The Good Food CFO podcast

Owning and operating a good food business comes with an endless number of decisions that need to be made each day. Among them, big financial decisions cause the most stress, and the most regret if things don’t pan out how you hoped.  Whether you’re in the midst of making a big financial decision, or want to prepare for the next one that will inevitably come your way, we’ve got you covered!  Today...

In this episode Sarah is joined by Asha Mody, a certified brand strategist, award-winning designer and the founder and Chief Brand Officer of Mindsy. Asha sheds light on how your brand strategy not only serves to reach customers and boost revenue, but also creates clarity, alignment and a clear direction for your business internally - from the CEO, to the CFO, and to customer facing teams - increa...

We have had brand experts, social media + ad experts, and a Shopify expert on our show to discuss attracting your audience, getting them to your website, and even what target conversion rates and Average Cart Value look like for good food brands, but the missing link has been HOW we convert our website visitors to customers, until now… Today on the podcast Sarah is joined by Anna Bradshaw, a copyw...

Trade shows are an important part of building a good food business, but just being there isn’t going to create a return on your investment. Making the most out of your tradeshow experience takes more than just being there. Today on the podcast, Sarah is  joined by Lindsay O’Donnell - she is the owner and founder of Piquant Marketing. A digital marketing agency of visionaries, creatives, and market...

We’re celebrating small business month all month long, and this week we’re back with another bonus episode! Each mini-episode will feature the owner of a small business in the world of Good Food sharing their experiences and “aha” moments.  Today on the show I’m joined by Shannon Hiller-Webb, the Principal of Prosparus, a marketing and operational strategy consulting agency guiding businesses to t...

The moment that sparks an idea for a business can start anywhere. The stories and the people behind small businesses are what makes them unique and authentic. But, building a business from an idea into a success, takes planning, structure, facing challenges, dedication and a clear vision.  Today on the podcast Sarah is joined by Skyler Mapes, the co-founder of EXAU Olive Oil, an Internationally re...

May is Small Business month, and we’re celebrating by bringing you bonus episodes all month long! Each mini-episode will feature the owner of a small business in the world of Good Food sharing their experiences and “aha” moments.  Today, Ashley Sutterfield, CEO and owner of Sage is joining Sarah to discuss how she thinks about her business’ calendar year, and how a similar shift in thinking could...

May is Small Business Month and to celebrate we invited S arah Marshall, Founder and Creator of Marshall’s Haute Sauce, author of Preservation Pantry : Modern Canning From Root to Top & Stem to Core, and Co-host of the Meaningful Marketplace Podcast to the show to share how she built her business. Sarah founded her good food business in 2011, sourcing ingredients from local farmers, producing her...

Today on the Good Food CFO Podcast Sarah is  joined by Felice Thorpe and Shannon Hiller-Webb. The three have recently joined forces and founded the Good Food Consortium and they can’t wait to tell you about it, and share their vision for how the Consortium supports Good Food Business owners like you!  About Felice Felice is the founder of Felice Foods, through which she provides sales director con...

There is no one-size-fits all production solution for Good Food Businesses.  But there are considerations that will help you make the right decision for yours. Ashley Sutterfield is back on the podcast! She is the founder and director of Sage Expert, formerly Metzger & Roth, which she founded after seeing food entrepreneurs constantly struggling to understand when and what to do to grow their busi...

Today on the podcast we’re talking about Financial Workflows.  Exciting, right?!  It really is, and you’re about to find out why! Creating smart financial workflows is your ticket to a smooth bookkeeping process, clear monthly financial reporting, and sales data that you can cut and slice any way you’d like - helping you forecast sales and make informed strategic and financial decisions. In this E...

Today on the podcast, we’re going to geek out on a couple of financial terms and the numbers behind them. We’re talking about “Real Revenue” - What is it? And Why is it SO Important?    Today Sarah is sharing: What “Real Revenue” IS What “Real Revenue” ISN’T  3 Primary Goals “Real Revenue” Should Achieve How a Profit Assessment Can Show You if Your Real Revenue is Working for You Without a healthy...

Having a Profitable PRODUCT does not guarantee that you can build a Profitable BUSINESS, but it is an important first step.  Today on the podcast Sarah is joined by Adam Pollack, Vice President of Marketing at Rodeo CPG. Together they are discussing the foundational elements of ensuring that your product is viable (aka you can sell it for more than it costs to make) and then how you go about ensur...

Today on the podcast we’re talking about Budgeting and Forecasting - What is the difference? And do you REALLY need both for your food business?   Spoiler Alert!  The answer is Yes. In this Episode of Sarah is sharing:  What Financial Forecasting Helps You See & the Questions it Answers How Financial Projections and Budgeting Work Hand-in-Hand How Budgeting Creates Financial Ease and Confidence Re...

Here on the Good Food CFO Podcast we want you to have your most profitable year yet, so today on the podcast we’re sharing 4-Steps to make that happen. We’re covering a lot of information in today’s episode, from setting clear goals, understanding your finances and everything in between as well as tools and processes to support you throughout your profitable food business journey. Grab your favori...

As a business owner you may have heard of these three important words “mission, vision and values”. Do you have them defined for your brand? Have you thought about what they can do for your business? Having these three areas defined in your business can do so much if you use them the right way and share them with your consumers. Defining who you are as a brand takes time and thoughtfulness, don’t...

Should I sell my product on my website or should I sell my product on Shopify? If you’re a CPG brand it’s pretty likely you’ve asked yourself that question. If you still aren’t sure, today’s episode may provide the answers you need to help you make a decision. In this episode Sarah is joined by Chase Clymer, Co-founder of Electric Eye, an agency that increases sales for ecommerce brands. Chase is...

Today on the podcast Sarah is joined by Ellen Rawley, founder of Ellen Rawley Creative & Strategy where she helps farms and food businesses launch & grow profitable product lines. Her go-to-market services include organic and food safety compliance, grant writing, and product strategy. Since founding her business in 2016 Ellen has secured $800,000 in grant funding for budding farm businesses, and...

We’re revisiting one of our most popular episodes because it’s just too good to release only once!  We’re taking you back to Episode 04 of our first season, in this special “Round Table” episode of The Good Food CFO podcast Sarah joins Alli Ball and Katie Mleziva, CPG experts in Sales Strategy and Brand Strategy, respectively to talk about the 3 Pillars of a Successful Food + Beverage Brand.  Join...

Filing for bankruptcy is not an experience most business owners talk about, and that’s unfortunate. Shared experiences is just one way business owners can learn, grow and make informed decisions. Nothing is predictable and everyone’s situation is different, but there’s always something valuable to learn from other business owner’s journeys. Today on the podcast Sarah is joined by Luisa Alberto, CE...

Today on the podcast Sarah is sharing some of her top tips for a profitable holiday season - or any season!  We’re talking about how to build profitable product bundles, determining the best sales and discount values for your business, and more.  Sarah is sharing actionable tips that can be put in place before the busiest shopping season of the year and will benefit you all year long including: 3...

If you’ve been unsure how much of your budget to allocate to marketing, how to track your efforts, and how to make informed decisions regarding your efforts and your spending - you don’t want to miss this episode!  Today on the podcast Sarah is joined by Alison Smith and Karin Samelson, co-founders of UMAI Marketing - a boutique, Austin-based marketing agency that scales CPG brands. They are well...

As we approach the holiday season and expect to see increases in online shopping, now is a great time to check in on your shipping offer and ensure that you’re maximizing profitability while benefiting your customers.  An enticing shipping offer can be helpful in securing online sales, but you need to make sure that your offer isn’t negatively impacting your margins and that it's helping, not hurt...

In this episode of the Good Food CFO podcast, Sarah is talking with Catt Fields White - Founder of the Little Italy Mercato - San Diego County’s largest weekly year-round farmers market, and Founder & CEO of Farmers Market Pros.  Catt and her team at Farmers Market Pros provide small farmers and food makers with education in the basics of starting a food business, and making it financially sustain...

Today on the podcast we’re going back to basics and Sarah is sharing her  #1 piece of advice for food business owners - Slow Down.   We’re challenging the belief that profitability comes only by doing more and selling more. The truth is that consistent cash flow and profitability come when you've got a profitable framework in place and you're setting and achieving the right goals for your business...