Food Business Marketing Podcast | Brand Strategy, Sales, & Growth for Food & Farm Brands

As entrepreneurs many of us are quick to offer help—but far slower to ask for it. Can you relate? But offering - and asking for - help in the right way can be a sign of strong leadership. Why not ask people who have been there or have the right tools to help us unlock the next level of success we're working towards? In this episode, Katie Mleziva (Real Food Brands) and Clint Matthew's (Start Right...

Clint puts Katie in the hot seat and asks the questions many food business owners are thinking but don't want to ask.  Together, they break down what brand strategy really means, why it's often misunderstood, and how it helps food business owners make clearer, more confident decisions as they grow. Clint also shares a simple but powerful real-world example that shows how positioning can change per...

How food brands earn a place in everyday routines, go-to gifting, and meaningful traditions. Working in the food industry, a lot of us tend to think the grocery store doubles as a source of entertainment, right?! But believe it or not, many people shop on autopilot so they can get in and out as fast as possible. And while that can be a challenge when you're working to disrupt a category, it's also...

We're talking margins, growth scenarios, and building the food business you actually want to lead. This episode is like a mini masterclass in food business finances —and while it's longer than usual, it's intentionally so. This is the kind of conversation you can come back to as your business evolves, your numbers change, and your goals become clearer. Your hosts, Katie Mleziva (Real Food Brands)...

How one word can help you lean into who you were meant to be....leading to benefits in your business and beyond! In brand strategy, we often talk about how a brand's essence can be distilled into a single word — the feeling that runs through everything . In this episode, I take that same idea and apply it to you as a leader, with your Word of the Year. Instead of setting rigid resolutions, I share...

Holidays are a natural time to talk about traditions...and how our brands can be part of the routines & rituals on holidays...and every day! In this more personal episode, Katie Mleziva (Real Food Brands) and Clint Matthews (Start Right Foods) swap stories about holiday traditions, from food-centered moments to favorite Christmas songs, and the small rituals that make the season memorable. As the...

How brand pillars turn strategy into structure — and help your brand stand out. If you've ever felt like your brand is harder to explain than it should be — or like you're doing all the right things to grow but still operating at a "product" level, you might be missing brand pillars! Brand pillars are often talked about as a content or messaging tool, but that's only part of the story. In this epi...

A simple, strategic way to review what's working, regroup your resources, and refocus where you want your business to go next. This episode is relevant any time of the year, but as we look to a new year, it's a natural moment to think about where you've been and where you're going! In Ep 162, Katie Mleziva (Real Food Brands) and Clint Matthews (Start Right Foods) share a simple framework you can u...

How to decide which local, regional, or national shows make sense for your food business in 2026 based on your brand strategy and goals. Planning events for 2026? In this episode, your hosts Katie Mleziva (Real Food Brands) and Clint Matthews (Start Right Foods) break down how to choose the events that actually support your goals — instead of getting swept up in FOMO or the pressure to "be everywh...

How food business owners can stay focused & grow intentionally, while building a brand that's in alignment with their strategy.  Here's one major advantage smaller food businesses have:  the ability to move fast. But that freedom can also leave room to move too quickly into new sales channels, partnerships, or operational decisions...before the business is truly ready. In other words, just because...

Clear messaging doesn't start with better writing — it starts with stronger strategy. If your message feels messy, scattered, or hard to articulate, the problem probably isn't your writing — it's your foundation. In this solo episode, I (Katie Mleziva - Real Food Brands) build on the recent episodes with Clint about Sales and funding growth through grants. You'll hear me talk about why clear messa...

How food and farm businesses can fund intentional growth through the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) and other aligned grant opportunities. If you've been thinking about how to fund your next stage of growth , this episode will help you explore one of the most practical and accessible options — grants for food and farm businesses. Katie Mleziva (Real Food Brands) and Clint Matthews (StartRight F...

Sometimes sales can feel stressful in your food business, but we're here to help you take a brand-first approach so you can feel aligned, confident, and excited about your sales plans! In the prior four episodes of our 4PS's Sales Process series, you've planned, prepped, and pitched...now what? In the final episode of the series, I'm joined by Clint Matthews from Start Right Foods to talk about wh...

What if pitching your food business to a new buyer felt natural instead of nerve-wracking? We want to help you think differently about pitching. And even if you never enjoy sales quite as much as Clint does, we can help you turn your pitch from a stressful presentation into a confident, brand-aligned conversation that captures the attention of buyers from your "right fit" accounts. In this episode...

Before you ever pitch your food brand and products, preparation is what will set you apart. Learn how to prep with purpose so you can approach the right buyers for your business with a clear and compelling message they can't help but want to learn more about! In Part 2 of our 4Ps Sales Process series (episode 3 of 5 in this series), Clint and I I talk about how to prep with purpose —because succes...

We're continuing our  4Ps Sales Process , a four-part framework we (Katie Mleziva – Real Food Brands & Clint Matthews -Start Right Foods) created to help food business owners build a sales process that actually works. You can listen to the intro and overview of the process in Ep 153 (linked below). If you caught the intro episode, you know these 4 Ps of Sales —  PLAN, PREP, PITCH, and PERSIST  — w...

Shift your mindset, own your process, and make sales conversations feel natural. If the thought of selling makes you tense up, this episode is for you. Your hosts, Katie Mleziva of Real Food Brands and Clint Matthews of Start Right Foods, kick off a new mini-series on food business sales with a critical mindset shift that can turn selling from stressful to strategic. Then Clint shares the 4-P Fram...

Every entrepreneur learns lessons along the way, but you don't have to learn them all the hard way. In this episode, Katie Mleziva (Food Brand Strategist at Real Food Brands) and Clint Matthews (Co-founder of Start Right Foods) share some of the most important "life lessons" they've picked up from being in the food business over the years — but these learnings apply beyond food brands and can help...

Once you've built a strong brand foundation for your food business, what's next? There's always room to learn, optimize, and grow! In this episode of the Food Business Marketing Podcast, Katie explores how to take your brand strategy to the next level by moving from brand foundations to brand management as the key to intentional growth. Here's what you'll learn in this episode: How to sharpen your...

Brand strategy isn't just for big brands with big budgets — it's how smaller, purpose-driven food businesses can actually compete and stand out. In this 150th episode of the Food Business Marketing Podcast , Katie shares a simple, approachable way to get started with brand strategy so it feels doable, not daunting. You'll hear how her DEFINE–ALIGN–ACTIVATE framework works, why clarity, confidence,...

Finding the right vendors, agencies, and strategic service providers can be a game-changer for your food business as you grow. In Ep 149 of the Food Business Marketing Podcast, Katie and Clint share some points to consider when evaluating potential partners so you can avoid wasting time and money—and instead work with people who truly support your vision and business goals. You'll learn: ✔️ Key cr...

Motivation feels exciting. It's the spark that gets you moving, whether that's launching a new product, pursuing a dream retailer, or setting up at a big show. But if you've ever felt your motivation fade, you know it isn't enough on its own. That's where discipline comes in. Discipline is the steady commitment to your food brand's vision and purpose that helps you stay consistent, even when the s...

Legacy isn't just about how long you or your brand have been around — it's about the values you stand for and the consistency you bring to life through your brand. In this episode, Katie Mleziva - your food brand strategist - shares five ways you can start building a legacy brand that goes beyond products to create positive impact and true staying power. What you'll hear in this episode: Why legac...

What does it take to build a food brand that leaves a lasting impact? Whether you're just starting out or decades in, your legacy isn't just about how long your brand survives — it's about the people you impact along the way. In this episode, Food Brand Strategist Katie Mleziva and co-host Clint Matthews, co-founder of Start Right Foods, are joined by Matt Keepman of Mullins Dairy Bar, a nearly 10...

Comparison can spark ideas… or it can derail your focus. In this episode, I share how to avoid unhealthy comparison while still keeping an eye on your competitive set. You'll learn how to filter competitor insights through your brand strategy so you can position your brand clearly, have stronger stakeholder conversations, and grow in YOUR lane, not somebody else's. What You'll Hear in This Episode...