Food Business Marketing - Brand Strategy Tips to Build a Business You Love

Shift your mindset, own your process, and make sales conversations feel natural.

If the thought of selling makes you tense up, this episode is for you. Your hosts, Katie Mleziva of Real Food Brands and Clint Matthews of Start Right Foods, kick off a new mini-series on food business sales with a critical mindset shift that can turn selling from stressful to strategic.

Then Clint shares the 4-P Framework he's used successfully: Plan,...

Every entrepreneur learns lessons along the way, but you don't have to learn them all the hard way.

In this episode, Katie Mleziva (Food Brand Strategist at Real Food Brands) and Clint Matthews (Co-founder of Start Right Foods) share some of the most important "life lessons" they've picked up from being in the food business over the years — but these learnings apply beyond food brands and can help everyone avoid common pitfalls.

He...

Once you've built a strong brand foundation for your food business, what's next? There's always room to learn, optimize, and grow!

In this episode of the Food Business Marketing Podcast, Katie explores how to take your brand strategy to the next level by moving from brand foundations to brand management as the key to intentional growth.

Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

• How to sharpen your consumer insights and revisit...

Brand strategy isn't just for big brands with big budgets — it's how smaller, purpose-driven food businesses can actually compete and stand out. In this 150th episode of the Food Business Marketing Podcast, Katie shares a simple, approachable way to get started with brand strategy so it feels doable, not daunting.

You'll hear how her DEFINE–ALIGN–ACTIVATE framework works, why clarity, confidence, and consistency matter, and the thr...

Finding the right vendors, agencies, and strategic service providers can be a game-changer for your food business as you grow. In Ep 149 of the Food Business Marketing Podcast, Katie and Clint share some points to consider when evaluating potential partners so you can avoid wasting time and money—and instead work with people who truly support your vision and business goals.

You'll learn:

✔️ Key criteria to consider when selecting s...

Motivation feels exciting. It's the spark that gets you moving, whether that's launching a new product, pursuing a dream retailer, or setting up at a big show. But if you've ever felt your motivation fade, you know it isn't enough on its own.

That's where discipline comes in. Discipline is the steady commitment to your food brand's vision and purpose that helps you stay consistent, even when the spark of motivation wears off. And a...

Legacy isn't just about how long you or your brand have been around — it's about the values you stand for and the consistency you bring to life through your brand. In this episode, Katie Mleziva - your food brand strategist - shares five ways you can start building a legacy brand that goes beyond products to create positive impact and true staying power.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Why legacy brands are built on values, ...

What does it take to build a food brand that leaves a lasting impact? Whether you're just starting out or decades in, your legacy isn't just about how long your brand survives — it's about the people you impact along the way.

In this episode, Food Brand Strategist Katie Mleziva and co-host Clint Matthews, co-founder of Start Right Foods, are joined by Matt Keepman of Mullins Dairy Bar, a nearly 100-year-old iconic ice cream brand b...

Comparison can spark ideas… or it can derail your focus. In this episode, I share how to avoid unhealthy comparison while still keeping an eye on your competitive set.

You'll learn how to filter competitor insights through your brand strategy so you can position your brand clearly, have stronger stakeholder conversations, and grow in YOUR lane, not somebody else's.

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

• The pitfalls of constant com...

As a food business owner, you're constantly making decisions—some big, some small, but all important. And when a new opportunity lands in your lap, it can be tempting to jump in without thinking it through. But that's where brand strategy becomes your superpower and a way to set your brand apart in a consistent, meaningful way.

In this episode, I explore:

• The difference between reacting and responding (and why it matters) when...

Do you ever feel like your brain is overflowing with ideas—but you're not sure what to focus on or how to make progress?

This episode is for you if you're full of inspiration, but also full of tabs open in your brain, and each has ten ideas!

You'll hear why getting your ideas out of your head and into a documented plan leads to more clarity, alignment, and confidence as well as:

• Your natural relationship with ideas - do you sh...

In Episode 142 of the Food Business Marketing Podcast, we (Katie Mleziva & Clint Matthews) dig into what it means to activate your sales plan—and take action. We cover everything from buyer outreach to building relationships and preparing for buyer meetings.

What you'll hear:

• Why your first step should be checking in on current accounts
• Where and how to find the right buyer contacts
• How to make your first outreach stand out
• Wh...

Today Clint and I are discussing how to bridge the gap between brand strategy and sales execution. From prioritizing accounts to pitching to retail buyers, we break down how a strong brand foundation supports smarter sales decisions—and prevents wasted time and money.

What You'll Hear:

• Why sales can feel too overcomplicated—and ideas of how to adjust
• How Clint and his co-founder shifted from "grow fast" to "grow focused"
• How p...