The Food Business Marketing Podcast helps food business owners and farmers build stronger brands, make better decisions, and grow businesses that are easier to choose. Hosted by Food Brand Strategist Katie Mleziva and co-hosted by food entrepreneur and sales leader Clint Matthews, each episode explores the real-world decisions that shape successful food and farm businesses. Whether you're launching a new product, refining your brand positioning, rebranding your business, prioritizing growth opportunities, improving your marketing, or developing a sales strategy, you'll find practical insights you can put to work right away. Topics include: Food brand strategy Brand positioning and messaging Food marketing Consumer insights Product portfolio decisions Food business growth Farm marketing Food sales strategy Leadership and decision-making Building a business aligned with your values If you're asking questions like: What do I want my brand to be known for? How do I stand out in a crowded market? Which opportunities should I pursue—and which should I decline? How can I make my business easier to choose? How do I align my marketing, sales, and operations around a clear strategy? How can I train my team on my strategy? This podcast is for you, and you'll find new episodes every Wednesday, so be sure to follow. Let's go shake up shopping carts! Brought to you by Real Food Brands (www.RealFoodBrands.com). Join Katie and other food business owners to continue the conversation by joining the free Real Food Brands Marketing Round Table group on Facebook!
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June 10, 2026Episode 1893 min
190. Building What's Next
As we approach episode 200, we're inviting you to help shape what's next for the Food Business Marketing Podcast. We've been working to make strategy more actionable, more valuable, and...more fun. As we think about what's next for the podcast, we'd love to hear directly from you. 👉 Take the short survey here We've got some exciting ideas in the works, but before we make plans for the next chapter in the coming weeks, we want to make sure we're building something that's truly valuable for you. Thank you for being part of this community, for spending your time with us each week, and for helping us build what's next as we help YOU build what's next! - Katie & Clint PS--Make sure you're on my newsletter email list. Most weeks I'm helping you turn your ideas into action, but this week I'm asking you for your ideas to help US take action - and we appreciate every single reply. Access the survey here or sign up for the newsletter and get it in your inbox on Friday: Weekly Email Newsletter or at www.realfoodbrands.com.
June 3, 2026Episode 18913 min
189. Your Brand Strategy Is the Starting Line
Have you ever finished strategy work, felt excited… and then thought, "Okay, but now what?" Your brand strategy being done isn't the finish line. It's the starting line. In this episode, Katie Mleziva (Real Food Brands) and Clint Matthews (Start Right Foods) talk about what happens after the strategy work is done and how to activate your brand so it becomes part of your everyday decisions—not just a PDF sitting on your computer. Building on recent conversations around defining your strategy, aligning your team, and creating clarity, this conversation focuses on activation: what happens next, how to avoid overwhelm, and how to keep moving forward to build momentum as you build a strong brand and business. From prioritizing what comes first to testing and learning in the market, this episode will help you think differently about what it means to bring your strategy to life. ➡️ In this episode, you'll hear: --Why strategy work often feels exciting at first—but overwhelming when it's time to implement --How to prioritize what happens next instead of trying to do everything at once --Ways to think through 30 / 60 / 120 day priorities --Why your strategy should guide agencies, partners, and vendors and not the other way around --How to test and learn without abandoning your strategy too quickly --The difference between evolving intentionally and changing direction because you got nervous or someone asked a question you couldn't answer yet --Why strategy should make decisions easier—not harder ➡️ What this means for your business: Your brand strategy should create clarity—but clarity alone doesn't create momentum. ➡️ When you activate your strategy intentionally, you can: 1) Bring more consistency to how your brand shows up 2) Make decisions with more confidence and less second-guessing 3) Create priorities that help move the business forward 4) Stay aligned while continuing to learn and optimize ➡️ What's next: Strategy isn't the finish line. It's the starting line. Whether you've documented your strategy already or you've been piecing it together as you go, activation is where strategy comes to life—and where momentum starts building. Stay tuned for more podcast episodes to help you bring your vision to life! ➡️ Continue the conversation: If this episode helped you think differently about what happens after strategy work is done, make sure you're on Katie's newsletter email list. She'll share additional thoughts, tools, and resources, including the Brand Activation Worksheet. You can get access to the newsletter and find links to everything else HERE: Weekly Email Newsletter or at www.realfoodbrands.com. ➡️ Let's Connect! Connect with Katie Mleziva on LinkedIn or ➡️ Set up an intro call if you're ready to move from strategy to action and build a brand with more clarity and confidence. 🔗 Connect on Instagram Let's go shake up shopping carts, together! Katie Mleziva – Host & Food Brand Strategist
May 27, 2026Episode 18813 min
188. How to Build a Brand People Trust
What makes you trust a brand? It's usually not one big thing. It's the repeated experience of seeing a brand show up consistently over time — through the packaging, product, messaging, the customer experience, the team, and allll the little details in between. In this episode, Katie Mleziva (RealFoodBrands.com) and Clint Matthews (StartRightFoods.com) explore how trust is built through cohesive, consistent brand experiences...and why alignment inside your business matters to what customers see on the outside. As a follow-up to recent episodes related to the "define" part of Katie's Define, Align, & Activate framework, this conversation focuses on what happens next: aligning your team, partners, and day-to-day decisions around what you want your brand to be known for… then activating that strategy consistently across the business. Because strong brands reinforce the key thing they want to be known for over and over again. In this episode, you'll hear: Why consistency builds trust over time The difference between alignment and activation How cohesive brand experiences create recognition Why repeated touchpoints shape brand perception The role team members and partners play in your brand How familiarity influences buying decisions Why strong brands feel intentional The connection between trust and customer experience Key Takeaway People trust brands that feel clear, cohesive, and consistent. And that doesn't happen accidentally! We can be intentional about how that happens when your business is aligned around what you want to be known for and reinforces it through repeated experiences over time. Links & Resources: • 📧 Weekly Email Newsletter • 🔗 Connect on Instagram If this episode gave you a new way to think about building your business, please share it with another food business owner who is working to build a brand that makes a positive impact. Let's go shake up shopping carts, together!
May 20, 2026Episode 18714 min
187. What Do You Want Your Brand to Be Known For?
If your brand is trying to communicate everything, people may remember nothing. In this episode, Katie Mleziva (realfoodbrands.com) and Clint Matthews (startrightfoods.com) talk about the power of focus — and why strong brands know what they want to be known for instead of trying to say everything to everyone. Building on recent episodes about purpose, vision, values, and listening to your consumers and competitors to inform your market success, this conversation explores how focus helps create clarity across your products, messaging, packaging, marketing, customer experience... everything you do! Katie also connects the conversation to positioning and brand pillars, explaining how they help guide decisions, reinforce consistency, and keep brands from getting pulled in too many directions. In this episode, you'll hear: Why clarity is the result of focus How trying to communicate too many things can create confusion Why consistency helps brands become more memorable How positioning and pillars help guide decision-making Why focus is meant to create freedom, not limit creativity Plus, Clint shares how Start Right Foods gained traction after narrowing their focus and aligning around what they wanted to be known for in the market. If you want additional insights and practical ways to turn your ideas into action, make sure you're signed up for Katie's newsletter (see below). Links & Resources: • 📧 Weekly Email Newsletter • 🔗 Connect on Instagram 🎙️Episodes mentioned --> 101. Brand Strategy 101: Positioning Your Brand to Stand Out --> 165. Brand Pillars: The Backbone of Your Brand That Makes a Major Impact If this episode gave you a new way to think about building your business, please share it with another food business owner who is working to build a brand that makes a positive impact so we can shake up shopping carts, together! Katie Mleziva Food Brand Strategist
May 13, 2026Episode 18617 min
186. Make Your Brand Easier to Choose: The Cheesecake Factory Factor
Too many choices (or unclear choices) can create friction for people to make a decision. So, the brands that win are often the ones that make decisions feel easier. Sometimes being clear and easy to choose means knowing what to say… and what NOT to say. In this episode, Katie Mleziva (RealFoodBrands.com) and Clint Matthews (Start Right Foods) unpack the concept of decision fatigue and how it impacts things like shopper behavior, packaging, product assortments, and buying decisions. You'll hear: • Why more choices, words, and icons are not always better • The Cheesecake Factory "decision overload" example • How shoppers make different decisions throughout a shopping trip • Why packaging has to work so hard...even after popping on the shelf • If Clint or Katie could better handle judging 25 cheesecakes in a contest without decision fatigue setting in • The importance of communication hierarchy • The famous "jam study" and what it tells us about consumer behavior • How products move from shelf → cart → pantry/fridge/freezer → repeat • A course Katie is taking through Texas A&M called Advanced Behavioral Economics -- she's loving it! Katie also shares details about her free live Brand Strategy Q&A happening May 20, 2026. Links & Resources: • 🗓️ Sign up for the free Brand Strategy Q&A • 📧 Weekly Email Newsletter • 🔗 Connect on Instagram • 🎙️Episodes mentioned --4Ps of Sales Series Spotify Playlist --Ep 114. Intentional Marketing: Getting ON the shelf, IN the cart, and OUT of the pantry/fridge/freezer • When Choice is Demotivating: Can One Desire Too Much of a Good Thing? (aka "The Jam Study") If this episode gave you a new way to think about shopper behavior, packaging, or brand clarity, please share it with another food business owner who is working to build a brand that makes a positive impact. Let's go shake up shopping carts!
May 6, 2026Episode 18518 min
185. Listening to Understand Your Market & Guide Your Food Brand
You might be a good listener, but are you a strategic listener? In this episode, Katie Mleziva (Real Food Brands) and Clint Matthews (Start Right Foods) explore how to use listening as a strategic tool—not to collect more ideas, but to gain clarity and guide your brand decisions as you optimize and grow. Building on recent episodes about defining your version of success and clarifying your purpose, vision, and values, this conversation shifts outward—focusing on how to better understand your market through what you're already hearing and also where to listen more intentionally. From buyer conversations to consumer feedback to observing the competitive landscape, this episode will help you think differently about where insight can come from and how to use it. In this episode, you'll hear: Why listening is about understanding and making decisions, not just collecting opinions or adding to your idea list How buyer conversations can reveal what's happening in your category Ways to "listen" to consumers beyond direct conversations What you can learn from competitors—without copying them The difference between one-off feedback and meaningful patterns How to use what you're hearing to guide your brand as you grow What this means for your business: As you're working to build clarity in your brand, listening becomes a way to proactively understand your market—not just react to it. When you start paying attention to patterns, language, and real-world feedback, you can: Refine how you show up as the brand you want to build Spot some opportunities you might have missed Move forward with more direction and confidence What's next: Once you begin to understand your market more deeply, you can start to define what you want your brand to be known for—and how to consistently bring that to life. Continue the conversation: If you want a simple way to capture what stands out and turn ideas into action, make sure you're on Katie's newsletter email list. She'll share a quick recap in writing and help you apply what you hear on Ep 185, and every episode! You can get access to the newsletter and find links to everything else at www.realfoodbrands.com. Let's Connect! Connect with Katie Mleziva on LinkedIn or ➡️ Set up an intro call here if you're ready to talk about prioritizing your ideas as you work to build a strong brand. Let's Go Shake Up Shopping Carts! Katie Mleziva – Host & Food Brand Strategist
April 29, 2026Episode 18414 min
184. What Is YOUR Version of Success in Your Food Business?
What does success actually look like for you—and are you building your food business around it? If you haven't clearly defined your own version of success, it's easy to end up chasing someone else's without even realizing it. For the first part of our lives, success is defined for us—the next milestone, the next step. Good grades, good performances. But as business owners, that structure disappears… and we're left to figure it out on our own. In this episode, Katie Mleziva (Real Food Brands) and Clint Matthews (Start Right Foods) unpack how making sure you're defining your own version of success will impact how you make decisions. They also share how their own definitions of success have evolved over time—and how those definitions directly shape the decisions they make in their businesses today. Because success isn't one-size-fits-all. But when it's undefined, it leads to comparison, second-guessing, and misalignment. And when it's clear? Your brand, your strategy, and your decisions start to fall into place. In This Episode, We Cover: Why success feels clearly defined when we're younger—and why that changes as a business owner How your definition of success influences your daily decisions Real examples of how evolving priorities shift business direction The difference between building a business that looks successful vs one that actually fits your life Why defining success is the foundation for a clear, aligned brand Katie's recommendation on where to start Key Takeaway: If you don't define success for yourself, you'll default to someone else's definition, and that's where misalignment starts. What's Next: If you're ready to define YOUR version of success and start building a brand around it, Katie put together a simple way to get started with your purpose, vision, and values. 👉 Join Katie's weekly newsletter list to get access here. Every week Katie walks you through putting these insights and your ideas into action...becuase you don't need more ideas, you need to prioritize them based on your goals so you can make more confident decisions in your business. Note: if you're listening after 5/1/26, just send Katie an email katie@realfoodbrands.com, and she'll share the newsletter issue with you.
April 22, 2026Episode 18314 min
183. Is Luck Random or About Being Ready?
How preparedness, alignment, awareness, and resilience lead to luck. It's easy to look at other brands and assume they just got lucky. They met the right person. They were in the right place. They caught the right opportunity. But when you take a closer look, that's usually not the full story. In this episode, Katie Mleziva (Real Food Brands) and Clint Matthews (Start Right Foods) talk through why two businesses can have similar opportunities but very different outcomes. This isn't about pure luck; it's about how prepared, focused, and aligned you are when those opportunities show up. In this episode, you'll hear: Why luck is often a reflection of preparation and past experience Why CLARITY and ALIGNMENT help you recognize and act on opportunities faster How setbacks actually build readiness for future opportunities The role of curiosity, relationships, and follow-through in creating momentum Why "the greatest thing since sliced bread" didn't happen overnight. 💡 Key takeaway: Opportunities happen—but what happens after that isn't random. When your brand is clear and aligned, it helps you recognize the right opportunities and people, make better decisions, and follow through in a way that ultimately leads to growth. 🗣️ Continue the conversation Follow along on Instagram and let us know —> Do you think of success in business as luck, preparation, or something else? 📝 Apply What You Heard - Get the Newsletter If you want to work on building a brand that's clear, aligned, and adds value across your business, join Katie's weekly newsletter list at RealFoodBrands.com. Each week, you'll get a short, strategic reflection to help you think more clearly and take aligned action as you grow.
April 15, 2026Episode 18213 min
182. Your Brand Adds Value Across Your Business (Not Just Marketing)
Most food business owners think of their brand as a marketing tool, but what if it's actually one of your most valuable business assets? IT IS! In this episode, Katie Mleziva (Real Food Brands) shares highlights from a recent training she gave for the Food Finance Institute's GROW series, where she explored how brand strategy impacts how effectively your business runs on a day-to-day basis. When your brand is clear and aligned, it doesn't just help you grow—it helps you operate more efficiently, make better decisions, and build a more valuable business over time. 🎧 In this episode, you'll hear: Three elements that help you build a valuable brand How a clear brand reduces price sensitivity and builds customer loyalty How a strong brand improves decision-making across your business Where brands lose time and money through rework, revisions, and lack of alignment Why your brand strategy is a margin driver—not just a marketing expense Stay tuned for more brand-building episodes each Wednesday! 📩 Want to keep going? If you want support working through your brand strategy, Katie offers 1:1 workshops, 6-week coaching, and a more in-depth Brand Success System to help you define, align, and activate your brand in a way that actually drives your business forward. ➡️ Set up an intro call here if you're ready to talk about your vision. Let's Connect! 1) Connect with Katie Mleziva on LinkedIn. 2) Join Katie's weekly newsletter HERE 3) Follow along on Instagram for more – @realfoodbrands Let's Go Shake Up Shopping Carts! Katie Mleziva – Host & Food Brand Strategist
April 15, 2026Episode 18121 min
181. Build a Brand That Adapts While Staying True to Its Core - Kasondra Shippen Flax 4 Life
Flax 4 Life is a 25-year-old brand that has adapted to changing consumer needs and market realities, while staying grounded in the core of what the brand stands for...and I'm slightly obsessed with their blueberry flax muffins! ➡️➡️➡️ This episode is part of a 3-part series on examples of what it looks like to build a strong brand. Check out Ep 179 and 180 in the series after you listen to this. In this episode, I'm joined by Kasandra Shippen, CEO of Flax 4 Life—a national family-built brand rooted in multi-generational baking and a deep commitment to better-for-you products. Fun Fact: They were one of the first certified gluten-free companies in the US! We talk about how Flax 4 Life has adapted over time—responding to family health needs, evolving consumer expectations, and even market shifts like rising egg prices—while staying true to what made the brand work in the first place. This is a fantastic example of what it looks like to lead a brand over time: not by completely reinventing it, but by adapting with intention and innovation. Key Takeaway A strong brand gives you the clarity to adapt. When you know what you stand for, you can evolve your products, respond to change, and make new decisions without losing your direction. What You'll Hear How family health challenges helped shape the foundation of Flax 4 Life Why they've always focused on nutrition and flavor—not just "free-from" positioning How rising egg prices + consumer needs led to a new allergen-friendly innovation partnering with Plantible The role of new ingredients in adapting their product line How to evolve your products without losing your brand foundation Why education and communication remain ongoing challenges Walmart's Open Call experience What's Next This episode wraps up our 3-part series on building strong brands. If you haven't listened yet: Listen to this first - Episode 181 Go back to Episode 179: Build a Brand That Grows With the People You Serve Then listen to Episode 180: Build a Brand That Solves a Real Need Together, these three episodes walk through how to build a brand that grows, solves real problems, and adapts over time—while staying grounded in what matters most. ...Stay tuned for more brand-building episodes each Wednesday! 🤝 Share with a fellow food business owner If this episode sparked an idea or helped you see something differently, share it with someone else who's working to grow their brand. 🌟 Rate and Review—we might give you a shoutout! And if you haven't already, a review goes a long way in helping more people find the podcast. We appreciate it and may give you a shoutout! Likewise, if you have any ideas to optimize the podcast, please email us directly at Katie@realfoodbrands.com. LET'S CONNECT! Listening is helpful, but doing is even better! 1) Connect with Katie Mleziva and Clint Matthews on LinkedIn. 2) Join Katie's weekly newsletter HERE to get additional insights, industry resources, and the Weekly Worksheet for this episode, designed to help you build your own brand strategy workbook over time. Joining the email list gives you access to book a Brand Strategy Session as well! 3) Follow along on Instagram for more – @realfoodbrands 4) Check out Flax 4 Life! Let's Go Shake Up Shopping Carts! Katie Mleziva – Host & Food Brand Strategist
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