If you're trying to fix your growth problems by just doing more, you're missing out on the easiest way to grow your business. In this episode I share how to accelerate your growth without just doing more. By focusing in on this one thing, you'll be doing what the most successful brands do and will not only grow your sales, but save yourself time too. Want to optimize your business for growth? Join the Simplify & Sell Priority Waitlist and be the first to know when enrolment opens. www.simpli...
Jul 04, 2025•20 min
Rebecca Brady didn’t set out to build a company, she just wanted to make the crackers she missed from home. But what began as a solo kitchen project soon snowballed into something much bigger. In this episode food founder Rebecca, owner of Top Seedz shares the real, unfiltered journey from doing everything herself to leading a team of 70, many of them refugees from around the world. It’s a story of grit, growth, and the magic that happens when you stop trying to do it all alone. We dive into: 💪...
May 29, 2025•47 min•Season 12Ep. 113
When a life-threatening pregnancy condition left Amy Upchurch fighting for her life, she didn't just survive—she revolutionized women's wellness. In this powerful conversation, Amy reveals how her darkest moments birthed Pink Stork, now a multi-million dollar empire built on truly hearing women's needs. Her "Customer Obsession" approach has created the kind of fierce loyalty most founders only dream of. For those questioning if purpose and profit can coexist, Amy offers a masterclass in translat...
Apr 10, 2025•38 min•Season 12Ep. 110
Food founder Gregory Vetter shares the raw, unfiltered story behind Tessemae's salad dressing- an idea sparked by stolen dressing to becoming a national brand that pioneered the clean eating movement to the eventual business challenges that tested his resolve. Key takeaways you'll walk away from the episode with: Practical strategies for questioning and reinventing industry "standards" that everyone else accepts A proven framework for staying directly connected to customers (hint: it's not focus...
Mar 18, 2025•44 min•Season 12Ep. 109
Ainsley dives into three overlooked areas where food and drink brands are leaving money on the table —and how simple tweaks can unlock hidden profits. From post-purchase flows that drive repeat sales , to optimizing your online listings , to SKU prioritization that boosts margins , Ainsley walks you through real-life examples of brands making more with what they already have. If you’re ready to work smarter, not harder, this episode is for you. Download the Profitable Product Scorecard here http...
Mar 05, 2025•20 min•Season 12Ep. 108
Food founders Eli & Grace of Absurd Snacks share their journey in creating a new line of nut-free and allergy-friendly trail mix. They share how a university class fueled the creation of Absurd Snacks, which was inspired to address the serious food allergies of a fellow classmate. Eli and Grace discuss the challenges they faced such as finding ingredients free from allergens and managing the production process. They touch on their use of social media platforms to build community and spread t...
May 21, 2024•24 min•Season 11Ep. 107
Hear how food founder Sandrew from Neeva Shaker Cereal, a high protein full flavor cereal brand went from idea to a growing D2C brand with 80+ retail locations and growing across the country in the last 18 months. Sandrew shares how he initially pitched the product to gym members, gradually expanded into local supplement stores, and eventually attracted a wider audience with the help of mom influencers. He talks about the struggles and triumphs of starting a business and managing its growth with...
May 07, 2024•35 min•Season 11Ep. 106
We're talking with Angela Vranich, the brains behind Little Spoon, as she takes us on an exciting journey of redefining children's nutrition. Join us as Angela shares the story of creating a brand that not only fills tummies but also warms hearts. Learn how Little Spoon's innovative approach, from fresh baby food to the recent Biteables launch has become a game-changer for parents seeking wholesome options. Hear how Little Spoon's DTC approach helped them grow quickly, build relationships with t...
Apr 23, 2024•25 min•Season 11Ep. 105
Hear why Top Note has leaned in on getting awards of recognition to help drive the focused growth of its Tonic Water brand. Mary and Ainsley dive into building a premium brand and what to focus on when building a brand good enough for Michelin Star restaurants, premium bars and discerning audiences. Celebrate National Gin & Tonic Day by tuning in and hear how this tonic brand is elevating the industry. Learn more about Top Note here: https://store.topnotetonic.com/ Want support growing your ...
Apr 09, 2024•31 min•Season 11Ep. 104
Ainsley sits down with Marilyn Yang, the food founder of Popadelics, as they dive into the strategies that led to the growth of the industries hottest mushroom chip. Marilyn shares her insights on tapping into macro trends, focusing on high returns, and making informed investments to help drive your chances of success in the food industry. Discover the do's and don'ts directly from Marilyn's experiences, providing valuable guidance for entrepreneurs navigating the competitive world of food entre...
Mar 26, 2024•34 min•Season 11Ep. 103
Listen in as we talk to Todd Goldstein, the food founder of Whoa! Dough, and explore the secrets behind his business success using omnichannel strategies. Todd shares insights into the importance of aligning brand values, listening to customer feedback, and the incredible journey of turning Whoa! Dough into a thriving business. Discover the keys to mastering omnichannel approaches and gain inspiration from Todd's entrepreneurial journey in the competitive food industry. Learn more about Whoa! Do...
Mar 12, 2024•30 min•Season 11Ep. 102
Listen in as Nikki Seaman, food founder of Freestyle Snacks shares her experience reimagining the beloved olive industry. Nikki and Ainsley dive into the crucial role of packaging, the quest for aligned partners, and the resilience needed to overcome obstacles, especially the daunting prospect of hearing 'no' in your food business. Learn more about Freestyle Snacks here: /www.freestylesnacking.com Want support growing your food business? Visit https://bit.ly/47j5Bs3 Get The Blueprint to having a...
Feb 27, 2024•25 min•Season 11Ep. 101
Listen in as Orleatha Smith of Sip Herbals sits down and discusses how it's important to be flexible in a business partnership and why. Hear how she talks about the need of aligning your brand to your own values, how customer feedback should be listened to, and Sip Naturals' incredible journey, turning a $7,000 Kickstarter into a $100,000 business in just 12 months. Learn more about Sip Herbals here: https://sipherbals.com Want support growing your food business? Visit https://bit.ly/47j5Bs3 Get...
Feb 13, 2024•35 min•Season 10Ep. 100
In this episode of the Food Founders® Podcast, we sit down with Rawmantics Chocolate's founder Kasia Bosne and discuss her career shift from high fashion to the CPG industry. Hear what made her decide to make the switch and her advice for you on starting your food brand. She talks about when the customer is right, when you should follow your gut, and why you should be patient. Learn more about Rawmantic Chocolate here: https://rawmanticchocolate.com/ Want support growing your food business? Visi...
Jan 30, 2024•25 min•Season 10Ep. 99
In this episode, we dive into the entrepreneurial journey of pioneering a food revolution with Pluck Ancestral Superfood Powder. Discover the secrets to driving early adoption as we explore the strategies that placed Pluck at the forefront of making the benefits of organ meat more natural and more accessible to everyday households. Food Founder and Chef James Barry, shares his experiences in creating a whole new category in the food industry, disrupting the market with value-based pricing, and r...
Jan 16, 2024•45 min•Season 10Ep. 98
2024 is YOUR year! ! In this must-listen episode, host Ainsley, a seasoned expert in the food and beverage industry, unveils the top five trends that will shape the year. Get ready for a game-changing session packed with insights on leveraging omnichannel strategies, economic resilience, the power of AI, and the magic of human connection for your brand. This episode isn't just about what's trending; it's a blueprint for outsmarting the competition and propelling your business to new heights. Tun...
Jan 11, 2024•22 min•Season 10Ep. 97
Sit down with us as we talk to Chelsie Hodge, the food founder of Blender Bites, and hear how she created a new frozen food category. Listen to what she learned along the way about manufacturing, marketing, and profitability and the advice she has for fellow food founders. She shares how she was able to get her product into 5,000 retail stores across two countries and what she's still learning along the way. To learn more about Blender Bites visit https://blenderbites.com/ To learn about growing...
Dec 19, 2023•24 min•Season 10Ep. 96
In this final episode of our 3 part mini series Ainsley shares five transformative mindset tools that have revolutionized not only her life but also the journeys of numerous food entrepreneurs she's mentored. These straightforward yet powerful techniques are more than just tips; they're the catalysts for monumental change. They promise to reshape your approach to business and life, setting the stage for extraordinary success in 2024 and beyond. If you're ready to make 2024 your best year yet, th...
Dec 07, 2023•29 min•Season 10Ep. 95
Are you a food founder who's hungry for success but feel like something's holding you back? You have big goals, you work hard at them, but you just can't seem to hit them or hit them consistently? In episode 2 of our 2024 Success Strategies mini series Ainsley dives into how to reframe just one simple question you ask yourself so you can get to the root of what's truly been holding you back. If you want more for your business and your life, this one simple reframed question can give you the key ...
Nov 29, 2023•13 min•Season 10Ep. 94
Welcome to the first of the three part series '2024 Success Strategies'. This mini series is for food founders who are committed to upleveling their business and winning in 2024. In this episode, we explore how the right technology, smart marketing, and a skilled team can elevate your business and move it into being a more sophisticated operation in 2024. Whether you're planting the seeds of a fresh venture or nurturing an food established brand, these insights are your foundation for success as...
Nov 21, 2023•20 min•Season 10Ep. 93
Co-food founders Nicole Cardone and Deborah Gorman share how SorBabes went from farmer's market to lining grocery store shelves. The team opens up about how they've evolved and grown over the years, how they approach strategic innovation for growth and how their complimentary skills have helped them go from strangers to sisters as they've grown this business together. To learn more about SorBabes and Fudgy Pop visit https://www.sorbabes.com/ and https://www.fudgypop.com/ To learn about growing y...
Nov 07, 2023•39 min•Season 10Ep. 92
Listen in as food founders Dissaya Theerakaosal & Mary Bentdahl share how they're disrupting the meat alternative industry by offering a simple 6 ingredient solution to shoppers. Hear how they've evolved Shroomeats' from refrigerated to shelf stable, how they manage overseas productions and why they see patience is key to the long term success for food brands. These founders open up about distributing tasks between co-founders, their primary focus for marketing and what they'd do differently...
Oct 24, 2023•39 min•Season 10Ep. 91
Tune in as Ainsley dives into the 4 key areas every food founder wants to focus on right now to build a better food business for the future. Learn why pressure isn't always bad and how a change in mindset can be the thing that really pushes a food brand forward in today's market. As the food industry and the global economy are shifting, these 4 areas will help your food brand not only stand up but also stand out out perform the market, To learn about growing your food business, visit https://bit...
Oct 10, 2023•30 min•Season 9Ep. 90
Listen in as we sit down with food founder Leslie Danford and discuss how Vitaminis went from online only to joining other health food brands on the shelves in retail locations. She discusses the importance of placement in retail stores and why learning where your product fits in with other products is key to retail sales. She shares what she learned going from online only to brick-and-mortar locations, omnichannel marketing, and learning along the way. We discuss social media and organic market...
Sep 26, 2023•33 min•Season 9Ep. 89
Join us as we explore the journey of Emmy's Organic. From its modest beginnings at a farmer's market to now gracing the shelves of over 15,000 doors nationwide, their tale is nothing short of inspiring. Dive deep into their adept navigation of distribution challenges, learn about their tactical marketing approaches, and the nuances of collaborating with both indie and major distributors. Plus, get an exclusive insight into their upcoming product launch. For every food founder eager to broaden th...
Sep 13, 2023•35 min•Season 9Ep. 88
Tune in to hear why Food Founder Adam Melonas of FastFood™ believes every aspect of a product is integral to the brand's perception and overall success. Adam shares how he obsesses over every detail to ensure everything aligns to the big vision he has for FastFood™, the time released energy for endurance athletes. Adam dives into how he created patented technology for his products, his grassroots marketing approach and his continuous pursuit for excellence across everything the brand does. To le...
Aug 29, 2023•36 min•Season 9Ep. 87
This week, we stir up the world of mixology with Fresh Victor® 's food founder, Ken McKenzie. Join us as we dive into the art and science of his journey in creating premium mixers made from fresh, cold-pressed juice. Hear how his love for making drinks for friends turned into a business idea. Discover the innovation and passion that drive Fresh Victor® 's creations. To learn more about Fresh Victor® visit https://shop.freshvictor.com/ To learn about growing your food business, visit https://bit....
Aug 22, 2023•33 min•Season 9Ep. 86
Tune in and hear from industry trailblazer Stu Davidoff, the founder of Gigantic—a visionary brand transforming the vegan candy bar landscape. Discover the secrets behind crafting irresistible treats without compromise, as he explains the journey, challenges, and triumphs that have shaped the evolution of plant-based sweets. To learn more about Gigantic Candy visit https://giganticcandy.com/ To learn about growing your food business, visit https://bit.ly/47j5Bs3 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...
Aug 10, 2023•38 min•Season 9Ep. 85
Get ready for an insightful episode where we dive into the fascinating story of Cowboy Wagyu and Umami® as they unite a community to revolutionize the meat industry through the incredible world of Wagyu beef. Join us as we sit down with Ryan, a former insurance manager turned adventurous farmer, as he shares his courageous decision to start a Wagyu farm business and the unforeseen impact it has had. In this conversation, Ryan sheds light on what sets Wagyu beef apart from other types of beef, un...
Jul 07, 2023•30 min•Season 9Ep. 84
Hear Food Founder Amy Lacey share how she went from stay at home mom suffering from an auto immune disease to creating the very first Cauliflower pizza crust and eventually selling to a Venture Capital firm. Created as a way to manage her health and still enjoy pizza with her kids, Amy shares the 5 P's that naturally and organically led to her success even with lost of bumps along the road. Learn more about Cali'Flour Pizza here - https://califlourfoods.com/ Join Food Brands That Sell course her...
Jun 20, 2023•47 min•Season 9Ep. 83
