Getting your product into grocery stores takes time and requires networking with retailers & buyers in the food industry. Ashley Kirk, Founder of Planted Foods Co, a plant based food company walks us through: How to get your products onto store shelves by networking and other strategies The consumer research Ashley conducted to decide the products she would sell Her winding career path that led to going vegan and building a plant based food business Full show notes at profoodmaker.com...
Apr 15, 2021•44 min
You won’t be able to bootstrap your food business forever and might need investors, says Kai Nortey, co-founder & CEO of Kube Nice Cream. This Black owned vegan ice cream manufacturer explains: Why venture capital (VC) may not be right for you as a food business owner The types of conversations you might have with potential investors Potential problems working with co-packers & getting into grocery stores Full show notes at profoodmaker.com...
Apr 08, 2021•39 min
Are you a food truck owner having trouble with marketing and keeping your social media pages updated? Ariel D. Smith, The Food Truck Scholar, has quick & easy tips for you. Ariel also chats about: How she created an audio diary for food truckers using her podcast Opportunities for current and future food truck owners The importance of insuring your deposit for events Full show notes at profoodmaker.com
Apr 01, 2021•46 min
Interested in getting more press for your business? Mercedes outlines common mistakes we make when pitching to media outlets and tips on how to successfully pitch to journalists, podcasters, YouTubers, and bloggers. Full show notes: https://profoodmaker.com/how-to-write-a-media-pitch
Mar 25, 2021•19 min
Geo Darwin, a Philadelphia-based food & lifestyle blogger and content creator, is on a mission to highlight underrepresented people in food & beverage. We chat about: Being consistent as a content creator Why blogging isn’t dead and the evolution of blogging The Philly food scene Full show notes: https://profoodmaker.com/geos-table
Mar 18, 2021•41 min
Courtney Lindsay is the chef & owner of Houston Sauce Co, a super popular vegan food company in Houston, TX. Courtney shares: how a hot sauce turned into a food truck, BBQ trailer, storefront, and more what food truck owners need to do to grow their business and who they need to hire how much a food truck costs Mentioned in this episode $2 tacos , Drippy Southwest Burger , the lump crab gumbo , and the garlic parmesan wangz Texas Southern University Food Network’s Chopped Max’s Wine Dive res...
Mar 11, 2021•46 min
How much does it cost to open a restaurant? A lot. Learn restaurant start up costs and best practices from Felicia Middleton, an architectural designer for food spaces, specializing in food service design. Hear about: The costs for equipment, renovations, etc How to open a restaurant: steps & tips Common mistakes & misconceptions about opening a restaurant Listen to this episode Apple Podcasts | Libsyn | Soundcloud | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify Subscribe to the RSS feed : http:/...
Mar 04, 2021•55 min
Meet Kyle Sexton, owner of Kyle’s Good Finds, a Black owned bakery in Tokyo, Japan. We chat about: How and why Kyle moved to Tokyo 30 years ago His bakery’s best sellers which includes carrot cake The importance of having true friends who will support you Mentioned in this episode Rhode Island School of Design - Photography Minshuku - Guesthouse accommodations that are family-owned and family-run Mandarake - popular used goods chain in Japan. Mostly known for their comics and toys. Nakano Sun Pl...
Feb 25, 2021•45 min
Welcome to Season 2! Mercedes talks about highlights, media features, and collaborations from Season 1. She finishes the episode with an Ask Me Anything segment and a sneak peek for the new season. Mentioned in this episode How to Support Black Owned Restaurants & Food Businesses Long-Term guide Ep 17: Improve your food photography skills with food blogger Anela Malik The Food Truck Scholar Podcast 20 Food Podcasts by Black Women on soulphoodie.com Pro Food Maker was featured in MOFAD, Food ...
Feb 25, 2021•32 min
The new season of Pro Food Maker launches this month! Find out how an extra 15 seconds of your time will lead to a bonus episode. Subscribe to this podcast and follow us on Instagram @profoodmaker. Thank you for listening and for your support.
Feb 02, 2021•2 min
If you are looking to grow your career in hospitality, food & beverage, you need a mentor. Lorraine Copes founded Be Inclusive Hospitality, an organization that supports and promotes Black, Asian and other ethnic minorities in the hospitality sector through education, coaching, and mentorship. Lorraine walks us through: how and why she created Be Inclusive Hospitality how you can join the Be Inclusive Hospitality community Note: The name of the organization has changed from BAME in Hospitali...
Aug 06, 2020•43 min
Where can Black chefs, Black owned restaurants and professionals in the food, beverage & hospitality industry go for professional development, collaboration, and support? Colleen Vincent and Clay Williams founded Black Food Folks, a fellowship that centers Black people, our accomplishments, and our growth in food & drink. Colleen & Clay walk us through: the food industry's gatekeeping and how that affects opportunities for Black people media's obsession with one Black chef at a time ...
Jul 16, 2020•42 min
You don’t need to be a celebrity chef to create your own cookbook. LVNGbook, created by Shaun Chavis, a former cookbook editor, offers culturally-inclusive customizable cookbooks for people with a chronic disease. Shaun walks us through: the importance of customer discovery when building your app how to find developers to build your app potential revenue streams for your app Mentioned in this episode Health Magazine Master’s Degree in Gastronomy at Boston University ABC 11 WTVD news Digital Undi...
Jul 02, 2020•45 min
Anela Malik is a food blogger & food writer who focuses on food politics and telling diverse food stories. Anela chats about her work that supports Black owned restaurants and walks us through: How to plan your content based on your mission statement. The equipment and apps she uses to create food content. The importance of networking as a content creator and how to genuinely build relationships. Mentioned in this episode How to Support Black Owned Restaurants & Food Businesses Long Term...
Jun 18, 2020•45 min
Mike Bradford, Founder & President of Wonderffle, is a software engineer who invented a stuffed waffle maker that lets you create waffles with your favorite foods inside. Mike walks us through: Cost estimates for manufacturing your kitchen appliance Lessons learned from finding the right manufacturer for your invention How to save money on filing for your patent How he was able to get feedback from chefs & food media Mentioned in this episode NSF certified Steven Harvey’s Funderdome Conn...
Jun 05, 2020•40 min
De J Lozada, Founder of Soul Popped Gourmet Popcorn, and Black business advocate, knows that selling online can be difficult and expensive for business owners. She is launching Shop Kemet, an online marketplace that connects Black owned businesses with customers who want to buy Black. De J talks about: What it takes to generate $500,000+ in sales for your food business The features available on Shop Kemet that other marketplaces don’t offer Why Black owned businesses need an online presence Conn...
May 21, 2020•40 min
Want to open a restaurant? You don’t need a brick and mortar location or even a food truck. Fred Corder, Co-Owner of Maryland Chickan, walks us through how #DeepFriedWatermelon does pop ups at night markets and food events in Southeast Asia and the U.S. Fred also talks about: Why Black entrepreneurs need to do more business internationally The importance of decentralization of business and media and why this is the best time to be a food entrepreneur Why pop up restaurants are profitable and don...
May 07, 2020•51 min
Kombucha brewmaster and yoga teacher Kemiko Lawrence, founder of the kombucha brand, Kemboocha, breaks down: How she turned her hobby kombucha home brew into a kombucha brand Focusing on prioritizing in life and in business instead of trying to find balance The importance of building your own table instead of waiting to be accepted by others ------------ Mentioned in this episode Harmony Wellness Angels How I Built This podcast Side Hustle Pro Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and ...
Apr 16, 2020•49 min
Today, we chat with mompreneur, Christian Sargent, co-founder & CEO of Vicky Cakes Pancake Mix, on how she launched her Black owned breakfast brand in two months. Christian breaks down: • The 5 main steps to plan & launch your packaged food business • The story behind the Vicky Cakes Pancake & Waffle brand - her mother’s 40 year old family recipe • How to find a commercial kitchen that fits your schedule & budget ------------ Mentioned in this episode Winners Eat Breakfast Vicky ...
Apr 02, 2020•44 min
You need more than passion to successfully run your food business. Today, we chat about the common mistakes that restaurant owners and food entrepreneurs make, with Chelsea Rainey. She is the founder & owner of Culinistics, a company that helps food entrepreneurs launch and scale their food brand. Chelsea breaks down: Market research and how it’s a vital component of your food business How your business needs to be rooted in strategy and not just passion Introducing focus into your business ...
Mar 19, 2020•34 min
Is your food business ready for the recession? Warren Brown, founder & owner of Spark Bites, previously the founder of CakeLove and host of Sugar Rush on Food Network, talks about the difficulties of running a business, especially during a recession. Warren breaks down: How he transitioned from practicing law to running his bakery, CakeLove, full time The necessity of having a support system as a food entrepreneur How customer feedback allowed him to pivot into another food business during a...
Mar 05, 2020•37 min
What is food experience design (food tech & food design) and how can it grow your food business? Bianca Jackson, founder of Bianca Bakes and a contestant on The Great American Baking Show, talks about her work at the intersection of food, tech & design. Bianca breaks down: How to get feedback from customers, the types of questions to ask, and the questions to avoid asking Working as a Product Designer for a kitchen appliance Her experience on the baking competition show, The Great Americ...
Feb 20, 2020•46 min
Fly Carmichael, CEO of Boss Blend Coffee, walks us through how she started her coffee business and the key to a successful business launch. Fly breaks down: Her experience searching for someone to teach her about the coffee business Why it’s important to take control of your content as a content creator How her coffee pays homage to her mother Educating herself on commercial real estate as she prepares to open her coffee shop Mentioned in this episode Brew Thoughts Podcast - CultureCon episode B...
Feb 06, 2020•49 min
Mercedes gives a recap of the good and the bad in 2019 and suggests resources and strategies to help you level up at work and in life for 2020. ------------------ In this episode, Mercedes covers: Using social media to learn about your industry & to connect with people in your industry Why you need a mastermind group or an accountability partner The benefits of having more quiet time How to know when it is time to rest How to plan & budget for events you want to attend Getting out of you...
Jan 30, 2020•28 min
Reggie Kelly, former NFL player, discusses the similarities between playing pro football and running a food business. You’ll learn: Strategies to overcome marketing & brand awareness challenges The importance of conducting research before developing products How to get your children involved in the family business KYVAN Foods, is a line of seasonings, sauces, jams & jellies, and salsas. Reggie Kelly is a former football tight end, and played for the Cincinnati Bengals & Atlanta Falco...
Jan 24, 2020•44 min
Jornae Rideaux, better known as the Modern Day Milk Lady, is a public health professional and the owner of Produce Milk, a dairy-free and plant-based almond milk brand based in Houston, Texas. Jornae discusses: Her recipe development process for her almond milk flavors The importance of collaborating with other food entrepreneurs in Houston How Jornae applies her Masters in Public Health (MPH) experience to running her food business ------------- Timestamps [1:32]: How Jornae got started with Pr...
Dec 12, 2019•34 min
Kiano Moju is the owner of Jikoni, a culinary creative studio in Los Angeles, and previously worked as a food video producer at BuzzFeed’s Tasty. Kiano talks about: Her journey as a food content creator and how she opened a food studio in California Plans to create food shows and travel shows to sell to streaming platforms The importance of underrepresented people in food telling their own culinary stories Timestamps [1:29]: What it means to be a Recipe Writer and Food Video Producer. [8:08]: Ho...
Nov 27, 2019•40 min
A food business consultant (or coach or advisor) can help you start and grow your food business or beverage business. The host shares her experience searching for and working with a food business consultant for her early-stage food brand. She explains: Where to find free business consultants Example questions you can ask during your meeting Questions that your food business consultant may ask you during your first meeting with them -------------------- Mentioned in this episode Small Business Ad...
Nov 14, 2019•17 min
Starting a food business? Need help with your restaurant business plan? Looking for a job at a bakery, restaurant, or food truck? Your public library, the Small Business Administration (SBA), and local food community are great resources for your food business and food career. Librarians help food entrepreneurs conduct market research and customer research The SBA and other organizations provide free business coaching and business workshops ------------------ Timestamps 0:38 - 1:00 : Episode 1 re...
Oct 31, 2019•21 min
A podcast introduction that includes who I am, why I started this food podcast, why we need to support Black owned businesses as a lifestyle, not a special occasion, and episode topics you can expect: The steps a food entrepreneur took to start their food business How to conduct market research How to price your products How to write a business plan How to get customer feedback Navigating food and safety laws The types of funding available and how to secure funding for your business --------- To...
Oct 07, 2019•15 min
