Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford

• #141 Manufacturing at Scale: What Every Brand Owner Can Achieve

  Send us a textScaling up from the bench top to commercial manufacturing is one of the biggest turning points for food, drink, and pet food brands. It’s exciting but it comes with challenges too: ingredient integrity, process changes, minimum order quantities, and the founder’s mindset all play a role in whether scaling feels like a breakthrough or a breakdown.In Episode 141, I’m joined by Naishad Dalal of Food Entrepreneurship Academy, who has worked with countless startups and established brands to take them from idea through to commercial launch. We unpack:🌶️ The common misconceptions about scaling up to manufacturing at scale.🦀 How to navigate trade-offs between artisanal quality and operational reality.☺️ Real-world stories of founders who’ve made tough but smart compromises.🧠 Why founder mindset and consumer communication are crucial to success.Whether you’re just starting to think about scaling or you’re already managing commercial runs, this conversation will give you practical insights - and a dose of hope - that growth is possible without losing a product’s soul.This Season of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford is brought to you by Chelsea Ford Co.’s tenth anniversary. Ten years in, I’m more committed than ever. The next decade is wide open for those ready to do things differently and back themselves to grow.LINKS & RESOURCES:Food Entrepreneurship Academy websiteFood Entrepreneurship Academy LinkedIn Company LinkedIn PageNaishad Dalal LinkedIn Page#134 Industry Insights from Foodpreneurs Festival 2025#128 Burnt Out & Broke: How to Afford a Co-Manufacturer#107 How to Develop a Commercially Viable Food or Drink Product.HydraCelt from Overtime Labs Your Free Pitch PlanBecome A Foodpreneurs Festival InsiderChelsea Ford Co. websiteSeason 14 Season 14, out now, is 'Scale Season' and is being presented by Chelsea Ford Co.’s 10th anniversary. For a decade, Chelsea Ford has backed Foodpreneurs and pushed to shake up an industry that too often plays it safe and leaves smaller players behind. She champions bold products, smarter tech, and better ways of working - because the future of CPG should be shaped by ideas, not just deep pockets. Chelsea believes every emerging brand deserves a fair shot - not crumbs from the big end of town. Founders, no matter their gender, ethnicity, cultural background, spiritual path, sexual orientation, or beliefs, deserve their place on the shelves. Chelsea stands for healthy competition - real competition - where brave ideas and fresh brands rise up because they’re good, not because they’re bankrolled. This podcast is part of that mission. Every episode sparks bigger thinking, practical action, and the connections you need to get your products into more hands - and more money in your pocket. Ten years in, she’s more committed than ever. The next decade is wide open for those ready to do things differently and back themselves to grow. Click this link to see how you can be part of it.

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• #140 Supply Chaos Retailers Won’t Tolerate - And What To Do Instead

  Send us a textOrders arriving by text at midnight. Quantities scribbled on receipts. Spreadsheets that don’t match the coolroom. The result? Wasted product, missed shelves, and supply chaos retailers simply won’t tolerate.In Episode 140 of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford, I speak with Philip Fierlinger, co-founder of Upstock (and one of the brains behind Xero), about why running a modern food business on scraps of paper isn’t just inefficient - it’s a systemic roadblock costing brand owners money, credibility, and growth.If scaling matters to you, this episode is a must-listen.This Season of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford is brought to you by Chelsea Ford Co.’s tenth anniversary. Ten years in, I’m more committed than ever. The next decade is wide open for those ready to do things differently and back themselves to grow.LINKS & RESOURCES:Upstock websiteScale your FMCG brand on UpstockPhilip Fierlinger LinkedInEatKindaCoaching Claire MacDonald, Episode #43 What to do When a Stockist Says ‘No’ or ‘No for Now’Your Free Pitch PlanBecome A Foodpreneurs Festival InsiderChelsea Ford Co. websiteSeason 14 Season 14, out now, is 'Scale Season' and is being presented by Chelsea Ford Co.’s 10th anniversary. For a decade, Chelsea Ford has backed Foodpreneurs and pushed to shake up an industry that too often plays it safe and leaves smaller players behind. She champions bold products, smarter tech, and better ways of working - because the future of CPG should be shaped by ideas, not just deep pockets. Chelsea believes every emerging brand deserves a fair shot - not crumbs from the big end of town. Founders, no matter their gender, ethnicity, cultural background, spiritual path, sexual orientation, or beliefs, deserve their place on the shelves. Chelsea stands for healthy competition - real competition - where brave ideas and fresh brands rise up because they’re good, not because they’re bankrolled. This podcast is part of that mission. Every episode sparks bigger thinking, practical action, and the connections you need to get your products into more hands - and more money in your pocket. Ten years in, she’s more committed than ever. The next decade is wide open for those ready to do things differently and back themselves to grow. Click this link to see how you can be part of it.

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• #139 Customer Intel Retail Buyers Actually Care About

  Send us a textYou think you know what your customer wants… but do you really?Turns out, most of us get it wrong.In Episode 139 of the Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford podcast, I’m joined by Angela Beswick from Stickybeak - the rapid consumer testing platform - and Bonnie Slade, founder of NaturKidz, whose last-minute product testing changed the trajectory of her pitch to a major retailer.This one’s a must-listen if you’re launching a new product, updating your packaging, or prepping for a retailer meeting that needs to go right.Why you’ll love this episode:💡 Discover why your own preferences can be your biggest blind spot - and how to avoid being fooled by unconscious bias.💡 Learn the packaging tweak that helped Bonnie confidently leave the skin on the feijoa (and why her customers are glad she did).💡 Why “test early and test often” is smarter (and faster) than perfecting it all at the end.💡 How Stickybeak’s quick turnaround gives you real-time data that can validate your ideas or help you pivot - even at the last minute.This episode proves you don’t have to go with your gut or guess anymore. You can know. And that makes all the difference.This Season of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford is brought to you by Chelsea Ford Co.’s tenth anniversary. Ten years in, I’m more committed than ever. The next decade is wide open for those ready to do things differently and back themselves to grow.LINKS & RESOURCES:Stickybeak websiteStickybeak Range Review GuideNaturKidz websiteNaturKidz InstagramYour Free Pitch PlanBecome A Foodpreneurs Festival InsiderChelsea Ford Co. websiteSeason 14 Season 14, out now, is 'Scale Season' and is being presented by Chelsea Ford Co.’s 10th anniversary. For a decade, Chelsea Ford has backed Foodpreneurs and pushed to shake up an industry that too often plays it safe and leaves smaller players behind. She champions bold products, smarter tech, and better ways of working - because the future of CPG should be shaped by ideas, not just deep pockets. Chelsea believes every emerging brand deserves a fair shot - not crumbs from the big end of town. Founders, no matter their gender, ethnicity, cultural background, spiritual path, sexual orientation, or beliefs, deserve their place on the shelves. Chelsea stands for healthy competition - real competition - where brave ideas and fresh brands rise up because they’re good, not because they’re bankrolled. This podcast is part of that mission. Every episode sparks bigger thinking, practical action, and the connections you need to get your products into more hands - and more money in your pocket. Ten years in, she’s more committed than ever. The next decade is wide open for those ready to do things differently and back themselves to grow. Click this link to see how you can be part of it.

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• #138 Landing a Major Retailer: The Logistics and Finance Moves That Matter

  Send us a textIt’s the milestone every brand owner chases - landing that major retail listing. But without solid systems in place, supply chain slip-ups, inventory miscalculations, and cash flow gaps can turn that win into a serious setback.If you’ve just landed your first big retail order - or you’re gearing up to expand nationally without running out of stock (or cash) - this episode could save you time, money, and sleepless nights. I’m joined by Cameron Aboud and Joel Alderden from sc3sixty, a fractional supply chain company helping emerging food and drink brands scale sustainably. We discuss:📦 The strategic moves to make right after your first big order.                                  📦 The biggest cash flow traps and stock mistakes that quietly kill growth.📦 How to master inventory planning using the “Goldilocks” principle of not too much, not too little.📦 What DIFOT means, why it’s non-negotiable, and how poor supply performance opens the door for your competition.📦 Why ‘fractional’ supply chain support is smart business for brands that can’t afford full-time experts but want full-time results.If you’ve been winging it with stock, crossing your fingers with cash flow, or you’re about to take a leap from local to national retail, this episode will give you the insights to scaling with longevity.This Season of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford is brought to you by Chelsea Ford Co.’s tenth anniversary. Ten years in, I’m more committed than ever. The next decade is wide open for those ready to do things differently and back themselves to grow.LINKS & RESOURCES:sc3sixty websiteCameron Aboud’s LinkedIn profileJoel Alderden LinkedIn profileJoost Bekker LinkedIn profile#132 Plant-Based Milk, Powered by Data: How Drink Nimbus is Disrupting the Industry & Tackling Waste#136 The Hidden Costs Eating Your ProfitYour Free Pitch PlanBecome A Foodpreneurs Festival InsiderChelsea Ford Co. websiteSeason 14 Season 14, out now, is 'Scale Season' and is being presented by Chelsea Ford Co.’s 10th anniversary. For a decade, Chelsea Ford has backed Foodpreneurs and pushed to shake up an industry that too often plays it safe and leaves smaller players behind. She champions bold products, smarter tech, and better ways of working - because the future of CPG should be shaped by ideas, not just deep pockets. Chelsea believes every emerging brand deserves a fair shot - not crumbs from the big end of town. Founders, no matter their gender, ethnicity, cultural background, spiritual path, sexual orientation, or beliefs, deserve their place on the shelves. Chelsea stands for healthy competition - real competition - where brave ideas and fresh brands rise up because they’re good, not because they’re bankrolled. This podcast is part of that mission. Every episode sparks bigger thinking, practical action, and the connections you need to get your products into more hands - and more money in your pocket. Ten years in, she’s more committed than ever. The next decade is wide open for those ready to do things differently and back themselves to grow. Click this link to see how you can be part of it.

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• #137 The Tax Incentive Every Foodpreneur Should Know About

  Send us a textBrand owners could literally be leaving thousands of dollars on the table simply because they don’t realise they’re eligible for funding. If you're making, baking or creating - and not claiming the R&D tax incentive - then this is the episode that will help put money back in your pocket.In this episode of the Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford podcast, I’m joined by Anthony Chi from Bluerock Consulting. Anthony is a rare breed who’s both a lawyer and an accountant. He’s worked with countless food and drink businesses and knows exactly what it takes to get tax incentives for packaged  food, drink or pet food businesses. We talk about:💸 What you can and can’t claim under the R&D tax incentive.💸 The right time to call in an expert (and how to make that conversation count).💸 Exactly what you need to know when claiming grants for your business.I also put Anthony on the spot about the big retailers. His take? Not to be missed.If you've been avoiding grants because they sound too hard, or you've convinced yourself your business isn’t eligible, this episode will shift your mindset,  and might just put more money in your pocket.This Season of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford is brought to you by Chelsea Ford Co.’s tenth anniversary. Ten years in, I’m more committed than ever. The next decade is wide open for those ready to do things differently and back themselves to grow.LINKS & RESOURCES:Bluerock websiteAnthony Chi LinkedInYour Free Pitch PlanBecome A Foodpreneurs Festival InsiderChelsea Ford Co. websiteSeason 14 Season 14, out now, is 'Scale Season' and is being presented by Chelsea Ford Co.’s 10th anniversary. For a decade, Chelsea Ford has backed Foodpreneurs and pushed to shake up an industry that too often plays it safe and leaves smaller players behind. She champions bold products, smarter tech, and better ways of working - because the future of CPG should be shaped by ideas, not just deep pockets. Chelsea believes every emerging brand deserves a fair shot - not crumbs from the big end of town. Founders, no matter their gender, ethnicity, cultural background, spiritual path, sexual orientation, or beliefs, deserve their place on the shelves. Chelsea stands for healthy competition - real competition - where brave ideas and fresh brands rise up because they’re good, not because they’re bankrolled. This podcast is part of that mission. Every episode sparks bigger thinking, practical action, and the connections you need to get your products into more hands - and more money in your pocket. Ten years in, she’s more committed than ever. The next decade is wide open for those ready to do things differently and back themselves to grow. Click this link to see how you can be part of it.

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