Food Biz Wiz

Psst, before we tell you about the episode: Food Biz Wiz is hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, June 3rd - Friday, June 7th! Wholesale Week is our 5-day FREE online workshop for food, bev, and taxable grocery brands that want a solid starting point for a smart retail strategy. With 10 minute, bite-sized lessons, it’s easy to participate. Register at the link here! Now, back to this episode! 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 retailWhat 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!

Psst, before we tell you about the episode: Food Biz Wiz is hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, June 3rd - Friday, June 7th! Wholesale Week is our 5-day FREE online workshop for food, bev, and taxable grocery brands that want a solid starting point for a smart retail strategy. With 10 minute, bite-sized lessons, it’s easy to participate. Register at the link here! Now, back to this episode! 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 successWhy not to rely on that paid list of buyer contactsAnd 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!

Psst, before we tell you about the episode: Food Biz Wiz is hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, June 3rd - Friday, June 7th! Wholesale Week is our 5-day FREE online workshop for food, bev, and taxable grocery brands that want a solid starting point for a smart retail strategy. With 10 minute, bite-sized lessons, it’s easy to participate. Register at the link here! Now, back to this episode! 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 growthAnd 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!

Psst, before we tell you about the episode: Food Biz Wiz is hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, June 3rd - Friday, June 7th! Wholesale Week is our 5-day FREE online workshop for food, bev, and taxable grocery brands that want a solid starting point for a smart retail strategy. With 10 minute, bite-sized lessons, it’s easy to participate. Register at the link here! Now, back to this episode! 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 costlyWhat you can do to avoid running into unexpected costs when you don’t account for your laborAnd 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!

Psst, before we tell you about the episode: Food Biz Wiz is hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, June 3rd - Friday, June 7th! Wholesale Week is our 5-day FREE online workshop for food, bev, and taxable grocery brands that want a solid starting point for a smart retail strategy. With 10 minute, bite-sized lessons, it’s easy to participate. Register at the link here! Now, back to this episode! 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 problemHow critical it is to know all of your product marginsWhat you can do to take a holistic approach to your cash flow and marginReframing 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!

Psst, before we tell you about the episode: Food Biz Wiz is hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, June 3rd - Friday, June 7th! Wholesale Week is our 5-day FREE online workshop for food, bev, and taxable grocery brands that want a solid starting point for a smart retail strategy. With 10 minute, bite-sized lessons, it’s easy to participate. Register at the link here! Now, back to this episode! 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 salesOne of the missed opportunities for increased sales that you can capturePlus 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!

Psst, before we tell you about the episode: Food Biz Wiz is hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, June 3rd - Friday, June 7th! Wholesale Week is our 5-day FREE online workshop for food, bev, and taxable grocery brands that want a solid starting point for a smart retail strategy. With 10 minute, bite-sized lessons, it’s easy to participate. Register at the link here! Now, back to this episode! 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 underperformanceHow staying proactive in your retailer communication can support your SKU successWhat 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!

Psst, before we tell you about the episode: Food Biz Wiz is hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, June 3rd - Friday, June 7th! Wholesale Week is our 5-day FREE online workshop for food, bev, and taxable grocery brands that want a solid starting point for a smart retail strategy. With 10 minute, bite-sized lessons, it’s easy to participate. Register at the link here! Now, back to this episode! 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-alignedWhat BUYERS do to prepare for trade showsWhy knowing your end customer and store audience is criticalWhat 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!

Psst, before we tell you about the episode: Food Biz Wiz is hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, June 3rd - Friday, June 7th! Wholesale Week is our 5-day FREE online workshop for food, bev, and taxable grocery brands that want a solid starting point for a smart retail strategy. With 10 minute, bite-sized lessons, it’s easy to participate. Register at the link here! Now, back to this episode! 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 namesWhy it's not too late to re-brand and re-name your biz!How you can even use this process for product or line namesAnd 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!

Psst, before we tell you about the episode: Food Biz Wiz is hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, June 3rd - Friday, June 7th! Wholesale Week is our 5-day FREE online workshop for food, bev, and taxable grocery brands that want a solid starting point for a smart retail strategy. With 10 minute, bite-sized lessons, it’s easy to participate. Register at the link here! Now, back to this episode! 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 businessWhat the costs of taking VC from investors who aren’t aligned could beWhy it’s worth exploring all your options and pivoting when necessaryAnd 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!

Psst, before we tell you about the episode: Food Biz Wiz is hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, June 3rd - Friday, June 7th! Wholesale Week is our 5-day FREE online workshop for food, bev, and taxable grocery brands that want a solid starting point for a smart retail strategy. With 10 minute, bite-sized lessons, it’s easy to participate. Register at the link here! Now, back to this episode! 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 categoryWhat 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!

Psst, before we tell you about the episode: Food Biz Wiz is hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, June 3rd - Friday, June 7th! Wholesale Week is our 5-day FREE online workshop for food, bev, and taxable grocery brands that want a solid starting point for a smart retail strategy. With 10 minute, bite-sized lessons, it’s easy to participate. Register at the link here! Now, back to this episode! 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 themKnowing what the signs of burnout from hustle culture are and when you should pauseUsing your data to guide what to focus on next and what to cut outAnd 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!

Psst, before we tell you about the episode: Food Biz Wiz is hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, June 3rd - Friday, June 7th! Wholesale Week is our 5-day FREE online workshop for food, bev, and taxable grocery brands that want a solid starting point for a smart retail strategy. With 10 minute, bite-sized lessons, it’s easy to participate. Register at the link here! Now, back to this episode! 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 strategyHow staying rooted in your original “why” supports your authenticityThe importance of finding the right partners at the right timeAnd 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!

Psst, before we tell you about the episode: Food Biz Wiz is hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, June 3rd - Friday, June 7th! Wholesale Week is our 5-day FREE online workshop for food, bev, and taxable grocery brands that want a solid starting point for a smart retail strategy. With 10 minute, bite-sized lessons, it’s easy to participate. Register at the link here! Now, back to this episode! 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 makingThree words you need to hear to grow YOUR comfort zoneThe importance of doing self-healing work to root into your values more clearlyAnd 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!

Psst, before we tell you about the episode: Food Biz Wiz is hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, June 3rd - Friday, June 7th! Wholesale Week is our 5-day FREE online workshop for food, bev, and taxable grocery brands that want a solid starting point for a smart retail strategy. With 10 minute, bite-sized lessons, it’s easy to participate. Register at the link here! Now, back to this episode! 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 eventsHow knowing and sharing your goals with others helps your brandAnd 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!

Psst, before we tell you about the episode: Food Biz Wiz is hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, June 3rd - Friday, June 7th! Wholesale Week is our 5-day FREE online workshop for food, bev, and taxable grocery brands that want a solid starting point for a smart retail strategy. With 10 minute, bite-sized lessons, it’s easy to participate. Register at the link here! Now, back to this episode! 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 D2CWhat values A Dozen Cousins stands for and how they weave them into their workTheir 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.

Psst, before we tell you about the episode: Food Biz Wiz is hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, June 3rd - Friday, June 7th! Wholesale Week is our 5-day FREE online workshop for food, bev, and taxable grocery brands that want a solid starting point for a smart retail strategy. With 10 minute, bite-sized lessons, it’s easy to participate. Register at the link here! Now, back to this episode! 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 brandThe importance of using data to know your consumersHow using data to inform your decisions makes your work more efficientWhat authentic branding can do to reach the right audiencesAnd 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!

Psst, before we tell you about the episode: Food Biz Wiz is hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, June 3rd - Friday, June 7th! Wholesale Week is our 5-day FREE online workshop for food, bev, and taxable grocery brands that want a solid starting point for a smart retail strategy. With 10 minute, bite-sized lessons, it’s easy to participate. Register at the link here! Now, back to this episode! 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 inclusivityHow Jedi Collaborative's work can support YOUR brand’s particular JEDI journeyAnd 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!

Psst, before we tell you about the episode: Food Biz Wiz is hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, June 3rd - Friday, June 7th! Wholesale Week is our 5-day FREE online workshop for food, bev, and taxable grocery brands that want a solid starting point for a smart retail strategy. With 10 minute, bite-sized lessons, it’s easy to participate. Register at the link here! Now, back to this episode! 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 forwardWhy looking back at our original “why” can inform our futureHow 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!

Psst, before we tell you about the episode: Food Biz Wiz is hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, June 3rd - Friday, June 7th! Wholesale Week is our 5-day FREE online workshop for food, bev, and taxable grocery brands that want a solid starting point for a smart retail strategy. With 10 minute, bite-sized lessons, it’s easy to participate. Register at the link here! Now, back to this episode! 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 eventsCommon traits of the most successful buyer pitches and what NOT to doThe 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!