Food Founders® Podcast

Focusing on the wrong things in your business is costing you time and money. Inside this episode I share 3 frameworks to maximize your time so you can spend your energy on what actually matters in your business. Want to optimize your business for growth? Join the Simplify & Sell priority list and be the first to know when enrolment opens. www.simplifycpg.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...

Are you losing sales every time people come to your website? In this episode Ainsley dives into 3 of the biggest website mistakes that are costing you sales. Tweaking these 3 pieces not only will get you more customers, it will help drive a higher cart value from the people buying from your site already. Stop leaving money on the table and start making your business grow faster and easier. Want to...

If you're trying to fix your growth problems by just doing more, you're missing out on the easiest way to grow your business. In this episode I share how to accelerate your growth without just doing more. By focusing in on this one thing, you'll be doing what the most successful brands do and will not only grow your sales, but save yourself time too. Want to optimize your business for growth? Join...

Rebecca Brady didn’t set out to build a company, she just wanted to make the crackers she missed from home. But what began as a solo kitchen project soon snowballed into something much bigger. In this episode food founder Rebecca, owner of Top Seedz shares the real, unfiltered journey from doing everything herself to leading a team of 70, many of them refugees from around the world. It’s a story o...

When a life-threatening pregnancy condition left Amy Upchurch fighting for her life, she didn't just survive—she revolutionized women's wellness. In this powerful conversation, Amy reveals how her darkest moments birthed Pink Stork, now a multi-million dollar empire built on truly hearing women's needs. Her "Customer Obsession" approach has created the kind of fierce loyalty most founders only dre...

Food founder Gregory Vetter shares the raw, unfiltered story behind Tessemae's salad dressing- an idea sparked by stolen dressing to becoming a national brand that pioneered the clean eating movement to the eventual business challenges that tested his resolve. Key takeaways you'll walk away from the episode with: Practical strategies for questioning and reinventing industry "standards" that everyo...

Ainsley dives into three overlooked areas where food and drink brands are leaving money on the table —and how simple tweaks can unlock hidden profits. From post-purchase flows that drive repeat sales , to optimizing your online listings , to SKU prioritization that boosts margins , Ainsley walks you through real-life examples of brands making more with what they already have. If you’re ready to wo...

Food founders Eli & Grace of Absurd Snacks share their journey in creating a new line of nut-free and allergy-friendly trail mix. They share how a university class fueled the creation of Absurd Snacks, which was inspired to address the serious food allergies of a fellow classmate. Eli and Grace discuss the challenges they faced such as finding ingredients free from allergens and managing the p...

Hear how food founder Sandrew from Neeva Shaker Cereal, a high protein full flavor cereal brand went from idea to a growing D2C brand with 80+ retail locations and growing across the country in the last 18 months. Sandrew shares how he initially pitched the product to gym members, gradually expanded into local supplement stores, and eventually attracted a wider audience with the help of mom influe...

We're talking with Angela Vranich, the brains behind Little Spoon, as she takes us on an exciting journey of redefining children's nutrition. Join us as Angela shares the story of creating a brand that not only fills tummies but also warms hearts. Learn how Little Spoon's innovative approach, from fresh baby food to the recent Biteables launch has become a game-changer for parents seeking wholesom...

Hear why Top Note has leaned in on getting awards of recognition to help drive the focused growth of its Tonic Water brand. Mary and Ainsley dive into building a premium brand and what to focus on when building a brand good enough for Michelin Star restaurants, premium bars and discerning audiences. Celebrate National Gin & Tonic Day by tuning in and hear how this tonic brand is elevating the...

Ainsley sits down with Marilyn Yang, the food founder of Popadelics, as they dive into the strategies that led to the growth of the industries hottest mushroom chip. Marilyn shares her insights on tapping into macro trends, focusing on high returns, and making informed investments to help drive your chances of success in the food industry. Discover the do's and don'ts directly from Marilyn's exper...

Listen in as we talk to Todd Goldstein, the food founder of Whoa! Dough, and explore the secrets behind his business success using omnichannel strategies. Todd shares insights into the importance of aligning brand values, listening to customer feedback, and the incredible journey of turning Whoa! Dough into a thriving business. Discover the keys to mastering omnichannel approaches and gain inspira...

Listen in as Nikki Seaman, food founder of Freestyle Snacks shares her experience reimagining the beloved olive industry. Nikki and Ainsley dive into the crucial role of packaging, the quest for aligned partners, and the resilience needed to overcome obstacles, especially the daunting prospect of hearing 'no' in your food business. Learn more about Freestyle Snacks here: /www.freestylesnacking.com...

Listen in as Orleatha Smith of Sip Herbals sits down and discusses how it's important to be flexible in a business partnership and why. Hear how she talks about the need of aligning your brand to your own values, how customer feedback should be listened to, and Sip Naturals' incredible journey, turning a $7,000 Kickstarter into a $100,000 business in just 12 months. Learn more about Sip Herbals he...

In this episode of the Food Founders® Podcast, we sit down with Rawmantics Chocolate's founder Kasia Bosne and discuss her career shift from high fashion to the CPG industry. Hear what made her decide to make the switch and her advice for you on starting your food brand. She talks about when the customer is right, when you should follow your gut, and why you should be patient. Learn more about Raw...

In this episode, we dive into the entrepreneurial journey of pioneering a food revolution with Pluck Ancestral Superfood Powder. Discover the secrets to driving early adoption as we explore the strategies that placed Pluck at the forefront of making the benefits of organ meat more natural and more accessible to everyday households. Food Founder and Chef James Barry, shares his experiences in creat...

2024 is YOUR year! ! In this must-listen episode, host Ainsley, a seasoned expert in the food and beverage industry, unveils the top five trends that will shape the year. Get ready for a game-changing session packed with insights on leveraging omnichannel strategies, economic resilience, the power of AI, and the magic of human connection for your brand. This episode isn't just about what's trendin...

Sit down with us as we talk to Chelsie Hodge, the food founder of Blender Bites, and hear how she created a new frozen food category. Listen to what she learned along the way about manufacturing, marketing, and profitability and the advice she has for fellow food founders. She shares how she was able to get her product into 5,000 retail stores across two countries and what she's still learning alo...

In this final episode of our 3 part mini series Ainsley shares five transformative mindset tools that have revolutionized not only her life but also the journeys of numerous food entrepreneurs she's mentored. These straightforward yet powerful techniques are more than just tips; they're the catalysts for monumental change. They promise to reshape your approach to business and life, setting the sta...

Are you a food founder who's hungry for success but feel like something's holding you back? You have big goals, you work hard at them, but you just can't seem to hit them or hit them consistently? In episode 2 of our 2024 Success Strategies mini series Ainsley dives into how to reframe just one simple question you ask yourself so you can get to the root of what's truly been holding you back. If yo...

Welcome to the first of the three part series '2024 Success Strategies'. This mini series is for food founders who are committed to upleveling their business and winning in 2024. In this episode, we explore how the right technology, smart marketing, and a skilled team can elevate your business and move it into being a more sophisticated operation in 2024. Whether you're planting the seeds of a fre...

Co-food founders Nicole Cardone and Deborah Gorman share how SorBabes went from farmer's market to lining grocery store shelves. The team opens up about how they've evolved and grown over the years, how they approach strategic innovation for growth and how their complimentary skills have helped them go from strangers to sisters as they've grown this business together. To learn more about SorBabes...

Listen in as food founders Dissaya Theerakaosal & Mary Bentdahl share how they're disrupting the meat alternative industry by offering a simple 6 ingredient solution to shoppers. Hear how they've evolved Shroomeats' from refrigerated to shelf stable, how they manage overseas productions and why they see patience is key to the long term success for food brands. These founders open up about dist...

Tune in as Ainsley dives into the 4 key areas every food founder wants to focus on right now to build a better food business for the future. Learn why pressure isn't always bad and how a change in mindset can be the thing that really pushes a food brand forward in today's market. As the food industry and the global economy are shifting, these 4 areas will help your food brand not only stand up but...