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 underperforma ..read more

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 va ..read more

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 l ..read more

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: T ..read more

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 ..read more

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-neg ..read more

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 importa ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ..read more

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 inc ..read more