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  • 186. Make Your Brand Easier to Choose: The Cheesecake Factory Factor

    186. Make Your Brand Easier to Choose: The Cheesecake Factory Factor
    2026/05/13

    Too many choices (or unlcear choices) can create friction for people to make a decision. So, the brands that win are often the ones that make decisions feel easier.

    Sometimes being clear and easy to choose means knowing what to say… and what NOT to say.

    In this episode, Katie Mleziva (RealFoodBrands.com) and Clint Matthews (Start Right Foods) unpack the concept of decision fatigue and how it impacts things like shopper behavior, packaging, product assortments, and buying decisions.

    You'll hear:

    • Why more choices, words, and icons are not always better

    • The Cheesecake Factory "decision overload" example

    • How shoppers make different decisions throughout a shopping trip

    • Why packaging has to work so hard...even after popping on the shelf

    • If Clint or Katie could better handle judging 25 cheesecakes in a contest without decision fatigue setting in

    • The importance of communication hierarchy

    • The famous "jam study" and what it tells us about consumer behavior

    • How products move from shelf → cart → pantry/fridge/freezer → repeat

    • A course Katie is taking through Texas A&M called Advanced Behavioral Economics -- she's loving it!

    Katie also shares details about her free live Brand Strategy Q&A happening May 20, 2026.

    Links & Resources:

    • 🗓️ Sign up for the free Brand Strategy Q&A

    • 📧 Weekly Email Newsletter

    • 🔗 Connect on Instagram

    • 🎙️Episodes mentioned

    --4Ps of Sales Series Spotify Playlist

    --Ep 114. Intentional Marketing: Getting ON the shelf, IN the cart, and OUT of the pantry/fridge/freezer

    • When Choice is Demotivating: Can One Desire Too Much of a Good Thing? (aka "The Jam Study")

    If this episode gave you a new way to think about shopper behavior, packaging, or brand clarity, please share it with another food business owner who is working to build a brand that makes a positive impact.

    Let's go shake up shopping carts!

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    18 分
  • 185. Listening to Understand Your Market & Guide Your Food Brand

    185. Listening to Understand Your Market & Guide Your Food Brand
    2026/05/06

    You might be a good listener, but are you a strategic listener?

    In this episode, Katie Mleziva (Real Food Brands) and Clint Matthews (Start Right Foods) explore how to use listening as a strategic tool—not to collect more ideas, but to gain clarity and guide your brand decisions as you optimize and grow.

    Building on recent episodes about defining your version of success and clarifying your purpose, vision, and values, this conversation shifts outward—focusing on how to better understand your market through what you're already hearing and also where to listen more intentionally.

    From buyer conversations to consumer feedback to observing the competitive landscape, this episode will help you think differently about where insight can come from and how to use it.

    In this episode, you'll hear:
    • Why listening is about understanding and making decisions, not just collecting opinions or adding to your idea list
    • How buyer conversations can reveal what's happening in your category
    • Ways to "listen" to consumers beyond direct conversations
    • What you can learn from competitors—without copying them
    • The difference between one-off feedback and meaningful patterns
    • How to use what you're hearing to guide your brand as you grow
    What this means for your business:

    As you're working to build clarity in your brand, listening becomes a way to proactively understand your market—not just react to it.

    When you start paying attention to patterns, language, and real-world feedback, you can:

    • Refine how you show up as the brand you want to build
    • Spot some opportunities you might have missed
    • Move forward with more direction and confidence
    What's next:

    Once you begin to understand your market more deeply, you can start to define what you want your brand to be known for—and how to consistently bring that to life.

    Continue the conversation:

    If you want a simple way to capture what stands out and turn ideas into action, make sure you're on Katie's newsletter email list. She'll share a quick recap in writing and help you apply what you hear on Ep 185, and every episode! You can get access to the newsletter and find links to everything else at www.realfoodbrands.com.

    Let's Connect!

    Connect with Katie Mleziva on LinkedIn or ➡️ Set up an intro call here if you're ready to talk about prioritizing your ideas as you work to build a strong brand.

    Let's Go Shake Up Shopping Carts!

    Katie Mleziva – Host & Food Brand Strategist
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    18 分
  • 184. What Is YOUR Version of Success in Your Food Business?

    184. What Is YOUR Version of Success in Your Food Business?
    2026/04/29

    What does success actually look like for you—and are you building your food business around it?

    If you haven't clearly defined your own version of success, it's easy to end up chasing someone else's without even realizing it.

    For the first part of our lives, success is defined for us—the next milestone, the next step. Good grades, good performances. But as business owners, that structure disappears… and we're left to figure it out on our own.

    In this episode, Katie Mleziva (Real Food Brands) and Clint Matthews (Start Right Foods) unpack how making sure you're defining your own version of success will impact how you make decisions.

    They also share how their own definitions of success have evolved over time—and how those definitions directly shape the decisions they make in their businesses today.

    Because success isn't one-size-fits-all. But when it's undefined, it leads to comparison, second-guessing, and misalignment.

    And when it's clear? Your brand, your strategy, and your decisions start to fall into place.

    In This Episode, We Cover:
    • Why success feels clearly defined when we're younger—and why that changes as a business owner
    • How your definition of success influences your daily decisions
    • Real examples of how evolving priorities shift business direction
    • The difference between building a business that looks successful vs one that actually fits your life
    • Why defining success is the foundation for a clear, aligned brand
    • Katie's recommendation on where to start
    Key Takeaway:

    If you don't define success for yourself, you'll default to someone else's definition, and that's where misalignment starts.

    What's Next:

    If you're ready to define YOUR version of success and start building a brand around it, Katie put together a simple way to get started with your purpose, vision, and values.

    👉 Join Katie's weekly newsletter list to get access here.

    Every week Katie walks you through putting these insights and your ideas into action...becuase you don't need more ideas, you need to prioritize them based on your goals so you can make more confident decisions in your business.

    Note: if you're listening after 5/1/26, just send Katie an email katie@realfoodbrands.com, and she'll share the newsletter issue with you.
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    15 分
  • 183. Is Luck Random or About Being Ready?

    183. Is Luck Random or About Being Ready?
    2026/04/22

    How preparedness, alignment, awareness, and resilience lead to luck.

    It's easy to look at other brands and assume they just got lucky.

    They met the right person.

    They were in the right place.

    They caught the right opportunity.

    But when you take a closer look, that's usually not the full story.

    In this episode, Katie Mleziva (Real Food Brands) and Clint Matthews (Start Right Foods) talk through why two businesses can have similar opportunities but very different outcomes.

    This isn't about pure luck; it's about how prepared, focused, and aligned you are when those opportunities show up.

    In this episode, you'll hear:
    • Why luck is often a reflection of preparation and past experience
    • Why CLARITY and ALIGNMENT help you recognize and act on opportunities faster
    • How setbacks actually build readiness for future opportunities
    • The role of curiosity, relationships, and follow-through in creating momentum
    • Why "the greatest thing since sliced bread" didn't happen overnight.
    💡 Key takeaway:

    Opportunities happen—but what happens after that isn't random. When your brand is clear and aligned, it helps you recognize the right opportunities and people, make better decisions, and follow through in a way that ultimately leads to growth.

    🗣️ Continue the conversation

    Follow along on Instagram and let us know —> Do you think of success in business as luck, preparation, or something else?

    📝 Apply What You Heard - Get the Newsletter

    If you want to work on building a brand that's clear, aligned, and adds value across your business, join Katie's weekly newsletter list at RealFoodBrands.com.

    Each week, you'll get a short, strategic reflection to help you think more clearly and take aligned action as you grow.
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    14 分
  • 182. Your Brand Adds Value Across Your Business (Not Just Marketing)

    182. Your Brand Adds Value Across Your Business (Not Just Marketing)
    2026/04/15

    Most food business owners think of their brand as a marketing tool, but what if it's actually one of your most valuable business assets? IT IS!

    In this episode, Katie Mleziva (Real Food Brands) shares highlights from a recent training she gave for the Food Finance Institute's GROW series, where she explored how brand strategy impacts how effectively your business runs on a day-to-day basis.

    When your brand is clear and aligned, it doesn't just help you grow—it helps you operate more efficiently, make better decisions, and build a more valuable business over time.

    🎧 In this episode, you'll hear:
    • Three elements that help you build a valuable brand
    • How a clear brand reduces price sensitivity and builds customer loyalty
    • How a strong brand improves decision-making across your business
    • Where brands lose time and money through rework, revisions, and lack of alignment
    • Why your brand strategy is a margin driver—not just a marketing expense

    Stay tuned for more brand-building episodes each Wednesday!

    📩 Want to keep going?

    If you want support working through your brand strategy, Katie offers 1:1 workshops, 6-week coaching, and a more in-depth Brand Success System to help you define, align, and activate your brand in a way that actually drives your business forward.

    ➡️ Set up an intro call here if you're ready to talk about your vision.

    Let's Connect!

    1) Connect with Katie Mleziva on LinkedIn.

    2) Join Katie's weekly newsletter HERE

    3) Follow along on Instagram for more – @realfoodbrands

    Let's Go Shake Up Shopping Carts!

    Katie Mleziva – Host & Food Brand Strategist
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    14 分
  • 181. Build a Brand That Adapts While Staying True to Its Core - Kasondra Shippen Flax 4 Life

    181. Build a Brand That Adapts While Staying True to Its Core - Kasondra Shippen Flax 4 Life
    2026/04/15
    Flax 4 Life is a 25-year-old brand that has adapted to changing consumer needs and market realities, while staying grounded in the core of what the brand stands for...and I'm slightly obsessed with their blueberry flax muffins! ➡️➡️➡️ This episode is part of a 3-part series on examples of what it looks like to build a strong brand. Check out Ep 179 and 180 in the series after you listen to this. In this episode, I'm joined by Kasandra Shippen, CEO of Flax 4 Life—a national family-built brand rooted in multi-generational baking and a deep commitment to better-for-you products. Fun Fact: They were one of the first certified gluten-free companies in the US! We talk about how Flax 4 Life has adapted over time—responding to family health needs, evolving consumer expectations, and even market shifts like rising egg prices—while staying true to what made the brand work in the first place. This is a fantastic example of what it looks like to lead a brand over time: not by completely reinventing it, but by adapting with intention and innovation. Key Takeaway A strong brand gives you the clarity to adapt. When you know what you stand for, you can evolve your products, respond to change, and make new decisions without losing your direction. What You'll Hear How family health challenges helped shape the foundation of Flax 4 LifeWhy they've always focused on nutrition and flavor—not just "free-from" positioningHow rising egg prices + consumer needs led to a new allergen-friendly innovation partnering with PlantibleThe role of new ingredients in adapting their product lineHow to evolve your products without losing your brand foundationWhy education and communication remain ongoing challengesWalmart's Open Call experience What's Next This episode wraps up our 3-part series on building strong brands. If you haven't listened yet: Listen to this first - Episode 181Go back to Episode 179: Build a Brand That Grows With the People You ServeThen listen to Episode 180: Build a Brand That Solves a Real Need Together, these three episodes walk through how to build a brand that grows, solves real problems, and adapts over time—while staying grounded in what matters most. ...Stay tuned for more brand-building episodes each Wednesday! 🤝 Share with a fellow food business owner If this episode sparked an idea or helped you see something differently, share it with someone else who's working to grow their brand. 🌟 Rate and Review—we might give you a shoutout! And if you haven't already, a review goes a long way in helping more people find the podcast. We appreciate it and may give you a shoutout! Likewise, if you have any ideas to optimize the podcast, please email us directly at Katie@realfoodbrands.com. LET'S CONNECT! Listening is helpful, but doing is even better! 1) Connect with Katie Mleziva and Clint Matthews on LinkedIn. 2) Join Katie's weekly newsletter HERE to get additional insights, industry resources, and the Weekly Worksheet for this episode, designed to help you build your own brand strategy workbook over time. Joining the email list gives you access to book a Brand Strategy Session as well! 3) Follow along on Instagram for more – @realfoodbrands 4) Check out Flax 4 Life! Let's Go Shake Up Shopping Carts! Katie Mleziva – Host & Food Brand Strategist
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    22 分
  • 180. Build a Brand That Solves a Real Need - with Jon Romanow of Let'z Go!

    180. Build a Brand That Solves a Real Need - with Jon Romanow of Let'z Go!
    2026/04/14
    Most strong brands don't start with random ideas—they start with understanding a real need. ➡️➡️➡️ This is episode 2 of 3 in our Expo West follow-up series. We're releasing a new episode each day—so check back tomorrow! Strong brands are built from insight—sometimes insight that comes from lived experience and a deep understanding of what's actually missing in the market. In this episode, Katie Mleziva (Real Food Brands) and Clint Matthews (Start Right Foods) talk with Jon Romanow, founder of Letz Go! Nutrition, about how the intersection of his personal health journey and professional experience in the category led to a brand that's gaining traction quickly. And not because of luck, but because it's rooted in a real need and clearly positioned to meet it. This isn't just another founder story, it's an unfolding example of brand strategy in action - a work in progress as Jon shares what has happened since launch as they translate insight into action. As you listen, you can think about how you can do the same in your business. What you'll hear: Why the best brand strategies start with insight—not just an ideaHow lived experience can uncover opportunities and nuances others may missThe difference between creating a product and solving a real needWhy packaging format, accessibility, and pricing are part of brand strategy—not only product tasteHow clear positioning leads to traction without relying on a heavy marketing spend early onWhat it looks like to turn insight into action as you build your brand Key Takeaway: Strong brands start with understanding. When you deeply understand a real need—often one you've experienced yourself even though the brand is about more than you—you're able to build a brand that feels clear, relevant, and aligned from the start. That clarity should show up in your positioning, your product decisions, your pricing, and how your brand connects with customers. That's not luck...it's putting insight into action. What's Next: Take a step back and look at your own brand through this lens. --Where have you experienced the problem you're trying to solve? --And where might you be overlooking insights because they feel "normal" to you? The more clearly you can connect your experience to a real need in the market, the easier it becomes to make aligned decisions—and build a brand that actually works. Listen to yesterday's episode with Betsy Frost, CEO of Q Mixers, and stay tuned for the third episode in this 3-part series releasing tomorrow with Kasandra Shippen, CEO of Flax 4 Life. 🤝 Share with a fellow food business owner If this episode sparked an idea or helped you see something differently, share it with someone else who's working to grow their brand. 🌟 Rate and Review--we might give you a shoutout! And if you haven't already, a review goes a long way in helping more people find the podcast. We appreciate it and may give you a shoutout! Likewise, if you have any ideas to optimize the podcast, please email us directly at Katie@realfoodbrands.com. LET'S CONNECT! Listening is helpful, but doing is even better! 1) Connect with Katie Mleziva and Clint Matthews on LinkedIn. 2) Join Katie's weekly newsletter HERE to get additional insights, industry resources, and the Weekly Worksheet for this episode, designed to help you build your own brand strategy workbook over time. Joining the email list gives you access to book a Brand Strategy Session as well! 3) Follow along on Instagram for more - @realfoodbrands 4) Check out Letz Go! Nutrition Let's Go Shake Up Shopping Carts! Katie Mleziva Host & Food Brand Strategist Real Food Brands
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    24 分
  • 179. Build a Brand That Grows With the People You Serve

    179. Build a Brand That Grows With the People You Serve
    2026/04/10
    What happens when you question why something can't be better? When the brand is built to serve that need, you have a true north. Then decisions - from brand partnerships to line extensions - become clearer and more effective even as the market evolves. ➡️ ➡️ ➡️ This episode is the first in our next 3-part series following up on connections Katie made through Expo West. We'll be releasing a new episode each day over the next three days. Hosts Katie Mleziva (Real Food Brands) & Clint Matthews (Start Right Foods) are joined by Betsy Frost, CEO of Q Mixers, to explore how brand strategy helps a national brand stay relevant as the people they serve—and the market around them—continue to change. From shifting drinking behaviors to identifying a gap in the market, Q Refreshers is a clear example of how brands can evolve to meet changing needs without losing what makes them work. This conversation brings strategy out of theory and into action. You'll hear how Betsy's background—from purpose-driven organizations to big CPG—shapes how she leads today, and how staying rooted in your brand while evolving alongside the people you serve is what allows brands to grow with clarity and consistency. In this episode, you'll hear: How a strong brand acts as a true north for decision-making and collaborationsWhy the best innovation starts with the intersection of insight and white space What it really means to stay relevant as people's behaviors and expectations evolveHow a content-first mindset can shift the way you think about building your brandWhat it looks like to evolve your brand without losing what makes it stand out in the first placeHow to think about line extensions through a brand strategy lensWhy more isn't always better—and how to stay focusedHow expanding use occasions can drive meaningful growth Key Takeaway Brand strategy isn't just something you define once and move on—it then serves as a guide for how you make decisions. As your business grows, the strongest brands are the ones that stay rooted in what makes them stand out while evolving with intention so they continue to stay relevant as the people they serve change—how they shop, what they value, and how they use the product. What's Next Stay tuned for our next episode, airing tomorrow with Jon Romanow, founder of Letz Go! Nutrition, to hear how he took his personal health challenges, professional experience, and market needs to create a fast-growing stick packet hydration and energy company that the whole family can enjoy. 🤝 Share with a fellow food business owner If this episode sparked an idea or helped you see something differently, share it with someone else who's working to grow their brand. 🌟 Rate and Review—we might give you a shoutout! And if you haven't already, a review goes a long way in helping more people find the podcast. We appreciate it and may give you a shoutout! Likewise, if you have any ideas to optimize the podcast, please email us directly at Katie@realfoodbrands.com. LET'S CONNECT! Listening is helpful, but doing is even better! 1) Connect with Katie Mleziva and Clint Matthews on LinkedIn. 2) Join Katie's weekly newsletter HERE to get additional insights, industry resources, and the Weekly Worksheet for this episode, designed to help you build your own brand strategy workbook over time. Joining the email list gives you access to book a Brand Strategy Session as well! 3) Follow along on Instagram for more – @realfoodbrands 4) Check Out Q Mixers! Let's Go Shake Up Shopping Carts! Katie Mleziva – Host & Food Brand Strategist
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    20 分