When it comes to creating amazing CPG products, one often overlooked aspect is the difficulty of actually sourcing the necessary ingredients, especially if they are specialty. And that’s where Ingredient Brothers comes in. In this episode, Eran Mizrahi, co-founder of Ingredient Brothers, is here to break down supply chain logistics for us. He’s sharing the importance of having company partners you trust, why you need to build relationships in the food industry, and how he helps founders solve supply chain problems.  If you’ve wondered how to create steady supply chains, this is one conver ..read more

You can make an amazing product, start the best marketing campaign, and partner with national chains… But if your product doesn’t make it to the stores, or more importantly, your end user, none of that actually matters. In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Andrew Lynch of Zipline Logistics on why young CPG brands shouldn’t overlook the logistical aspects of their business. Andrew shares how he got his start in logistics, what it really means to businesses, how it affects their bottom line, and why it might be worth getting support from a partner like Zipline. If you’re struggling with deliver ..read more

Have you ever dreamed of bringing your very own food product to market? The path to doing so isn’t always clear, and many would-be entrepreneurs might wonder how to take the first step. From research and development, to marketing and distribution, there are no shortage of factors to consider! In this episode, Crystal Ung, founder of Bowlcut, shares her transition from the corporate world to entrepreneurship and how growing up in the restaurant industry helped to inform her journey. You’ll hear, from start to finish, how she was able to transform traditional Asian sauces into healthier, more ve ..read more

In this episode, learn from expert brand strategist Katie Mleziva as she shares her wealth of knowledge in the natural food and beverage industry. With over a decade of experience and a background in marketing and brand management, Katie is the founder of Real Food Brands and the creator of Brand Strategy Streamlined, a tool that helps emerging food and beverage companies become category leaders. During this episode of The Food Means Business Podcast, we discuss:⁠ The importance of a strong brand strategy in the natural food and beverage industry Which factors to consider when creating a suc ..read more

What happens when you step out of your comfort zone? If you are Lauryn Bodden, you win a Netflix reality cooking competition and launch a new food brand. In this conversation, Lauryn shares how her turn as a reluctant reality tv star inspired her to launch an innovative CPG food product. She discusses starting her snack brand, S’NOODS and the challenges that she faced along the way. Lauryn also emphasizes the importance of finding a supportive community of fellow founders and how seeking advice from experienced individuals has been invaluable during her entrepreneurial journey. In this episo ..read more

Think quality bread is off the menu? Think again! Now, you can get gluten-free sourdough products delivered right to your doorstep. In this episode, I’m joined by Sadie Scheffer, the founder of Bread SRSLY — a business born of a college crush and shared gluten intolerance. Hear the story of how Sadie leveraged the growing nationwide demand for healthier and more accessible food options to grow her business into what it is today.  Topics range from the early days of Bread SRSLY to Sadie’s adjacent business ventures into coaching and motivational speaking. Whether you practice your own glut ..read more

COVID was a hard time for everyone, food business owners included. There was so much uncertainty and hardship during that time. But it also afforded some people the space and the timing to innovate new ideas and products. Business pivots can be a beautiful thing to come out of that dark time. Don’t be afraid to make changes to your business model and adapt if that’s what you’re called to do. In this episode, Jen Liao, co-founder and president of MìLà Chinese food brand, shares how COVID forced her to pivot from restaurant owner to CPG food entrepreneur, how she pivoted even further from D2C to ..read more

Let’s be honest: marketing your consumer packaged goods can get a little boring, right? There’s a certain flow we all follow to get the word out about our products and it can feel like there’s nothing new under the sun. But that’s not necessarily true. Videos, podcasts, and influencers have opened up new marketing avenues that are fresh and exciting. In this episode, I’m interviewing Parker Olson, founder of Fōrij superfood granola made with functional mushrooms. Parker shares how changing his diet led him to mushrooms, how he tried and tested his products, and the out of the box ways he marke ..read more

When it comes to naming your consumer-packaged goods (CPG) brand, you probably already have one in mind. But your customers might not love it as much as you do. It’s important to select a name that makes sense and is easy to remember – and is easy for consumers to find! In this episode, I’m interviewing Alexandra Watkins, renowned authority on brand names and founder of Eat My Words. Alexandra shares her thoughts on what makes a strong brand name, why you shouldn’t name your business after yourself, and the biggest mistakes people make when naming their brands. In this episode, you’ll learn ..read more

When it comes to PR and marketing for CPG brands, good design and strategic plans are important… But what if you could spread the word about your product through authentic relationships with partners who are just as enthusiastic about your product as you are? In today’s episode, I’m joined by Alison Seibert, founder of The James Collective, to talk about her unique approach to building relationships and building the foundations for a long-lasting CPG brand.  She shares how she thinks about PR, marketing, and communication from a CPG perspective, the importance of understanding both your c ..read more