Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford

Chelsea Ford

Imagine a consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry where both small and large players coexist on a level playing field, consumers have choice, there’s integrity in what they’re buying and they experience innovative, sustainable products.In this weekly podcast, hosted by founder, award-winning coach, consultant & small business advocate, Chelsea Ford, you'll hear interviews with incredible founders and hard-to-reach industry specialists as well as practical and actionable content that directly supports your CPG business to grow, become more profitable and thrive.Learn more at www.chelseaford.com .

  1. MAR 25

    #157 How to Tell Your Brand Story So You Land the Listing and Make Sales

    Send us Fan Mail Pitching your story does not mean telling people everything about your product. Yet many do. When you're close to what you've built — every detail, every decision, every reason it's better — it can all come out at once when given half a chance to talk about it. The problem is, customers, buyers and distributors won't listen for more than a few seconds. And buyers have heard it all before. #sorrynotsorry The consequence is real. Inconsistent, overloaded messaging erodes trust before a customer even picks up your product, makes ranging conversations harder, and means every new stockist, channel, or distributor feels like starting from scratch. In episode 157 of the Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford podcast, Jayne Gallagher and Helen Johnston from Honey & Fox, a specialist branding and marketing agency working with premium food and drink businesses, walk through how to fix it, including their framework for building the soundbites that become the foundation of everything your brand says and does. Don't miss this episode — you'll learn:  🎬 How to create a movie trailer, not an essay, for your brand story  🗣️ The "and, but, therefore" structure for building soundbites that stop people in the aisle 🚫 The language trap that makes good brands invisible  👁️ How inconsistency across your touchpoints kills consumer trust  💡 Why you can't build your brand story alone and what to do instead This episode of Season 16 - Planning Season - is brought to you by Foodpreneurs Festival. The only Festival where packaged brands get seen, stocked and supported. Jayne and Helen are also bringing their Brand Story Studio to Foodpreneurs Festival in May. Details are on the Foodpreneurs Festival website. LINKS & RESOURCES: Honey & Fox websiteEpisode 148 Marketing System for Food Brands: Clear, Consistent, Low Maintenance Your Free Pitch PlanGrab Your Foodpreneurs Festival TicketChelsea Ford Co. Industry NewsletterSeason 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.

    1h 4m
  2. MAR 18

    #156 Your Packaging Is Holding Your Brand Back: How To Manage a Pack Redesign

    Send us Fan Mail Your product is good. Your packaging was too — once. But something's shifted. Maybe your range has grown and the system hasn't kept up. Maybe you're pitching to bigger retailers but your pack still has a farmer's market feel. Maybe sales have plateaued and you can't put your finger on why. In episode 155 of the Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford podcast, I chat with Natalie Townsend, founder and creative director of Griffin Grace, a brand and packaging studio that works with founder-led CPG brands across food, beverage, beauty, and wellness. You may remember Natalie from episode 71 where we covered building a brand from scratch. Today we go deeper into the refresh: what to do when your packaging is holding your brand back. Tune in to hear Natalie share: 🚨 The warning signs your packaging is creating friction — and costing you ranging opportunities 🔍 The strategic work that happens before a single design decision is made 📋 Why compliance changes are actually a gift — and how to use them to your advantage 💸 How to approach a refresh without throwing everything out and blowing your budget 🗓️ Why your packaging is never truly finished — and how to plan for that without it freaking you out 🏆 How a Byron Bay muesli brand listened to a David Jones buyer and got listed Natalie also walks through real client examples — including how a staged refresh approach helped brands stay consistent while evolving, and why the cost of doing nothing is higher than most founders realise. This episode of Season 16 - Planning Season - is brought to you by Foodpreneurs Festival. The only Festival where packaged brands get seen, stocked and supported. Natalie will be there speaking on the Dream Lab stage and exhibiting in the Festival Fairground. Make sure you drop by to hear her talk and say hi to her in the Festival Fairground! LINKS & RESOURCES: Griffin Grace websiteEpisode 71 Branding & Packaging to Get Your Product Off the ShelfYour Free Pitch PlanGrab Your Foodpreneurs Festival TicketChelsea Ford Co. Industry NewsletterSeason 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.

    47 min
  3. MAR 11

    #155 How Sorry Nonna are Building a Cult Pasta Sauce Brand

    Send us Fan Mail Two creatives, a side startup, and a pasta sauce that's turning heads across Australia. In Episode 155 of the Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford podcast - Season 16, Planning Season - I sit down with Lachlan and Grga, the Melbourne co-founders behind Sorry Nonna. One's a graphic designer. The other's an advertising creative director who's worked with Netflix and Gatorade. Together, they're doing things in the pasta sauce category that Nonna absolutely did not approve. Gochujang Arrabbiata. Limoncello Marinara. A limited-edition Carolina Reaper collab with Doom Juice wine. Oh, and a coffee bolognese that consumer testing quietly killed before it saw the light of day. But underneath the cheeky branding and flavour obsession, there's a real business story, about what happens when creatives lean hard into their strengths, start planning (loosely), and build a cult following before chasing the majors. Tune in to hear: 🍝 How Grga and Lachlan built a brand world first, and why they believe everything else follows from that 🍝 What winning a BiteBack Award actually unlocked for them - including the consumer testing that saved them from a very bad idea 🍝 Why they're in 100+ stockists in stores they genuinely love, and what that's done for their growth 🍝 How planning doesn't have to kill your creativity - it just needs to suit you This episode of Season 16 - Planning Season - is brought to you by Foodpreneurs Festival. The only Festival where packaged brands get seen, stocked and supported. LINKS & RESOURCES: Sorry Nonna websiteSorry Nonna InstagramBiteBack Awards Entry KitYour Free Pitch PlanGrab Your Foodpreneurs Festival TicketChelsea Ford Co. Industry NewsletterSeason 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.

    46 min
  4. MAR 4

    #154 How to Make Social Content That People Actually Stop Scrolling For

    Send us Fan Mail You’re putting out content, but is anyone really noticing? Or are your posts getting lost in the feed? I sat down with Sarah Kiryshin and Mandy Humphreys, co-founders of Content Bites, to uncover how food and beverage brands can make content that doesn’t just exist—it connects, excites, and sells. These two know why “beautiful food” is often your golden ticket and how to produce it fast without burning out. In this episode, we break down exactly what works in 2026: 📱How consumers are actually watching content - and how to grab them before they scroll past  ⏱️ The video length sweet spot that keeps eyes on your brand  🍓Why showing your food in its best light isn’t optional - it’s critical  ⚡Quick content production hacks that actually generate excitement  ❤️ The secret to creating posts that build real connection and loyalty This episode of Season 16 - Planning Season - is brought to you by Foodpreneurs Festival. The only Festival where packaged brands get seen, stocked, and supported. Sarah and Mandy will be there, make sure to say hi to them in the Festival Fairground! LINKS & RESOURCES: Content Bites InstagramContent Bites websiteYour Free Pitch PlanBecome A Foodpreneurs Festival InsiderChelsea Ford Co. Industry NewsletterSeason 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.

    54 min
  5. FEB 25

    #153 Taking Control of Cash Flow & Working Capital (Before It Controls You!)

    Send us Fan Mail Running a consumer packaged goods (CPG) brand is exciting, but it comes with financial challenges - from inventory management to seasonal sales swings.  In this episode, I sit down with Tien Do from BlueRock to break down the essential tools for building confidence and control in your business finances. What you’ll learn in this episode: 💵  Sales vs Cash Flow: Understanding the difference and why having sales doesn’t always mean having available cash.  📅 The 13-Week Cash Flow Forecast: A simple, actionable method to see trends, anticipate tight spots, and make informed decisions. ⛽ Working Capital Explained: What it is, why it matters, and the levers founders can pull to manage it. 🔮 Planning Ahead: How far in advance you need to forecast to handle seasonal highs and lows, and how this links to your personal remuneration and business growth. 🏆 Awards as a Strategic Tool: Even if you don’t win, why accountants want you to enter. Who knew! 🌳 Seeing the Forest for the Trees: Step back, block out time for your business, and make decisions with a clear destination in mind. This episode of Season 16 - Planning Season - is brought to you by Foodpreneurs Festival. The only Festival where packaged brands get seen, stocked and supported. LINKS & RESOURCES: BlueRock websiteTien Do LinkedInFoodpreneurs Festival ticketsBiteBack AwardsBiteBack Awards Entry KitYour Free Pitch PlanChelsea Ford Co. Industry Newsletter📅 Event Update: The March 5th Shelf Velocity event at BlueRock, Melbourne has been cancelled. 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.

    38 min
  6. FEB 18

    #152 Getting a Buyer to Say Yes (According to an Actual Buyer!)

    Send us Fan Mail What actually makes a buyer say yes? And more importantly… how do you avoid becoming the bottom 5% in your category and getting delisted? In this powerhouse conversation, I sit down with Stuart O’Reilly from LaManna, one of Australia’s largest independent supermarkets, to unpack what founders rarely get told about retail. This episode was so good we had to restart the recording due to tech hiccups - and honestly, I’m glad we did. What followed was a candid, generous and deeply practical conversation about brand building, demand creation and what it truly means to partner with a retailer. In this episode, we unpack: 🔥 Real examples of brands who executed brilliantly - layering activations, in-store demos, social buzz, collaboration and display strategy to drive serious uplift 🛒 What buyers actually look for when you approach them - from tone of communication to brand story, shelf presence and category gaps 📈 Why demand creation matters more than product alone (and how smart brands prime momentum before they ever hit shelf) 📦 Supply chain realities founders often underestimate - and how poor replenishment can quietly derail early success 💡 The difference between “ranging” and true partnership - what backing your brand in-store really looks like ⚖️ The delicate balance of margin, price promotion, and protecting your brand value 🚨 What puts a product on the delist watchlist - and how to stay off it This episode of Season 16 - Planning Season - is brought to you by Foodpreneurs Festival. The only Festival where packaged brands get seen, stocked and supported.  LINKS & RESOURCES: LaManna websiteLaManna InstagramStuart O’Reilly LinkedInYour Free Pitch PlanBecome A Foodpreneurs Festival InsiderChelsea Ford Co. Industry NewsletterSeason 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.

    49 min
  7. FEB 11

    #151 How to Stop Leaving Money On the Table Once You're On Shelf

    Send us Fan Mail Getting on shelf is a milestone, but (close your ears if you're faint hearted), it's just the starting line. In episode 151 of the Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford podcast, I sit down with Rebecca Brook, founder of Rise Growth Lab, a food and beverage accelerator. This conversation is for brand owners already on shelf. If you want to finish 2026 with more accounts, more reorders and more money in your pocket - and stop leaving it on the table - this is your episode. Grab your pen and tune in to hear: 🛒 How to improve your rate of sale 🎯 Best practice for selecting the right channel partners 💰 The difference between COGS-plus-guesswork and what consumers will actually pay 📊 What a 30, 60, 90 day promotional plan looks like without a big budget 🔄 What you need to do to get reorders 📦 The cost of goods levers most founders haven't pulled yet This episode of Season 16 - Planning Season - is brought to you by Foodpreneurs Festival. The only Festival where packaged brands get seen, stocked and supported. Rebecca will be there speaking on the Dream Lab stage. Make sure you drop into her talk and say hi to her in the Festival Fairground! LINKS & RESOURCES: Rise Growth Lab websiteRise Growth Lab InstagramRebecca Brook LinkedInProduct on More Shelves ChecklistRise Food & Beverage AcceleratorYour Free Pitch PlanBecome A Foodpreneurs Festival InsiderChelsea Ford Co. Industry NewsletterSeason 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.

    45 min
  8. FEB 4

    #150 Behind Pistachio Papi and LaManna: What Ensures Profitable Brands Stay Profitable

    Send us Fan Mail 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 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.

    1h 18m

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About

Imagine a consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry where both small and large players coexist on a level playing field, consumers have choice, there’s integrity in what they’re buying and they experience innovative, sustainable products.In this weekly podcast, hosted by founder, award-winning coach, consultant & small business advocate, Chelsea Ford, you'll hear interviews with incredible founders and hard-to-reach industry specialists as well as practical and actionable content that directly supports your CPG business to grow, become more profitable and thrive.Learn more at www.chelseaford.com .

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