Podcasts about food biz wiz

In this episode of the Omnichannel Marketer, Alli Ball, founder of Food Biz Wiz, shares her journey in the food industry and how she helps emerging brands succeed in wholesale. She emphasizes the importance of understanding market fit, finding the right channels, and optimizing operations. Alli discusses the challenges of getting attention from wholesale buyers and the difficulties of the distributor-retail model. She also provides insights on driving velocity in retail and recommends tools and strategies for success.TAKEAWAYS: - Understanding market fit and pricing is crucial before entering wholesale.- Finding the right channels, such as brick-and-mortar retail, food service, hospitality, and e-commerce, is essential for success.- Optimizing operations and production is necessary to meet demand and deliver on promises.- Getting attention from wholesale buyers can be challenging, requiring old-fashioned methods like phone calls and networking.- The distributor-retail model can be difficult and cash-intensive, with challenges in finding co-packers, brokers, and managing chargebacks.- Free tools and strategies, such as connecting with store staff, demos, and social media marketing, can help drive velocity in retail.Where to find Alli Ball: Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/aball/​Website: http://www.foodbizwiz.comWhere to find Kait Stephens:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kait-margraf-stephens/Website: www.brij.it SUBSCRIBE TO THE OMNICHANNEL MARKETERwww.theomnichannelmarketer.com

What does it take for a mission-driven brand to thrive in the competitive world of retail? In this episode, we explore the intersection of retail success and mission-driven branding with Alli Ball, the visionary founder and CEO of Food Biz Wiz. Food Biz Wiz is a consulting and coaching company dedicated to helping emerging food brands succeed in the competitive retail market. Known for her impact on the food industry, Alli has empowered countless emerging food brands through her Retail Ready® program and award-winning podcast. In our conversation, we dive into the critical elements consumers want in mission-driven brands, the potential pitfalls of over-investing in a company's mission, and how purpose-driven values can enhance brand loyalty. Discover why aligning packing, product, and purpose is essential for brand success, how to craft a successful sales pitch, why transparency is fundamental for consumers, and much more. Join us to learn how to transform your brand's mission into a powerful tool for growth and loyalty in the retail market with Alli Ball of Food Biz Wiz!Key Points From This Episode:How sustainable and innovative retail brands communicate their value.Alli explains the omnichannel nature of the retail industry. How mission-driven brands fit into the traditional retail space. Attributes that are becoming a top priority for consumers. Recommendations for learning about trends in the wholesale space.Why you should never base a sales pitch on certifications. Hear about the mission-driven red flags that retail buyers avoid. The disconnect between what consumers value and buying behavior.Differences between direct-to-consumer and direct-to-retailer sale pitches.Common mistakes mission-driven brands make in marketing a product.Core concepts of the Retail Ready® program and how it benefits brands.Discover why product packaging is vital for convincing the consumer. Background about Alli, the Retail Ready® course, and Food Biz Wiz's mission.What shifted her interest to working with brands and retailers.Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:Alli Ball on LinkedInFood Biz WizFood Biz Wiz on InstagramFood Biz Wiz PodcastBi-Rite XincaFoodsFortuneFortune ArticleB.T.R. NATION‘Better Snack Options with Ashley Nickelson of B.T.R. Nation'Liquid Death Modern Species Gage Mitchell on LinkedInGage Mitchell on XBrands for a Better World WebsiteBrands for a Better World on YouTubeBrands for a Better World emailImpact Driven Community

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

It was three years ago we interviewed Allison “Alli” Ball, founder of Retail Ready and Food Biz Wiz Podcast. It was episode 59 for those of you who want to listen again, or if you missed it the first time. Alli is a former grocery buyer who shares her insider secrets to help packaged food entrepreneurs scale up their sales. She knows what buyers are looking for and what key information buyers need to start a conversation with an entrepreneur, or “foodpreneur” as Alli calls them. She shares many great hints and perspectives in her weekly podcast show, which recently posted its 200th episode. The whole idea of Food Biz Wiz Podcast is to help food founders step up their strategy, get on the shelf and grow their business. Alli brings in industry experts, students from her Retail Ready program and draws on Alli's career as a buyer to help listeners get into that buyer mindset to understand how to best communicate and persuade grocery store buyers. While it's incumbent on all entrepreneurs to soak up all the free information available, there is a limit to where that can take them. To get the secret sauce, you need to pay for someone else's knowledge and contacts that they, in turn, had to pay for to get that most valuable knowledge. Retail Ready® is the program offered by Alli which gives founders the tools, strategies, and support they need to get on retail and e-tail shelves, and to have high sales once they are there. Retail Ready has schooled over 2,500 founders with emerging food brands with curriculum, live strategic support, accountability and a live community for the tools to set up sales systems to get on the shelves. The program is for food brands in production or just ready for production, but not early stage food development. It's 90-day program, which is a big change since our last show with Alli, when the program was 12 months. The reason? Each foodpreneur had a different set of circumstances, based on their food category, geography, finances, energy and so forth. Some people would breeze through the program in 30 days, while others would complete the 12-month program and sign on for another 12 months. Alli found that when she told prospective students that the program was 12 months it turned them off. The Retail Ready team did a survey of students and found that the 90-day mark was the success point for most of them and so the dialog was changed to a 90-day program and it has been well received. And since many of the founders in the program re-enroll and want to stay part of the valuable community, the program is really more of a “go at your own pace” experience anyway, so the 90-day label really doesn't matter once a foodpreneur has started. The other new wrinkle since interviewing Alli last time, is the 90-day program also includes one-on-one support sessions in addition to all the video courses. There are courses for which the foodpreneur has perpetual access and some that require monthly subscriptions. Find out more at her website: www.foodbizwiz.com. Follow Alli on Instagram @itsalliball, Facebook @foodbiziwz, LinkedIn @Allison Ball. Our hosts: Twitter - @sarahmasoni and @spicymarshall, Instagram - @masoniandmarshall.

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!

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!

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!

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!

Wizes, we are THRILLED to celebrate 200 episodes of the Food Biz Wiz podcast! In this episode, we are taking a moment to celebrate this win with you. And in true Food Biz Wiz fashion, we will also be sharing ONE quick lesson on a business practice that allows you to find even more success. Listen in for these key takeaways: How doubling down on what’s working in your business benefits you & saves you time Why we will be archiving the Food Biz Wiz Facebook group soon Plus, how YOU can figure out what’s working for your brand with our new, Secret Sauce Quiz! Be sure to check out our full show notes here, where you can find our Instagram and LinkedIn links as well. Connect with us and let us know what practice you’ll be doubling down on next! One more thing: would you do us a favor and leave us a review on your favorite podcast player OR share this podcast with someone else in our industry? We appreciate you and your support over the past years! 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!

Join Charlie Berkinshaw on the Food Biz Wiz podcast as he sits down with Giulietta Octavio, the founder and CEO of Ceybon, to discuss whether adding a ready-to-drink product line to her existing lineup is worth it. Ceybon currently produces mood, brain, and sleep enhancing mushroom elixirs. With asks coming from both wholesale accounts and customers, Giulietta is considering all the intricacies of creating a new product line. In this episode, you'll hear Charlie and Giulietta discuss... The consumer education necessary for her current product line Pros and cons of developing this new RTD line How she can approach cost-effectiveness, co-packing partnerships, cash flow management, higher volume sales expectations, and more And what assumptions may or may not hold true for crossing into a new line If you're considering a product crossover or adding a new line, you won't want to miss this conversation. Join us in this discussion to determine if developing this RTD sparkling line is “worth it!” As always, find more information on Giulietta and Ceybon, as well as the links to our Instagram, LinkedIn, and Food Biz Wiz Facebook group in our full show notes here! This episode is sponsored by Retail Ready® Right Now! If you listened in and KNOW that you’d benefit from Charlie’s expertise on your questions & your CPG challenges, then Retail Ready® IS the perfect 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!

Don't let this mistake ruin your chances with wholesale buyers. Discover the common pitching mistake food founders make AND how to avoid it in this quick re-air of episode 108 of the Food Biz Wiz podcast. After tuning in, you'll be able to… Identify the mistake and know how to avoid it Know crucial insights on a wholesale buyer's mindset that'll take you miles ahead Tailor more of your pitch to the buyer AND learn how you can hear more of my buyer insights! Make sure to connect with me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and in the Food Biz Wiz Facebook group, linked in our full show notes here. We want to hear which step you’re taking next in your pitch! This episode is sponsored by my Wholesale Success System Workshop! This FREE training is for all my listeners who know that they want to take control of their sales, land on more shelves, and have higher sales once they’re there. I’ll outline my simple sales system so that you can repeat this process in your biz. Follow this link to save your spot and join us!

In this week's episode of Honest Retail, we are joined by Allison Ball from Food Biz Wiz to chat about the topics and headlines that are capturing our attention, including: - PE & Food Brands - Ryan Reynolds + Fintech   - Cultured Breast Milk - Cure's Recent Raise Cameron McCarthy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronkennethmccarthy/ Taylor Foxman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-foxman/ Carlton Fowler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlton-fowler-63069478/ Allison Ball: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aball/

Meet Allison:Alli Ball is the founder & CEO of Food Biz Wiz, Inc. and the creator of Retail Ready®, an online course and strategic support community for producers of packaged products in the food industry. As a former grocery buyer-turned-wholesale consultant, Alli has helped thousands of emerging brands understand what it takes to get on the shelf and have high sales once they're there. Find her on her website here or weekly on the Food Biz Wiz® Podcast, her weekly podcast about wholesale strategy.What You'll Learn in this Episode: I have a great idea for a food business. What comes next?What are the different places where people can sell their products, and how do you choose? (wholesale, direct-to-consumer, food service...)What does a grocery buyer do/ what role do they play in the world of retail.Didn't e-commerce grow exponentially during the pandemic? Is wholesale still relevant? Can a brand be successful at only having one place to sell their products?Important things businesses should think about when trying to grow their wholesale accounts.Important tips for getting onto store shelves.Advice All has  for small product-based businesses that want to grow their company to the next levelWebsite: www.foodbizwiz.comInstagram: @itsalliballFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllisonBallConsulting/Food Biz Wiz Podcast: www.alliball.com/foodbizwizAbout Us - Women Who Brunch:Women Who Brunch is a community for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews and more or say hi on Instagram!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunchWebsite: https://womenwhobrunch.com

We’ve said this phrase 100s of times here on the Food Biz Wiz podcast. It’s literally the name of our signature course, Retail Ready®. So what does it actually mean for your brand and your product line to be “retail ready”? To be ready for retail channels, for a wholesale buyer to say yes enthusiastically to carrying YOUR product line? Today, I dive into this exact topic to break down what it actually means to be “retail ready.” Listen in to hear… How I define what being “retail ready” means, in three parts What three steps YOUR brand can take to become “retail ready” Why joining us in our course, Retail Ready®, can quickstart your progress You’ll hear all of this and more in this episode! As I mentioned in the intro, please DM me via Instagram or LinkedIn and connect with me in the Food Biz Wiz Facebook group! Find all those links in our full show notes here. You guessed it. This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® Masterclass for growing YOUR food business! If you listened in and KNOW that you want access to ALL of my buyer insights, plus to be a part of our supportive, private student community, then Retail Ready® is THE place for you. Check out our Masterclass for my actionable tips to increase your sales now, plus an invite to join us in Retail Ready®. Click here to watch our Masterclass and learn those tips, plus all that we cover with our course, strategic support & community!

We’re thrilled to share episode 182 of the Food Biz Wiz podcast with Sadie Scheffer of Bread SRSLY. Sadie is the CEO and founder of Bread SRSLY, a gluten free sourdough bread company based in the Bay Area. In today’s episode, Sadie shares just how powerful setting clear expectations can be for your business, your employees, and your relationships. Hear Sadie’s gems of knowledge, such as… What it actually means to set clear expectations in your business and relations How communicating expectations allows closer collaboration with your employees Why setting expectations from the start can make hard conversations easier Which one word is harming your communication What Brené Brown’s “stealth expectations” are and how they’re holding you back Listen in for all these gems and more. If you want to join our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group, DM me on Instagram, check out Bread Srsly, or find the book we mention, click through to our full show notes here! This episode is sponsored by our Masterclass for growing YOUR food business! If you listened in and KNOW that you want access to ALL of my buyer and organizational insights, plus to be a part of our supportive, private student community, then Retail Ready® is THE place for you. Check out our Masterclass for my actionable tips to increase your sales now, plus an invite to join us in Retail Ready®. Click here to watch our Masterclass and learn those tips, plus all that we cover with our course, strategic support & community!

Does your brand offer multiple SKUs? If so, then you’re probably familiar with this dilemma: “how the heck do I balance giving customers a wide product choice with what’s efficient for our behind-the-scenes operations?” If this sounds like a question you’ve been thinking about for your brand, then you’re in luck! Today’s episode 180 of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast is an “Is It Worth It, Charlie?” episode where Charlie Berkinshaw and April Wachtel, the founder of Cheeky Cocktails, discuss how to balance giving customers wide SKU options AND making BTS operations more efficient. Charlie is our VP of Student Success here at Food Biz Wiz and Retail Ready®, as well as the founder and owner of Element Shrub. Here are just a few of the considerations Charlie and April discuss.. How you can use your current SKU sales data to inform package choices What options you can give customers to differentiate between gifts and non-gifts Why this process is necessary for working with 3PLs Catch these and more by listening into this episode! Find more information on April, Cheeky Cocktails, and our Food Biz Wiz Facebook Group at our full show notes, linked here! As promised in the episode, we’re offering a freebie workbook outlining 100 Buyer No’s. This workbook will walk you through preparing for any possible objection and guide you in crafting a rebuttal that lets buyers know you are READY to get on and sell off their shelf. Find the free download here!

Food founders, have you been considering an influencer marketing campaign? Today’s episode 179 of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast revisits an episode with guest and Food Biz Wiz friend, Elle Defreitas. Elle is the co-founder of Wonderkind.Co, a design and marketing agency for food and beverage brands. She and Alli discuss the scoop on influencer marketing. If you want to feel more confident about how to approach influencer marketing, listen in to hear… How you can find and contact influencers that are right for your brand Elle’s best tips for success with influencer marketing Pros and cons of affiliate marketing Plus, how influencer marketing can benefit your brand! Make sure to share your thoughts on this episode with us by sending Alli a DM at her Instagram and joining our Food Biz Wiz Facebook group, which are both linked in our full show notes here! This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® Right Now page! We heard from enough of you that you didn’t have time to watch our masterclass, BUT you KNEW that Retail Ready® was the perfect tool to help you navigate the retail world. We made an information & enrollment page for food founders who want to skip the masterclass, forgo a sales conversation, and enroll in minutes. Find the Retail Ready® Right Now link HERE!

Cynthia Samanian is the founder of Culinary Creator Business School, an online business education company dedicated to the culinary industry. Her students learn how to create, sell and teach virtual cooking classes, corporate events and recorded courses that help them unlock more freedom and flexibility. Cynthia hosts the 5-star rated Culinary Creator Business School podcast. She's appeared as a guest on top industry podcasts and conferences including Eat Capture Share, Food Biz Wiz, the Food Blogger Summit and the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP). Growing up as a first-generation American in a Persian family, Cynthia is no stranger to the power of food to unite people across cultures. Cynthia is a graduate of Harvard Business School and currently lives in sunny Oakland, California with her husband and two young daughters. Learn about the free training for pastry and baking pros at www.teachpastryonline.com. In this episode: How Cynthia got started with her business school The market opportunity for online classes, courses and events The primary benefits of teaching online How to achieve financial flexibility, time freedom and impact online The 4 proven ways to make money teaching online How to get started with teaching your very first online class And much more! Episode Sponsored by The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley Get complimentary samples of The Perfect Purée to experience flavor first-hand delivered directly to your business. Samples are available to foodservice professionals in the United States to sample the robust flavor line-up of fruit purees, concentrates, zests and blends. Visit www.perfectpuree.com/pastryarts to request your samples now.

Today, we bring you the final re-air of our Fourth Quarter Focus Series from last year! As we’re nearly in the fourth quarter, this episode is dedicated to what you should actually be doing IN the fourth quarter and how to focus your business-building efforts for the remainder of the year. We'll outline exactly what you should focus on in the 4th quarter to ensure you're ready when the new year arrives. Alli discusses your sales scripts, your sales materials, your sales strategy, and what updates she has since last year. Click here to check out our full show notes, links to the previous episodes in our mini-series, and to join our Food Biz Wiz® Student Facebook group! This episode is sponsored by our Retail Ready® Masterclass on growing your food business! Our Masterclass covers Alli’s framework for how to increase your sales. If you find yourself wondering precisely what strategy (or strategies) you actually need, then Retail Ready® is THE place for you. Click here to watch our Masterclass and to understand exactly what we cover inside our course, coaching & community - plus how to join before the fourth quarter begins!

This week we are re-visiting a 4-part mini-series on where your focus should be in the 4th quarter! This week's 1st episode is all about the Wholesale Buyer's Perspective. I'll discuss: A breakdown of the Buyer's Perspective from October to December Why Buyers may be ignoring your emails What has or hasn’t changed since last year! To check out our full show notes here and to join our Food Biz Wiz® Facebook group, click here! This episode is sponsored by the Retail Ready® waitlist! If you’ve found value in the bits of expertise I share on the Food Biz Wiz® podcast, then you’re going to be blown away by Retail Ready®, our online course, coaching & community for producers who are looking to increase their sales THIS year! Jump on our Retail Ready® waitlist to be the first to know when we open enrollment again. Click here to save your spot!

In our 158th episode of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast, Charlie brings another insightful conversation to the “Is It Worth It, Charlie?” series. Charlie discusses with Kathrin Henon, founder of Planet Bake, whether now is the right time to start using a co-packer. As many businesses look to scale, they must consider how and when a co-packer can become a vital part of the brand's team.  In this episode, Charlie and Kathrin consider the following: How Kathrin can plan for best and worst case scenarios when using a co-packer What financial constraints Kathrin should consider And how Kathrin will move forward with her current resources and team Through discussing these, Kathrin cements what her next steps in choosing to use a co-packer will be! Charlie Berkinshaw is our VP of Student Success here at Food Biz Wiz, as well as the Founder of Element Shrub, a RTD and concentrate beverage line, and a Founding Partner of The Fountain Inn, a spirits tasting room in Washington, D.C. Charlie supports our students day in and day out, answering questions just like this in our private Retail Ready® student community and on our bi-weekly coaching calls.  Click over to our full show notes here so that you can see more of our resources and can see where to find Planet Bake! This episode is sponsored by our Retail Roadmap! As Charlie discusses in this episode, it's more important now than ever to have an idea of what your retail journey will look like so that you plan ahead just like Kathrin did. 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 our 158th episode of the Food Biz Wiz Podcast, Charlie brings another insightful conversation to the “Is It Worth It, Charlie?” series. Charlie discusses with Kathrin Henon, founder of Planet Bake, whether now is the right time to start using a co-packer. As many businesses look to scale, they must consider how and when a co-packer can become a vital part of the brand's team.  In this episode, Charlie and Kathrin consider the following: How Kathrin can plan for best and worst case scenarios when using a co-packer What financial constraints Kathrin should consider And how Kathrin will move forward with her current resources and team Through discussing these, Kathrin cements what her next steps in choosing to use a co-packer will be! Charlie Berkinshaw is our VP of Student Success here at Food Biz Wiz, as well as the Founder of Element Shrub, a RTD and concentrate beverage line, and a Founding Partner of The Fountain Inn, a spirits tasting room in Washington, D.C. Charlie supports our students day in and day out, answering questions just like this in our private Retail Ready® student community and on our bi-weekly coaching calls.  Click over to our full show notes here so that you can see more of our resources and can see where to find Planet Bake! This episode is sponsored by our Retail Roadmap! As Charlie discusses in this episode, it's more important now than ever to have an idea of what your retail journey will look like so that you plan ahead just like Kathrin did. 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.

This week's 155th episode wraps up our final three-part mini-series on the lessons learned from successful seven-figure CPG brands, with Umai Marketing cofounders Karin Samelson and Alison Smith, and the Head of Marketing at Rodeo CPG, Adam Pollack. In this episode, Alison and Karin guide us through the three levers of digital marketing necessary for success.  Hear them touch upon: Why social media marketing, paid social, and email marketing are the three most important marketing levers for emerging CPG brands Which KPIs you need to track to make informed decisions When to know if you're ready to expand past those three, and what to prioritize next in your business Alison and Karin's insights clarify so much of the confusion around which marketing tactics to explore, when. As this is the final episode in our mini-series, make sure that you've listened to the first two shows on our insights on operation strategy in episode 153 here and on retail strategy in episode 154 here! GIVEAWAY: In celebration of this mini-series, we're giving away a 60-minute, 1:1 session with each Rodeo CPG, Umai Marketing and Food Biz Wiz, in which you can ask any and all things operations, retail, and digital marketing! Click here for the full show notes and details on how to enter before the giveaway closes on 11:59pm CST on July 21st, 2022. This episode is sponsored by our Masterclass! If you listened to these mini-series episodes and nodded your head along when we talked about the importance of having a plan, then click here to watch our free masterclass. It focuses on the steps and strategy to growing your food business and shows exactly what we cover inside of Retail Ready®, our course for CPG brands that want to get onto shelves and have high sales once there!

This week's 155th episode wraps up our final three-part mini-series on the lessons learned from successful seven-figure CPG brands, with Umai Marketing cofounders Karin Samelson and Alison Smith, and the Head of Marketing at Rodeo CPG, Adam Pollack. In this episode, Alison and Karin guide us through the three levers of digital marketing necessary for success.  Hear them touch upon: Why social media marketing, paid social, and email marketing are the three most important marketing levers for emerging CPG brands Which KPIs you need to track to make informed decisions When to know if you're ready to expand past those three, and what to prioritize next in your business Alison and Karin's insights clarify so much of the confusion around which marketing tactics to explore, when. As this is the final episode in our mini-series, make sure that you've listened to the first two shows on our insights on operation strategy in episode 153 here and on retail strategy in episode 154 here! GIVEAWAY: In celebration of this mini-series, we're giving away a 60-minute, 1:1 session with each Rodeo CPG, Umai Marketing and Food Biz Wiz, in which you can ask any and all things operations, retail, and digital marketing! Click here for the full show notes and details on how to enter before the giveaway closes on 11:59pm CST on July 21st, 2022. This episode is sponsored by our Masterclass! If you listened to these mini-series episodes and nodded your head along when we talked about the importance of having a plan, then click here to watch our free masterclass. It focuses on the steps and strategy to growing your food business and shows exactly what we cover inside of Retail Ready®, our course for CPG brands that want to get onto shelves and have high sales once there!

We are back for our second episode of our mini-series on the lessons learned from successful seven-figure CPG brands! Once again, Adam Pollack, the Head of Marketing for Rodeo CPG, and Karin Samelson and Alison Smith, the cofounders of Umai Marketing, join as our co-hosts. In this week's episode, Adam, Alison, and Karin ask me critical questions on retail strategy. We cover: My golden rule for trying to get ON retail shelves What you need to remember when approaching buyers What common mistakes you should avoid when trying to increase velocity Once you listen in, you'll have actionable next steps for getting onto and selling off the shelf! Find the first episode of this mini-series at this link or on your favorite podcast player. GIVEAWAY: In celebration of this mini series, we're giving away a 60-minute, 1:1 session with each Rodeo CPG, Umai Marketing and Food Biz Wiz, in which you can ask any and all things operations, retail, and digital marketing! Click here for the full show notes and details on how to enter before the giveaway closes on 11:59pm CST on July 21st, 2022. As promised in the episode, I've created a freebie workbook outlining 100 Buyer No's, which will walk you through preparing for any possible objection and guide you in crafting a rebuttal that lets buyers know you are ready to get on and sell off their shelf. Find the free download here!

We are back for our second episode of our mini-series on the lessons learned from successful seven-figure CPG brands! Once again, Adam Pollack, the Head of Marketing for Rodeo CPG, and Karin Samelson and Alison Smith, the cofounders of Umai Marketing, join as our co-hosts. In this week's episode, Adam, Alison, and Karin ask me critical questions on retail strategy. We cover: My golden rule for trying to get ON retail shelves What you need to remember when approaching buyers What common mistakes you should avoid when trying to increase velocity Once you listen in, you'll have actionable next steps for getting onto and selling off the shelf! Find the first episode of this mini-series at this link or on your favorite podcast player. GIVEAWAY: In celebration of this mini series, we're giving away a 60-minute, 1:1 session with each Rodeo CPG, Umai Marketing and Food Biz Wiz, in which you can ask any and all things operations, retail, and digital marketing! Click here for the full show notes and details on how to enter before the giveaway closes on 11:59pm CST on July 21st, 2022. As promised in the episode, I've created a freebie workbook outlining 100 Buyer No's, which will walk you through preparing for any possible objection and guide you in crafting a rebuttal that lets buyers know you are ready to get on and sell off their shelf. Find the free download here!

Episode 153 begins a three part mini-series that we're hosting with Adam Pollack, the Head of Marketing for Rodeo CPG, and Karin Samelson and Alison Smith, the cofounders of Umai Marketing, on the lessons learned from successful seven-figure CPG brands. In this episode, we zoom in on operations through the following topics: Why knowing demand, production, procurement, and cashflow are ESSENTIAL for solid planning Which plans brands need to make and a Rodeo CPG tool for planning How saying ‘no' and confirming your copacker's constraints help you execute your plans After hearing Adam's ops wisdom, you'll be motivated to dive into your own strategy! You can check out the Rodeo CPG planning tool and more about Rodeo CPG,  at our full show notes here. In our next episodes, you'll hear more about retail strategy and then digital marketing. This episode is sponsored by our Retail Roadmap! As you hear in this episode, it's more important than ever to 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.

Episode 153 begins a three part mini-series that we're hosting with Adam Pollack, the Head of Marketing for Rodeo CPG, and Karin Samelson and Alison Smith, the cofounders of Umai Marketing, on the lessons learned from successful seven-figure CPG brands. In this episode, we zoom in on operations through the following topics: Why knowing demand, production, procurement, and cashflow are ESSENTIAL for solid planning Which plans brands need to make and a Rodeo CPG tool for planning How saying ‘no' and confirming your copacker's constraints help you execute your plans After hearing Adam's ops wisdom, you'll be motivated to dive into your own strategy! You can check out the Rodeo CPG planning tool and more about Rodeo CPG,  at our full show notes here. In our next episodes, you'll hear more about retail strategy and then digital marketing. This episode is sponsored by our Retail Roadmap! As you hear in this episode, it's more important than ever to 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.

This week, Charlie brings us another episode of the “Is It Worth It, Charlie?” series. In it, Charlie e-meets with Annabel Kalmar, director of Tea Rebellion, to discuss if she should continue to work with a distributor. Working with a distributor is perhaps one of the most critical things you'll think through when trying to expand into more retailers. In this episode, Charlie and Annabel consider the following: What benefits Tea Rebellion has experienced from working with a distributor What challenges arise How Tea Rebellion's mission, values, and logistics fit with working with a distributor After talking through all these considerations, Annabel has a clearer understanding of her next steps! Charlie Berkinshaw is our VP of Student Success here at Food Biz Wiz, as well as the Founder of Element Shrub, a RTD and concentrate beverage line, and a Founding Partner of The Fountain Inn, a spirits tasting room in Washington, D.C. Charlie supports our students day in and day out, answering questions just like this in our private Retail Ready® student community and on our bi-weekly coaching calls.  Click over to our full show notes here so that you can see more of our resources and can check out more about Tea Rebellion. This episode is sponsored by our Masterclass! Click here to watch our free masterclass on growing your food business and to understand exactly what we cover inside our course, coaching & community - plus how to join our second quarter cohort!

This week, Charlie brings us another episode of the “Is It Worth It, Charlie?” series. In it, Charlie e-meets with Annabel Kalmar, director of Tea Rebellion, to discuss if she should continue to work with a distributor. Working with a distributor is perhaps one of the most critical things you'll think through when trying to expand into more retailers. In this episode, Charlie and Annabel consider the following: What benefits Tea Rebellion has experienced from working with a distributor What challenges arise How Tea Rebellion's mission, values, and logistics fit with working with a distributor After talking through all these considerations, Annabel has a clearer understanding of her next steps! Charlie Berkinshaw is our VP of Student Success here at Food Biz Wiz, as well as the Founder of Element Shrub, a RTD and concentrate beverage line, and a Founding Partner of The Fountain Inn, a spirits tasting room in Washington, D.C. Charlie supports our students day in and day out, answering questions just like this in our private Retail Ready® student community and on our bi-weekly coaching calls.  Click over to our full show notes here so that you can see more of our resources and can check out more about Tea Rebellion. This episode is sponsored by our Masterclass! Click here to watch our free masterclass on growing your food business and to understand exactly what we cover inside our course, coaching & community - plus how to join our second quarter cohort!

We're back this week with another juicy episode of our “Is It Worth It, Charlie?” series. In these episodes, Charlie typically works through a pivotal business decision with a Retail Ready® student. This week though, Charlie dives into the THREE topics he considers essential to think through when weighing whether a decision is worth it: Money: COGS, pricing, ROI, and more The resources available to your business Reflection on this decision's impact Whether you're an emerging brand or have been in business for years, these topics are key when thinking through pivotal decisions. Tune in to hear what they're all about! Follow along here to our full show notes, where you'll find even more information and can access podcasts relevant for CPG entrepreneurs like yourself! Charlie Berkinshaw is our VP of Student Success here at Food Biz Wiz, as well as the Founder of Element Shrub, a RTD and concentrate beverage line, and a Founding Partner of The Fountain Inn, a spirits tasting room in Washington, D.C. Charlie supports our students day in and day out, using this framework in our private Retail Ready® student community and on our bi-weekly coaching calls.  This episode is sponsored by our Masterclass! Click here to watch our free masterclass on growing your food business and to understand exactly what we cover inside our course, coaching & community - plus how to join our second quarter cohort!

We're back this week with another juicy episode of our “Is It Worth It, Charlie?” series. In these episodes, Charlie typically works through a pivotal business decision with a Retail Ready® student. This week though, Charlie dives into the THREE topics he considers essential to think through when weighing whether a decision is worth it: Money: COGS, pricing, ROI, and more The resources available to your business Reflection on this decision's impact Whether you're an emerging brand or have been in business for years, these topics are key when thinking through pivotal decisions. Tune in to hear what they're all about! Follow along here to our full show notes, where you'll find even more information and can access podcasts relevant for CPG entrepreneurs like yourself! Charlie Berkinshaw is our VP of Student Success here at Food Biz Wiz, as well as the Founder of Element Shrub, a RTD and concentrate beverage line, and a Founding Partner of The Fountain Inn, a spirits tasting room in Washington, D.C. Charlie supports our students day in and day out, using this framework in our private Retail Ready® student community and on our bi-weekly coaching calls.  This episode is sponsored by our Masterclass! Click here to watch our free masterclass on growing your food business and to understand exactly what we cover inside our course, coaching & community - plus how to join our second quarter cohort!