167. From Transaction to Tradition: How Food Brands Can Become the Go-To Choice

How food brands earn a place in everyday routines, go-to gifting, and meaningful traditions.

Working in the food industry, a lot of us tend to think the grocery store doubles as a source of entertainment, right?! But believe it or not, many people shop on autopilot so they can get in and out as fast as possible.

And while that can be a challenge when you’re working to disrupt a category, it’s also a *powerful* opportunity once your brand story is part of someone's story.

In episode 167, Clint joins me to discuss some tips to move beyond one-off transactions and earn a place in people’s everyday lives — from day-to-day routines (Start Right waffle sliders for breakfast?! ;), to becoming a go-to gifting option (many of you qualify for this one!), to showing up in meaningful annual traditions like Birthday dinner (there's a restaurant + bar in Madison, WI where I went to college that dubbed itself the Official Birthday Place...it's just what everyone did! In fact, if you Google "Birthday Bar, Madison," you'll see it...it's not all that distinct vs other places, but they OWN IT and lean in, and now it's a decades-long tradition for some people. People go there every other day, too, but they planted a seed for birthdays that really took root.

How? YEARS of consistency!

Rather than focusing on promotions or short-term tactics, our conversation looks at the role of brand strategy, positioning, and consistency in reducing friction and making repeat choice feel automatic.

You’ll hear how concepts like habit stacking, emotional connection, and clarity around what your brand stands for can help your product move from being reconsidered… to being relied on.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why transactions require re-deciding — and why that makes switching easy
• What it means to move from transaction to tradition
• The opportunity in daily routines, occasional rituals, & annual traditions
• How habit stacking applies to brands, not just personal habits
• Why clear positioning is the foundation for emotional connection and loyalty
• How food brands become the go-to choice without competing on price
• How knowing which features & benefits meet your consumers' needs can help build brand loyalty.

🎧 If you’re building a food brand and want to grow repeat purchase, loyalty, and trust — this episode will help you think differently about how your brand shows up in real life.

Resources & links

• Consumer episode
• Ep 56: Meeting Consumer Needs: What Are You Really Selling?
• Ep 65: Setting Your Food Brand Apart Part 2: Identifying Your Ideal Consumer
• Ep. 83 Understanding the Difference Between Features & Benefits
• Explore Katie’s brand strategy work for food business owners at Real Food Brands
• If you missed a Weekly Worksheet for a past episode, please send Katie an email ([e-mail]) or DM @realfoodbrands on Instagram.

Want to talk about your strategy?

Katie & Clint help food business owners review their strategy, cut through noise, and move forward with a clear plan. Reply to the Weekly Newsletter or use the private scheduling link included each week to book a session.

What's Next?

1. 📧 Katie's Friday Newsletter includes a Weekly Worksheet to help you apply these ideas directly to your food business. Sign up here.

2. 💬 Join the Conversation! Tune in to the podcast, then join us in the Real Food Brands Marketing Round Table - a free food & farm business owner community - to ask questions and meet other people who love producing real food as much as you do!

3. 📞 If you're ready to talk about building a clear, cohesive brand or integrating your brand + sales strategy, you can Request a free Intro Call to discuss the ways we work with food, farm, and natural product brands.

Thanks for listening – let’s go shake up shopping carts!

Katie Mleziva

Host & Food Brand Strategist | Real Food Brands