155. PREP: Practice Makes Perfect, But Preparation Before the Pitch is Powerful (4Ps Sales Process part 3 of 5)
Food Business Marketing - Brand Strategy Tips to Build a Business You Love
Release Date: 10/22/2025
166. Profit and Margins and Cash Flow...OH MY! A Mini Masterclass in Food Business Financials with Sarah Delevan
Food Business Marketing - Brand Strategy Tips to Build a Business You Love
A mini masterclass in food business finances with Sarah Delevan. We're covering margins, growth scenarios, and why "scale" isn’t a financial strategy.
info_outline
165. Choosing Your Word of the Year: Lean Into Who You’re Becoming as a Leader
Food Business Marketing - Brand Strategy Tips to Build a Business You Love
How choosing your Word of the Year can help you lean into who you were meant to be....a benefit to your brand, your business, and beyond!
info_outline
164. Curating Holiday Traditions & Year-Round Food Rituals
Food Business Marketing - Brand Strategy Tips to Build a Business You Love
In this fun episode, Katie & Clint swap stories about holiday traditions—and close with a simple idea about how brands become part of year-round rituals.
info_outline
163. Brand Pillars: The Backbone of Your Brand That Makes a Major Impact
Food Business Marketing - Brand Strategy Tips to Build a Business You Love
A simple framework to help you review where you’ve been, regroup your resources, and refocus your next 12 months anytime you want more clarity and alignment. Great for year-end, or any time of year to reset!
info_outline
162. Your Next 12 Months: Review, Regroup & Refocus to Align With Your BHAG
Food Business Marketing - Brand Strategy Tips to Build a Business You Love
A simple framework to help you review where you’ve been, regroup your resources, and refocus your next 12 months anytime you want more clarity and alignment. Great for year-end, or any time of year to reset!
info_outline
161. Should You Go? Choosing Events & Shows That Will Move Your Food Brand Forward
Food Business Marketing - Brand Strategy Tips to Build a Business You Love
If your message feels messy, it’s likely not that you’re bad at writing...it’s because your brand strategy needs more structure. In ep 159, Katie shows how a strong foundation makes your messaging clearer + more consistent everywhere.
info_outline
160. Smart Growth for Food Brands: Are You Using “Expedited Cautiousness”?
Food Business Marketing - Brand Strategy Tips to Build a Business You Love
If your message feels messy, it’s likely not that you’re bad at writing...it’s because your brand strategy needs more structure. In ep 159, Katie shows how a strong foundation makes your messaging clearer + more consistent everywhere.
info_outline
159. Does Your Message Feel Messy? Start With Strategy Before You Start Writing
Food Business Marketing - Brand Strategy Tips to Build a Business You Love
If your message feels messy, it’s likely not that you’re bad at writing...it’s because your brand strategy needs more structure. In ep 159, Katie shows how a strong foundation makes your messaging clearer + more consistent everywhere.
info_outline
158. Using Grants to Grow Your Brand: VAPG and Beyond
Food Business Marketing - Brand Strategy Tips to Build a Business You Love
Learn how food and farm businesses can use grants, including the USDA’s Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG), to fund growth, strengthen brand strategy, and scale with intention.
info_outline
157. PERSIST: After the Sales Pitch...How to Turn a Yes or No into Next Steps (4Ps Sales Process Step 5 of 5)
Food Business Marketing - Brand Strategy Tips to Build a Business You Love
In Ep 157, we share what to do after the pitch — how to follow up, build buyer relationships, and turn every yes or no into forward motion for your food brand.
info_outlineBefore you ever pitch your food brand and products, preparation is what will set you apart. Learn how to prep with purpose so you can approach the right buyers for your business with a clear and compelling message they can't help but want to learn more about!
In Part 2 of our 4Ps Sales Process series (episode 3 of 5 in this series), Clint and I I talk about how to prep with purpose—because success in sales goes beyond luck. Preparation builds a strong storyline, and also builds your confidence.
In this episode, we cover how to:
- Sharpen your story – Know what makes your brand different and communicate it clearly and concisely.
- Back it up with data – Whether it’s SPINS reports, subcategory trends, or farmers market feedback, use what you have to support your story.
- Design a brand-aligned presentation – Create a clear, consistent deck that highlights your brand and products in a way that highlights what matters most to buyers.
When preparation meets opportunity, that’s when the "luck" starts to happen!
WHAT TO DO NEXT
1. 💬 Join the Conversation! Tune in to hear the full conversation and then join us in the Real Food Brands Marketing Round Table - a free food business owner community - to share your own lessons and what you need next in your business.
2. 📧 Katie's Friday Newsletter includes a Weekly Worksheet to help you apply these ideas directly to your food business. Sign up here.
3. 📞 If you're ready to talk about building a clear, cohesive brand, you can Request an Intro Call to discuss ways we can work together.
OTHER LINKS:
Ep 102: Are You Inviting People into a Brand Story or Sharing Brand History?
--> Spotify playlist for this 4Ps Sales Process Series
Thanks for listening – let’s go shake up shopping carts!
Katie Mleziva
Host & Food Brand Strategist | Real Food Brands