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

As a food business owner, you're constantly making decisions—some big, some small, but all important. And when a new opportunity lands in your lap, it can be tempting to jump in without thinking it through. But that's where brand strategy becomes your superpower and a way to set your brand apart in a consistent, meaningful way. In this episode, I explore: The difference between reacting and respon...

Do you ever feel like your brain is overflowing with ideas—but you're not sure what to focus on or how to make progress? This episode is for you if you're full of inspiration, but also full of tabs open in your brain, and each has ten ideas! You'll hear why getting your ideas out of your head and into a documented plan leads to more clarity, alignment, and confidence as well as: Your natural relat...

In Episode 142 of the Food Business Marketing Podcast, we (Katie Mleziva & Clint Matthews) dig into what it means to activate your sales plan—and take action. We cover everything from buyer outreach to building relationships and preparing for buyer meetings. What you'll hear: Why your first step should be checking in on current accounts Where and how to find the right buyer contacts How to make yo...

Today Clint and I are discussing how to bridge the gap between brand strategy and sales execution. From prioritizing accounts to pitching to retail buyers, we break down how a strong brand foundation supports smarter sales decisions—and prevents wasted time and money. What You'll Hear: Why sales can feel too overcomplicated—and ideas of how to adjust How Clint and his co-founder shifted from "grow...

If your brand could talk… what would it say? And more importantly, would your ideal people feel connected—or confused? In this solo episode, I explore why brand personality helps you show up consistently, create meaningful connections, and stand out in a crowded market. In fact, it's one of the KEY bridges between your internal strategy and how your brand shows up in the world. You'll learn: Why b...

As a food business founder, you've grown. Your business has evolved. Is your brand keeping up? In this solo episode, I'm taking a step back to reflect, with four simple yet powerful questions that can help you review your brand strategy. Whether things feel a little off or you're just due for a tune-up, this episode will help you identify where your brand may be holding you back—and how to recalib...

At some point, every business owner has a moment of reflection— is this brand ready to grow, or is it time to let go? And the reality is that you may even go back and forth on the same day, right?! In this episode, I'm joined by my new co-host Clint Matthews, co-founder of Start Right Foods, and Jordan Buckner, founder of Foodbevy . Jordan shares his behind-the-scenes journey of launching his firs...

Today I'm joined by Clint Matthews—co-founder of Start Right Foods and my NEW GUEST COHOST! I'm excited to share that Clint will be joining me in some future episodes to bring a fresh food business founder and sales lens to the conversation. Today we're kicking things off with a powerful tip you can bring into your next buyer pitch. In ep 137 we talk about: Clint's journey building a brand over th...

Let's talk about why strong brand strategy should guide creativity—not restrict it. Brand strategy is meant to bring clarity, consistency, and confidence to how you show up—but sometimes it gets taken too far. In this episode, I talk about the "dark side of strategy"...i.e. what happens when brand strategy becomes so rigid that it starts to backfire. Instead of guiding the team, it boxes them in.....

Does your product speak for itself? Early on, especially after some positive feedback on how delicious their products are, many food business owners believe that having a great product is enough. And while your product IS important, when it comes time to grow and scale up your business, a great product is not enough to set you apart. In this episode, I'll explain what makes a food brand stand out...

If your business feels scattered or your growth has stalled, it might be time to step back and ask a powerful question: Are you building a brand or running a business in reaction mode? (ie your business is running you!) In this episode of  The Food Business Marketing Podcast , I explore why this distinction matters more than ever in today's crowded market. You'll hear about the mindset shift that...

Today's episode is a little less strategy  teaching and more self-reflection about how you learn best. In part, this is to help you maximize investment of your time and money when you want to learn something for your business, but also because I want to get your feedback about the content I create as well!  I will walk you through common learning styles to help you think about how you best absorb...

Why brand strategy gives B2B businesses an edge in standing out, selling more, and scaling with confidence. You might not think of your business as a "brand," especially if you manufacture equipment or offer consulting services—but having a clear brand strategy can make a BIG difference, to you and your team as well as your customers. In fact, it could just be the thing you need to help you stand...

What if you created a Connection Plan instead of a traditional Marketing Plan? If the word "marketing" makes you cringe just a little—you're not alone. I know many food business owners who do. And, I have a Marketing degree and I even feel the same way sometimes! But my approach is different. That's why in this short and powerful episode of the Real Food Brands podcast, I'm flipping the script and...

If you're working to grow your food business but feel like your focus is scattered and your messaging is not as clear as it could be, it's time to revisit your brand positioning. This episode dives into one of the most essential (yet often overlooked or complicated) parts of brand strategy—defining what you want to be known for and why your audience should choose and stay loyal to your brand. In t...

When you're running a food business, marketing can easily fall to the bottom of your list—especially during busy seasons. But consistency matters, and your brand strategy can be the lifeline that helps you stay visible without starting from scratch. In this episode, I share a 3-step approach to creating aligned content faster, so you can stay consistent, show up with purpose, and avoid the overwhe...

If you've ever felt unsure about how to tell a compelling brand story, you're not alone—and there's good news! You might just be starting in the wrong place. In this episode, I share the story behind crafting a meaningful and memorable brand story. That includes why your brand story should support your strategy—not come before it. You'll learn how to use the 3Cs framework (Company, Competitors, an...

If you want to stand out in a crowded market, attract the right people, lead your team, and build your food business with confidence, it all starts with strategy. In this episode, host Katie Mleziva shares why brand strategy isn't just for big brands with big budgets—it's how smaller, purpose-driven food businesses gain a real competitive edge to scale. Whether you're updating your packaging, pitc...

Have you ever felt like you're doing all the things—but still not making progress...like you're just running in circles? In this short and lighter episode, I share a personal (and slightly ridiculous) real-life story that turned into a powerful reminder: sometimes the answer isn't about pushing through—it's about finding a way to shift your perspective. Whether you're stuck on messaging, spinning...

Does social media make you feel like getting social...or make you want to hide?! Social media can feel like a never-ending challenge when you're running a food business. You know you need to post consistently and keep your content engaging, just like when you're talking with people in person. But sometimes, you just hit a wall (or a time crunch) when it comes to what to post. In this episode, I'm...

In the final episode of our 3-part series, we're diving into activating your brand strategy so you can make your brand stand out, offer the right products and messages to the right people, motivate your team...and see results! You've put in the work to build your brand foundation and craft a clear, compelling strategy, but now it's time to make it happen. When you do this, you will be so far ahead...

Does it feel like you have a million ideas spinning in your head when it comes to your food business? You're not alone! As a food business owner or leader, gathering insights about your advantages, competitors, and consumers is essential—but making sense of it all to define and document your brand strategy is where the magic happens. In this episode, we're diving into Step 2 of building a strong b...

Every strong food brand starts with a clear foundation. But how do you define what truly makes your brand different? In this episode - the first in a three-part series - I'm breaking down Step 1: Defining the 4C's of your Brand Strategy Inputs. These are some of the key elements that help you build a strong, strategic food brand that stands out...but in my Brand Strategy System, I put a twist on e...

You make a great product, but in order to scale your food business you will need a strong brand that is meaningful and memorable. Brand strategy is what sets your food brand apart—it's how you meet your consumers' needs in a way your competitors can't (or won't). But how do you know if your current strategy is working? That's where the Brand Checkup Scorecard I created for you comes in! In this ep...

What does it take to get your food brand onto store shelves—and make sure it doesn't blend into the sea of sameness? Clint Matthews, co-founder of Start Right Foods , joins host and Food Brand Strategist Katie Mleziva to talk about how the Start Right brand has evolved, why a strong brand strategy is a foundational piece for successfully scaling a brand, and what he's learned about sales and packa...