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Scaling 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:

1. Food Entrepreneurship Academy website
2. Food Entrepreneurship Academy LinkedIn Company LinkedIn Page
3. Naishad Dalal LinkedIn Page
4. #134 Industry Insights from Foodpreneurs Festival 2025
5. #128 Burnt Out & Broke: How to Afford a Co-Manufacturer
6. #107 How to Develop a Commercially Viable Food or Drink Product.
7. HydraCelt from Overtime Labs 
8. Your Free Pitch Plan
9. Become A Foodpreneurs Festival Insider
10. Chelsea Ford Co. website

Season 15

Season 15, out now, is 'Marketing Season' and is being presented by Foodpreneurs Festival.

The highly anticipated 2026 BiteBack Awards & Foodpreneurs Festival are both must-attend events dedicated to bringing consumer packaged goods food, drink (alc and non-alc), pet and supplements brand owners, buyers, media, industry specialists and distributors together under one roof.

You can't miss these events. Here’s why:

• Thousands of stockists looking for new products for their shelves.
• A chance to pitch for funding + mentorship to scale your brand.
• Workshops tailored to where you’re at - whether you’re just starting or scaling big (THIS IS NEW!)
• A NEW Marketing Clinic for hands-on brand strategy - you'll leave with five key messages ready to use.
• Opportunities to get recognised and get your brand in front of industry experts, media, buyers, distributors and fellow brand owners.
• If you’re an Industry Specialist, tap into a highly engaged, niche audience.
• And much, much more.

The full program drops early 2026. For now, block out May 21-22 and click this link to see how you can be part of it.