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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 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.

Send us a text

Orders 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:

1. Upstock website
2. Scale your FMCG brand on Upstock
3. Philip Fierlinger LinkedIn
4. EatKinda
5. Coaching Claire MacDonald, Episode #43 What to do When a Stockist Says ‘No’ or ‘No for Now’
6. Your Free Pitch Plan
7. Become A Foodpreneurs Festival Insider
8. Chelsea Ford Co. website

Season 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.

Send us a text

You 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:

1. Stickybeak website
2. Stickybeak Range Review Guide
3. NaturKidz website
4. NaturKidz Instagram
5. Your Free Pitch Plan
6. Become A Foodpreneurs Festival Insider
7. Chelsea Ford Co. website

Season 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.

Send us a text

It’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 website
• Cameron Aboud’s LinkedIn profile
• Joel Alderden LinkedIn profile
• Joost 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 Profit
• Your Free Pitch Plan
• Become A Foodpreneurs Festival Insider
• Chelsea Ford Co. website

Season 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.

Send us a text

Brand 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 website
• Anthony Chi LinkedIn
• Your Free Pitch Plan
• Become A Foodpreneurs Festival Insider
• Chelsea Ford Co. website

Season 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.

Send us a text

Many brand owners think the only way to grow is to do more. More products, more orders, more late nights. But being busy and trying to do it all yourself to save money doesn’t mean you’re building a smarter business.

In this episode of the Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford podcast, I’m joined by two brilliant minds who know how to scale without the chaos - Jason Stockton, founder of the ERP system Supply’d, and Ross Galettis from Madhouse Bakehouse, who’s supplying Qantas (and hundreds more) with mouth-watering baked goods.

In this episode, we lift the lid on:

📈The hidden costs eating your profit (and how to spot them).
📈How to stop working in silos and get every department talking.
📈How to produce more, without additional costs.
📈The real reason saying “I’m too busy” is killing your margins.
📈The tech most brand owners underestimate – and the 3-4x ROI they’re missing.

If you’re drowning in the day-to-day, but serious about scaling, this episode is filled with tactical help for brand owners who are in the weeds and don't know where to start.

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:

• Supply’d website
• Supply’d free tools
• Jason Stockton’s LinkedIn profile
• Madhouse Bakehouse website
• Madhouse Bakehouse Instagram
• Ross Galettis LinkedIn profile
• Episode #134 Industry Insights from Foodpreneurs Festival 2025
• Your Free Pitch Plan
• Become A Foodpreneurs Festival Insider
• Chelsea Ford Co. website

Season 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.

Send us a text

Scaling or just staying busy?

Too many brand owners are growing, and keeping busy. But don't confuse that with scaling. More stockists, more sales… and a whole lot more stress. Margins stay razor-thin, costs creep up, and burnout isn’t far behind. 

So this podcast season, I’m calling time on the chaos - because it is possible to scale without losing sleep or profits - using systems, strategy and structure.

In this solo episode, I’m breaking down:

🔑 The real difference between growth and scale.
🔑 Why scaling isn’t sexy - but it's sustainable.
🔑 My 8-part Function 8 framework to fix your foundation and grow profitably.
🔑 How to stop building a job… and start building a business.

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:

• Function 8 
• Chelsea Ford website 
• Foodpreneurs Festival website 
• Become A Foodpreneurs Festival Insider

Season 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.

Send us a text

Didn’t make it to Foodpreneurs Festival 2025? Or maybe you were there but want a refresher on all the high-impact opportunities presented at the event, and the practical steps to take now to leverage your learnings and industry connections?

In this episode, I sat down with Naishad Dalal, food scientist, entrepreneur, and founder of the Food Entrepreneurship Academy, and Jason Stockton, operations expert and founder of Supply’d, the ERP system built just for Foodpreneurs.

Together, we unpack exactly what went down at Foodpreneurs Festival 2025 - from the brands to watch, to the big questions buyers were asking, to the tools and systems fast-growing brands are using to stay lean and scale smart.

Tune in to learn:

🍏 What retailers were at the Festival and what they were looking for (make note of tips for next year!).
🍏 The standout brands from the Festival that are gaining serious traction.
🍏 How to scale without blowing your budget.
🍏 Margin management: what "healthy" really looks like in today’s climate.
🍏 What your pathway to profit should look like.
🍏 How to use automation to help you grow.

Whether you missed the Festival or just want to make sure you caught every juicy insight, this episode is your post-Festival debrief and action plan.

Listen now to hear how the Festival cracked open growth strategies that work, and what to do next to stay ahead.

LINKS & RESOURCES:

• Grounded Wholefoods website
• Lady Alchemy website
• Quickie Cookies website
• Coast n Smoke website
• SUP Foods website
• Supply’d website
• Jason Stockton’s LinkedIn
• Food Entrepreneurship Academy website
• Food Entrepreneurship Academy LinkedIn
• Naishad Dalal’s LinkedIn
• Your Free Pitch Plan
• Become a Chelsea Ford Insider

Season 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.

Send us a text

Scaling a frozen food brand? It’s not for the faint-hearted. Cold chain logistics, merchandising nightmares, and razor-thin margins make it one of the most challenging categories in the game.

But Mrinali Kumar, CEO and co-founder of EatKinda, is flipping the script - proving that bold innovation, sustainability, and smart operations can carve out a winning edge.

In this episode, Mrinali reveals how EatKinda - the world’s first cauliflower-based ice cream - went from a small-town pitch comp in New Zealand to over 120 retail listings, and garnering international buzz, for its mission to reduce food and plastic waste.

And now? They’re exiting NZ (for now!) to go all to focus on the US market.

Tune in to learn: 

🍦 How cauliflower creates that ultra-creamy, dairy-like texture.
🍦 What frozen distribution really costs, and how they lifted margins from 17% to 40%.
🍦 How smart use of foodservice data landed them on retail shelves.
🍦 The merchandising missteps that almost cost them big.
🍦 Why the US is their next frontier - and how they’re making the leap.

If you’re building a food or drink brand and want to scale sustainably and profitably, this episode is your playbook.

👉 Listen now to hear what it really takes to build a disruptive CPG brand that lasts.

This Season of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford is brought to you by Foodpreneurs Festival - a year’s worth of sales and promotion opportunities under one roof - and Chelsea Ford Co., modernising the CPG industry, one emerging brand at a time.

LINKS & RESOURCES:

• Eat Kinda website
• Eat Kinda overseas
• Your Free Pitch Plan
• Get Your Foodpreneurs Festival Ticket Now
• Become a Chelsea Ford Insider

Season 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.

Send us a text

Alexandra Bekker, founder of Drink Nimbus, is on a mission to shake up plant-based milk and the sustainability issues that come with it. After a highly successful eCommerce career, she discovered the shocking truth: 138 billion long-life cartons end up in landfill each year. So, she set out to create a better alternative.

In this episode, Alexandra shares how she:

🌱 Validated her oat milk powder concept through surveys and kitchen trials
🛠 Navigated supplier relationships and big MOQs to get production off the ground
📈 Built a scalable operational setup that’s taken Drink Nimbus into 100+ stores and countless homes
💰 Manages unit economics, cash flow, and digital ad spend with precision
🛍️ Avoided the Black Friday discount trap and turned it into a profit win

Alexandra’s eCommerce expertise and data-driven mindset make this a must-listen for food and drink brand owners looking to scale profitably.

This Season of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford is brought to you by Foodpreneurs Festival - a year’s worth of sales and promotion opportunities under one roof - and Chelsea Ford Co., modernising the CPG industry, one emerging brand at a time.

LINKS & RESOURCES:

• Drink Nimbus website
• Your Free Pitch Plan
• Get Your Foodpreneurs Festival Ticket Now
• Become a Chelsea Ford Insider

Season 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.