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Send us a text Your brand is killing it on social media. Sales are growing. But are you actually making money? In episode 150 of the Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford podcast - the first episode of Season 16, Planning Season - I sit down with Jason Stockton, founder of ERP system, Supply'd, and Patrick LaManna, CEO of LaManna Supermarket and Director of social media sensation Pistachio Papi. Here's the thing: even wildly successful brands with a multitude of followers need tight operational systems. They still need to nail forecasting, manage cashflow, and understand true costs. Jason's Supply'd helps food businesses do exactly that - streamlining inventory, production, and financial planning so you're not bleeding money as you scale. This conversation is a reality check for every brand owner who thinks growth solves operational problems. It doesn't. It exposes them. Grab your pen and tune in to hear: 💰 What you need to understand your true costs 🏭 How to manage unpredictable ordering patterns 📦 Managing your cashflow when you have multiple sales channels all with different lead times ⏱️ How to prevent overproduction, stockouts, and missed orders 🎯 The forecasting shift that protects your margins when wholesale customers are expecting their order and you can't just sell them something else This is the first episode of Season 16 - Planning Season, brought to you by Foodpreneurs Festival. The only Festival where packaged brands get seen, stocked and supported. Jason will be there delivering his workshop, “What's Eating Your Margin? Uncovering Your Hidden Operational Costs.” for brands at the scale stage of their journey. Make sure you drop into his session or say hi to him in the Festival Fairground! LINKS & RESOURCES: Supply’d websiteLaManna InstagramPistachio Papi InstagramPatrick LaManna LinkedInJason Stockton LinkedInEpisode #134 Industry Insights from Foodpreneurs Festival 2025Your Free Pitch PlanBecome A FoodpreneSeason 16 Season 16, out now, is 'Planning Season' and is being presented by Foodpreneurs Festival - a must-attend event dedicated to bringing consumer packaged goods food, drink (alc and non-alc), pet and supplements brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors together under one roof. Here’s why you should be there: Thousands of stockists looking for new products for their shelves. A chance to pitch for funding + mentorship to scale your brand. Workshops tailored to where you’re at - whether you’re just starting or scaling big (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Brand Story Studio’ - 1:1 help with your messaging strategy - you'll leave with your founder story dialled in (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Distributor Lunch & Learn’ opportunity to speak directly with distributors about how they work and what they need you to do to work successfully with them. Opportunities to get recognised and get your brand in front of brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors. If you’re an Industry Specialist, tap into a highly engaged, niche audience. And much, much more. Schedule May 21-22 in your diary and click this link to see how you can be part of it.

Send us a text You're on shelf. Now what? In this episode of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford, I chat with Sonia Martinez, a retail expert from AUR Foodworks who works with both retailers and brands to improve in-store ranging, product positioning, and merchandising. Sonia is clear: retailers provide real estate, they won't do the selling for you. And if your product isn't moving, you're at risk of getting delisted. Grab your pen and paper and take notes. If you're driving for velocity, tune in to hear: 🛒 The one thing brands in Whole Foods did every week for six months that kept them on shelf 📸 What to photograph in-store that reveals exactly where your opportunity is 🤝 The partnership tool that makes retailers less risk-averse about keeping your product 🍯 When to propose "off-location" displays (and what that actually means) 📦 Why repositioning your product in a different category could save it from delisting 🚫 The biggest mistake founders make once they're on shelf Sonia shares what separates brands who stay on shelf from those who get delisted and why every stockist should be treated like an active campaign, not a done deal. This is the eighth and final episode of Season 15 - Marketing Season. If your product isn't moving the way you hoped, this conversation gives you the playbook to turn it around. Season 15 is brought to you by Foodpreneurs Festival, a year's worth of sales and promotion opportunities under one roof. Sonia will be there on the Buyer Tasting Panel and delivering workshops for start-ups and scaling brands. Say hi to her! LINKS & RESOURCES: Sonia’s LinkedIn Your Free Pitch PlanBecome A Foodpreneurs Festival InsiderChelsea Ford Co. websiteSeason 16 Season 16, out now, is 'Planning Season' and is being presented by Foodpreneurs Festival - a must-attend event dedicated to bringing consumer packaged goods food, drink (alc and non-alc), pet and supplements brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors together under one roof. Here’s why you should be there: Thousands of stockists looking for new products for their shelves. A chance to pitch for funding + mentorship to scale your brand. Workshops tailored to where you’re at - whether you’re just starting or scaling big (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Brand Story Studio’ - 1:1 help with your messaging strategy - you'll leave with your founder story dialled in (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Distributor Lunch & Learn’ opportunity to speak directly with distributors about how they work and what they need you to do to work successfully with them. Opportunities to get recognised and get your brand in front of brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors. If you’re an Industry Specialist, tap into a highly engaged, niche audience. And much, much more. Schedule May 21-22 in your diary and click this link to see how you can be part of it.

Send us a text Your product is great. People love it. But you're still struggling to sell it. Sound familiar? In episode 148 of the Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford podcast, I chat with Jayne Gallagher, CEO and co-founder of Honey & Fox, a marketing consultancy that helps good food brands turn provenance into sales. Jayne and her business partner Helen work specifically with food and drink businesses to cut through the marketing overwhelm and create systems that actually drive revenue - without needing a four-year marketing degree to do it. Tune in to hear Jayne share her provenance-powered marketing system:  📖 The five elements that create compelling brand stories 🤝 Why over 60% of consumers don't trust what they see, hear, or read 🦀 A case study about a Queensland crab fishing business that saved tens of thousands in packaging costs by getting their brand strategy right before pressing go 🎯 Why most food brands start in the wrong place with social media 💰 How to set a realistic marketing budget ✅ The three things every buyer wants Jayne breaks down why marketing isn't just social media, why proof is now one of your most precious commodities, and how to avoid the overwhelm of 50-100 conflicting pieces of marketing advice by following a simple system designed specifically for food and drink. This episode is part of Season 15 - marketing season and is brought to you by Foodpreneurs Festival - a year's worth of sales and promotion opportunities under one roof.  Honey & Fox will be hosting a 'Brand Story Studio' at the Festival in May, 2026. LINKS & RESOURCES: Honey & Fox websiteProvenance Powered MarketingFood Marketing AcademyFraser Isle Spanner [email protected]@honeyandfox.com.au'Brand Story Studio' at Foodpreneurs FestivalEdelman Trust BarometerYour Free Pitch PlanBecome ASeason 16 Season 16, out now, is 'Planning Season' and is being presented by Foodpreneurs Festival - a must-attend event dedicated to bringing consumer packaged goods food, drink (alc and non-alc), pet and supplements brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors together under one roof. Here’s why you should be there: Thousands of stockists looking for new products for their shelves. A chance to pitch for funding + mentorship to scale your brand. Workshops tailored to where you’re at - whether you’re just starting or scaling big (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Brand Story Studio’ - 1:1 help with your messaging strategy - you'll leave with your founder story dialled in (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Distributor Lunch & Learn’ opportunity to speak directly with distributors about how they work and what they need you to do to work successfully with them. Opportunities to get recognised and get your brand in front of brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors. If you’re an Industry Specialist, tap into a highly engaged, niche audience. And much, much more. Schedule May 21-22 in your diary and click this link to see how you can be part of it.

Send us a text How do you build a beverage brand when the margins are slim and you have no outside funding and growth depends on you? You make sales your North Star. Every single day. In this episode of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford, I chat with Ollie Puddick, founder of Innerbloom, a functional beverage brand that's gone from farmers' markets to over 300 retail doors across Australia and New Zealand in just a few years. Ollie quit his job as a professional firefighter at the end of last year to go all-in on Innerbloom. No safety net. No investors. Just relentless focus on the one thing that keeps the lights on: sales. And he's brutally honest about the mistakes he made along the way. You'll hear: 💰 The one word Ollie writes at the top of his weekly plan every Monday (and why it changes everything) 📈 Why Ollie believes he can hit $1 million in online revenue in 12 months - and how online sales solved a cashflow crisis that retail created 🍫 The difficult decision he's making about SKUs right now (hint: less is more) 🏪 How Ollie lost retail stockists without even knowing it - and what he learned about chasing doors vs. servicing accounts 🛒 The meeting filter that keeps him focused on what actually drives sales 📦 How he's built a team without hiring full-time staff (and why this works for a lean beverage business) 🎯 What a $10K trip taught him about being laser-focused on the right goals Ollie is proof that you don't need a big team, outside funding, or perfect timing to build a successful food or beverage brand. If you're bootstrapping, wearing all the hats, and trying to figure out where to focus your limited time and money - this conversation will give you clarity. Season 15 is brought to you by Foodpreneurs Festival - a year's worth of sales and promotion opportunities under one roof. LINKS & RESOURCES: Inner Bloom CoffeeInner Bloom Coffee on InstagramYour Free Pitch PlanBecome A Foodpreneurs Festival InsiderChelsea Ford Co. websiteSeason 16 Season 16, out now, is 'Planning Season' and is being presented by Foodpreneurs Festival - a must-attend event dedicated to bringing consumer packaged goods food, drink (alc and non-alc), pet and supplements brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors together under one roof. Here’s why you should be there: Thousands of stockists looking for new products for their shelves. A chance to pitch for funding + mentorship to scale your brand. Workshops tailored to where you’re at - whether you’re just starting or scaling big (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Brand Story Studio’ - 1:1 help with your messaging strategy - you'll leave with your founder story dialled in (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Distributor Lunch & Learn’ opportunity to speak directly with distributors about how they work and what they need you to do to work successfully with them. Opportunities to get recognised and get your brand in front of brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors. If you’re an Industry Specialist, tap into a highly engaged, niche audience. And much, much more. Schedule May 21-22 in your diary and click this link to see how you can be part of it.

Send us a text Your product is great but is your packaging selling it when you're not there? Packaging is your silent salesperson so you need to make it work. In this episode of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford, I chat with Gwen Blake, founding director of Boxer & Co, a packaging design agency specialising in fast moving consumer goods. Here's the reality: we make 95% of our decisions by instinct. Colour, shape, and typography trigger autopilot purchases - green signals healthy and handwritten fonts signal crafted and your packaging has three seconds to trigger the right instinct - or your product stays on the shelf. In this episode, you'll hear: 📦 Why packaging is a decision-making tool, not just pretty pictures 🧠 The biggest myth founders hold onto (it has to do with the front of your pack) 🌿 If you’re a health brand, what you must ditch to get cut-through with consumers ✅ What to include in your brief to designers (and what restrictions kill creativity) Gwen breaks down how to make packaging work within retail realities. This episode is for brand owners who struggle to translate product quality into packaging that drives sales. Season 15 is brought to you by Foodpreneurs Festival - a year's worth of sales and promotion opportunities under one roof. LINKS & RESOURCES: Boxer & CoGwen Blake on LinkedInBoxer & Co on InstagramNimbusDilectioCoco and LucasGrove JuiceYour Free Pitch PlanBecome A Foodpreneurs Festival InsiderChelsea Ford Co. websiteSeason 16 Season 16, out now, is 'Planning Season' and is being presented by Foodpreneurs Festival - a must-attend event dedicated to bringing consumer packaged goods food, drink (alc and non-alc), pet and supplements brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors together under one roof. Here’s why you should be there: Thousands of stockists looking for new products for their shelves. A chance to pitch for funding + mentorship to scale your brand. Workshops tailored to where you’re at - whether you’re just starting or scaling big (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Brand Story Studio’ - 1:1 help with your messaging strategy - you'll leave with your founder story dialled in (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Distributor Lunch & Learn’ opportunity to speak directly with distributors about how they work and what they need you to do to work successfully with them. Opportunities to get recognised and get your brand in front of brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors. If you’re an Industry Specialist, tap into a highly engaged, niche audience. And much, much more. Schedule May 21-22 in your diary and click this link to see how you can be part of it.

Send us a text You've got a great product. You're posting on social media. But are you actually building a community - or just racking up likes? In this episode of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford, I chat with Sandra and Jordana from Six-Eyed Scorpion, the award-winning crispy chili oil brand that's absolutely nailing brand building in a crowded condiment category. Sandra is a chef by trade and founder. Jordana is the head of marketing and brand (and a graphic designer). Together, they've built a premium brand that stands out in a sea of red, bold competitors by going blue, sophisticated, and unapologetically fun. You'll hear: 🌶️ How they used a competitive matrix to find the gap in a saturated chili oil market - and why they chose blue branding in a category dominated by red 🤝 What community actually means beyond the buzzword (hint: it's not just posting "thank you" on Instagram) 🎨 Their approach to brand collaborations - from pitching Baker Blue to landing Broadsheet coverage 📧 Why people actually reply to their email campaigns and Instagram comments (and what happens when brands just "like" comments instead) 🏆 How having awards, like a BiteBack Award, makes such a difference Sandra and Jordana break down their philosophy: it's a crime to be boring. They show up at events face-to-face, they share behind-the-scenes content people actually want to watch, and they approach collaborations with ideas (not just asks). This episode is for brand owners who know their product is good but struggle to build the kind of community and brand affinity that drives repeat purchases and word-of-mouth referrals. Season 15 is brought to you by Foodpreneurs Festival - a year's worth of sales and promotion opportunities under one roof. LINKS & RESOURCES: Six Eyed Scorpion WebsiteSix Eyed Scorpion on InstagramHill MartinDelbociaBaker BleuSandra Seah on LinkedIn#131 From Kitchen to Retail: How Six-Eyed Scorpion Crispy Chilli Oil is Winning Shelf Space Season 16 Season 16, out now, is 'Planning Season' and is being presented by Foodpreneurs Festival - a must-attend event dedicated to bringing consumer packaged goods food, drink (alc and non-alc), pet and supplements brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors together under one roof. Here’s why you should be there: Thousands of stockists looking for new products for their shelves. A chance to pitch for funding + mentorship to scale your brand. Workshops tailored to where you’re at - whether you’re just starting or scaling big (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Brand Story Studio’ - 1:1 help with your messaging strategy - you'll leave with your founder story dialled in (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Distributor Lunch & Learn’ opportunity to speak directly with distributors about how they work and what they need you to do to work successfully with them. Opportunities to get recognised and get your brand in front of brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors. If you’re an Industry Specialist, tap into a highly engaged, niche audience. And much, much more. Schedule May 21-22 in your diary and click this link to see how you can be part of it.

Send us a text How do you really know if your packaging works? If your campaign will land? If your new flavour will sell? You ask the people who matter most - your customers. Fast. In this episode of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford, I chat with Anna Henwood, CEO of Stickybeak, a rapid consumer testing platform that delivers feedback from your target audience within 48 hours. Anna reveals her frameworks for marketing effectiveness that help you get more product into more consumer baskets. We dig into the everyday decisions that often leave brand owners stuck at a fork in the road - campaign creative, pack design, claims, naming, flavours - the ones where a wrong move can be costly, but intel is hard to access quickly. You'll hear Anna's three game-changing frameworks and: 📦 Why packaging is your silent salesperson (and your brand billboard) - and how to balance sell and brand without smashing it all on the front 📊 When to trust your gut and when to test it with real consumer feedback 💰 How smart foodpreneurs use accessible, affordable data to avoid expensive mistakes 🎯 Why what you think matters isn't always what your target market cares about (even if you have the same gluten intolerance) 🛒 How to make decisions that move product off the shelf and into baskets in cluttered retail environments This episode is for foodpreneurs who are tired of second-guessing their marketing decisions and want to move forward with confidence, backed by real consumer insight that doesn't break the bank or take months to gather. Season 15 is brought to you by Foodpreneurs Festival - a year's worth of sales and promotion opportunities under one roof. LINKS & RESOURCES: Anna Henwood on LinkedIn Stickybeak Research Stickybeak WebsiteGraze Churn Foods Your Free Pitch PlanBecome A Foodpreneurs Festival InsiderBiteBack AwardsChelsea Ford Co. websiteSeason 16 Season 16, out now, is 'Planning Season' and is being presented by Foodpreneurs Festival - a must-attend event dedicated to bringing consumer packaged goods food, drink (alc and non-alc), pet and supplements brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors together under one roof. Here’s why you should be there: Thousands of stockists looking for new products for their shelves. A chance to pitch for funding + mentorship to scale your brand. Workshops tailored to where you’re at - whether you’re just starting or scaling big (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Brand Story Studio’ - 1:1 help with your messaging strategy - you'll leave with your founder story dialled in (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Distributor Lunch & Learn’ opportunity to speak directly with distributors about how they work and what they need you to do to work successfully with them. Opportunities to get recognised and get your brand in front of brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors. If you’re an Industry Specialist, tap into a highly engaged, niche audience. And much, much more. Schedule May 21-22 in your diary and click this link to see how you can be part of it.

Send us a text Building one successful food brand is hard enough. But what if you could leverage your existing production to create multiple brands that serve different markets and price points? In this episode of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford, I chat with sisters and co-founders Michelle Blyth and Justine Curtis from Cremorne Street Bakers, Balmain Baking Co., and cookï. Over eight years, they've built a wholesale baking business that now operates across three distinct brands - each serving different customers, channels, and price points. Their retail journey escalated when Coles Local called them out of the blue after a category manager's mum spotted their products in Melbourne cafes. They had no retail presence, no barcodes, and no retail ready packaging - but they said yes and figured it out. Today, their business spans foodservice (including Starbucks), Coles Local, independent retail, petrol & convenience, and direct-to-consumer. Listen today and learn:  🍪 Why they created three brands instead of stretching one and how each serves a different market segment. 🍪 The "diffusion brand" strategy: using the same base dough to create premium, mid-tier, and convenience products. 🍪 How to inflation-proof your business by diversifying revenue streams while leveraging existing production. 🍪 How to make an unforgettable trade show stand. 🍪 The seasonal reality of wholesale baking, and how to manage when you make most of your money in a short time of the year. 🍪 Why their first salesperson after 8 years was a game-changer This episode is for brand owners who've built strong foundations and are ready to think strategically about scaling - not just adding more SKUs, but creating multiple revenue streams that work together. Season 15 is brought to you by Foodpreneurs Festival - a year's worth of sales and promotion opportunities under one roof. LINKS & RESOURCES: Cremorne Street Bakers Website Cremorne Street Bakers on InstagramBalmain Baking on InstagramFunction 8Your Free Pitch PlanBecome A FoodpreneursSeason 16 Season 16, out now, is 'Planning Season' and is being presented by Foodpreneurs Festival - a must-attend event dedicated to bringing consumer packaged goods food, drink (alc and non-alc), pet and supplements brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors together under one roof. Here’s why you should be there: Thousands of stockists looking for new products for their shelves. A chance to pitch for funding + mentorship to scale your brand. Workshops tailored to where you’re at - whether you’re just starting or scaling big (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Brand Story Studio’ - 1:1 help with your messaging strategy - you'll leave with your founder story dialled in (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Distributor Lunch & Learn’ opportunity to speak directly with distributors about how they work and what they need you to do to work successfully with them. Opportunities to get recognised and get your brand in front of brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors. If you’re an Industry Specialist, tap into a highly engaged, niche audience. And much, much more. Schedule May 21-22 in your diary and click this link to see how you can be part of it.

Send us a text You've got a great product, decent packaging, and maybe even a few stockists. But here's the problem: your product isn't moving off the shelf. You're spending all your energy chasing new listings while your existing stockists are losing confidence.  This is the wake-up call you need. In this episode of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford, I'm breaking down why so many CPG brands focus on the wrong metric. I share real examples from brands that are crushing it. You'll hear about brands like Bippy Chili moving 30-40 units per week, Ammazza Pizza doing 2,000 units in a single week, and Mingle Seasoning achieving a 350% sales uplift for three months after one collaboration. These results aren't accidents. They're the outcome of strategic marketing at every stage of the funnel. Listen today and walk away knowing:  📈 How to improve your sales velocity. 📈 The marketing funnel explained and what to do at each stage. 📈 How to create demand signal before you even pitch to buyers (so they're already warm when you walk in). 📈 Real tactics from successful brands. This episode is for brand owners who understand that getting on shelf is just the beginning. The ones who know that staying there depends on how good their marketing is. Season 15 is brought to you by Foodpreneurs Festival, a year's worth of sales and promotion opportunities under one roof. LINKS & RESOURCES: ZuumGymbod GoodlesTahinineriBippi FoodsMingle SeasoningAmmazza Biteback AwardsBecome A Foodpreneurs Festival InsiderChelsea Ford Co. websiteSeason 16 Season 16, out now, is 'Planning Season' and is being presented by Foodpreneurs Festival - a must-attend event dedicated to bringing consumer packaged goods food, drink (alc and non-alc), pet and supplements brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors together under one roof. Here’s why you should be there: Thousands of stockists looking for new products for their shelves. A chance to pitch for funding + mentorship to scale your brand. Workshops tailored to where you’re at - whether you’re just starting or scaling big (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Brand Story Studio’ - 1:1 help with your messaging strategy - you'll leave with your founder story dialled in (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Distributor Lunch & Learn’ opportunity to speak directly with distributors about how they work and what they need you to do to work successfully with them. Opportunities to get recognised and get your brand in front of brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors. If you’re an Industry Specialist, tap into a highly engaged, niche audience. And much, much more. Schedule May 21-22 in your diary and click this link to see how you can be part of it.

Send us a text Scaling up from the bench top to commercial manufacturing is one of the biggest turning points for food, drink, and pet food brands. It’s exciting but it comes with challenges too: ingredient integrity, process changes, minimum order quantities, and the founder’s mindset all play a role in whether scaling feels like a breakthrough or a breakdown. In Episode 141, I’m joined by Naishad Dalal of Food Entrepreneurship Academy, who has worked with countless startups and established brands to take them from idea through to commercial launch.  We unpack: 🌶️ The common misconceptions about scaling up to manufacturing at scale. 🦀 How to navigate trade-offs between artisanal quality and operational reality. ☺️ Real-world stories of founders who’ve made tough but smart compromises. 🧠 Why founder mindset and consumer communication are crucial to success. Whether you’re just starting to think about scaling or you’re already managing commercial runs, this conversation will give you practical insights - and a dose of hope - that growth is possible without losing a product’s soul. This Season of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford is brought to you by Chelsea Ford Co.’s tenth anniversary. Ten years in, I’m more committed than ever. The next decade is wide open for those ready to do things differently and back themselves to grow. LINKS & RESOURCES: Food Entrepreneurship Academy websiteFood Entrepreneurship Academy LinkedIn Company LinkedIn PageNaishad Dalal LinkedIn Page#134 Industry Insights from Foodpreneurs Festival 2025#128 Burnt Out & Broke: How to Afford a Co-Manufacturer#107 How to Develop a Commercially Viable Food or Drink Product.HydraCelt from Overtime Labs Your Free Pitch PlanBecome A Foodpreneurs Festival InsiderChelsea Ford Co. websiteSeason 16 Season 16, out now, is 'Planning Season' and is being presented by Foodpreneurs Festival - a must-attend event dedicated to bringing consumer packaged goods food, drink (alc and non-alc), pet and supplements brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors together under one roof. Here’s why you should be there: Thousands of stockists looking for new products for their shelves. A chance to pitch for funding + mentorship to scale your brand. Workshops tailored to where you’re at - whether you’re just starting or scaling big (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Brand Story Studio’ - 1:1 help with your messaging strategy - you'll leave with your founder story dialled in (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Distributor Lunch & Learn’ opportunity to speak directly with distributors about how they work and what they need you to do to work successfully with them. Opportunities to get recognised and get your brand in front of brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors. If you’re an Industry Specialist, tap into a highly engaged, niche audience. And much, much more. Schedule May 21-22 in your diary and click this link to see how you can be part of it.

Send us a text Orders arriving by text at midnight.  Quantities scribbled on receipts.  Spreadsheets that don’t match the coolroom.  The result? Wasted product, missed shelves, and supply chaos retailers simply won’t tolerate. In Episode 140 of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford, I speak with Philip Fierlinger, co-founder of Upstock (and one of the brains behind Xero), about why running a modern food business on scraps of paper isn’t just inefficient - it’s a systemic roadblock costing brand owners money, credibility, and growth. If scaling matters to you, this episode is a must-listen. This Season of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford is brought to you by Chelsea Ford Co.’s tenth anniversary. Ten years in, I’m more committed than ever. The next decade is wide open for those ready to do things differently and back themselves to grow. LINKS & RESOURCES: Upstock websiteScale your FMCG brand on UpstockPhilip Fierlinger LinkedInEatKindaCoaching Claire MacDonald, Episode #43 What to do When a Stockist Says ‘No’ or ‘No for Now’Your Free Pitch PlanBecome A Foodpreneurs Festival InsiderChelsea Ford Co. websiteSeason 16 Season 16, out now, is 'Planning Season' and is being presented by Foodpreneurs Festival - a must-attend event dedicated to bringing consumer packaged goods food, drink (alc and non-alc), pet and supplements brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors together under one roof. Here’s why you should be there: Thousands of stockists looking for new products for their shelves. A chance to pitch for funding + mentorship to scale your brand. Workshops tailored to where you’re at - whether you’re just starting or scaling big (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Brand Story Studio’ - 1:1 help with your messaging strategy - you'll leave with your founder story dialled in (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Distributor Lunch & Learn’ opportunity to speak directly with distributors about how they work and what they need you to do to work successfully with them. Opportunities to get recognised and get your brand in front of brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors. If you’re an Industry Specialist, tap into a highly engaged, niche audience. And much, much more. Schedule May 21-22 in your diary and click this link to see how you can be part of it.

Send us a text You think you know what your customer wants… but do you really? Turns out, most of us get it wrong. In Episode 139 of the Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford podcast, I’m joined by Angela Beswick from Stickybeak - the rapid consumer testing platform - and Bonnie Slade, founder of NaturKidz, whose last-minute product testing changed the trajectory of her pitch to a major retailer. This one’s a must-listen if you’re launching a new product, updating your packaging, or prepping for a retailer meeting that needs to go right. Why you’ll love this episode: 💡 Discover why your own preferences can be your biggest blind spot - and how to avoid being fooled by unconscious bias. 💡 Learn the packaging tweak that helped Bonnie confidently leave the skin on the feijoa (and why her customers are glad she did). 💡 Why “test early and test often” is smarter (and faster) than perfecting it all at the end. 💡 How Stickybeak’s quick turnaround gives you real-time data that can validate your ideas or help you pivot - even at the last minute. This episode proves you don’t have to go with your gut or guess anymore. You can know. And that makes all the difference. This Season of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford is brought to you by Chelsea Ford Co.’s tenth anniversary. Ten years in, I’m more committed than ever. The next decade is wide open for those ready to do things differently and back themselves to grow. LINKS & RESOURCES: Stickybeak websiteStickybeak Range Review GuideNaturKidz websiteNaturKidz InstagramYour Free Pitch PlanBecome A Foodpreneurs Festival InsiderChelsea Ford Co. websiteSeason 16 Season 16, out now, is 'Planning Season' and is being presented by Foodpreneurs Festival - a must-attend event dedicated to bringing consumer packaged goods food, drink (alc and non-alc), pet and supplements brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors together under one roof. Here’s why you should be there: Thousands of stockists looking for new products for their shelves. A chance to pitch for funding + mentorship to scale your brand. Workshops tailored to where you’re at - whether you’re just starting or scaling big (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Brand Story Studio’ - 1:1 help with your messaging strategy - you'll leave with your founder story dialled in (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Distributor Lunch & Learn’ opportunity to speak directly with distributors about how they work and what they need you to do to work successfully with them. Opportunities to get recognised and get your brand in front of brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors. If you’re an Industry Specialist, tap into a highly engaged, niche audience. And much, much more. Schedule May 21-22 in your diary and click this link to see how you can be part of it.

Send us a text It’s the milestone every brand owner chases - landing that major retail listing. But without solid systems in place, supply chain slip-ups, inventory miscalculations, and cash flow gaps can turn that win into a serious setback. If you’ve just landed your first big retail order - or you’re gearing up to expand nationally without running out of stock (or cash) - this episode could save you time, money, and sleepless nights. I’m joined by Cameron Aboud and Joel Alderden from sc3sixty, a fractional supply chain company helping emerging food and drink brands scale sustainably.  We discuss: 📦 The strategic moves to make right after your first big order.                                   📦 The biggest cash flow traps and stock mistakes that quietly kill growth. 📦 How to master inventory planning using the “Goldilocks” principle of not too much, not too little. 📦 What DIFOT means, why it’s non-negotiable, and how poor supply performance opens the door for your competition. 📦 Why ‘fractional’ supply chain support is smart business for brands that can’t afford full-time experts but want full-time results. If you’ve been winging it with stock, crossing your fingers with cash flow, or you’re about to take a leap from local to national retail, this episode will give you the insights to scaling with longevity. This Season of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford is brought to you by Chelsea Ford Co.’s tenth anniversary. Ten years in, I’m more committed than ever. The next decade is wide open for those ready to do things differently and back themselves to grow. LINKS & RESOURCES: sc3sixty websiteCameron Aboud’s LinkedIn profileJoel Alderden LinkedIn profileJoost Bekker LinkedIn profile#132 Plant-Based Milk, Powered by Data: How Drink Nimbus is Disrupting the Industry & Tackling Waste#136 The Hidden Costs Eating Your ProfitYour Free Pitch PlanBecome A Foodpreneurs Festival InsiderSeason 16 Season 16, out now, is 'Planning Season' and is being presented by Foodpreneurs Festival - a must-attend event dedicated to bringing consumer packaged goods food, drink (alc and non-alc), pet and supplements brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors together under one roof. Here’s why you should be there: Thousands of stockists looking for new products for their shelves. A chance to pitch for funding + mentorship to scale your brand. Workshops tailored to where you’re at - whether you’re just starting or scaling big (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Brand Story Studio’ - 1:1 help with your messaging strategy - you'll leave with your founder story dialled in (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Distributor Lunch & Learn’ opportunity to speak directly with distributors about how they work and what they need you to do to work successfully with them. Opportunities to get recognised and get your brand in front of brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors. If you’re an Industry Specialist, tap into a highly engaged, niche audience. And much, much more. Schedule May 21-22 in your diary and click this link to see how you can be part of it.

Send us a text Brand owners could literally be leaving thousands of dollars on the table simply because they don’t realise they’re eligible for funding. If you're making, baking or creating - and not claiming the R&D tax incentive - then this is the episode that will help put money back in your pocket. In this episode of the Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford podcast, I’m joined by Anthony Chi from Bluerock Consulting. Anthony is a rare breed who’s both a lawyer and an accountant. He’s worked with countless food and drink businesses and knows exactly what it takes to get tax incentives for packaged  food, drink or pet food businesses.  We talk about: 💸 What you can and can’t claim under the R&D tax incentive. 💸 The right time to call in an expert (and how to make that conversation count). 💸 Exactly what you need to know when claiming grants for your business. I also put Anthony on the spot about the big retailers. His take? Not to be missed. If you've been avoiding grants because they sound too hard, or you've convinced yourself your business isn’t eligible, this episode will shift your mindset,  and might just put more money in your pocket. This Season of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford is brought to you by Chelsea Ford Co.’s tenth anniversary. Ten years in, I’m more committed than ever. The next decade is wide open for those ready to do things differently and back themselves to grow. LINKS & RESOURCES: Bluerock websiteAnthony Chi LinkedInYour Free Pitch PlanBecome A Foodpreneurs Festival InsiderChelsea Ford Co. websiteSeason 16 Season 16, out now, is 'Planning Season' and is being presented by Foodpreneurs Festival - a must-attend event dedicated to bringing consumer packaged goods food, drink (alc and non-alc), pet and supplements brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors together under one roof. Here’s why you should be there: Thousands of stockists looking for new products for their shelves. A chance to pitch for funding + mentorship to scale your brand. Workshops tailored to where you’re at - whether you’re just starting or scaling big (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Brand Story Studio’ - 1:1 help with your messaging strategy - you'll leave with your founder story dialled in (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Distributor Lunch & Learn’ opportunity to speak directly with distributors about how they work and what they need you to do to work successfully with them. Opportunities to get recognised and get your brand in front of brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors. If you’re an Industry Specialist, tap into a highly engaged, niche audience. And much, much more. Schedule May 21-22 in your diary and click this link to see how you can be part of it.

Send us a text Many brand owners think the only way to grow is to do more. More products, more orders, more late nights. But being busy and trying to do it all yourself to save money doesn’t mean you’re building a smarter business. In this episode of the Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford podcast, I’m joined by two brilliant minds who know how to scale without the chaos - Jason Stockton, founder of the ERP system Supply’d, and Ross Galettis from Madhouse Bakehouse, who’s supplying Qantas (and hundreds more) with mouth-watering baked goods. In this episode, we lift the lid on: 📈The hidden costs eating your profit (and how to spot them). 📈How to stop working in silos and get every department talking. 📈How to produce more, without additional costs. 📈The real reason saying “I’m too busy” is killing your margins. 📈The tech most brand owners underestimate – and the 3-4x ROI they’re missing. If you’re drowning in the day-to-day, but serious about scaling, this episode is filled with tactical help for brand owners who are in the weeds and don't know where to start. This Season of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford is brought to you by Chelsea Ford Co.’s tenth anniversary. Ten years in, I’m more committed than ever. The next decade is wide open for those ready to do things differently and back themselves to grow. LINKS & RESOURCES: Supply’d websiteSupply’d free toolsJason Stockton’s LinkedIn profileMadhouse Bakehouse websiteMadhouse Bakehouse InstagramRoss Galettis LinkedIn profileEpisode #134 Industry Insights from Foodpreneurs Festival 2025Your Free Pitch PlanBecome A Foodpreneurs Festival InsiderChelsea Ford Co. websiteSeason 16 Season 16, out now, is 'Planning Season' and is being presented by Foodpreneurs Festival - a must-attend event dedicated to bringing consumer packaged goods food, drink (alc and non-alc), pet and supplements brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors together under one roof. Here’s why you should be there: Thousands of stockists looking for new products for their shelves. A chance to pitch for funding + mentorship to scale your brand. Workshops tailored to where you’re at - whether you’re just starting or scaling big (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Brand Story Studio’ - 1:1 help with your messaging strategy - you'll leave with your founder story dialled in (THIS IS NEW!) ‘Distributor Lunch & Learn’ opportunity to speak directly with distributors about how they work and what they need you to do to work successfully with them. Opportunities to get recognised and get your brand in front of brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists, distributors and investors. If you’re an Industry Specialist, tap into a highly engaged, niche audience. And much, much more. Schedule May 21-22 in your diary and click this link to see how you can be part of it.