In this episode of Food for Thought Leadership, Chris Campbell, Vice President of Content and Insights at The Food Institute, speaks with Katy Coffield, CEO and co-founder of Foodie Tribe, and Hannah Gray, confectionery scientist and creator behind One Sweet Mama, about the evolving role of influencers in the food and beverage industry. The conversation explores how influencer marketing has matured, what brands should look for when selecting creators, and why micro-influencers can deliver outsized value through engagement, authenticity, and highly targeted audiences. Coffield and Gray also discuss how companies can measure influencer ROI, why long-term creator partnerships can outperform one-off campaigns, and the importance of giving creators enough freedom to connect authentically with their audiences. Gray shares how her food science background shapes her approach to content and brand partnerships, while both guests examine AI’s growing role behind the scenes. Despite AI’s usefulness for research, analytics, and ideation, they argue that human creativity and authenticity remain central to successful food content. About Our Guests Katy Coffield, CEO & Co-Founder of Foodie Tribe Katy Coffield is the Co-Founder and CEO of Foodie Tribe, an influencer marketing and creative agency that works exclusively with food + beverage brands. In the years leading up to the founding of Foodie Tribe, Katy built her career in public relations, advertising, and marketing software, working closely with Fortune 100 marketing teams first as an account manager and later as a customer success manager. Alongside her career, Katy created a food blog in 2009 called RandoMiami, featuring local restaurants and the best places to eat in Miami. It later became the catalyst that sparked the idea to create a network of food influencers in 2016 – Foodie Tribe! Outside of the office, Katy loves to workout, is a mom of three, and (of course) a big foodie! Learn more about Foodie Tribe: https://foodietribe.com/ Hannah Gray, Founder of One Sweet Mama Hannah Gray is a confectionery scientist, content creator, and the founder of One Sweet Mama, where she brings together candy science, food culture, and a genuine love of all things sweet. After beginning her career in confectionery product development, Hannah turned her industry expertise into a digital platform that has grown to more than 200,000 followers. Today, she works with candy and food brands as both a creator and consultant, develops highly shareable food content, and partners with organizations across the confectionery industry to help bridge the gap between brands and consumers. Her work has taken her from the product development lab to trade show floors around the world, but her favorite place to be is somewhere in the middle of candy, creativity, and figuring out why people love the foods they love. Learn more about One Sweet Mama: https://onesweetmama.com/
