Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford

Send us Fan Mail Orders arriving by text at midnight.  Quantities scribbled on receipts.  Spreadsheets that don’t match the coolroom.  The result? Wasted product, missed shelves, and supply chaos retailers simply won’t tolerate. In Episode 140 of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford, I speak with Philip Fierlinger, co-founder of Upstock (and one of the brains behind Xero), about why running a modern food...

Send us Fan Mail You think you know what your customer wants… but do you really? Turns out, most of us get it wrong. In Episode 139 of the Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford podcast, I’m joined by Angela Beswick from Stickybeak - the rapid consumer testing platform - and Bonnie Slade, founder of NaturKidz, whose last-minute product testing changed the trajectory of her pitch to a major retailer. This o...

Send us Fan Mail It’s the milestone every brand owner chases - landing that major retail listing. But without solid systems in place, supply chain slip-ups, inventory miscalculations, and cash flow gaps can turn that win into a serious setback. If you’ve just landed your first big retail order - or you’re gearing up to expand nationally without running out of stock (or cash) - this episode could s...

Send us Fan Mail Brand owners could literally be leaving thousands of dollars on the table simply because they don’t realise they’re eligible for funding. If you're making, baking or creating - and not claiming the R&D tax incentive - then this is the episode that will help put money back in your pocket. In this episode of the Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford podcast, I’m joined by Anthony C...

Send us Fan Mail Many brand owners think the only way to grow is to do more. More products, more orders, more late nights. But being busy and trying to do it all yourself to save money doesn’t mean you’re building a smarter business. In this episode of the Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford podcast, I’m joined by two brilliant minds who know how to scale without the chaos - Jason Stockton, founder of t...

Send us Fan Mail Scaling or just staying busy? Too many brand owners are growing, and keeping busy. But don't confuse that with scaling. More stockists, more sales… and a whole lot more stress. Margins stay razor-thin, costs creep up, and burnout isn’t far behind.  So this podcast season, I’m calling time on the chaos - because it is possible to scale without losing sleep or profits - using s...

Send us Fan Mail Didn’t make it to Foodpreneurs Festival 2025? Or maybe you were there but want a refresher on all the high-impact opportunities presented at the event, and the practical steps to take now to leverage your learnings and industry connections? In this episode, I sat down with Naishad Dalal, food scientist, entrepreneur, and founder of the Food Entrepreneurship Academy, and Jason Stoc...

Send us Fan Mail Scaling a frozen food brand? It’s not for the faint-hearted. Cold chain logistics, merchandising nightmares, and razor-thin margins make it one of the most challenging categories in the game. But Mrinali Kumar, CEO and co-founder of EatKinda, is flipping the script - proving that bold innovation, sustainability, and smart operations can carve out a winning edge. In this episode, M...

Send us Fan Mail Alexandra Bekker, founder of Drink Nimbus, is on a mission to shake up plant-based milk and the sustainability issues that come with it. After a highly successful eCommerce career, she discovered the shocking truth: 138 billion long-life cartons end up in landfill each year. So, she set out to create a better alternative. In this episode, Alexandra shares how she: 🌱 Validated her...

Send us Fan Mail Sandra Seah, founder of Six-Eyed Scorpion, has built a premium, seriously flavourful crispy chilli oil brand that’s shaking up the condiment aisle. Voted #1 chilli oil by Gourmet Traveller , her range blends bold Singaporean flavours with top-tier Australian ingredients - and retailers are taking notice. For episode 131, fresh off landing in Harris Farm Markets, I spoke to Sandra...

Send us Fan Mail Burnout is a real challenge in the industry. Many Foodpreneurs start their businesses as a side hustle - juggling production, marketing, sales, packing, and every other task that comes with running a business solo. But it doesn’t have to stand in the way of scaling. For episode 130, I sat down with Laura Allan, founder of Isaac’s Snacks, the wholefood bites brand keeping it real w...

Send us Fan Mail You’ve got the vision - but do you have the supply chain to scale it? For episode 129, I sat down with Stefan Di Benedetto, founder of Solbevi, the limoncello spritz brand shaking up the drinks industry across Australia and New Zealand. His goal? Nothing short of global domination. But here’s the reality: scaling a challenger brand isn’t just about a great product, it’s about maki...

Send us Fan Mail You’re burning out – but still not paying yourself a wage. So how do you afford a co-manufacturer without cutting corners? In episode 128 we’re getting real about the biggest challenge many Foodpreneurs face: you’re working non-stop, but your margins aren’t big enough to pay yourself - let alone afford to outsource production. But here’s the thing: sticking with in-house manufactu...

Send us Fan Mail Business isn’t always exciting - and that’s exactly the point. In episode 127 of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford, we’re kicking off Season 13 with a solo session that dives into a truth many overlook: success isn’t about chasing shiny new strategies. It’s about implementation. Yep, the boring stuff. The routines. The consistency. That’s where growth lives. This episode includes: 🚀...

Send us Fan Mail Spotting a gap in the market often sparks the creation of something truly innovative - and that’s exactly what happened for Tim and Liam from Bae Juice. They saw the need for a reliable hangover solution and turned it into a thriving business. Bae Juice - a Korean pear juice infused with a unique enzyme to tackle hangovers, launched in 2019, has become a go-to remedy, stocked in o...

Send us Fan Mail When Roz White and her husband Michael started their first White’s IGA store 31 years ago, they weren’t just opening a business; they were planting roots. Fast forward to today, and they’ve grown into a Sunshine Coast icon with six stores, over 520 staff, and deep connections to their local community. Roz’s formula for success? A steadfast commitment to people, relationships, and...

Send us Fan Mail When Jarahad Valeri saw parents struggling to get kids to eat more fruits and veggies, he saw an opportunity. That spark led to Welly — a snack company that turns fruits and veg into kid-friendly, gut-healthy bites that parents can trust. Launching Welly Kids in 2022 and expanding to adults in early 2023, Jarahad set out to bring these health benefits to a wider audience. His form...

Send us Fan Mail Mason Bagios didn’t set out to transform Australia’s drinking culture - but that’s exactly what happened when he chose to quit alcohol and embrace cleaner living. This personal journey inspired Kommunity Brew, a brand he co-founded to offer mindful, substance-free options that resonate with a new generation of health-conscious Aussies. From the start, Mason knew that authenticity...

Send us Fan Mail What began as her mum’s cherished muesli slice recipe, evolved into Springhill Farm, a brand house helmed by Fiona Whatley, bringing better-for-you, but equally delicious treats like Slice and Boodles to shelves across Australia. Together with her husband, James, Fiona has transformed a family recipe into a business that thrives on bold choices, from securing Woolworths’ support b...

Send us Fan Mail Ever felt the frustration of squeezing lemons every day, only to watch the waste pile up? That’s exactly what sparked the creation of Naked Rivals frozen lemon and lime juice. The brand’s co-founders Andrew and Kate Gordon combined a passion for sustainability, with a sharp commercial lens, to build a brand that’s catching waves in retail—and staying on top. In this episode, Andre...

Send us Fan Mail Grassroots marketing strategies can propel food, drink, and pet food brands from zero to hero, and this episode is all about actionable, boots-on-the-ground tactics to get you there! Whether you're just getting started or looking to refine your brand's approach, this episode will help you take the next step. I break down three real-life examples of how local, customer-ce...

Send us Fan Mail From brand identity to building customer loyalty, this week’s episode of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford is packed with insights for emerging and challenger brand owners. I sit down with Hannah Murphy from Tracksuit and Matt Kowal from Naked Life Group, two experts who have successfully helped brands cut through the noise in today’s crowded market. We dive deep into the power of bra...

Send us Fan Mail For Foodpreneurs the countdown to Q4—the "Golden Quarter"—is officially on with just 16 weeks to go! This is the season with epic sales including Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year periods; unsurprisingly, the time of year when brand owners make the most money. In this episode I cover how to make every week, from now until then, count s...

Send us Fan Mail From an aspiring entrepreneur to the CEO of Australia’s leading 'better for you' frozen dessert brand, Cass Spies’ journey is a testament to grit and determination. In this week’s episode of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford, I sit down with Cass, the powerhouse behind Twisted Healthy Treats. Cass launched her dream business in 2009 after returning from the UK, inspired by J...

Send us Fan Mail From award-winning Executive Chef to consumer packaged goods creator extraordinaire, Shaun Quade’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. In this week’s episode of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford, I chat with the talented Shaun. Shaun and his life and business partner Veronica Fil recently returned to Australia from the US where they scaled a plant-based CPG cheese product called Gr...