Food Biz Wiz

Just found the Food Biz Wiz podcast? Welcome, wiz! My name is Alli and I’m a former wholesale buyer turned wholesale consultant and the creator of Retail Ready®. We help CPG (consumer packaged goods) brands with how to land on more shelves and have high sales once you’re there. You can expect to hear tons of honest, industry insider information, tough love, and advice for building a business that works for you! Check out our Listener Guide HERE to find the most relevant content for your business RIGHT NOW and be sure to connect with us over on Instagram. I can’t wait for you to get into our content, so click play on a full episode below!

Welcome to the 250th episode of the Food Biz Wiz podcast, wizes! We are thrilled to have published 250 episodes of valuable, hard-to-access information from the packaged food and beverage industry. As it’s our last episode, this episode is a bit different. It’s a short welcome episode for those just discovering the Food Biz Wiz Podcast Library for the first time. You’ll hear me share more about... How you can navigate our hundreds of podcast episodes with our BRAND NEW listener guide Ways to make the best use out of our content And how you can help us celebrate this milestone: leaving ratings and sharing our social media posts! Did you miss our announcement on why we made this decision? Check out episode 249 just below this one. Click here to grab our listener guide so that you can access the most useful episodes NOW and find our full show notes here!

Wizes, we have some BIG news that we’ve been sitting on: episode 250 will be the last new episode of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast. We were a little bit nervous about how you would receive this news, but we want to tell you the 3 reasons why we’re stopping here, AND how our decision-making process can help you with your next big business decision. So here’s what we’ll cover in today’s episode: Why and how we’re celebrating this HUGE milestone of 250 episodes of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast (and how you can join us!) The 3 reasons why we’re not publishing new podcast episodes after next week, despite the huge successes of the podcast What this big change means for you as our listeners, and how we can continue growing together! We appreciate your listenership deeply and hope that you’ll join us as we explain the process behind why we’re taking this next step. You can find our full show notes at this link!

Retail Ready is OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT! Wizes – yes, we’re talking to you! – if you listen to this podcast and it’s exactly the information you need…then imagine what it’d be like to get expert CPG biz advice, tailored to YOUR situation, directly from me, Charlie, and our team inside of Retail Ready. Imagine what it’s like to be in a supportive community of other founders – and not alone – when a biz challenge or question comes up. Today’s episode is for those of you who have been on the fence about Retail Ready®. In this episode, we welcome 10 women who are past and current Retail Ready® students, to hear how their business has grown since joining our program. Then, I walk you through the behind-the-scenes of Retail Ready®, telling you ALLLL about what you get when you join our program before Tuesday, June 11th at 11:59 PM PST: Save your spot in our Revenue Ramp Up Dive in with our 3 Month to $3k Success Plan Secure three FREE extra 1:1 consulting calls in our Signature Program Join our Quickstart Welcome Call on Thursday, June 13th, and MORE! We don’t want you to miss out, so JOIN US TODAY here!

Psst, before we tell you about the episode: Food Biz Wiz is hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, June 3rd - Friday, June 7th! Wholesale Week is our 5-day FREE online workshop for food, bev, and taxable grocery brands that want a solid starting point for a smart retail strategy. With 10 minute, bite-sized lessons, it’s easy to participate. Register at the link here! Now, back to this episode! Even though Alli hosts guests on the Food Biz Wiz podcast frequently, she is rarely the one being interviewed. This episode, we turn the tables on Alli and ask her to share the story behind how she got her buyer perspective. You’ll hear about… The challenges Alli navigated going from a consumer to a buyer in the thick of retail What the difference is between markup and margin and how easy they are to mix up! And why you need to save some bandwidth for after you get on the shelf! As always, we want to connect further with you: which tidbit from this episode impacted you the most? Let us know via our Instagram or LinkedIn DMs, which are both linked in our full show notes here!

Psst, before we tell you about the episode: Food Biz Wiz is hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, June 3rd - Friday, June 7th! Wholesale Week is our 5-day FREE online workshop for food, bev, and taxable grocery brands that want a solid starting point for a smart retail strategy. With 10 minute, bite-sized lessons, it’s easy to participate. Register at the link here! Now, back to this episode! We have recently shared some of the mistakes that we see founders make in retail…now what about good starting points? In this episode of the Food Biz Wiz podcast, Alli focuses on THREE of her most important retail rules. These rules are applicable for all brands, but especially ones who are self-funded and building a brand that works for them! You’ll hear… How you can ensure that you’re getting into the right channels for success Why not to rely on that paid list of buyer contacts And what role brokers and distributors can truly play in your business As usual, we want to know WHICH rule resonates most? DM us on Instagram or LinkedIn to let us know. Find the links to our Instagram and LinkedIn as well as all the valuable resources mentioned in our full show notes here!

The opportunity to sell our products in a franchise seems like a no-brainer. Right? Well, there is usually more to consider: distribution, our production capacity, and more! That’s why we’re so excited to share this “Is It Worth It, Charlie?” episode where Charlie and Natalia, the founder and owner of Curious Cat Bakery, discuss just this. As Natalia thinks through whether she should start selling her frozen vegan croissants to a local franchise, you’ll hear more about… The main questions she wants to answer before saying yes How she can ease into an agreement that will allow more organic growth And what her next steps after the conversation are! We know plenty of you have likely wondered this same question, so we can't wait to hear which part of this episode you needed to hear most. Let us know by sending us a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn. Find our links and more about Natalia and Curious Cat Bakery at our full show notes here! This episode is sponsored by our Secret Sauce Quiz! Do you want to know what’s working in YOUR biz? Then make sure to take our Secret Sauce Quiz! You’ll answer 10 quick questions on yourself and your biz, and then you’ll learn your brand's current strength & how you can leverage that this year. You’ll receive a curated list of free resources for your exact stage of business so that you can do MORE of what’s working. Click here to take the quiz and receive your results and resources today!

We know. When someone tells you what not to do, it’s easy to tune them out. Maybe they aren’t in your position or they don’t have experience with your challenges. But it’s quite the opposite in today’s episode. Charlie Berkinshaw, the founder and CEO of Element Shrub and our VP of Student Success here at Retail Ready®, joins Alli to discuss the top 3 mistakes he sees food founders make. Charlie has been running Element Shrub for over 9 years as a solopreneur, which means that he knows firsthand the challenges of this industry. You’ll hear… How running a business based on what other folks are doing can be costly What you can do to avoid running into unexpected costs when you don’t account for your labor And why you need to be eyes wide open on what a distributor might cost Charlie’s sharing all this and more so that you can save yourself time and effort. If you’d like to learn more about Element Shrub and Charlie’s work here at Food Biz Wiz, then check out our full show notes here! This episode is sponsored by our Retail Roadmap! Similar to how Charlie shares his “insider” knowledge in this episode, we want to share Alli’s buyer expertise so that you know what it takes to get ON the retail shelf - be it a physical or digital shelf - AND have high sales once you're there! Find our free, nine-step guide to building a brand that flies off the shelf by clicking here so that you’re planning for each next step NOW!

Online, on TV, and from your next door neighbor, you’ll hear tons of financial advice for your business. “Avoid debt at all costs.” “You need to spend money to make money.” “Advisors from Fortune 500 companies will always know better than you.” It can be confusing to say the least! In this episode, Sarah Delevan, the Founder & CEO of Sarah Delevan Consulting & The Good Food CFO, joins us to shed light on some of the most common financial challenges food businesses face, debunk some misconceptions, AND share how brands can navigate those challenges. In this episode of the Food Biz Wiz podcast, you’ll hear more about…. Why higher sales don’t automatically solve a cash flow problem How critical it is to know all of your product margins What you can do to take a holistic approach to your cash flow and margin Reframing how we see debt and why it’s not inherently bad to have debt Wizes, we can’t wait for you to listen to this conversation! If you want to check out all the useful episodes mentioned, as well as more about Sarah, check out our full show notes here. You’ll also find our Instagram and LinkedIn links there as well! This episode is sponsored by OUR MASTERCLASS! As Sarah and Alli discussed, you need to find out where your product’s right channels are. This is just one of the many things we discuss in our Masterclass, which includes tons of actionable tips for growing your CPG food business, plus hear more about joining us in Retail Ready®. Click here to sign up for a time to watch our free Masterclass!

We can all agree: it’s TOO easy to dust off a box of Girl Scout cookies. So when Girl Scout cookie season rolls around, I try to avoid buying their cookies at all costs. But this season, as a savvy young Girl Scout in my neighborhood used her bag of sales tricks on me, it got me thinking about what sales tactics work and don’t work in the CPG world. In this brief episode, you’lll hear… The 3 easy sales tactics that you can borrow from this young seller for YOUR CPG sales One of the missed opportunities for increased sales that you can capture Plus more about my freebie to use with these tactics! We want to see you share this episode with your fellow food founders. Make sure to tag us on Instagram and LinkedIn, which you can find in our full show notes here! This episode is sponsored by our freebie workbook outlining 100 Buyer No’s. This workbook will walk you through prepping for any possible wholesale buyer objection and guide you in crafting a response that lets buyers know you are READY to get ON and sell OFF their shelf. It’s the perfect tool to have as you prepare for all your pitches. Find the free download here!

Hearing "your SKU is underperforming" from a retailer can easily put brands into a panic. It's natural. We don't want to be on the chopping block when category reviews come around. That's why we're thrilled to share this "Is It Worth It, Charlie?" episode. In it, Mary Bentdahl, the Co-Founder, CMO, and Director of Sales for ShroomEats, joins Charlie to discuss how she was able to react and to adjust when she heard from a retailer that one of their SKUs was underperforming. You'll hear their conversation on... The importance of keeping cool when you learn of a SKU's underperformance How staying proactive in your retailer communication can support your SKU success What harnessing consumer feedback can do for course correcting sales We're thrilled for you to listen into this episode and want to know which piece of Mary's experience resonated most with you. DM us on Instagram or LinkedIn, which are linked in our full show notes here. You can also find more about Mary and ShroomEats at our full show notes! This episode is sponsored by our mini Reorder Checklist! As Mary mentioned, it’s valuable to have a list of go-to actions for selling off the shelf. This checklist can help you be more likely to sell off those shelves and receive reorders. You can find our simplified version at the link here OR, if you’re a Retail Ready® student, you can find the longform version and training directly within our course platform!

The Portland Good Food Mercantile is coming up soon and we know that tons of tasty food brands will be attending. As you prepare for this trade show and other trade shows, you might wonder…what do I really need to BE prepared for these shows? That’s why we’re revisiting this episode with Joyce Attar. Joyce is the Director of Operations and member of the family that owns and operates Barbur World Foods, World Foods, and Ya Hala in Portland, Oregon. She’s also a member of the Good Food Merchant Alliance! She joins Alli to discuss… Where you can find a list of retailers that are values-aligned What BUYERS do to prepare for trade shows Why knowing your end customer and store audience is critical What piece of information not to miss in your buyer followup email We can’t wait to hear which piece of Joyce’s advice that you’ll implement first in your next trade show. DM us on Instagram or LinkedIn to let us know, and check out our full show notes here to find more information on The Good Food Foundation and their work, as well as more on Joyce! This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready®. Another quarter is beginning…do YOU have a strategy for starting and maintaining growth in your biz? If not, sign up for a time to watch our Masterclass! As we begin Q2, we want to make sure that you have an actionable retail strategy for how to increase YOUR sales. Check out our Masterclass for these tips, plus hear more about joining us in Retail Ready®. Click here to sign up for a time to watch our Masterclass!

Have you heard these myths about creating memorable brand names? Myth 1: All the good names are taken. Myth 2: It's too late to change your name. Myth 3: A name isn't that important. Well in this week's Food Biz Wiz episode, Alexandra Watkins, the Chief Executive Boss Lady of Eat My Words and a leading & outspoken authority on brand names, joins us to debunk these myths! In this episode, you'll hear all about... What Alexandra's “SMILE & SCRATCH Test” is for creating names Why it's not too late to re-brand and re-name your biz! How you can even use this process for product or line names And how you can enter the giveaway to win Alexandra's book, Hello, My Name is Awesome: How to Create Brand Names That Stick Wizes, we are thrilled to share Alexandra’s actionable advice with you! Listen in and check out our full show notes here for all the details on Alexandra and how to enter our giveaway, plus how to receive a discount on Alexandra’s course! This episode is sponsored by our Secret Sauce Quiz! Do you want to know what’s working in YOUR biz? Then make sure to take our Secret Sauce Quiz! You’ll answer 10 quick questions on yourself and your biz, and you’ll learn your brand's current strength & how you can leverage that this year. (We promise that it’ll take less than 2 minutes!) You’ll receive a curated list of free resources for your exact stage of business and your business superpower - so that you can do MORE of what’s working. Click here to take the quiz and receive your results and resources

We are back this week with part II of last week’s episode 237 with Kai Nortey! In this episode 238 of the Food Biz Wiz podcast, you’ll continue to hear Kai and Alli discuss more about Kai’s transparent, no sugarcoat experiences as a CPG founder. If you missed part I in last week’s episode, we recommend that you check out that episode first! Kai Nortey is the CEO & Co-Founder of kubé, PBC (Public Benefit Corporation). Kubé is a Black woman-owned artisanal, premium, and luxurious full-fat coconut ice cream womanfacturer and social enterprise, based in Oakland, California. They make their own clean, full-fat coconut cream from mature coconuts, then blend it with organic plant-based food ingredients. Specifically, you’ll hear more about… How Kai has arrived at her non-negotiables in their business What the costs of taking VC from investors who aren’t aligned could be Why it’s worth exploring all your options and pivoting when necessary And what you can do to empower yourself before investment conversations! Wizes, you can find all the resources mentioned in this episode, plus more about Kai and kubé in our full show notes here! As always, we want to hear: what perspective or wisdom did you need to hear most from Kai today? DM us via LinkedIn or Instagram and let us know! Didn’t have a chance to join my LIVE Wholesale Success System training this week on Tuesday or Thursday? Then come sign up for a time to watch my Masterclass! As we put Q1 behind us, we want to make sure that YOUR Q2 is armed with actionable strategy on how to increase YOUR sales. Check out our Masterclass for these tips, plus hear more about joining us in Retail Ready®. Click here to sign up for a time to watch our Masterclass!

The CPG industry remains OPAQUE in many ways. It can feel hard to enter it prepared. That's why we're thrilled to have Kai Nortey, the CEO & Co-Founder of kubé, PBC (Public Benefit Corporation) join us to bring a transparent look at how she has built her business to work for her. kubé is a Black woman-owned artisanal, premium, and luxurious full-fat coconut ice cream womanfacturer and social enterprise, based in Oakland, California. They make their own clean, full-fat coconut cream from mature coconuts, then blend it with organic plant-based food ingredients. You'll hear all about: The lessons that Kai learned directly from founders in the ice cream category What building the biz their way has meant for them and their community Some of the challenges of taking VC when you are a values and mission-forward brand And how important it is to find truly values-aligned partners to support your brand and its mission Wizes, part II of this episode will be in episode 238 next week. Before then, we want to hear from you in our Instagram or LinkedIn DMs: was there something in this episode that surprised you or that you needed to hear? Find Kai's & kubé's information, as well as our social links, in our full show notes here! This episode is sponsored by my LIVE Wholesale Success System training on March 26th and 28th! Do you often feel like you’re constantly winging your sales strategy? Like you never actually know if you’re saying the right things in a pitch or if you’re on the right track? If you answered yes to any of these, then come learn my Wholesale Success System. I'm teaching this system on Tuesday, March 26th and again on Thursday, March 28th. Pick the date that works for you, and register for free here!

We are thrilled to continue celebrating female founders' businesses and their CPG wisdom during this Women’s History Month. In this week’s episode of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast, we’re sharing our conversation with Tonia Farman, CEO and Co-Founder of Queen of Hearts, which makes the world’s first sustainable salad dressing, made with hemp seeds. Tonia’s business is rooted in creating a positive impact for our food system. She has navigated multiple challenges and wins in her biz, so you’ll hear about… Actually leveraging YOUR strengths and how to find them Knowing what the signs of burnout from hustle culture are and when you should pause Using your data to guide what to focus on next and what to cut out And saying no as a means of guiding your growth thoughtfully and strategically Wizes, we’d LOVE to hear what takeaways you needed to hear from Tonia in this episode or what you’re going to implement next. DM us or tag us over on Instagram or LinkedIn and be sure to check out Tonia’s podcast. Find all those links, plus the resources that Tonia mentioned, in our full show notes here! This episode is sponsored by our mini Reorder Checklist! In line with finding the right tactics that work for YOUR business, this checklist is a list of ways to onboard a new retailer so that you’re more likely to sell off those shelves and receive reorders. You can find our simplified version at the link here OR, if you’re a Retail Ready® student, you can find the longform version and training directly within our course platform!

Busy caregivers, busy founders, busy people have at least ONE thing in common. They all deserve healthy AND delicious snacks to fuel them! This is part of what propels B.T.R. NATION. In this episode of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast, I’m sitting down with Ashley Nickelsen, the Founder, CEO, and Chief Snack Officer of B.T.R. NATION. They are on a mission to help fix our broken food system one snack at a time! I am thrilled for Ashley to share her story and how she has built B.T.R NATION, especially as we head into Women's History Month and hear from women who are doing business their own way. You’ll hear more about… Why determining your non-negotiables NOW can help support your strategy How staying rooted in your original “why” supports your authenticity The importance of finding the right partners at the right time And what a more genuine approach to working with influencers looks like Wizes, as we mentioned in the episode, we want to hear what YOUR non-negotiables are after listening to this episode. Come DM us or tag us in your stories over on Instagram and on LinkedIn, which are both linked in our full show notes here! This episode is sponsored by our mini Reorder Checklist! In line with finding the right tactics that work for YOUR business, this checklist is a list of ways to onboard a new retailer so that you’re more likely to sell off those shelves and receive reorders. You can find our simplified version at the link here OR, if you’re a Retail Ready® student, you can find the longform version and training directly within our course platform!

Today's guest on the Food Biz Wiz podcast is Skyler Mapes, the Cofounder and CEO of EXAU, a high-quality Italian olive oil brand. Skyler has been named a Forbes 30 Under 30 and has grown EXAU by 6x over the past 6 years. Still, Skyler says "no" to constant growth and expansion. In this episode, we are thrilled to share our conversation on her journey to this point and the lessons that she has learned, including... Why the "slowness" of the food industry is relative and how you can use it to encourage thoughtful decision making Three words you need to hear to grow YOUR comfort zone The importance of doing self-healing work to root into your values more clearly And how their passion for olive oil helped land them a book deal! Wizes, as Skyler and I mentioned in this episode, we'd LOVE it if you scroll wayyyy back in our social media profiles and tag us on our early content! You'll see that being a brand online is a constant work in progress and see Skyler's three key words in action. Find both the Food Biz Wiz and EXAU social media links in our full show notes here! This episode is sponsored by our freebie workbook outlining 100 Buyer No’s. This workbook will walk you through prepping for any possible wholesale buyer objection and guide you in crafting a response that lets buyers know you are READY to get ON and sell OFF their shelf. It’s the perfect tool to have as you prepare for all your pitches. Find the free download here!

Most people don't believe me when I say this, but here’s a secret of mine: I am actually an introvert. I often dread the small talk of industry events and how draining these events can sometimes feel. But over years of attending industry events, I've come up with a game plan that has made attending events both more fun AND more valuable. In this episode, I'll share my tried and true game plan with you, including... The THREE steps that I take to ensure a more mindful and impactful time at events How knowing and sharing your goals with others helps your brand And why you need to build in time to rest after events! As I mentioned in the episode, I want to know what YOUR goal for your next event is, so feel free to tag us in your stories OR DM us on Instagram or LinkedIn so that we can cheer you on! Find our Instagram and LinkedIn via our full show notes here! Have you been considering Retail Ready®? We never put Retail Ready® on sale but are offering a HUGE deal for Leap Day! The first 29 people who join Retail Ready® on Thursday, February 29th will receive two never-seen-before deals: a $250 cash rebate for you to invest back in your own business AND our Leap Day Bonus Bundle, worth over $1700 of pre and post trade show cheat sheets, our Food Biz Wiz Money Maker list, which has our favorite pitch slams, accelerators, grants, and money making opportunities for the year ahead, and a whole lot more! This promotion is available ONLY on Thursday, February 29th - and is open to the first 29 brands who join us that day - or until 11:59 PM, PST - whichever comes first. Click through to the full show notes for details and to get a “save the date” directly on your calendar!

In business, we often feel that we might have to compromise on our values to see our brands grow. But on the Food Biz Wiz podcast, we want to highlight how you can still grow your brand AND center your values. That’s why in today’s Original Recipe episode, we are excitedly revisiting our episode with Ibraheem Basir, the CEO and founder of A Dozen Cousins. A Dozen Cousins produces delicious packaged beans, rices, and sauces inspired by Black and Latino recipes from throughout the Americas. Ibraheem shares how he continues to emphasize being a values-centered company AND growing A Dozen Cousins into a national, retail-first brand. Tune in to hear him and Alli discuss… Why retail was where he focused first, instead of D2C What values A Dozen Cousins stands for and how they weave them into their work Their process for hiring diverse, values-aligned team members and building team culture As Alli has mentioned, we want to connect further with you, our Food Biz Wiz listeners! We want to know: which piece of Ibraheem’s experience or wisdom inspired you the most for your brand? DM us on Instagram or on LinkedIn, which you can find linked in our full show notes. You’ll also find more information on Ibraheem, A Dozen Cousins, and all the resources mentioned linked there as well. This episode is sponsored by our mini Reorder Checklist! In line with growing your brand through multiple tactics, this checklist is a list of ways to onboard a new retailer so that you’re more likely to sell off those shelves and receive reorders. You can find our simplified version at the link here OR, if you’re a Retail Ready® student, you can find the longform version and training directly within our course platform!

We often get into this trap of thinking: we've put hours of work in, so the sales will automatically follow. Right? The truth is that it's not always a 1:1 relationship, especially in e-commerce. That's why we're thrilled to have Maureen Mwangi, the Founder of Startward Consulting, e-commerce expert and brand strategist behind many of America's most beloved brands, join us on the Food Biz Wiz Podcast today! In today's episode, she shares multiple ways that you can architect your SKUs, seasonality, and branding to increase sales, even when you think that you’ve hit a plateau. In this episode, you'll hear Alli and Maureen discuss... How having specific uses for each of your products benefits your brand The importance of using data to know your consumers How using data to inform your decisions makes your work more efficient What authentic branding can do to reach the right audiences You can find out more about Maureen, Startward Consulting, and their Sales Maximizer training in our full show notes here! There were so many gems in this episode so we want to hear from you: which will you incorporate first? Connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn (both in our full show notes) to share more with us! This episode is sponsored by our Retail Roadmap! We want to share Alli’s buyer expertise so that you know what it takes to get ON the retail shelf - be it a physical or digital shelf - AND have high sales once you're there. Find our free, nine-step guide to building a brand that flies off the shelf by clicking here so that you’re planning for each next step NOW!

As we enter February and celebrate Black History Month with our Food Biz Wiz community, we are excited to revisit this episode with CPG industry veteran Sheryl O’Loughlin on how we can cultivate an inclusive CPG industry that supports Black futures and represents all of us! Sheryl is the co-founder of the JEDI (justice, equity, diversity and inclusion) Collaborative, the Women on Boards Project, former CEO of REBBL and Clif Bar and Company, and co-founder and former CEO Plum Organics. In this episode, you’ll hear Sheryl and Alli discuss… Why prioritizing just, equitable, and inclusive practices is critical to our industry What brands might be able to expect in their journey to becoming a brand that supports anti-racism, equity, and inclusivity How Jedi Collaborative's work can support YOUR brand’s particular JEDI journey And why these journeys are STILL important for brands who have small teams! This episode is packed with important insights and we’d love to hear your takeaways. Connect with us through our Instagram or LinkedIn, which are both linked in our full show notes here. You can also find all the links mentioned in the episode there, too! This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® Masterclass! As we put the first month of 2024 behind us, we want to make sure that the rest of your Q1 is armed with actionable tips from Alli on how to increase YOUR sales. Check out our Masterclass for these tips, plus hear more about joining us in Retail Ready®. Click here to sign up for a time to watch our Masterclass!

We are back with our first “Is It Worth It, Charlie?” episode of 2024, with Karen Hetz. Karen is the Chief Happiness Officer of Kids’ Cake Boxes and she joins Charlie to discuss how she can decide what’s next for her business on the heels of her business’ third anniversary. Tune in to hear more about… What questions we can ask ourselves to orient how we move forward Why looking back at our original “why” can inform our future How we can rethink what it means to be successful in business and why pivoting and “failure” isn’t an inherently negative thing! We’d love to hear what resonated most with you from this episode, wizes! Connect with us via Instagram or LinkedIn at the links in our full show notes HERE. You can also check out more on Karen and Kids’ Cake Boxes. This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® Masterclass! If you listened into this episode and wanted to be part of a supportive CPG community AND have Charlie’s insights on your biz challenges, then Retail Ready® is the perfect place for you. Check out our Masterclass for our actionable tips to increase YOUR sales in Q1, plus hear more about joining us in Retail Ready®. Click here to sign up for a time to watch our Masterclass!

Welcome to our first episode of season 20 of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast, wizes! As promised, we are kicking off this season with Sarah Davidson. Sarah is the Executive Vice President of ECRM, which connects producers with retail buyers through hybrid and in-person buyer meeting events. In her role at ECRM, Sarah has seen 1000s of buyer pitches. In this episode, you’ll hear… How ECRM connects the right buyers and the right suppliers through their events Common traits of the most successful buyer pitches and what NOT to do The importance of timing with resets and category reviews in mind As I mentioned in our episode, one of my 2024 goals is to feel more connected to our listeners. Please find the links to our Instagram and LinkedIn (as well as the Sarilla article mentioned, Sarah’s contact information, and our past episode) in our full show notes here! This episode is sponsored by our Retail Roadmap! Just as Alli and Sarah share their “insider” knowledge in this episode, receiving “insider” knowledge can make a world of difference for an emerging brand. We want to share Alli’s buyer expertise so that you know what it takes to get ON the retail shelf - be it a physical or digital shelf - AND have high sales once you're there! Find our free, nine-step guide to building a brand that flies off the shelf by clicking here so that you’re planning for each next step NOW!

In this brief first Food Biz Wiz episode of 2024, I want to share the game-changing business belief that I tried on over the past 2 years. Honestly, this belief has surprised me! It contradicts some of my typical business guidance, but for good reason. Press play to hear this specific belief and… How trying on this belief can help get you closer to your vision A reminder of why you might have started your business in the first place And one more way that you can get closer to your business vision Wizes, I want to hear what YOUR response to this belief is. Be sure to DM me on Instagram or on LinkedIn and let me know. You can find both links in our full show notes here! If you listened in and heard me mention Wholesale Week, then you’re in the right place! From Monday, January 8th - Friday, January 12th - we're talking all about e-commerce, increasing wholesale accounts, perfecting your sales pitch, and connecting with wholesale Buyers in five days of mini-lessons that only take 10 minutes per day. We’ve designed these mini-lessons to get you going in the right direction. Plus, by participating daily, you’ll be entered to win amazing prizes, like a free 1:1 session with me and more! I'll send you all the details on the how, what, and when once you register and save your spot in Wholesale Week HERE.

Joe Tarnowski, the VP of Content & Global Media at ECRM, joins me today on the Food Biz Wiz podcast to join forces in sharing our 2024 CPG predictions. ECRM works to connect suppliers and buyers in our industry and Joe brings 10+ years of CPG industry experience to inform his upcoming predictions. We can't wait to share more with you, so tune in to hear more about... The years-long trend that will continue into 2024 Challenges that suppliers will continue to face from a buyer perspective How brands will adapt into non-traditional channels that support their way of biz Increased consumer know-how & education in their product choices And room for indulgent brands that aren't health or wellness focused! Joe and I would LOVE to know which trends might have surprised you or which ones you wanted to hear. Come let us know by tagging us on social media or sending us a DM on IG or LinkedIn -- you’ll find our links and information in our full show notes, as usual! One more thing here…if you’ve been on the fence about joining Retail Ready®, our program for CPG brands who want to land on more shelves and increase their sales, then NOW is the time to join! Savvy brands have a solid pitch and sales plan READY come January…but we know that they also want time to take a break during the holidays without feeling the guilt. That’s why we’re giving brands who join before year end extended access through March 31st. Give yourself the gift of ease and confidence by joining Retail Ready® today!

I've got to say, wizes: I'm a little bit nervous to share this episode. While we typically focus on directly CPG-related topics here on the Food Biz Wiz podcast, I'm going to talk about taking rest unapologetically in our business journey. Though you've likely heard me mention the importance of rest, I'm coming to you vulnerably as a reformed workaholic! You'll hear me discuss... My relationship to hustle culture and how it might relate to your work ethic as well How we can recognize our relationship to hustle culture and burnout so that we can stay rooted in our own business motivations Why we don’t have to see rest ONLY as a means to increased productivity And my 2024 challenge & your invitation to stay connected with it! Wizes, I’m SO thrilled to commit to this 2024 challenge. If you’re interested in following along in my Rest Report, then make sure to sign up at our site here. Be sure to also check out our full show notes here, where we’ll add more podcast episodes on the topic of rest and mental health. One more thing here…if you’ve been on the fence about joining Retail Ready®, our program for CPG brands who want to land on more shelves and increase their sales, then now is the time to join! We know savvy brands who join now want to have a solid pitching and selling plan in place come January…but they also want time to take a break during the holidays without feeling the guilt. That’s why we’re giving brands who join before year end extended access through March 31st. Give yourself the gift of a game plan for January, plus the ease of knowing you’ll have extra time in March to kick off your new year. Check out our full information here!

In the CPG industry, we often feel the pressure to “grow, grow, grow” in order to reach success. We have to keep our foot on the gas in order to get to where we want to be, faster. Truthfully though…it’s usually not sustainable for our mental health or for building a business that works for us. That’s why Anjali Bhargava joins this week’s episode of the Food Biz Wiz podcast. Anjali Bhargava is the founder and CEO of Anjali’s Cup, which makes ayurvedic-inspired drink mixes and spice blends. Anjali self-describes as “the tortoise” in her business and has much to share about growing the confidence to build a business that works for her. Listen in to hear more about… How she decided to pivot from her original product Why she embraces being “the tortoise” in her business What the benefits of growing slower have been, including being more adaptable, leaner, and tuned into her intuition And how returning to her values time and again kept her on track! Make sure that you check out our full show notes here to find Anjali’s Cup and connect with me on Instagram and LinkedIn! If you’ve been on the fence about joining Retail Ready®, our program for CPG brands who want to land on more shelves and increase their sales, then now is the time to join! We know savvy brands who join now want to have a solid pitching and selling plan in place come January…but they also want time to take a break during the holidays without feeling the guilt. That’s why we’re giving brands who join before year end extended access through March 31st. Give yourself the gift of a game plan for January, plus the ease of knowing you’ll have extra time in March to kick off your new year. Check out our full information here!

As we approach the new year, goal-setting advice is par for the course. The thing is, everyone’s course might look different! That’s why in this brief episode, I encourage you to do things differently with your goals. You’ll hear me talk more about… The value of knowing YOUR “why” in setting your goals My controversial a-ha moment that I want all CPG founders to hear when goal setting And an invite to join us in our FREE Not Another Goal Workshop on December 5th to set our 2024 goals together! Interested in joining us to set 2024 goals together? Register for our FREE goal setting workshop, the Not Another Goal Workshop, on December 5th at 11am PST, at our link here! Be sure to check out our full show notes as well, where you can find where to connect with me on Instagram and LinkedIn, and you can ask me your questions on our workshop and on goal setting. We hope to see you at the workshop!

We have a brief episode this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, but we still wanted to take a moment to connect with you, wizes! In this episode, you’ll hear… About resources to learn more about the history of Thanksgiving and Indigenous people in the United States and how you can learn about whose land you might live on An ask to share our podcast with YOUR food founder network so that we can reach more founders! PLUS an invitation to set 2024 intentions thoughtfully in our FREE online workshop on Tuesday, December 5th, titled “Not Another Goal Workshop.” We’ll share the WLF method for setting goals that actually stick! Be sure to check out our full show notes here so that you can connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn. You can also find out more about our Not Another Goal Workshop and register here! In the meantime, we hope you get a chance to share some delicious food and be in community with loved ones this week. See you next week, wizes!

In this week's episode of the Food Biz Wiz podcast, I'm answering the fourth quarter questions from YOU that have come up in our DMs over the past weeks. This episode hits multiple topics in one! You'll hear my rapid-fire, short and sweet answers to these questions: Should you give your retail buyers a gift? If so, what? What margins are buyers looking for during the holidays? Should I be giving buyers a minimum advertised (MAP) or maximum advertised price? And what can I do to plan for Q1 success in 2024? Tune into this brief episode to hear all my thoughts on these! Make sure to check out our full show notes here so that you can connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn and let us know which answer you needed to hear most. This episode is sponsored by our Pitch Perfect Workshop on Wednesday, December 13th! Join Retail Ready® now, and get a FREE ticket to Pitch Perfect, our bonus live group coaching session to perfect your sales pitch and ensure that you’re ready to get those “hell yes!’s” from accounts come January. And if your pitch isn’t quite perfect yet… then you’ll learn exactly what to change in the next few weeks before the New Year. Find out how you can join us in Retail Ready® in time for the session at the link here!

One of the most common questions we hear emerging brands ask is: how many SKUs should I launch into stores with? And for good reason. Determining the number of SKUs that you'll sell into retail depends on many factors AND it impacts many other aspects of your business. That's why in this week's "Is It Worth It, Charlie?" episode of the Food Biz Wiz podcast, Charlie and Kim Meyer (the CEO & Chief Kimbar Maker at Real Food For The Journey, LLC) team up to discuss the number of SKUs that she will launch. In this episode, you will hear more on... How to think through best and worst case scenarios for your SKU numbers Why it could be useful to offer seasonal flavors And helpful reasons for starting off with small SKU numbers Be sure to check out more about Kimbars and Kim Meyer, as well as the link to our Instagram and LinkedIn, in our full show notes here! We’d love to hear what part of this conversation was most helpful to you determining how many SKUs to launch. This episode is sponsored by our Retail Roadmap! Receiving “insider” knowledge can make a world of difference for an emerging brand. We want to share Alli’s buyer expertise so that you know what it takes to get ON the retail shelf - be it a physical or digital shelf - AND have high sales once you're there! Find our free, nine-step guide to building a brand that flies off the shelf by clicking here so that you’re planning for each next step NOW!

Instagram stories receive over 400 million views per day. Over a third of those views are for business accounts. As you double down on connecting with your audience during Q4 and beyond, does your brand have a strategy for creating engaging and effective Instagram stories? In this episode, we're revisiting a past episode to ensure that you have a do-able system in place for making story content. You'll hear more about... Alli's 3 simple steps for creating engaging Instagram stories What goal format you can use to keep your stories clear and focused And how this process can ultimately save you time in the long run! As we mentioned in this episode, we want to know which piece of advice resonated most with you or hear what you think of these episodes! Let us know what you think by DMing us on Instagram and via LinkedIn. Find the relevant past episodes for holiday pitching and the links to our Instagram and LinkedIn in our full show notes here. This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready® Right Now! If you listened in and want a place where you can directly hear Alli’s strategy advice for YOUR CPG business, then Retail Ready® is the place for you. Retail Ready® is our online course and community for producers who are looking to have a solid retail strategy and increase their sales with less guesswork. Click here for our quickstart enrollment so that you can learn more and get started TODAY!

If you've been listening into this fourth quarter focus mini-series, then you'll know that for most brands, Q4 is not the time to pitch to buyers. So...what next, then? In this episode, I'm sharing the top THREE things that you can work on before Q4 ends to prepare for the new year, when buyers come out of the chaos of the holidays. You'll hear more about... What THREE things you need to work on Why it's essential to use this pitching "downtime" before Q1 rolls around And how you can be confident in this prep work before the new year! I’d love to hear how you liked this style of mini-series and episodes. Let me know by DMing me on Instagram and on LinkedIn. You can find the links to my Instagram, LinkedIn, and also find all the episodes in this mini-series, linked in our full show notes here. This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® Masterclass for growing YOUR food business! Check out our Masterclass for our actionable tips to increase your sales now and in Q1, plus an invite to join us in Retail Ready®. If you KNOW that you want access to ALL of my buyer insights and to be a part of our supportive, knowledgeable community, then Retail Ready® is THE place for you. Click here to sign up for a time to watch our Masterclass!

The holiday season is almost upon us. Whether you're pitching your product or not -- and check out my last episode if you're not sure whether you should! -- then there are still steps that you can take NOW to maximize your holiday sales. In this episode, I'll share my top, simple tips for ensuring that you're ready to capture as many sales as possible. Tune in to hear... What you can do to build trust with your wholesale accounts in Q4 My MOST important tip for dealing with buyers during Q4 Why you could lose email subscribers if you don't do this thing before Black Friday And how you can win more D2C buyers! Wizes, I want to know how you're liking this episode. Be sure to DM me on Instagram or on LinkedIn, which are both linked in the full show notes here! You'll also be able to find the links to our first and second episode in this four part Fourth Quarter Focus Series. As we head into Q4, a season of increased D2C and direct store shipping, do you know exactly how much profit you’re making - or losing - as you ship your products? If you know you need to fine tune this ASAP, then join us in Retail Ready® NOW through October 24th and get your free ticket, worth $200, to our LIVE What Should I Charge? workshop. You’ll learn how to calculate your fixed vs variable costs, FOB vs. delivered pricing, potential discounts, and much more. Click through to our Retail Ready® information page HERE to find out more about joining us and receiving a bonus ticket to our October 25th workshop!

Now that we're IN Q4, time is ticking. Are you thinking about pitching your product before the year ends? If so, I want you to listen into this episode FIRST. I'll share more about what you need to know about pitching before the year ends, including... Whether you should pitch your product in Q4 at all What points your pitch needs if you are pitching your product in Q4 What you can do instead of pitching if your product isn't a Q4 fit And strategies that you can use to entice retail buyers in this season! Alright wizes, once you've listened in, I want to know where you're struggling. Send me a DM on Instagram, which you can find in our full show notes here, along with the link to our previous episode! As we head into Q4, a season of increased D2C and direct store shipping, do you know exactly how much profit you’re making - or losing - as you ship your products? If you know you need to fine tune this ASAP, then join us in Retail Ready® NOW through October 24th and get your free ticket, worth $200, to our LIVE "What Should I Charge?" workshop. You’ll learn how to calculate your fixed vs variable costs, FOB vs. delivered pricing, potential discounts, and much more. Click through to our Retail Ready® information page HERE to find out more about joining us and receiving a bonus ticket to our October 25th workshop!

There's so much buzz around the 4th season and what it means for the retail and CPG world. How do we separate fact from fiction, when it comes to buyers in the 4th quarter? In this episode, I'm re-capping what you need to know about pitching in Q4 so that you make the most of your limited time. In this episode, you'll hear.. A month-to-month breakdown of what Q4 looks like for busy buyers How a potential staffing pinch will affect the grocery landscape Why it's "all bets off" for buyer communications after November And what you can do to hit the ground running in early 2024! Wizes, let us know what lightbulb moment you had from this episode and what you’re going to be doing differently this Q4. What commitment are you making now to be more prepared in January? Tag me in your stories or DM me your commitment! Find my Instagram and LinkedIn in our full show notes here! As we head into Q4, a season of increased D2C and direct store shipping, do you know exactly how much profit you’re making - or losing - as you ship your products? If you know you need to fine tune this ASAP, then join us in Retail Ready® NOW through October 24th and get your free ticket, worth $200, to our LIVE What Should I Charge? workshop. You’ll learn how to calculate your fixed vs variable costs, FOB vs. delivered pricing, potential discounts, and much more. Click through to our Retail Ready® information page HERE to find out more about joining us and receiving a bonus ticket to our October 25th workshop!

I WISH that Faire existed back when I was a buyer. If you're not familiar with Faire, Faire is an online B2B marketplace allowing independent retailers to find and to connect with brands like YOURS. In today's episode, Colin Ainsworth and Andy Bluestein from the Faire team join the podcast to share… How Faire works, both from a brand and retailer perspective Ways that brands can optimize their profiles for retailer discovery The perks that retailers and brands receive for using Faire And mistakes to avoid as a new or existing brand on the platform Wizes, I want to know if you'll be updating your existing Faire profile soon, or even better, if you're finally going to join Faire after this episode! Snap a photo and tag me and the Faire team. Find the links to our Instagram, LinkedIn, and socials in our full show notes here. This episode is sponsored by our mini Reorder Checklist! To support this episode’s theme, this checklist is a list of ways to onboard a new retailer so that you’re more likely to sell off those shelves and receive reorders. You can find our simplified version at the link here OR, if you’re a Retail Ready® student, you can find the longform version and training directly within our course platform!

Q4 is nearly upon us. Before your holiday D2C sales start ramping up, there's one, one hour task that can increase your holiday sales: implementing an abandoned cart automation. Even if you already have an abandoned cart automation set up, this episode will confirm best practices for you. This episode will share... Reasons why your consumers might abandon a cart Resources to help determine where consumers are leaving in YOUR checkout process The step-by-step procedure for establishing an efficient abandoned cart email sequence, spread over five days WHAT each email should say And Alli's #1 tip for getting this task done! Check out our full show notes for all the resources mentioned, including Alli’s Instagram and LinkedIn links. Let us know if it’s on your list to create or re-visit your abandoned cart automation before the holidays set in! This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready®! If you’re a Food Biz Wiz listener, then you are a savvy CPG founder. You’re here to refine your strategies and gain insight to become an even savvier founder. In short, you’re the perfect fit for Retail Ready®. Retail Ready® is our online program for producers who are looking to have a solid retail strategy and increase their sales with less guesswork. We just re-launched Retail Ready® and can’t wait for you to join us. Click here for our quickstart enrollment so that you can learn more and get your Q4 momentum started now!

A successful wholesale pitch depends on multiple factors. But one thing is certain: without these 5 P's, you are all the less likely to nail your pitch. In this episode, I share these 5 key topics that you need to have prepared for buyers. In this episode, you will be able to... Recognize the 5 P's in a successful wholesale pitch: product, placement, pricing, promotion, and purchasing Understand the nuances of each "P" & how you can BE prepared for pitching Know where you might have holes in your pitch And have next steps for what to do if you don't have these 5 P's nailed down! Wizes, I’d love to hear from you! DM me on Instagram or LinkedIn and let me know which of the 5 P’s you need to get down next. You can find my Instagram and LinkedIn links in our full show notes here. This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready®! If you listened in and know that you need support with YOUR 5 P’s, then you are the perfect fit for Retail Ready®. Retail Ready® is our online program for producers who are looking to have a solid retail strategy and increase their sales with less guesswork. We are re-launching enrollment TODAY and can’t wait for you to join us. Click here for our quickstart enrollment so that you can learn more and get your Q4 momentum started now!

If you're reading this, chances are high that you're a savvy founder. You want to learn more about navigating our CPG landscape and look for resources to do that even more successfully. Well, you're in extra luck today! Kathleen Casanova, the Executive Director of Project Potluck, joins us on this week's episode of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast. Project Potluck is a non-profit organization that connects CPG founders of color with resources & mentorship in our industry. Kathleen has TONS of perspective into what our CPG landscape looks like right now. In this episode, you'll hear more about... The challenges that all founders can expect right now in the CPG industry Why the industry STILL feels hard and solutions she sees working The ways that Project Potluck supports founders of color and how allies can also support their work AND, how Food Biz Wiz is partnering with Project Potluck and hosting Wholesale Week, our week of short trainings for emerging CPG brands! Wizes, if you’re looking to level up your CPG approach, join us in Wholesale Week! If you have questions on joining us, DM us on Instagram or LinkedIn. Find both links to our IG and LinkedIn, Project Potluck’s information, and Kathleen’s past episode in our full show notes here. This episode is sponsored by our Wholesale Week! We’re hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, September 11th - Friday, September 15th, where we’ll have daily, bite-sized lessons on getting onto a path to profitability, learning Alli’s 4 step process to pitching to wholesale buyers, and understanding our Wholesale Success System. Ten minutes per day is all you need to get you feeling even more confident before we head into Q4. Find out more and sign up here!

This week on the Food Biz Wiz Podcast, Charlie checks back in with Patricia Beets, the co-founder of Dell Cove Spices & More Co., in another "Is It Worth It, Charlie?" episode. Charlie and Patricia originally connected on whether or not she should exhibit at a trade show in episode 143 from April 2022. They discussed how to quantify the ROI for a trade show, what a realistic timeline for trade show prep is, and how she might otherwise use their potential trade show budget. In this episode, Charlie and Patricia check back in on... Patricia’s takeaways from being an attendee instead of an exhibitor Dell Cove’s reasoning for planning to attend 2 upcoming trade shows The money-saving tip from Charlie that Patricia still endorses And how they used the potential trade show budget for building their team! Are you considering a trade show but nervous to miss out on it? Let us know via Instagram or LinkedIn DM how this episode resonated for you and what part you needed to hear most. Find links to our Instagram, LinkedIn, as well as other relevant trade show episodes in our full show notes here! This episode is sponsored by our Wholesale Week! We are hosting Wholesale Week from Monday, September 11th - Friday, September 15th, where we’ll have daily, bite-sized lessons on getting onto a path to profitability, learning Alli’s 4 step process to pitching to wholesale buyers, and understanding our Wholesale Success System. We’re also proud to be delivering Wholesale Week on a sliding scale (starting at free!) to raise funds for our favorite non-profit, Project Potluck, which supports mentorship and resources for CPG founders of color. Ten minutes per day is all you need to get you feeling even more confident before we head into Q4. Find out more and sign up here!

A packaging designer friend and I were chatting recently at an industry event about our CPG experiences. Within 10 minutes, we were listing off the common mistakes that we keep seeing well-meaning brands make over and over again. As industry vets, it’s easy for us to spot these mistakes instantly, but less easy for emerging brands. That’s why I'm taking our conversation and condensing it into this episode, so that we can save you time and money and help you avoid making these 5 CPG pitfalls! In this episode, you'll hear a rundown of... The 5 mistakes, plus the 1 design mistake, that brands make all the time! What 5 things you absolutely need to prepare for a buyer meeting And strategies you can use to avoid making these mistakes in the first place We want to hear from you! Which mistake might you have made and which one are you fixing first? Let us know via Instagram or LinkedIn DM. Find links to our Instagram, LinkedIn, and other resources in our full show notes here! P.S.: You might hear me say in the beginning that this is episode 210, but rest assured that this is actually episode 209! This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready® Right Now! If you listened in and want a place where you can learn even more strategies for fixing these mistakes, then you are the perfect fit for Retail Ready®. Retail Ready® is our online course and community for producers who are looking to have a solid retail strategy and increase their sales with less guesswork. Click here for our quickstart enrollment so that you can learn more and get started TODAY!

You want to land on more shelves. So, you stop by your retail target and leave samples...but you might be doing more harm than good for your brand. In this week's episode of the Food Biz Wiz podcast, I'm debunking myths about sharing samples with wholesale buyers and what you need to do to make sure you get it right. You’ll hear all about… The #1 mistake I see eager brands make when sharing their samples What happens when you make this mistake How you can be savvy about sharing your samples so that you don't waste time, effort, and money And why sharing samples isn't JUST about your product's taste! Make sure to connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn and let us know what you’ll be doing differently the next time you share samples with a buyer. Find our Instagram and LinkedIn links, as well as other relevant podcast episodes, at our full show notes here! This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready® Right Now! If you listened in and want a place to ask specifics about best practices for sharing your samples and crafting a compelling pitch, then you are the perfect fit for Retail Ready®. Retail Ready® is our online course and community for producers who are looking to have a solid retail strategy and increase their sales with less guesswork. Click here for our quickstart enrollment so that you can learn more and get started TODAY!

Many CPG founders have been in this situation. A potential retail partner or a distributor or co-packer is asking you for something that you cannot afford or do not feel comfortable with -- but you do not feel like you can say "no." In this episode, Alli dives into how you can navigate these difficult conversations with negotiation. She’ll equip you with the mindset to know that you can work to create agreements that work for both parties and that ultimately, result in less stress for you! Specifically, she covers: What happens when brands never say "no" or never negotiate The importance of knowing what you CAN offer – whether it's promos, marketing support, or other offers – in your negotiations Why can you also say "no" and it won't be the end of the world How you can receive support in figuring out what you can offer partners Make sure that you follow this link to our full show notes, where you can connect with us via LinkedIn and Instagram to share where you’re using these tips next! This episode is sponsored by our Secret Sauce Quiz! Do you want to know what’s working in YOUR biz? Then make sure to take our Secret Sauce Quiz! You’ll answer 10 quick questions on yourself and your biz, and you’ll learn your brand's current strength & how you can leverage that this year. (We promise that it’ll take less than 2 minutes!) You’ll receive a curated list of free resources for your exact stage of business and your business superpower - so that you can do MORE of what’s working. Click here to take the quiz and receive your results and resources today!

If you're wondering how other brands' journeys with co-packers or co-manufacturers are going, then this is the episode for you! In this "Is It Worth It, Charlie?" episode, Charlie checks back in with Kathrin Henon, the CEO and Founder of Planet Bake, around how her search for a co-packer has gone over the past year. Charlie and Kathrin first discussed whether co-packing was "worth it" for her in the August of 2022, in episode 158 of the Food Biz Wiz podcast. Planet Bake makes vegan, gluten-free, better-for-you donuts. In this episode, you'll hear more about... What challenges Kathrin faced along her co-packer search Why your co-packer or co-manufacturer journey isn’t always linear Why timing your co-packer transition is so important! How she pivoted to find what works for her biz And the lessons she learned in moving forward and what she recommends! Be sure to check out our full show notes here with the link to the previous episode 158, Planet Bake's site, the resource Kathrin mentioned, and our Instagram and LinkedIn! This episode is sponsored by our mini Reorder Checklist! This checklist is a list of ways to onboard a new retailer so that you’re more likely to sell off those shelves and receive reorders. If you’re thinking about how you can ensure that your sales in existing doors increase, then this is the perfect resource for you. You can find our simplified version at the link here OR, if you’re a Retail Ready® student, you can find the longform version and training directly within our course platform!

The COVID-19 pandemic forever changed how the CPG industry does business. Where we used to do primarily in-person events and meetings, much of our industry has now pivoted to include both virtual and in-person events. In this week’s episode 205 of the Food Biz Wiz podcast, I sit down with Sarah Davidson, the Executive Vice President of ECRM, the parent company of RangeMe, to talk about how they connect buyers and producers through their curated buyer meeting events. When you listen in, you’ll hear all about… How ECRM pivoted with the COVID-19 crisis to include virtual events and why they offer both now What their sessions look like and all that their team does to ensure that meetings are valuable for producers and buyers Why their events are different from trade shows Some of the top things that buyers have been looking for in their events Sarah has been in the CPG industry for 18 years, so tune in to hear her experience in creating valuable buyer meetings and events. Find the episode that I mention on optimizing your RangeMe efforts, as well as the ECRM links, Sarah’s information, and our Instagram and Linkedin links in our full show notes here! This episode is sponsored by our Secret Sauce Quiz! Do you want to know what’s working in YOUR biz? Then make sure to take our Secret Sauce Quiz! You’ll answer 10 quick questions on yourself and your biz, and you’ll learn your brand's current strength & how you can leverage that this year. (We promise that it’ll take less than 2 minutes!) You’ll receive a curated list of free resources for your exact stage of business and your business superpower - so that you can do MORE of what’s working. Click here to take the quiz and receive your results and resources today!

Each week, I receive questions in my DMs around how brands can improve their D2C sales from their websites. I’ll often hear brands talk about how their sales aren’t where they want them to be or how they feel like they’ve put in so much effort and dollars to improve their sales – with little actual improvement. Frustrating, right? In this episode, I’m taking a moment to discuss just why e-commerce sales can be so difficult. Listen in to hear… Why your D2C sales might have improved during the pandemic then dipped again What the reality of online sales is, so that you don’t have to beat yourself up! Where to start if your D2C sales aren’t where you want them to be Make sure to check out our full show notes to connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn, and we’ll walk through doing the math on your conversion rates. This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® Masterclass for growing YOUR food business! As I mentioned in this episode, in our Masterclass I cover how wholesale can be part of a profitable omnichannel strategy for your brand. Check out our Masterclass for our actionable tips to increase your sales now, plus an invite to join us in Retail Ready®. Plus, if you KNOW that you want access to ALL of my buyer insights and to be a part of our supportive, knowledgeable community, then Retail Ready® is THE place for you. Click here to watch our Masterclass and learn those tips, plus all that we cover with our course, strategic support & community!

Every brand is feeling the pinch of increased costs for shipping, packaging, ingredients, and more. If you're thinking about how you'll increase your prices to keep up with costs, then join us for this week's episode. We're re-airing an episode where Alli shares her simple steps for completing a price increase. In this brief, 15 minute episode, you'll hear... That price increases are normal and an expected part of business What 4 steps should be in your price increase plan Why communicating multiple times with your buyers is necessary And what YOUR price increase game plan will be! If you’ve been nervous to complete that price increase, then this episode will be key for you to finally complete it. Check out our full show notes here to find our LinkedIn and Instagram links so that you can connect with us and let us know your next step for your price increase! This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready® Right Now! If you listened in and want a place to ask specifics about your price increase plan (or more questions!), then you’d be the perfect fit for Retail Ready®. Retail Ready® is our online course and community for producers who are looking to have a solid retail strategy and increase their sales with less guesswork. Click here for our quickstart enrollment so that you can learn more and get started TODAY!

You've poured your heart and soul into your brand and now you're in the classic "chicken and egg" CPG challenge: “I need to build brand awareness for sales, but it’s hard to get into stores without a distributor.” Does this sound like what you've been thinking? In this “Is It Worth It, Charlie?” episode, Charlie Berkinshaw and Giulietta Octavio, the founder and CEO of Ceybon, sit down and chat again. Charlie is our Retail Ready® VP of Student Success and the founder and CEO of Element Shrub. This time, Charlie and Giulietta discuss whether using a distributor is the right next step for Giulietta and her elixir brand. They explore the benefits and challenges of working with distributors so that she can make an informed decision on her next step. Listen in to hear their key takeaways on... What you can expect distributors to do and not do Why it's important to prepare for best and worst case cash flow scenarios The value of knowing your COGS for mapping your cash flow How building a base of stores through different fulfillment options can help long-term and give you a middle ground before distribution This episode dives all into the considerations that are helpful for determining if a distributor is right at this time. Be sure to check out our full show notes here to read more about Giulietta and her brand, Ceybon, as well as to hear more about Charlie and find our LinkedIn and Instagram! This episode is sponsored by our mini Reorder Checklist! This checklist is a list of ways to onboard a new retailer so that you’re more likely to sell off those shelves and receive reorders. If you listened to this episode and are thinking about how you can ensure your sales in existing doors increase, then this is the perfect resource for you. You can find our simplified version at the link here OR, if you’re a Retail Ready® student, you can find the longform version and training directly within our course platform!

Are you a founder balancing multiple hats and self-funding your biz? Then this is the episode for you! Regina Trillo, former Retail Ready® student and the founder of Nemi Snacks, joins me to share her strategies for how she learned to prioritize all the life, work, and biz responsibilities. In this episode, you'll hear Regina and I talk about... Why she actually strives for prioritization instead of “balance” The decisions that led her to stay self-funded Why checking in with your capacity is crucial for you and your biz's wellbeing How saying “no” is a superpower Plus, the mindset shifts that encourage you to move forward and learn Be sure to check out our full show notes for our resources, including more about Nemi Snacks, MyPocketCFO, our LinkedIn and Instagram links, and more! Connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn and share which of Regina's tips you needed to hear most today. This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready®! If you’re like Regina and want ways to simplify your work and also be part of a supportive & knowledgeable CPG community that makes being a founder less lonely, then Retail Ready® is THE place for you. Check out our Masterclass for our tips for taking guesswork out of your strategy, plus an invite to join us in Retail Ready®. Click here to watch our Masterclass and learn those tips, plus all that we cover in our course, strategic support & community!