A behind-the-scenes interview series that breaks down how creators build their audience and business, beyond the highlight reel. Each guest shares the real playbook: the experiments, routines, mindset shifts, and monetization choices that got them from “a few steps behind” to massive reach.

This episode is presented by grocerslist.com, the growth platform for the top content creators and brands in food.

In the debut episode of Food Empire, Ben sits down with Gaby Dalkin, founder of What’s Gaby Cooking, to explore the entrepreneurial journey behind her multi-platform food brand.

From private-chef work to New York Times bestselling cookbooks, CPG expansion, and restaurant ownership, Gaby shares how she scaled strategically while maintaining deep audience connection.

In this episode, they discuss:

1. Leveraging unconventional early opportunities
2. Building brand equity through content and community
3. Launching and scaling Dalkin & Co. in retail and DTC
4. Entering the restaurant industry with experienced partners

Gaby Dalkin is a New York Times bestselling author and founder of What’s Gaby Cooking, Dalkin & Co., and Gaby’s restaurant.

https://www.youtube.com/@WhatsGabyCooking

Subscribe to Food Empire for conversations with founders building scalable food businesses.

Grow Traffic, Capture Emails + Sell More Stuff, visit grocerslist.com

In Episode 2 of Food Empire, Ben Jabbawy sits down with chef and creator Josh to explore how he transitioned from award-winning restaurants and celebrity private chef work (including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt) into a full-time content business.

Josh shares what it takes to win online in food content: consistency, speed, and making recipes feel familiar, plus how he built a real business model behind the views.

In this episode, they discuss:

1. The reality of cooking for celebrities (high volume, high demand, zero “no”)
2. The 90-day content commitment that led to back-to-back viral videos
3. How simple, familiar ingredients can outperform “complex chef food” online
4. Monetization strategy: brand partnerships, Substack memberships, and platform payouts

Josh Gale https://www.thechefoutwest.com/

Connect with us:

Ben Jabbawy

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminjabbawy/

https://benjabbawy.com/about

Grow Traffic, Capture Emails + Sell More Stuff: grocerslist.com

Erica shares how she went from food creator to agency founder to CPG operator, and breaks down what actually makes creator marketing work today. From story-view benchmarks and pricing frameworks to retail awareness and DTC performance, this episode is a masterclass in how modern food brands can use creators to drive measurable growth.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why story views matter more than follower count when evaluating creator influence
2. The benchmark Erica uses for creators, and why 10% story reach is her minimum threshold
3. How brands should think about ROAS, CPM, CAC, and LTV across DTC and retail campaigns
4. A practical way creators can price partnerships based on performance
5. How Flavor City launched from creator demand and scaled into national retail at Target
6. Why the most effective creators are often the most raw, real, and impossible to replicate
7. How Echo balances brand KPIs with securing top rates for creator talent

Guest:

Erica Eckman — Founder & CEO of Echo, Co-Founder of Flavor City

Instagram: @everythingerica

LinkedIn: Erica Eckman

If you’re building a food brand, scaling a creator business, or trying to understand how influencer marketing really converts, this episode offers a clear framework for creator-led growth in modern CPG.