, founder of Mountain Meadow Bone Broth, discuss whether she should add new SKUs to her lineup.

Charlie and Eileen consider…

• Where the demand is coming from for the potential new SKUs 
• What the financial and logistical costs of adding new SKUs are
• How to test the potential SKU’s viability with the lowest risk possible
• When she should time a potential rollout with her products’ seasonality

Listen to Eileen gain clarity on how she’ll move forward with the potential SKUs! To join our conversations on this episode in the Food Biz Wiz Facebook group and to learn more about Mountain Meadow Bone Broth, click here to our full show notes!

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® Masterclass for growing your food biz! If you wanted to know exactly how Eileen gained confidence in pitching and which systems Eileen is implementing for increased sales, then you’re the perfect fit for Retail Ready®. Click here to watch our Masterclass to understand all we cover inside our course, coaching & community - plus how to join and start learning NOW!

This week we are switching things up by sharing an episode from Djenaba Johnson-Jones’ The Food Means Business Podcast. Djenaba hosted Alli as a guest interviewee and they discussed multiple can’t-miss topics such as…

• How psychographics are critical to knowing your target audience
• What one essential thing most brands miss in their sales emails is
• Plus, why it’s so important to follow up on your sales emails and calls

Djenaba is the founder and CEO of Hudson Kitchen. Hudson Kitchen is an incubator kitchen that she founded after wanting to provide other emerging brands a lower-risk way to launch their food businesses. For more information on Hudson Kitchen, the link to our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group, plus our 100 Buyer No’s worksheet, check out our full show notes here!

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready®! If you listened and wondered what other buyer intel you NEED to inform your strategies, then Retail Ready® IS the perfect place for you! Retail Ready® is our online course, coaching, and community for producers who are looking to increase their sales THIS year. Click here for our enrollment so that you can get started TODAY!

Traditional views of mentorship have us believe that only mentors have something valuable to offer mentees. In this episode, we sit down with Kathleen Casanova, the director of Project Potluck, and Cynthia Billops, the VP of Operations, Membership and Belonging at One Step Closer (OSC), to consider how we can shift mentorship for the better. We discuss…

• How mentorship can be rewarding for mentees AND mentors
• Why mentorship is critical for BIPOC founders in our industry
• Where you can find mentorship
• Plus, they share about their Mentor to Champion Skills Training for improving mentorship skills!

To connect directly with Project Potluck and OSC and for the sign up link for their Mentor to Champion Skills Training, check out our full show notes here. You’ll also find our episode on the J.E.D.I. Collaborative and the link to our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group there!

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Roadmap! As Kathleen and Cynthia mention, having someone share their insider knowledge can make a world of difference to an emerging brand. I want to share my buyer expertise so that you know what it takes to get ON the retail shelf - be it a physical or digital shelf - AND have high sales once you're there! Find my free, nine-step guide to building a brand that flies off the shelf by clicking here so that you’re planning for each next step NOW!

Today, we bring you the final re-air of our Fourth Quarter Focus Series from last year! As we’re nearly in the fourth quarter, this episode is dedicated to what you should actually be doing IN the fourth quarter and how to focus your business-building efforts for the remainder of the year.

We'll outline exactly what you should focus on in the 4th quarter to ensure you're ready when the new year arrives. Alli discusses your sales scripts, your sales materials, your sales strategy, and what updates she has since last year.

Click here to check out our full show notes, links to the previous episodes in our mini-series, and to join our Food Biz Wiz® Student Facebook group!

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® Masterclass on growing your food business! Our Masterclass covers Alli’s framework for how to increase your sales. If you find yourself wondering precisely what strategy (or strategies) you actually need, then Retail Ready® is THE place for you. Click here to watch our Masterclass and to understand exactly what we cover inside our course, coaching & community - plus how to join before the fourth quarter begins!

In this third re-air of our Fourth Quarter Focus Series from last year, we’re zeroing in on what you need to do to nurture your existing accounts. If you joined us for the past weeks’ episodes, you’ll know that many buyers are about to be heads down in the busiest grocery season of the year, so it’s all the more critical to be ahead of the game.

In this week's episode, we'll discuss:

• The two audiences you'll focus on and how to nurture them
• Why nurturing those relationships sets your brand up for success in the fourth quarter
• How to nurture your accounts with a multifaceted strategy
• Plus, Alli’s updates on what’s changed since last year!

To check out our previous episodes from this series, see our show notes, and access even more useful resources, click here for the full show notes!

This episode is sponsored by the Retail Ready® waitlist! If you’re listening and wondering what other strategies you can be implementing for short and long-term success, then we KNOW Retail Ready® is the perfect place for you. Retail Ready® is our online course, coaching, and community for producers who are looking to increase their sales THIS year! Jump on our Retail Ready® waitlist to be the first to know when we open enrollment again. Click here to save your spot! 

We’re back this week to revisit the 2nd part of our 4 part mini-series focusing on the 4th quarter! Wondering how to ace your last pitches for the quarter (unless, of course, you produce a seasonal product)?

In this episode, we're talking about what you need to have nailed down as you make those final pitches. We'll discuss the 4 P’s: product, pricing, promotion, and pitch script. By the end of this episode, you’ll have a checklist of what your pitch needs to appeal to busy buyers.

To access our full show notes, check out the previous episode of this series, and join our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group, click here to our full show notes!

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® Masterclass on growing your food business! If you found yourself wondering exactly what strategies you’ll need to perfect your pitch, then Retail Ready® is THE place for you. Click here to watch our Masterclass and to understand exactly what we cover inside our course, coaching & community - plus how to join our third quarter cohort before the fourth quarter!

This week we are re-visiting a 4-part mini-series on where your focus should be in the 4th quarter! This week's 1st episode is all about the Wholesale Buyer's Perspective.

I'll discuss:

• A breakdown of the Buyer's Perspective from October to December
• Why Buyers may be ignoring your emails 
• What has or hasn’t changed since last year!

To check out our full show notes here and to join our Food Biz Wiz® Facebook group, click here!

This episode is sponsored by the Retail Ready® waitlist! If you’ve found value in the bits of expertise I share on the Food Biz Wiz® podcast, then you’re going to be blown away by Retail Ready®, our online course, coaching & community for producers who are looking to increase their sales THIS year! Jump on our Retail Ready® waitlist to be the first to know when we open enrollment again. Click here to save your spot! 

In our latest “Is It Worth It, Charlie?” episode, Charlie weighs in on whether Kirk, founder of Power of the Almond, should change their pricing structure to work with a distributor. Charlie and Kirk consider the following questions:

• Whether Kirk should include rent in COGs as they have a brick and mortar store
• How different channels can affect his overhead
• Whether expected grocery margins can support working with a distributor

By the end of the episode, Kirk has a clearer picture of how he’ll move forward! To see find more on Power of the Almond and to join our student community, click here to our full show notes! 

Our Retail Ready® September Sales Sprint sponsors this episode! There’s so much out there on cutting costs for a recession, but what about increasing your revenue? In September, we're doing just that through 4 LIVE bonus calls for Retail Ready® students. Find our full course outline here to check out all that we cover, and watch our intro Masterclass at the link here. If you’re ready to jumpstart your revenue now, sign up now at this link!

Every week, I hear food founders with dilemmas like this: a potential business partner, such as a co-packer, distributor, retailer, etc. asks for something that you know you can’t reasonably fulfill. YET, you still feel like you MUST say yes. Does this sound familiar?

Well, I’m here to bring you a few important considerations:

• What your three main options are in these situations
• What you need to know before negotiating offers
• How you can offer alternatives to the original ask
• And why saying “no” is still a valid option

Once you listen in, you’ll have next steps for when you need to negotiate!

To join our student group and check out more about Retail Ready® and our other resources for food founders like yourself, click here to our full show notes!

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® September Sales Sprint! There’s so much out there on cutting costs and knowing your numbers in anticipation of a potential recession, but what about the other half of the equation: actually increasing your revenue? In the month of September, we are focusing on increasing revenue in 30 days through 4 LIVE bonus calls for Retail Ready® students. Find our full course outline here to check out all that we cover, and watch our intro Masterclass at the link here. Or, if you’re ready to jumpstart your revenue and land in a retail community ready to support you now, sign up now at this link!

Being an entrepreneur can feel like navigating a land with no maps. That’s why I’m thrilled to share this episode with Shulamit Ber Levtov, MA, RSW, CCTP. Known as The Entrepreneur’s Therapist, Shulamit joins us to take an honest look behind the CEO door at what mental health challenges female entrepreneurs face and how we can equip ourselves with the right tools for the journey.

Shulamit and I delve into the following topics:

• The 7 main mental health challenges that entrepreneurs uniquely experience
• How practicing self compassion instead of self esteem can benefit us
• What plans you need to be making for you and your brand’s health

This episode was a refreshingly real unpacking of the challenges that we face as entrepreneurs, and a necessary reminder of the tools we can use to care for ourselves. After listening in, I know you’ll be ready to make a plan to take care of your most important asset: you!

Check out our full show notes here so that you can find Shulamit’s full resources and a link to our episode on the benefits of saying no. We can’t wait to share information on Shulamit’s book in the future!

In our 158th episode of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast, Charlie brings another insightful conversation to the “Is It Worth It, Charlie?” series. Charlie discusses with Kathrin Henon, founder of Planet Bake, whether now is the right time to start using a co-packer.

As many businesses look to scale, they must consider how and when a co-packer can become a vital part of the brand’s team. 

In this episode, Charlie and Kathrin consider the following:

• How Kathrin can plan for best and worst case scenarios when using a co-packer
• What financial constraints Kathrin should consider
• And how Kathrin will move forward with her current resources and team

Through discussing these, Kathrin cements what her next steps in choosing to use a co-packer will be!

Charlie Berkinshaw is our VP of Student Success here at Food Biz Wiz, as well as the Founder of Element Shrub, a RTD and concentrate beverage line, and a Founding Partner of The Fountain Inn, a spirits tasting room in Washington, D.C. Charlie supports our students day in and day out, answering questions just like this in our private Retail Ready® student community and on our bi-weekly coaching calls. 

Click over to our full show notes here so that you can see more of our resources and can see where to find Planet Bake!

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Roadmap! As Charlie discusses in this episode, it's more important now than ever to have an idea of what your retail journey will look like so that you plan ahead just like Kathrin did. Find our free, nine-step guide to building a brand that flies off the shelf by clicking here so that you’re planning for each next step NOW.

In this week’s Original Recipe episode, we revisit episode 49. NOW is the time to prepare and plan for the 4th quarter so that you’re ready to maximize sales!

Alli details her four KEY steps to planning a strong holiday season: decide, pitch, schedule, and nurture. You’ll ensure that you know exactly what you’re selling, who you’re selling it to, and how to land in those valuable holiday guides and on consumers’ minds.

To continue the conversation and find more resources to prepare you for the fourth quarter, check out our full show notes by clicking here.

This episode is sponsored by our Masterclass on growing your food business! If you found yourself wondering exactly what strategies you’ll be planning or how to better nurture buyer relationships, then Retail Ready® is the place for you. Click here to watch our Masterclass and to understand exactly what we cover inside our course, coaching & community - plus how to join our third quarter cohort before the fourth quarter!

We’ve been hearing so much about what it potentially means to be in a recession, especially around COGS, financials, our margins, and more. But I tackle the elephant in the room: sales strategy.

In our 156th episode this week, I’ll cover:

• Why a potential recession does NOT mean you should give up on sales strategies
• How brands are still seeing huge wins even with supply chain challenges and labor shortages

Once you listen in, you’ll be motivated to continue your sales tactics and confirm your next steps! For our full show notes and even more resources on strategy and tips, check out our full show notes by clicking here!

This episode is sponsored by our Masterclass on growing your food business! The students in Retail Ready® all joined after watching my Masterclass and recognizing that they had the potential to grow their sales even more. Click here to watch and to understand exactly what we cover inside our course, coaching & community - plus how to join our third quarter cohort!

This week’s 155th episode wraps up our final three-part mini-series on the lessons learned from successful seven-figure CPG brands, with Umai Marketing cofounders Karin Samelson and Alison Smith, and the Head of Marketing at Rodeo CPG, Adam Pollack. In this episode, Alison and Karin guide us through the three levers of digital marketing necessary for success. 

Hear them touch upon:

• Why social media marketing, paid social, and email marketing are the the three most important marketing levers for emerging CPG brands
• Which KPIs you need to track to make informed decisions
• When to know if you’re ready to expand past those three, and what to prioritize next in your business

Alison and Karin’s insights clarify so much of the confusion around which marketing tactics to explore, when. As this is the final episode in our mini-series, make sure that you’ve listened to the first two shows on our insights on operation strategy in episode 153 here and on retail strategy in episode 154 here! Click here for the full show notes.

This episode is sponsored by our Masterclass! If you listened to these mini-series episodes and nodded your head along when we talked about the importance of having a plan, then click here to watch our free masterclass. It focuses on the steps and strategy to growing your food business and shows exactly what we cover inside of Retail Ready®, our course for CPG brands that want to get onto shelves and have high sales once there!

We are back for our second episode of our mini-series on the lessons learned from successful seven-figure CPG brands! Once again, Adam Pollack, the Head of Marketing for Rodeo CPG, and Karin Samelson and Alison Smith, the cofounders of Umai Marketing, join as our co-hosts.

In this week’s episode, Adam, Alison, and Karin ask me critical questions on retail strategy. We cover:

• My golden rule for trying to get ON retail shelves
• What you need to remember when approaching buyers
• What common mistakes you should avoid when trying to increase velocity

Once you listen in, you’ll have actionable next steps for getting onto and selling off the shelf! Find the first episode of this mini-series at this link or on your favorite podcast player.

GIVEAWAY: In celebration of this mini series, we’re giving away a 60-minute, 1:1 session with each Rodeo CPG, Umai Marketing and Food Biz Wiz, in which you can ask any and all things operations, retail, and digital marketing! Click here for the full show notes and details on how to enter before the giveaway closes on 11:59pm CST on July 21st, 2022.

As promised in the episode, I’ve created a freebie workbook outlining 100 Buyer No’s, which will walk you through preparing for any possible objection and guide you in crafting a rebuttal that lets buyers know you are ready to get on and sell off their shelf. Find the free download here!

Episode 153 begins a three part mini-series that we’re hosting with Adam Pollack, the Head of Marketing for Rodeo CPG, and Karin Samelson and Alison Smith, the cofounders of Umai Marketing, on the lessons learned from successful seven-figure CPG brands. In this episode, we zoom in on operations through the following topics:

• Why knowing demand, production, procurement, and cashflow are ESSENTIAL for solid planning
• Which plans brands need to make and a Rodeo CPG tool for planning
• How saying ‘no’ and confirming your copacker’s constraints help you execute your plans

After hearing Adam’s ops wisdom, you’ll be motivated to dive into your own strategy! You can check out the Rodeo CPG planning tool and more about Rodeo CPG,  at our full show notes here. In our next episodes, you’ll hear more about retail strategy and then digital marketing.

This episode is sponsored by our Retail Roadmap! As you hear in this episode, it's more important than ever to know what it takes to get ON the retail shelf - be it a physical or digital shelf - AND have high sales once you're there. Find our free, nine-step guide to building a brand that flies off the shelf by clicking here so that you’re planning for each next step NOW.

In this week’s episode 152 of the Food Biz Wiz® Podcast, we kick off our 14th season with a rapid-fire episode to answer students’ most recent pressing questions.

I’ll covers a wide range of topics, including:

• How brands can navigate pitches through supply chain issues & inflation
• What brands can focus on NOW as we head into the summer months
• Some of my tough love on sales strategy
• Two questions to ask yourself when considering if you’re ready for PR
• How to follow up from Fancy Food…even if you haven’t followed up yet!

Click here for the full show notes and to join us in our private Facebook group, or to connect with me on Instagram.

This episode is sponsored by our Masterclass! Click here to watch our free masterclass on growing your food business and to understand exactly what we cover inside our course, coaching & community - plus how to join us!

This week, Charlie brings us another episode of the “Is It Worth It, Charlie?” series. In it, Charlie e-meets with Annabel Kalmar, director of Tea Rebellion, to discuss if she should continue to work with a distributor. Working with a distributor is perhaps one of the most critical things you’ll think through when trying to expand into more retailers. In this episode, Charlie and Annabel consider the following:

• What benefits Tea Rebellion has experienced from working with a distributor
• What challenges arise
• How Tea Rebellion’s mission, values, and logistics fit with working with a distributor

After talking through all these considerations, Annabel has a clearer understanding of her next steps! Charlie Berkinshaw is our VP of Student Success here at Food Biz Wiz, as well as the Founder of Element Shrub, a RTD and concentrate beverage line, and a Founding Partner of The Fountain Inn, a spirits tasting room in Washington, D.C. Charlie supports our students day in and day out, answering questions just like this in our private Retail Ready® student community and on our bi-weekly coaching calls. Click over to our full show notes here so that you can see more of our resources and can check out more about Tea Rebellion.

A well-crafted story can make the difference between apathy and commitment. Join my discussion with Adam Force, the founder of Change Creator, to hear more about how to leverage storytelling to drive sales for your food or beverage business.

In the episode, Adam shares:

• What does storytelling have to do with your business
• Why storytelling works to land sales over other hard marketing tactics
• How to tell if you’re already using storytelling in your business, and what to do if you’re not
• Why storytelling is a learned skill that we have to practice and hone, and how to do so

If you’ve ever wondered how to warm up those wholesale buyers and turn your online followers into raving fans - this episode will dive into that! Check out our full notes as well for Adam’s resources and how to check out Change Creator.

This episode is sponsored by our 100 Wholesale Buyer "No's" Workbook, where I walk you through 100 different ways the Buyer might turn down your product. Using this resource, you can prepare yourself to be READY to respond to these No's and turn them into Yes's! 

Get the free download here!

• Why you NEED to be on RangeMe
• How you can shift your thinking to use RangeMe more effectively and stop using hope as a strategy
• The no and low cost way to drive your RangeMe profile’s visibility, plus…
• What some of the biggest recent buyer trends are

This episode was packed FULL of valuable insights for food CPG brands and I know you’ll walk away with actionable next steps. If you want to navigate to RangeMe’s site, check Brandon out, and see our full show notes, click here!

This episode is sponsored by our Masterclass! Click here to watch our free masterclass on growing your food business and to understand exactly what we cover inside our course, coaching & community - plus how to join us!

If you’re in the CPG space and pursue wholesale channels, you’ve probably asked yourself some variant of “WHAT is going on with this buyer?!” You’ve sent them multiple emails and your sales materials…and then radio silence.

In today’s episode of the Food Biz Wiz® Podcast, I’ll share…

• WHY buyers go quiet on you
• WHAT it means when that happens
• Then, HOW to rekindle the conversation after silence or if they’ve never responded in the first place

I can’t wait to share these necessary pieces of buyer intel with you. Listen in to catch them all!

Click on over to our full show notes, where you’ll find even more information and can group our podcasts by theme!

This episode is sponsored by our Masterclass! Click here to watch our free masterclass on growing your food business and to understand exactly what we cover inside our course, coaching & community - plus how to join our second quarter cohort!

We’re back this week with another juicy episode of our “Is It Worth It, Charlie?” series. In these episodes, Charlie typically works through a pivotal business decision with a Retail Ready® student. This week though, Charlie dives into the THREE topics he considers essential to think through when weighing whether a decision is worth it:

• Money: COGS, pricing, ROI, and more
• The resources available to your business
• Reflection on this decision’s impact

Whether you’re an emerging brand or have been in business for years, these topics are key when thinking through pivotal decisions. Tune in to hear what they’re all about! Follow along here to our full show notes, where you’ll find even more information and can access podcasts relevant for CPG entrepreneurs like yourself!

Charlie Berkinshaw is our VP of Student Success here at Food Biz Wiz, as well as the Founder of Element Shrub, a RTD and concentrate beverage line, and a Founding Partner of The Fountain Inn, a spirits tasting room in Washington, D.C. Charlie supports our students day in and day out, using this framework in our private Retail Ready® student community and on our bi-weekly coaching calls. 

This episode is sponsored by our Masterclass! Click here to watch our free masterclass on growing your food business and to understand exactly what we cover inside our course, coaching & community - plus how to join our second quarter cohort!

As founders, we often have to strike a difficult balance between completing the nitty-gritty, day-to-day tasks in our business and the tasks that actually work on our overall business.    

In today’s show, we’ll focus on what the difference between working ON your business is versus working IN your business. We’ll also cover:

• How to know if you’re working ON vs IN your business
• My secret to making time to work ON your business
• How our team here at Food Biz Wiz® can support you in working ON your business

This is the fourth episode of our Original Recipe series, where our student success coordinator Gabby hand-picks timely episodes to re-share. We originally aired this episode in the 4th quarter and its message is still relevant to intentionally setting yourself up for success.

Listen in for all my thoughts on how to get out of that rut and empower your business now!

For the full show notes and to learn even more about how we can support you in choosing to invest in your business and yourself, click here.

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready®, my online course for producers who want to land on more retail shelves, and have high sales once you do. If you listen to this episode and find yourself nodding along, YOU are the right fit for Retail Ready®. We invite you to skip the line to sign up right here and now!

As business founders, we have ALL been in a space of overwhelm; of feeling like we have just too many tasks to complete and not enough energy or mental space to do it. That’s why I’m so excited for this week’s episode with Charlotte Smith. Charlotte is a marketing expert who specializes in marketing for agricultural professionals AND mindset coaching to move your business forward and reduce overwhelm and anxiety.

Some of the questions we discuss include:

• What even is mindset and what should we understand about it?
• What questions can we start asking to shift our mindset?
• How can we empower our productive thoughts and recognize our negative thoughts?
• Plus even more!

If you’d like to see more about the resources mentioned or how to connect with Charlotte, check out our full show notes here.

There’s one quote that shot straight to my heart when I read it. It’s a simple quote from James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, and I can’t wait to share it with you in this episode.

I’ll share what that piece of wisdom means for CPG brands AND tell you more about Food Biz Wiz’s Wholesale Week. It’s 5 days of free, actionable, mini lessons for emerging food, bev and taxable grocery brands, designed to help you land on more shelves, and get into more shopping baskets.

Listen along for more details and check out our full show notes at this link, where we’ll have all the resources mentioned.

This episode is sponsored by Wholesale Week, the FREE 5 days of actionable mini lessons for emerging food, bev and taxable grocery brands like yours. We have designed Wholesale Week to help you put your wholesale strategy in place for your next steps in 2022 and put that quote’s wisdom into practice. Click here to sign up!

Today we have another episode of our “Is It Worth It, Charlie?” series. In it, Charlie talks with Patricia Beets, co-founder of Dell Cove Spices & More Co., about whether or not it’s worth it to attend a trade show!

Charlie Berkinshaw is our VP of Student Success here at Food Biz Wiz, as well as the Founder of Element Shrub, a RTD and concentrate beverage line, and a Founding Partner of The Fountain Inn, a spirits tasting room in Washington, D.C. Charlie supports our students day in and day out, answering questions just like this in our private Retail Ready® student community and on our bi-weekly coaching calls. Listen along to hear Patricia and Charlie talk through the questions that so many food founders consider when deciding whether to attend a trade show, such as:

• How do I quantify the ROI for a trade show?
• What is a realistic timeline for the potential payoff from a trade show?
• Which samples do I bring? How do I hire help for staffing the show?
• Plus more!

By the end, Patricia has a clear idea of her next steps forward! Check out our full show notes here, with all of the resources they mentioned in the episode, and to connect with Dell Cove Spices & More Co.

This episode is sponsored by our Masterclass! Click here to watch our free masterclass on growing your food business and to understand exactly what we cover inside our course, coaching & community!

Diversity, equity, and inclusion, or “DEI” is something that’s on many of our minds. But what even is its impact on brands and how do we start implementing it into our practices?

If you were wondering that, then you’re in luck! Today, we are revisiting episode 102 as the third episode of the Original Recipe series, where we use your top questions to hand-pick previously aired episodes, all presented with fresh insights from our Student Success Coordinator, Gabby.

In this episode, DEI consultant Jennifer Yepez-Blundell (formerly of Hella Social Impact) and I discussed

• Why should CPG brands care about DEI? 
• Do consumers care about DEI? 
• How working on DEI impacts your sales and customer base.
• How Hella Social Impact works with clients and how you can use their “Notice, Name, Dismantle” framework to create a strategy around being a more inclusive, just CPG business

To find out more about Hella Social Impact and how they work with clients, see the full show notes by clicking here.

If you finished listening by wondering how you can find a community of supporters around your food biz questions, you’ve got to join us in Retail Ready®, my online course, coaching & community for producers who are looking to increase their sales this year! Jump on our Retail Ready® waitlist to be the first to know when we open enrollment again, or choose the quickstart option on the waitlist confirmation page if you’re ready to join immediately! Click here to save your spot! 

Refreshing your branding is a huge undertaking. There are so many considerations involved, from your brand’s story, to your physical packaging, to finding the right partners. That’s why we are thrilled to talk with Diana Jarrar, the founder of MagicBites (and a Retail Ready®student!), and Sam Laubach and Meghan Martin, the co-founders of Here and Now Creative, about the BEAUTIFUL rebrand they launched for MagicDates.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The WHY behind Diana’s decision to rebrand in the first place
• How she found the right design partners
• The steps in the rebranding process
• How Sam and Meghan guided Diana through the process

If you’d like to see our full notes and resources, to join us in our private Facebook group, or to connect with me on Instagram, click here for the full show notes!

This episode is sponsored by my Masterclass! Click here to watch our free masterclass on growing your food business and to understand exactly what we cover inside our course, coaching & community - plus how to join our second quarter cohort!

We are kicking off season 13 of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast with a new rapid-fire show!

In this episode, I’ll give you my short and sweet thoughts on the following topics:

• Moving from farmer’s markets to wholesale stores
• Hiring VA’s and “do’s” and “don’ts”
• How to find wholesale buyer email addresses
• How to be proactive in your business

Click here for the full show notes and to join us in our private Facebook group, or to connect with me on Instagram.

This episode is sponsored by my Retail Roadmap! It's more important than ever to know what it takes to get ON the retail shelf - be it a physical or digital shelf -, and have high sales once you're there. Find my free, nine-step guide to building a brand that flies off the shelf by clicking here.

Welcome to a new style of episode on the Food Biz Wiz® podcast: our “Is It Worth It, Charlie?” series! In today’s show, Charlie helps Karine, the founder of My Guiltless Treats, decide whether or not it’s worth it to change her packaging size.

Charlie Berkinshaw is our VP of Student Success here at Food Biz Wiz, as well as the Founder of Element Shrub, a RTD and concentrate beverage line, and a Founding Partner of The Fountain Inn, a spirits tasting room in Washington, D.C. Charlie supports our students day in and day out, answering questions just like this in our private Retail Ready® student community and on our bi-weekly coaching calls. 

Tune in to hear them talk through the questions that any founder needs to be able to answer as you consider changing your packaging, size, product assortment, flavors, or other offerings to your wholesale accounts and direct-consumers.

At the end of this show, you’ll hear Karine exclaim that she is “mind-blown!” as she gains clarity during her conversation with Charlie. 

Click here for the full show notes, all of the resources mentioned in today’s show, and to learn more about My Guiltless Treats!

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready®, our online course, coaching & community for producers who want to land on more retail shelves, and have high sales once you do. If you listen to this episode and nod along, WISHING you could get Charlie’s advice for your brand, YOU are the right fit for Retail Ready. Find out all about our program, how we work with brands, and our three step process for growing food businesses by watching this free masterclass. Find a time that works for you, and join us soon! 

Co-packer horror stories: we’ve all heard them! Finding the right co-packer for your food or beverage brand can be daunting, confusing, and downright scary (not to mention expensive!). 

This is the second episode of the Original Recipe series, where we use your top questions to hand-pick previously aired episodes, all presented with fresh insights from our Student Success Coordinator, Gabby. In today’s show, we turn back to co-packing.

In this show, I’m joined by Ashley Sutterfield, the CEO of Metzger & Roth, a consultant who helps CPG brands navigate the daunting world of co-packers. We’ll revisit:

• How to prepare for working with co-packers, and what you’ve got to nail down before you even consider moving to a co-man.
• How to find the right partner for your brand, and how to evaluate potential partners as you start to do you research
• How to execute your first trial runs, and what happens next…

Plus a whole lot more!

Find the full show notes, all of the resources that we mentioned on the show, and Ashley’s contact information by clicking here. 

If you found value in today’s show, you’ve got to join us in Retail Ready®, my online course, coaching & community for producers who are looking to increase their sales this year! Jump on our Retail Ready® waitlist to be the first to know when we open enrollment again, or choose the quickstart option on the waitlist confirmation page if you’re ready to join immediately! Click here to save your spot!

Stepping outside the traditional ways of doing things is one of the ways that CPG brands can stand out. Whether on physical grocery shelves or elsewhere, Emily Schildt of Pop Up Grocer joins me today to talk about how the physical retail industry is changing, plus how food founders can keep up.

Listen in to learn how to shift your mindset and start using industry changes to your advantage.

Find out where Pop Up Grocer is heading next and how you can get involved in the full show notes here!

This episode is sponsored by my 100 Wholesale Buyer "No's" Workbook, where I walk you through 100 different ways the Buyer might turn down your product. Using this resource, you can prepare yourself to be READY to respond to these No's and turn them into Yes's! Get the free download here.

One of the most exciting steps in growing your CPG business is being able to create job opportunities for your local community. In this episode, I sit down with hiring expert Cindy Harvey to give you insights into your next hire.

Listen in to learn how, when, and why to hire - plus we’ll talk about ways that the wrong fit can cost your business. 

Learn about how to connect with Cindy in the full show notes here!

This episode is sponsored by my Retail Roadmap! It's more important than ever to know what it takes to get ON the retail shelf - be it a physical or digital shelf -, and have high sales once you're there. Find my free, nine-step guide to building a brand that flies off the shelf by clicking here.

At first glance, selling your packaged food product online seems easy. But using eCommerce to fuel a profitable CPG business is more involved than you may think. In this episode, we’ll explore 3 different channels to sell your packaged product online, and what you need to know about each of them before getting started.

Check out the full show notes here! And if you’ve found value in the Food Biz Wiz® podcast, you’re going to be blown away by Retail Ready®, our online course, coaching & community for producers who are looking to increase their sales this year! Jump on our Retail Ready® waitlist to be the first to know when we open enrollment again. Click here to save your spot! 

Expo West is coming! In today’s episode, I sit down with Lacey Gautier, New Hope’s VP of Events to get all the insider knowledge you need to be successful at this year’s Expo West.

Listen in to learn how to get the most out of the show, with tips on what to prepare and the kinds of connections that even introverted CPG founders can make during the event. (Spoiler alert - there are some BIG retail buyers attending this year!)

Learn where to find Lacey and grab links to everything you need for 2022’s Expo West in the full show notes here!

This episode is sponsored by my 100 Wholesale Buyer "No's" Workbook, where I walk you through 100 different ways the Buyer might turn down your product. Using this resource, you can prepare yourself to be READY to respond to these No's and turn them into Yes's! Get the free download here.

Welcome to the first ever episode of the Original Recipe series, where we use your top questions to hand-pick previously aired episodes, all presented with fresh insights from our Student Success Coordinator, Gabby. If you’re constantly feeling overwhelmed, overworked, and that you have a never-ending to-do list: this episode is for you. In today’s show, I teach you how to say “no” in your business, and why it’s so important. 

Listen in to learn:

• Why it’s important to say “no” in your business
• What you’re risking if you don’t incorporate this into your business vocabulary
• Four strategies for saying “no” even when it feels hard

PLUS, get something new from this Original Recipe by listening for 1) what you gain by saying ‘no,’ and 2) which tools you can start TODAY to be more effective in your business. Check out the full show note here! This episode is sponsored by my Retail Roadmap! It's more important than ever to know what it takes to get ON the retail shelf - be it a physical or digital shelf -, and have high sales once you're there. Find my free, nine-step guide to building a brand that flies off the shelf by clicking here. 

It can be so intimidating - yet crucial! - for CPG brands to keep up an online presence that captures attention from their audience. But how can you create consistently beautiful content - WITHOUT a professional photographer or videographer on demand at all times?

Food photographer and course creator, Rupa Nagamootoo, joins me in today’s episode to answer that very question, with some real tips on how to put your brand in the spotlight using just your phone and some savvy video marketing. 

Learn more about how to sync up with Rupa and her Viral Recipe Video Workshop in the full show notes here!

This episode was supported by Canva, my favorite, EASY design tool for creating branded images, graphics, and GIFs that will make your social media stories & feeds look SUPER PRO. If you’re looking for easy-to-use online software, you’ll want to check Canva out. You’ll be hooked! 

Maybe you’ve heard of category reviews, but how do they even work? And what should you know about them to get your product on more retail shelves?

In this episode, we’re diving into what category reviews are, the types of stores that do them, and what that means for you (spoiler alert! I think they’re a little BS). I also build on the lessons in Episode 129, so be sure to give that a listen next.

Check out the full show notes, and then be sure to continue the conversation in our Food Biz Wiz® Facebook group. 

This episode is sponsored by my 100 Wholesale Buyer "No's" Workbook, where I walk you through 100 different ways the Buyer might turn down your product. Using this resource, you can prepare yourself to be READY to respond to these No's and turn them into Yes's! Get the free download here.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through the three most important pieces of putting together a last-minute tradeshow plan (including my favorite FREE resource!) and you’ll immediately feel more at ease going into this season’s shows. 

For the full show notes, click here.

If you’ve found value in the Food Biz Wiz podcast, you’re going to be blown away by Retail Ready, our online course, coaching & community for producers who are looking to increase their sales this year! Jump on our Retail Ready® waitlist to be the first to know when we open enrollment again. Click here to save your spot!

Wholesale buyers are more likely to work with brands that are easygoing, deliver upon their promises, and seem trustworthy. After all, they have their pick of whom to work with!

In today’s episode, I ask the hard question of “are you a high maintenance vendor,” and outline the top signs that you might be. With this knowledge, you can self-assess and adjust your ways, knowing that with small changes you’ll be a more trustworthy, reliable vendor and land on more shelves. For the full show notes, click here and to continue the conversation in our Food Biz Wiz® Facebook group, click here. 

This episode is sponsored by my 100 Wholesale Buyer "No's" Workbook, where I walk you through 100 different ways the Buyer might turn down your product. Using this resource, you can prepare yourself to be READY to respond to these No's and turn them into Yes's! Get the free download by clicking here.

Is selling direct-to-consumer cheaper, faster, and easier than selling wholesale? And, if so, what’s going to happen to the future of wholesale? 

In today’s episode, I talk through whether or not wholesale is dying in 2022, and what questions to think about as you decide whether you’ll sell through traditional wholesale accounts, eCommerce channels, or direct-to-consumer. 

For the full show notes and invite to the Food Biz Wiz® Facebook group, click here.

Don't forget: we’re raising the price of Retail Ready® - our course, coaching & community for wholesale success- at the EOD on Tuesday, January 18th. Join us now to save $500 before we turn on our 2022 pricing! Skip the sales call, the educational masterclass, and the waitlist by clicking through to the enrollment page, linked directly here. See you soon in Retail Ready®!

We’re kicking off 2022 with my predictions of three industry trends that we’ll see around emerging food, beverage and taxable grocery brands this coming year. Tune in to hear me talk through each trend, what it is, and the impact that it will have on your business. 

For this episode’s full show notes, more information on the resources I talked about today, including the complementary digital swag bag worth over $1,500 from our Brand Camp sponsors, click here. 

In this final episode of our 5-part 2022 Goal Setting Mini-Series, I’m walking you through my process of tracking progress on your goals, and ensuring that you get in the habit of working towards them, EVEN WHEN things get busy in your business, which they inevitably do. 

Tune in to hear how you can create & stick to a small habit that will create BIG results in your food or beverage business in 2022. Remember, results come from action, and that’s what we’re outlining today.

Click here for the first four episodes of our 2022 Goal Setting Mini-Series, and for the full show notes. 

From there, don’t miss out: our Fourth Quarter Cohort of Retail Ready® is now enrolling, before we raise prices in January! Click here to watch our free masterclass on growing your food business (even during this holiday season!) and to understand exactly what we cover inside our course, coaching & community - plus how to join our Fourth Quarter cohort and lock in our 2021 pricing, before we increase the cost in January.

You’ve set your goals, figured out which tactics you’ll implement first and then…. The doubt sets in. 

“How can I possibly set sales goals? I’ve never sold in this channel before!”

“I don’t know the first thing about hiring! I’m stuck!”

“I have NO IDEA what a placement deal is, or what I should offer.” 

Does that sound familiar? In today’s show, I’m sharing my business superpower that helps me move forward, despite the feelings of overwhelm, being stuck, or having no idea how to navigate a new business challenge that comes up. 

If you’re plagued by imposter syndrome, analysis paralysis, or plain ol’ fear of failure - you’ll want to tune in today! Click here for the first three episodes of our 2022 Goal Setting Mini-Series, and for the full show notes. 

Click here to watch our free masterclass on growing your food business (even during this holiday season!) and to understand exactly what we cover inside our course, coaching & community - plus how to join our Fourth Quarter cohort!

Food Founders often jump straight into the tactics of growing your business without setting goals or putting strategy in place. In today’s episode, we talk through narrowing down which tactics you’ll use to achieve your 2022 business goals, and how I use the “lever framework” to assess where to focus for business growth.

This episode is #3 of our five-part 2022 Goal Setting Mini-Series! To listen to the first two episodes and to find all of the resources outlined in today’s show, click here for the full episode notes.

From there, don’t forget: our Fourth Quarter Cohort of Retail Ready® is now enrolling, before we raise prices in January! Click here to watch our free masterclass on growing your food business (even during this holiday season!) and to understand exactly what we cover inside our course, coaching & community - plus how to join our Fourth Quarter cohort!

Episode 2 of our 5 part 2022 Goal Setting Mini-Series is here! In today’s show, we’ll cover my process of reverse engineering your goals, and how to start from the end, and work your way back to the beginning.

By the end of this episode, you’ll have your 2022 First Quarter goals outlined, and will be ready to tune in to episode three of our mini series, where we outline my Lever Framework for determining the tactics that will help you hit those goals.

For the full 2022 Goal Setting mini series and episode show notes, click here.

From there, don’t forget: our Fourth Quarter Cohort of Retail Ready® is now enrolling, before we raise prices in January! Click here to watch our free masterclass on growing your food business (even during this holiday season!) and to understand exactly what we cover inside our course, coaching & community - plus how to join our Fourth Quarter cohort!

This episode kicks off our 2022 Goal Setting Mini Series, where we’ll spend the next five episodes planning, mapping out, and putting systems in place for outlining and progressing on next year’s business goals.

In today’s show, we start with the WHY. Why do most food founders jump straight into the DOING rather than planning, and why is it important to break this habit?

Once you’ve listened and are ready to commit to ending 2021 with intention, click here for the full show notes, and to connect with me over Instagram, and further your learning in our Food Biz Wiz® Facebook group.

From there, don’t forget: our Fourth Quarter Cohort of Retail Ready® is now enrolling, before we raise prices in January! Click here to watch our free masterclass on growing your food business (even during this holiday season!) and to understand exactly what we cover inside our course, coaching & community - plus how to join our Fourth Quarter cohort!

To kick off season 11 of the Food Biz Wiz® podcast, we’re doing another rapid-fire episode! In this show, we’ll cover:

• 3 things to consider before hiring a PR Strategist
• What to think through when hiring a social media or marketing agency
• What minimum margins you’ll need in your food business
• How to design an introductory promotion for wholesale
• What to do to set up for success in 2022

Tune in to hear quick, off-the-cuff answers to our Food Biz Wiz® listener-submitted questions! Click here for the full show notes, and to join us in our private Facebook group, or to connect with Alli on Instagram.

From there, don’t forget: our Fourth Quarter Cohort of Retail Ready® is now enrolling, before we raise prices in January! Click here for the full course outline and to understand exactly what we cover inside our course, coaching & community - plus how to join our Fourth Quarter cohort!

We all know it’s “important” to be consistent on social media, but how can food & beverage founders prioritize that when you’re so busy running the day-to-day of your business?

In this episode, I’m joined by communications consultant Delaney Vetter, and we discuss:

• Delaney’s best tips for getting off the cycle of overwhelm in content creation, and how you can create a system for executing with ease
• How can brands decide where to focus your energy, and whether or not you should be active on every platform? 
• Whether or not you should outsource your social content and email marketing, and what to think about when you’re ready to bring on a pro

It’s time to take the overwhelm out of digital content creation!

Click here for the full show notes, all of the tools that Delaney recommends, and to keep in touch with her. 

Truth talk: your time is running out to get organized before January, when Buyers start considering new products for their shelves again. You don’t want to wake up on January 1 and start winging your sales strategy: you want to join us inside Retail Ready® and get access to our course, coaching and community that will set you up for success in the new year. Click here to enroll in Retail Ready® directly. No waitlist, no sales calls, no back and forth emails: just straight to our enrollment page. See you inside Retail Ready®!

Today’s show welcomes supply chain and ops expert, Elena Guberman. We’re discussing: 

• Where do you start when you think about supply chain optimization in your emerging business?
• How do you move forward with limited capital?
• Elena’s top 3 tips for creating a strong supply chain

You’ll also hear us rant about the food industry, give our tips for asking for feedback as you grow your brand, and drop a whole bunch of helpful resources for your business. Click here for the full show notes, all of our resources, and to keep in touch with Elena. 

Truth talk: your time is running out to get organized before January, when Buyers start considering new products for their shelves again. You don’t want to wake up on January 1 and start winging your sales strategy: you want to join us inside Retail Ready® and get access to our course, coaching and community that will set you up for success in the new year. Click here to enroll in Retail Ready® directly. No waitlist, no sales calls, no back and forth emails: just straight to our enrollment page. See you inside Retail Ready®!

This is the year for price increases: almost every food, beverage or taxable grocery brand that we’ve encountered this year has been challenged by increased packaging, ingredient, and freight costs. 

In this episode, we’re walking you through executing a price increase that is stress-free, and keeps you in good graces with your wholesale accounts. 

Take a deep breath: you’ve got this.

Click here for the full show notes and your invite to our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group, and to connect with me on Instagram!

Truth talk: your time is running out to get organized before January, when Buyers start considering new products for their shelves again. You don’t want to wake up on January 1 and start winging your sales strategy: you want to join us inside Retail Ready® and get access to our course, coaching and community that will set you up for success in the new year. Click here to enroll in Retail Ready® directly. No waitlist, no sales calls, no back and forth emails: just straight to our enrollment page. See you inside Retail Ready®!

This episode welcomes Lev Berlin, the founder of ReciPal: a simple software for nutritional labels, costing and inventory management. In today’s show, we’ll cover:

• How Lev’s background launching SlantShack jerky lead him to start ReciPal
• The regulations around nutritional facts panels, and whether or not you need them for your packaged product business
• The different methods you can use to source nutrition facts panels for your products
• The risks & responsibilities to consider as you label your packaged product

For the full show notes, including the blog posts and resources that we mention in today’s episode, click here. 

If you’ve found value in the Food Biz Wiz podcast, you’re going to be blown away by Retail Ready, my online course for producers who are looking to increase their sales this year! Jump on our Retail Ready® waitlist to be the first to know when we open enrollment again. Click here to save your spot! 

We all want more time in our days, especially in the food industry, right? In this episode, I’m talking about the difference between working ON vs IN your business, and why it’s so important this time of year.

In today’s episode, we’ll discuss:

• How to know if you’re working ON vs IN your business
• My secret to making time to work ON your business
• Why it’s important to focus on that in the 4th quarter
• How you can do that with me & my team at Food Biz Wiz.

Tune in to get more time back in your day, and work on the RIGHT things in your business in the fourth quarter!

For the full show notes, click here. 

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready, my online course for producers who want to land on more retail shelves, and have high sales once you do. If you listen to this episode and nod along, YOU are the right fit for Retail Ready. Find out all about our program, how we work with brands, and our three step process for growing food businesses by watching this free masterclass. Find a time that works for you, and join us soon!

Today's Food Biz Wiz Podcast guest is Asha Mody, the Founder & Chief Creative Officer and educator at Mindsy Design Studio. Asha joins us with a wealth of knowledge and insider information on what packaging stands out on the shelf and why you need to prioritize this to grow your sales. In today's show, we talk through Asha's five packaging secrets that will help increase your sales!

We’ll cover:

• Telling your brand's story through your packaging.
• How to make sure your packaging is easy to understand. 
• How to make the most of the space you have.
• How to create positive tactile experiences for consumers with the right material.
• How to achieve packaging that is both practical and functional for your product.

All of these steps are essential to achieving the level of success that powerful and effective packaging promises! Click here for the full show notes, a link to a packaging design course with Mindsy Design Studio!

This episode is sponsored by my Retail Roadmap! It's more important than ever to know what it takes to get ON the retail shelf - be it a physical or digital shelf -, and have high sales once you're there. Find my free, nine-step guide to building a brand that flies off the shelf by clicking here. 

This week's show is the final episode of our Fourth Quarter Focus Series!

Today’s episode is about what to do now that we’re officially in the fourth quarter - and where to focus your business-building efforts for the remainder of the year.

I'll outline exactly what you should focus on for the next few months to ensure you're ready when January 1 gets here. 

I'll discuss: 

1. Your Sales Scripts
2. Your Sales Materials
3. Your Sales Strategy

This is the perfect time to make sure you know exactly how to craft a pitch that gets that Buyer to say "Yes!"

Click here for the full show notes and links to the previous episodes in our mini-series.

If you enjoyed this mini-series send me a DM on Instagram @itsalliball! Let me know what you’re excited about for the end of the year. 

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready, my online course for producers who want to land on more retail shelves, and have high sales once you do. If you listen to this episode and nod along, YOU are the right fit for Retail Ready. Find out all about our program, how we work with brands, and our three step process for growing food businesses by watching this free masterclass. Find a time that works for you, and join us soon! 

In the third episode of our Fourth Quarter Focus Series, we're talking about nurturing your existing accounts. During the holiday season, it's crucial to ensure you're getting all of the sales that you can out of the shelves you're already on. In this week's show, I'll discuss:

• The importance of nurturing your relationships to set up for sales success in the fourth quarter. 
• The two audiences you'll focus on and how to nurture them.  
• Why nurturing your accounts is a multipronged strategy. 

Click here for the full show notes and links to the two previous episodes in our mini-series. Are you enjoying this mini-series? I'd love to know your feedback, so send me a DM on Instagram @foodbizwiz, and let me know if you like this style where we take a larger topic and break it down into a series of shorter episodes.

If you’ve found value in the Food Biz Wiz podcast, you’re going to be blown away by Retail Ready, my online course for producers who are looking to increase their sales this year! Learn more about Retail Ready® here!

Are you hoping to land a few more wholesale accounts this year? You can't miss today's episode! 

In episode two of our Fourth Quarter Focus mini-series, we're talking about your last chance pitch. In this week's show, I give you four things to focus on as you craft your last pitches of the year. 

We'll discuss your:

• Product
• Pricing
• Promotion
• Pitch Script

Click here for the full show notes, a link to episode one, and an invite to our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group.

Feeling stuck after listening to this episode? Send me a DM on Instagram @itsalliball and let me know what areas you're stuck in. 

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready, my online course for producers who want to land on more retail shelves, and have high sales once you do. If you listen to this episode and nod along, YOU are the right fit for Retail Ready. Find out all about our program, how we work with brands, and our three step process for growing food businesses by watching this free masterclass. Find a time that works for you, and join us soon!

We are officially kicking off Season 10 of the Food Biz Wiz podcast. To start the 10th season, I am doing a four-part mini-series of things to focus on in the 4th quarter! This week's episode is all about the Wholesale Buyer's Perspective. What are they thinking throughout the fourth quarter, and how should that impact the actions you take as a food business founder?

I'll discuss:

• A breakdown of the Buyer's Perspective from October to December.
• Why Buyers may be ignoring your emails. 
• The importance of understanding the rhythm of retail. 

For the full show notes, click here. If you’ve found value in the Food Biz Wiz podcast, you’re going to be blown away by Retail Ready, my online course for producers who are looking to increase their sales this year! Jump on our Retail Ready® waitlist to be the first to know when we open enrollment again. Click here to save your spot! 

We are ending Season 9 of the Food Biz Wiz podcast with a rapid-fire Q&A!

In today's show, I'm answering your questions on:

• Pitching during the holiday season.
• Connecting with buyers if you didn't go to tradeshows this year.
• Establishing a minimum accepted retail price or MAP.

And more!

Have a question for a future rapid-fire episode? Shoot me a DM on Instagram, and I'll add it to the queue.

For the full show notes and all of the resources mentioned on today's show, click here.

This episode is sponsored by my 100 Wholesale Buyer "No's" Workbook, where I walk you through 100 different ways the Buyer might turn down your product. Using this resource, you can prepare yourself to be READY to respond to these No's and turn them into Yes's! Get the free download by clicking here. 

This week's Food Biz Wiz Podcast guest is Jessica Thomas, the founder and CEO of Curate360. Curate360 fills the gap between Diverse Suppliers that want to get on the shelves and Retailers that support Supplier Diversity. 

In this week's episode, we talk through: 

• What Curate360 does 
• Five things minority-owned businesses should take advantage of to grow and scale
• How we can help diversify the CPG industry
• Some great resources that will help you get your business off the ground!

Click here for the full show notes, all of the resources mentioned on today's show, plus a discount code for a Curate360 membership.

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready, my online course for producers who want to land on more retail shelves, and have high sales once you do. If you listen to this episode and nod along, YOU are the right fit for Retail Ready. Find out all about our program, how we work with brands, and our three step process for growing food businesses by watching this free masterclass. Find a time that works for you, and join us soon! 

Feel like something is missing from your wholesale buyer pitches, and like you can't seal the deal with wholesale accounts? Today's episode is for you!

In this week's Food Biz Wiz podcast, I share the #1 mistake I see food founders make in their wholesale pitches and what to do instead. 

I promise you that if you make this small switch, you'll start getting more calls back and more YES's to carrying your products.

For the full show notes and all of the resources mentioned on today’s show, click here.

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready, my online course for producers who want to land on more retail shelves, and have high sales once you do. If you listen to this episode and nod along, YOU are the right fit for Retail Ready. Find out all about our program, how we work with brands, and our three step process for growing food businesses by watching this free masterclass. Find a time that works for you, and join us soon! 

Today’s Food Biz Wiz guest is Good Food CFO and founder of Sarah Delevan Consulting, Sarah Delevan. Sarah and her team at Sarah Delevan Consulting help good food businesses across the country achieve financial sustainability and profitability.

In this show, we’ll talk through:

• What Profit First is.
• How Sarah became the only Food Business Consultant Certified in Profit First.
• Why Profit First implementation is different for CPG brands

And more! For the full show notes and all of the resources mentioned on today’s show, click here.

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready, my online course for producers who want to land on more retail shelves, and have high sales once you do. If you listen to this episode and nod along, YOU are the right fit for Retail Ready. Find out all about our program, how we work with brands, and our three step process for growing food businesses by watching this free masterclass.

After a long break, trade shows are starting again, and it's time to prepare!

In this episode, I'll talk through: 

• Assessing whether you should display at a show or just walk the floor
• How to make the most out of your time at the show if you DO attend
• How to have someone else cover your tradeshow expenses.

For the full show notes and an invite to our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group, click here.

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready, my online course for producers who want to land on more retail shelves, and have high sales once you do. If you listen to this episode and nod along, YOU are the right fit for Retail Ready. Find out all about our program, how we work with brands, and our three step process for growing food businesses by watching this free masterclass. Find a time that works for you, and join us soon!

If you're sick of getting late payments, today's episode is for you! In today's show, I'm sharing three of my best practices for overdue invoices. You'll learn how to: 

• Keep a credit card on file when you open new direct accounts with wholesale partners. 
• Set up late payment fees. 
• Stop delivering when you have overdue invoices. 

For the full show notes and an invite to our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group, click here.

This episode is supported by Quickbooks, my favorite accounting software for keeping MY data and financials organized! Use my link to save 50% off your first six months when you sign up for a new account. 

Today's Food Biz Wiz guest is Freelance Photographer Gwen Squires! 

Gwen specializes in bringing the creations of CPG and specialty packaged food producers to life through custom visual content for brands both big and small. 

In today's show, we talk about creating your visual content for the fourth quarter. That's right: even though it's July, we're thinking ahead to the holiday season and talking through the steps that you need to take NOW to set yourself up for seasonal success later this year. 

To keep in touch with Gwen, check out her portfolio, the resources she mentioned, and see the full show notes, click here. 

If you’ve found value in the Food Biz Wiz podcast, you’re going to be blown away by Retail Ready, my online course for producers who are looking to increase their sales this year! Jump on our Retail Ready® waitlist to be the first to know when we open enrollment again. Click here to save your spot! 

Feedback is essential, especially when you're growing a new packaged product line. But, how do you make sure you're getting accurate feedback from the right people? 

In today's show, I'm discussing the right and wrong way to get feedback for your packaged product line and the most important thing to avoid when asking your audience for their advice! 

For the full show notes and an invite to our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group, click here.

This episode is sponsored by my 100 Wholesale Buyer "No's" Workbook, where I walk you through 100 different ways the Buyer might turn down your product. Using this resource, you can prepare yourself to be READY to respond to these No's and turn them into Yes's! Get the free download by clicking here. 

Today’s Food Biz Wiz guest is Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant Jennifer Yepez-Blundell from Hella Social Impact.

In this show, we’ll cover:

• Why should CPG brands care about DEI? 
• Do consumers care about DEI? 
• How working on DEI impacts your sales and customer base.
• Information on the upcoming The Hella Impact Cohort for CPG brands, and how you can use their “Notice, Name, Dismantle” framework to create a strategy around being a more inclusive, just CPG business.

To keep in touch with Jennifer, find out more about Hella Social Impact and their upcoming Hella Impact Cohort, and see the full show notes, click here. 

This episode is sponsored by my Retail Roadmap! It’s more important than ever to know what it takes to get ON the retail shelf - be it a physical or digital shelf -, and have high sales once you’re there. Find my free, nine-step guide to building a brand that flies off the shelf by clicking here. 

If you feel overwhelmed by digital marketing, this episode is for you. In today’s show,  Karin Samelson & Alison Smith of Umai Marketing outline their CORE 3: their 3 step system to digital growth. We discuss:

• Organic Social Media
• Paid Advertising
• Email Marketing

PLUS their tricks to avoiding overwhelm and FOMO as you watch other food & beverage brands growing rapidly online. You’ll learn their best strategies for what’s working right now, and how you can implement simple, effective digital marketing practices that get a positive return on investment. 

For the full show notes, links to Umai’s in-depth training, contact info for Alison and Karin, and more, click here. 

For the 100th episode of the Food Biz Wiz podcast, I’m outlining one hundred wholesale buyer’s possible “No's” and teaching you how to turn them into “Heck Yes’s!” instead! This show will help you land on more shelves, and craft a pitch that gets those first orders from your dream accounts.

In today’s show, I’ll talk through:

• Why a Buyer says No
• What to think through when you hear any Buyer’s objection
• How to respond and change the conversation

As a bonus for today’s show, I’ve created a freebie workbook outlining those 100 Buyer No’s, which will walk you through preparing for any possible objection, and guide you in crafting that rebuttal. Find the free download and the full show notes by clicking here. 

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready, my online course for producers who want to land on more retail shelves, and have high sales once you do. If you listen to this episode and nod along, YOU are the right fit for Retail Ready. Find out all about our program, how we work with brands, and our three step process for growing food businesses by watching this free masterclass. Find a time that works for you, and join us soon! 

We’re back with another rapid-fire Q&A episode as we wrap up season eight of the Food Biz Wiz podcast! In today’s show, I’m answering:

• If I missed the retailer's category review schedule, do I really have to wait until next year?
• How can I stop comparing myself to other food founders I see on social media?
• Should I lower my price if my product isn’t selling well?
• How soon should I email the buyer back after I drop off samples if I haven't heard anything?
• How do I gain confidence in pitching?
• If my product isn't selling in a particular store, what should I do?
• What should my minimum order quantity be?

For the full show notes and all of the resources mentioned on today’s show, click here.

Thank you to the Good Food Foundation for sponsoring this episode. The GFF is an organization that I have known, worked with, and respected for a decade, and I can’t wait for my listeners to get to know them as well! Don’t forget to use promo code FOODBIZWIZ for 10% off your first entry this year. Good luck!

How do you charge premium prices for your products, attract a loyal group of repeat customers, and build a business that fits into YOUR lifestyle? Chef Evelyn Williams has the answers for you on today’s show.

Chef Evelyn is a Culinary Brand Strategist who helps her clients build solid foundations that develop profitable and sustainable culinary businesses, and generate multiple streams of income to scale and expand their culinary business empires. She’s got a ton to share with us around building a high-end brand, so tune in!

For the full show notes, access to the spice brand that we reference in the show today, and to keep in touch with Evelyn, click here. 

Thank you to the Good Food Foundation for sponsoring this episode. The GFF is an organization that I have known, worked with, and respected for a decade, and I can’t wait for my listeners to get to know them as well! Don’t forget to use promo code FOODBIZWIZ for 10% off your first entry this year. Good luck!

You’ve won a prestigious food industry award, or gotten a fantastic press mention for your food or beverage brand, but now what? 

Time and time again, I see producers fail to use that recognition to fully support their retail accounts, boost sales, land new placements, or procure additional press. This episode will change that! 

In today’s show, I’m sharing my best advice on what to do with industry praise - be it an award, a press mention, or some other celebratory event - and how to use it to drive sales. Tune in! Find the full show notes, the links to the past episodes that I mention on today’s show, and that discount for entering the Good Food Awards by clicking here. 

Thank you to the Good Food Foundation for sponsoring this episode. The GFF is an organization that I have known, worked with, and respected for a decade, and I can’t wait for my listeners to get to know them as well! Don’t forget to use promo code FOODBIZWIZ for 10% off your first entry this year. Good luck!

Join me in conversation with Sarah Weiner, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Good Food Foundation, as we talk about the history of The Good Food Awards, the changes that they’ve made in the past year, and the impact that this non-profit has on the food industry.

We also discuss who is eligible to enter, what winning an award has done for past recipients, and how to know if you’re right for one of their 18 categories. The entry period for the Good Food Awards is now open, from June 1 - June 30, 2021, so get to it!

Click here for the link to enter the Good Food Awards and for our full show notes. Don’t forget to use promo code FOODBIZWIZ for 10% off your first entry this year. Good luck!

Finally: we hope to see you in Brand Camp, our free 5-day online workshop for emerging food & beverage brands, running June 6 - June 11th. Come save your spot and you’ll be on your way to increasing your sales next week! Join us at www.takebrandcamp.com

Thank you to the Good Food Foundation for sponsoring this episode. The GFF is an organization that I have known, worked with, and respected for a decade, and I can’t wait for my listeners to get to know them as well! 

Did you miss Expo West’s Natural Products Business School this year? Don’t worry! In this episode, I’m summarizing the three themes that came up again and again throughout the 48 hours of educational conferencing, and how YOU can use those lessons to drive your food or beverage business this year. 

For the full show notes, links to the Natural Products Business School video replay, the contact information of the speakers referenced in this episode, and more click here.

In this 10-minute episode, I’ll share my BEST tip on tweaking your sales emails so that Wholesale Buyers ACTUALLY respond. Tune in to hear how changing only one sentence in your retail pitch can make or break your new account.

Once you tune in, claim your official seat in Brand Camp, our free, five-day online workshop for emerging brands who want to increase their retail success. Through a 10-minute daily prompt, you’ll get clear on what YOU need to do next to grow your packaged product business. Sign up for free at www.takebrandcamp.com! 

For the full show notes & to find me on Facebook and Instagram, click here.

Get ready for an episode all about food safety and regulatory compliance. While the topic might sound overwhelming, this episode is anything but!

Today’s show is with Valerie Madamba, a former food regulatory lawyer, FDA employee, and current Regulatory Principal at Foodwit, a consulting firm that provides regulatory and food safety managed services to food brands.

In our episode, we’ll talk through the basics of compliance, what to focus on when you first start out, who is responsible when issues arise, the risks of NOT complying, and some things to think through as you navigate the world of functional foods vs. supplements. Tune in!

For the full show notes, click here. 

Join me in conversation with Charlie Berkinshaw, the VP of Product & Student Success here at Food Biz Wiz, and the founder of Element Shrub. Wait, what?

I’ve been keeping Charlie from my Food Biz Wiz audience for too long, and that changes with today’s episode! In today’s show, you’ll learn more about Charlie’s “Producer Perspective,” of growing his own ready-to-drink and concentrated beverage line, joining the team here at Food Biz Wiz, and his work consulting hundreds of emerging food & beverage brands. 

He’s sharing the top three mistakes that he sees founders make (and mistakes he made in growing his own business!) and what to do instead. This short, digestible episode will save you time, money, and mental anguish as you grow your own packaged product line. Tune in! 

For the full show notes and to keep in touch with Charlie, click here. 

This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready, my online course for producers who want to land on more retail shelves, and have high sales once you do. If you listen to this episode and nod along, YOU are the right fit for Retail Ready. Find out all about our program, how we work with brands, and our three step process for growing food businesses by watching this free masterclass. Find a time that works for you, and join us soon!

In today’s show, I’m joined by Product Developer and upcycled foods-advocate, Phil Saneski, as we discuss Developing craveable products that build consumer loyalty and increase same-store sales. In this episode, we’ll cover:

• Product development with an eye towards clean-label formulations or using upcycled ingredients
• The difference between protocept & prototype R&D, and which you should focus on
• How to ensure your product will actually sell OFF the shelf once formulated
• How consumer perspectives have shifted around upcycled products over the past two years 
• Whether to keep production in-house or use a co-packer

This conversation is FILLED with juicy insights from one of my favorite Product Developers, so tune in!

Click here for the full show notes and to keep in touch with Phil.  Finally, if this episode resonated with you, don’t forget to grab my retail roadmap, which outlines my nine steps to growing a brand that FLIES off the retail shelf. Click here to download it! 

Taking the leap and deciding to launch your business is scary - just ask serial entrepreneur Noah Alper, who has done it six times, including two mega-successful ventures: the West Coast Noah's New York Bagels chain and Bread & Circus, once the Northeast’s largest natural foods chain and now part of Whole Foods Market. Six and a half years after founding Noah’s New York Bagels, he sold the business for $100 million.

Join me in conversation with Noah, as we talk through his past 50 years in the food industry and learn from his successes & mistakes. In this show, we’ll discuss:

• Noah’s path of launching, growing and selling food & food-related businesses for the past five decades
• The three things that Noah did NOT have in place when his business flopped in the 1980’s (you MUST focus on these in order to succeed!)
• Why Noah turned down the first opportunity to sell Noah’s New York Bagels, only to turn around and sell it for $100M one year later

For the full show notes and to keep in touch with Noah, click here. 

Retail Ready® students: here’s your exclusive invite to join Noah and me on May 19, 2021 for our monthly Industry Expert call! Note your questions for Noah as you listen in, and make sure to tune in live in May. More details to follow directly in our Retail Ready® student communications.

If you’re ready to invest in your business, you’ve got to check out Retail Ready®, my online course for producers who are looking to increase their sales this year! Jump on our Retail Ready® waitlist to be the first to know when we open enrollment again. Click here to save your spot!

On today’s show, I’m joined by Bri Leever of Ember Consulting for a conversation around turning your customers into advocates for your brand. Bri & the team at Ember work with brands who have strong social or sustainable missions, helping to design programs to activate your superfans to take action with you to achieve your business goals. 

Tune in to learn Bri’s methods for getting your fans & followers on board with YOUR company values, all with the goal of making more sales.

For the full show notes and to keep in touch with Bri, click here.

This episode is sponsored by my Retail Roadmap! It’s more important than ever to know what it takes to get ON the retail shelf - be it a physical or digital shelf -, and have high sales once you’re there. Find my free, nine-step guide to building a brand that flies off the shelf by clicking here. 

Spoiler alert: NOW is the time to pursue foodservice accounts as we start to see hope for the future and restaurants, bars, and venues put plans in place to reopen. 

In today’s show, we’ll cover:

• What defines the foodservice channel
• The pros and cons of selling in foodservice
• Why NOW is the right time to pitch to foodservice accounts

For the full show notes and an invite to our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group, click here.

If you’ve found value in the Food Biz Wiz podcast, you’re going to be blown away by Retail Ready, my online course for producers who are looking to increase their sales this year! Jump on our Retail Ready® waitlist to be the first to know when we open enrollment again. Click here to save your spot!

We’re kicking off season eight of the Food Biz Wiz podcast with another rapid-fire Q&A episode! Before we dive in, can I ask you a favor in celebration of the eighth season? My BIG goal is to get to 10,000 downloads/month, and YOU can help me by screenshotting (or snapping a selfie!) as you listen in. Please share & tag me on Instagram at @foodbizwiz. I’d love to give you a follow right back. Thank you for helping to promote and grow this podcast!

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• How to service an account after they’ve placed the first order
• The best time of year to reach out to new accounts
• How to get the Buyer to remerchandise your product on-shelf
• What mistake I want every foodpreneur to stop making
• The lessons I’ve learned from the past 87 episodes of Food Biz Wiz
• Where to source merchandising props like clipstrips & sign holders
• Which channel will be the most successful in 2021

For the full show notes and additional resources that I mention on this episode, click here. 

From here, watch my free masterclass on my three steps to growing a packaged food business! I present the other most common errors that I see founders make as they grow, and outline immediate action steps to take instead. Click here to find a time that works for you to watch.

This past year was TOUGH, but I’m so proud of the way my Retail Ready students handled the ups and downs with their food & beverage businesses. In today’s show, I’m sharing four lessons that my community learned over the past year, and how you can learn from their successes (and mistakes!) to position yourself for stability and success as we move forward.

I’ll address channel strategy, founder mindset, using data to make decisions, connecting with your community, identifying your values, and more. Tune in, and click here for the full show notes.

This episode is sponsored by my Retail Roadmap! It’s more important than ever to know what it takes to get ON the retail shelf - be it a physical or digital shelf -, and have high sales once you’re there. Find my free, nine-step guide to building a brand that flies off the shelf by clicking here. 

The Specialty Food Industry went on a wild ride in 2020, growing over 40% in Q1 2020 alone! In today’s episode, I’m joined by data analyst & consultant David Browne, as he shares his research on what happened in the past twelve months of the pandemic, how the Specialty Food segment grew, and what habits will stick as we move forward in 2021 and 2022.

Tune in to today’s show to learn how this data can help you make business decisions for your food or beverage brand, and how David uses this information to strategically guide brands through unprecedented periods.

For the full show notes, to keep in touch with David, and to join our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group, click here. 

This episode was supported by Canva, my favorite, EASY design tool for creating branded images, graphics, and GIFs that will make your social media stories & feeds look SUPER PRO. If you’re looking for easy-to-use online software, you’ll want to check Canva out. You’ll be hooked! 

In today’s episode, I’m celebrating ECRM’s milestone of hosting over 100,000 Virtual Buyer/Seller meetings since the launch of ECRM Connect in May, 2020. That’s right: they’ve facilitated over 10,000 virtual meetings every month since they launched their virtual platform!

Today I’m joined by Joe Tarnowski, the VP of Content at ECRM, and a legend in the CPG industry. We’re discussing the lessons he has learned about virtual pitching over the past year, how ECRM Connect can help you get in front of your dream retail buyers, what to expect as you pitch, follow up, and ship samples, and how the future of virtual pitches will evolve post-pandemic. 

We drop a LOT of info in today’s show, so click through to get access to all of the resources that we mention in today’s episode. Click here for the full show notes. 

If YOU enjoyed today’s episode and want the experience of getting direct feedback before YOUR next pitch, make sure you check out my free masterclass on my “Three Steps to Growing Your Packaged Food Business.” In this masterclass, you’ll learn:

• The most common mistakes that I see as producers try to grow your food businesses, causing you to waste time, money, and sanity! 

• My three step process for building a brand that SELLS

• How I work with students inside Retail Ready®, my online course, and how to know if you’re ready for wholesale growth through my program.

Click here to save your spot in my masterclass!

Join me in conversation with Jordan Buckner, the founder of Foodbevy.com, an online resource for emerging food & beverage brands, and the cofounder of TeaSquares, a line of superfood energy bars designed to help people stay focused and alert so they can achieve their passions. 

In today’s show, Jordan talks about his experience being a Black male in the food industry, and how he’s building upon his experience to create opportunities for BIPOC and women CPG founders through his work at Foodbevy. BIPOC and women founders are less likely to receive investment, be taken seriously at the table (or get invited to the table in the first place!), and receive connections that come more easily to white and male founders, and Jordan is on a mission to change that. 

While it may seem that Jordan and I are competing in the same space with Foodbevy and Retail Ready, as we both assist emerging brands, we believe in collaboration over competition. We have dozens of brands who choose to invest in both Foodbevy and Retail Ready, recognizing that our services complement one another. Together, we help you be more prepared in your challenging founder journey.

Tune in today to hear more about the typical barriers that founders have to overcome as you launch & grow your brand, and the resources that can support you along the way.

Click here for the full show notes and to stay in touch with Jordan.

This episode is sponsored by my Retail Roadmap! It’s more important than ever to know what it takes to get ON the retail shelf - be it a physical or digital shelf -, and have high sales once you’re there. Find my free, nine-step guide to building a brand that flies off the shelf by clicking here. 

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of emceeing the Naturally Bay Area’s 3rd Annual Pitch Slam, where seven emerging food & beverage brands pitched on stage for a prize package of over 30k. In today’s episode I’m sharing some of the most impactful things these entrepreneurs did on stage, and some of the questions that our judges asked them as they evaluated the founders’ pitches. 

I’ve seen hundreds of pitch slam, wholesale and investor pitches over the past seven years of my consulting business, and founders often seem to stumble on the same things, or forget to include key data or concepts in their pitches. 

This episode will share important information to include in your pitch, and the judges or investor questions that I hear over and over again. By having this information, you can craft a pitch that resonates with your audience, and lands you the financials that you’re asking for.

Click here for the full show notes, including links to the additional resources that I mention in today’s episode. 

If you’ve found value in the Food Biz Wiz podcast, you’re going to be blown away by Retail Ready, my online course for producers who are looking to increase their sales this year! Jump on our Retail Ready® waitlist to be the first to know when we open enrollment again. Click here to save your spot!

Food & Beverage Founders… listen up: not all of your products need to make a great margin, or be your top sellers, or keep your purchasers coming back for more.

Join me in conversation with Ellen Rawley as we discuss the eight roles that your individual skus can take on, and how they each work together to create a roadmap towards profitability for your packaged food, beverage, or natural products brand. 

Don’t worry: we don’t just tell you to discontinue your favorite seasonal product, even if it’s got really poor margins.For the full show notes, more information on the Value Added Producer Grant that we discuss in today’s show, and to keep in touch with Ellen, click here.

The food & beverage founders who have the most success are the ones who work on the right things, at the right time, in their businesses. 

If you’re an entrepreneur, you likely have a million great ideas. The key is figuring out which ones will actually move the needle in your business, and get laser focused on executing those things. But how do you determine which ideas are the ones that will actually make an impact on your biz?

Enter: The Ideas Filter™. The Ideas Filter™ is a simple document and process that we use internally at Food Biz Wiz, helping us prioritize the right things in our company, and I’m sharing this exact process with our listeners today.

By implementing The Ideas Filter™, you’ll save time, money, and sanity as you grow your packaged food or beverage business.

Click here for the full show notes and to see my example Ideas Filter spreadsheet.

This episode is sponsored by the Food Biz Wiz® physical planner. This quarterly planner can be started on ANY Monday of the year, and is perfect for helping you stay on track and organized, despites life’s unexpected curveballs. Click here for more information, and to have your most focused 90 days this year!

I believe that we have a responsibility, as better-for-you brands, to speak for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in our industry. Join me in conversation with Sheryl O’Loughlin of the JEDI (justice, equity, diversity and inclusion) Collaborative today, as she teaches my listeners how to begin, sustain, and regenerate a JEDI journey for your company, the food industry and the food system.

Food & Beverage founders constantly ask me how to navigate current events, politics, and topics around systemic racism & white supremacy with their brands. Questions around knowing what to say, when to say it, and how to speak up are common, and it can be daunting to take a stand as a brand, knowing that it might alienate some customers and have a negative impact on your sales.

If you’ve struggled with how to start this important work, tune into today’s episode. From there, find the full show notes, Sheryl’s contact information, and the JEDI Collaborative’s website linked right here.

This episode is sponsored by my Retail Roadmap! It’s more important than ever to know what it takes to get ON the retail shelf - be it a physical or digital shelf -, and have high sales once you’re there. Find my free, nine-step guide to building a brand that flies off the shelf by clicking here. 

As you head into 2021 with your food business, you likely have set new goals, articulated new accounts to pitch to, and thought through how you might shift your strategy this year. GREAT. Now, let’s make sure you’re avoiding the most common mistakes that I see food & bev founders make as they grow their brands.

In today’s show, I’m sharing three operations mistakes that growing brands make, and three personal mistakes that founders make as you’re in hustle mode. 

Tune in to this episode to ensure you’re not wasting your time, money, or sanity in 2021.

For the full show notes, click here. 

From here, watch my free masterclass on my three steps to growing a packaged food business! I present the other most common errors that I see founders make as they grow, and outline immediate action steps to take instead. Click here to find a time that works for you to watch.

Captivating product photography is key to selling your food or beverage products online, creating engaging sell sheets, having a professional website, and more - but it can be expensive, time consuming, and frustrating if you’re not a photographer! Join me in conversation with professional photographer and the creator of the Flat Lay Play online course, Kimberly Murray, as she educates us on how to successfully create your product shots. In this show, we’ll cover:

• How to prepare for your photoshoots
• When to DIY your photography, and when to hire a professional
• What 3 key pieces of equipment to use when you decide to DIY
• How to make your images stand out online

For the full show notes, including Kimberly’s Flat Lay checklist and contact information, click here.

After working with over 500 food & beverage brands in Retail Ready®, I’ve seen many brands succeed, and others struggle to grow and sustain their business. What’s the secret to success? 

In today’s episode, I’m joined by fellow food industry consultants Sarah Delevan of The Good Food CFO and Katie Mleziva of Real Food Brands as we talk through the three pillars of a successful food business. In this show, we’ll discuss how the most stable brands focus on brand strategy, financial strategy, and sales strategy - at the same time - to build a foundationally strong packaged food or beverage brand.

For the full show notes, including information on how to enter our giveaway, and how to keep in touch with Sarah and Katie, click here. 

Being a food or beverage founder is HARD. You’re constantly “on,” solving problems in your business, and navigating the ups and downs of our industry. Far too often, founders burn out, lose your passion, and decide that it’s too much. 

In today’s episode, I’m speaking with Leeann Rybakov, the founder of BuckWHAT Foods and a trained Health Coach, about her challenges with balancing her own physical and mental health as she grew her snack food business into Whole Foods and over 100 natural foods markets. 

Join us as we talk about balancing the stress of being a founder with your passion to grow your business, how to prioritize and focus to avoid burnout, learning how to ask for help, and deciding when to walk away. 

For the full show notes and to get in touch with Leeann, click here.

I see Food & Beverage founders make the same foundational mistakes over and over again, and it’s time to avoid that in 2021! In today’s show, I’m going to make sure that you’ve got four things nailed down so you can get out there, land on more shelves, and make more sales.

The four things are:

• Identifying your target audience
• Knowing your competition
• Figuring out your sales strategy
• Fine-tuning your pitch

While most seasoned founders feel like they’ve done this work before, I’ve never met one who couldn’t benefit from revisiting these foundations. Tune in to ensure that you’re setting yourself up for success in 2021. 

Once you listen, register for Brand Camp below or through the full show notes, linked here. 

Don’t miss your opportunity: we kick off 2021 with Brand Camp, my free five-day challenge for food & beverage founders who are looking to increase their sales this year. In only 10 minutes per day we’ll cover topics like ecommerce, virtual buyer pitches, succeeding on the shelf, and more! Join us for free by clicking here and I’ll see you in camp!

As a busy foodpreneur, you likely have lots of goals and ideas on how to achieve them. The challenge is figuring out how to prioritize the actions that will get you closer to hitting those goals each time, and figuring out what to focus on, and when, in your business.

In today’s episode, I share my process for reverse engineering my goals so that I hit them - or at least, come close! - every time.

To help you outline your goals and your path forward, download my free, editable workbook to accompany today’s show. It will walk you through this process, ensuring that you know how to make moves forward in your food or beverage business. 

Find the free workbook and all of the show notes by clicking here.

Co-packer horror stories: we’ve all heard them! Finding the right co-packer for your food or beverage brand can be daunting, confusing, and downright scary (not to mention expensive!). 

Join me in conversation with Ashley Sutterfield, the CEO of Metzger & Roth, a consultant who helps CPG navigate the daunting world of co-packers. In today’s show, we’ll cover how to prepare for working with copackers, how to find the right partner for your brand, what happens as you narrow down your search and start into your first trial runs with your new partner, and a whole lot more.

Find the full show notes, all of the resources that we mentioned on the show, and Ashley’s contact information by clicking here. 

This episode is sponsored by WeStock, a platform that we love and recommend to our clients. WeStock modernizes the customer request process, allowing your raving fans to help you get on the retail shelf, and for you to capture their interest to build a wholesale pitch that WORKS. Find out more about WeStock by clicking here, and use code FOODBIZWIZ to save $100 off your subscription.

Join Retail Ready® student Akua Kyerematen Nettey, the founder of Berry Bissap, for live, on-air wholesale coaching for her ready-to-drink refrigerated beverage line.

In today’s show, we discuss expanding cross-country, switching from a refrigerated product to a shelf-stable line (and the pros and cons of each!), and when to roll out new flavors for her brand. To find the full show notes & connect with Berry Bissap, click here. 

To hear more about the most common mistakes I see brands make (and how to avoid them!) plus learn the exact outline on how I work with brands in Retail Ready®, my online course for producers looking to increase their wholesale accounts, click here. You’ll get a free workbook to take notes, lots of tangible next steps for your brand, and an opportunity to learn more about working together. See you there!

How should you market your food or beverage brand to vegans? Today’s episode addresses this straightforward, yet nuanced topic with my guest, Lindsay O’Donnell of Piquant Marketing (a proud vegan herself!).

In this show, we cover:

• The importance of knowing the difference between vegans, vegetarians, plant-based eaters, flexitarians and all the other ways of eating, plus how it impacts your brand’s messaging
• The difference between vegan brands, vegan products, and products that are suitable for vegans to consume, and how to determine which you should position yourself as
• The surprising stat around lab-based meat, and what to know about the future of food
• Lindsay’s mistakes to avoid when marketing to vegans, and what to do instead to win hearts and capture sales
• How to address criticism, negative reviews, or - even worse - protests from the vegan community as your brand grows

Find the full show notes and keep in touch with Linsday & Piquant Marketing by clicking right here.

This episode is sponsored by WeStock, a platform that we love and recommend to our clients. WeStock modernizes the customer request process, allowing your raving fans to help you get on the retail shelf, and for you to capture their interest to build a wholesale pitch that WORKS. Find out more about WeStock by clicking here, and use code FOODBIZWIZ to save $100 off your subscription.

Business lessons are always clearer in hindsight, right? In today’s show, I’m outlining three things that I’m grateful for that I’ve done in my own business (because they’ve WORKED!), and am inviting you to share my secrets and apply them to your food or beverage business.

This episode covers the power of community, investing in your success, and setting a theme for your work. Let’s get right to it! Find the full show notes by clicking right here, and find the Retail Ready course outline linked right here! 

This episode is sponsored by WeStock, a platform that we love and recommend to our clients. WeStock modernizes the customer request process, allowing your raving fans to help you get on the retail shelf, and for you to capture their interest to build a wholesale pitch that WORKS. Find out more about WeStock by clicking here, and use code FOODBIZWIZ to save $100 off your subscription. 

You’ve launched your food or beverage brand, had good sales, and are now wondering… what’s next? Join one of my favorite consultants in CPG, Kevin Ryan, the founder of Malachite Strategy and Research, as he shares his best advice for creating a pipeline of innovation for your brand. On today’s show, we cover:

• The most common mistakes brands make as they try to create a portfolio of products for their food or beverage company
• The type of investment you’ll need for consumer research and R&D around product development as you grow your CPG business
• The number one thing that Kevin sees startups do wrong when it comes to innovation
• How to balance which products & categories you launch, and when, in your business growth

For the full show notes and to keep in touch with Kevin, click here. 

From here, watch my free masterclass on my three steps to growing a packaged food business! I present the other most common errors that I see founders make as they grow, and outline immediate action steps to take instead. Click here to find a time that works for you to watch.