jobTopia with Tony Moore

Alison Patt, the CEO of Thomas Cuisine, joins me to discuss the sales and marketing culture that has propelled them into a large regional food service provider.  This important conversation must be bookmarked and added to 'the power of culture' conversation being had across boardrooms and living rooms. Enjoy this gem of an episode!

Now in 12 states – large regional player

100 partner organizations

REAL food: clean, healthy – food is kept in the refrigerator, not the freezer!

More knives VS scissors

22 million meals a year – 22 million opportunities a year

SMART growth – it’s not about how fast you expand.

Growth is a noble goal. Not growth for growth’s sake.

Never use the word vendor!

The organization has to be aligned with “who are we” before you create a sales and marketing program

Sales must tell the story and be able to determine what is an aligned partner.

Sales is a team sport – you can’t export this function to 3 people – you won’t be as successful

Her CFO and VP HR are in sales!

What value do you bring? Is it more than just food?

Operations does such a great job that it results in new leads and referrals.

Say NO to wrong business

Personal philosophy – stop selling, stop pitching and really take the time to understand what a win looks like for them. If you can’t give them what they want, you have one shot to be.

How she hires and onboards people

Sales training

Know where to put your time

Where are the pools of the best leads?

How do you celebrate wins?

Season 3, Episode 40:

Thomas Cuisine:

• Website

Connect with Alison

Connect with Tony

About me and my mission and the podcast:

Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to discover unique brands and learn about the people and strategies successful companies are implementing in the CPG and Food and Beverage Industry?  The brands featured here take us into the world of innovation, sustainability, good for you, lifestyle, QSR, Foodservice, Distribution, DTC, Club, and more.

I am a fun-loving business leader, podcaster, husband, dad, cyclist, and Convention of States volunteer in my spare time. My mission is to discover the people and ideas behind these different, better, and special companies. 

Entrepreneurs and CEOs, are you:

Searching for distributor or broker partners? 

Actively prospecting commercial buyers to gain more points of distribution?

Searching for the right person to add to the team?

My Direct Response Marketing Service attracts exactly what you need to help your brand thrive and grow. 

Here is a NOVEL approach to ATTRACT distributors, buyers, and people (DEMO)

Contact me: [email protected]

Follow me on LinkedIn: Different, Better, Special Brands

Join Our Community

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Discover a new food-tech platform that combines recipe creators and brands into one easy-to-navigate website. Bill Staley, the Founder, joins me with his operations manager, Pooja Parikh.

Founder Story of Foodsocial.io

A community platform for creators to share recipes and meal plans with contextual marketing and ad placement for brands and creators.

How is this platform different for creators? Long-term benefits and better payouts.

For users, it’s free!

The community helps connect people that are remote.

Revenue model

Community Model – a huge pillar!

How do they attract brands and creators

Creators get exploited in the traditional platforms, so they are skeptical as they have been mistreated.

Livestreaming ideas

App on the way!

Season 3, Episode 39:

FoodSocial:

• Website

Connect with Bill Staley

Connect with Tony

About me and my mission and the podcast:

Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to discover unique brands and learn about the people and strategies successful companies are implementing in the CPG and Food and Beverage Industry?  The brands featured here take us into the world of innovation, sustainability, good for you, lifestyle, QSR, Foodservice, Distribution, DTC, Club, and more.

I am a fun-loving business leader, podcaster, husband, dad, cyclist, and Convention of States volunteer in my spare time. My mission is to discover the people and ideas behind these different, better, and special companies. 

Entrepreneurs and CEOs, are you:

Searching for distributor or broker partners? 

Actively prospecting commercial buyers to gain more points of distribution?

Searching for the right person to add to the team?

My Direct Response Marketing Service attracts exactly what you need to help your brand thrive and grow. 

Here is a NOVEL approach to ATTRACT distributors, buyers, and people (DEMO)

Contact me: [email protected]

Follow me on LinkedIn: Different, Better, Special Brands

Join Our Community

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Welcome to another insightful episode on W@W.  In today's episode, we delve into a long-overdue trend in the food industry: Food as Medicine. We all know the importance of eating fresh, less processed food for better health, but making healthy choices can be challenging. What if we could build a hospitality company centered around these principles? Joining us today is David Lanci, the CEO of Nexdine, who shares his vision and passion for Food as Medicine and discusses why "Value-Based Care" will shape the future of food.

Founder's Story - Everyone is a Foodie: David Lanci shares the inspiration behind Nexdine's revolutionary approach to food service and why the concept of Food as Medicine is vital. Discover how being a foodie at heart laid the foundation for creating a company that prioritizes the health and well-being of its customers.

Business Footprint - Each Facility as an Independent Restaurant: Learn how Nexdine's unique business model treats each facility as an independent restaurant, catering to the specific needs and preferences of the communities they serve. Find out how this approach fosters strong connections and personalized experiences for customers.

Exciting Segment - Senior Living: David expresses his excitement about working in the senior living sector, where administrators share a mission-driven approach and align with Nexdine's core values. Discover how the Food as Medicine concept brings positive change to the lives of seniors in these communities.

Creating a Food as Medicine "System" and Overcoming Obstacles: Explore the challenges faced in implementing a Food as Medicine "system" and how Nexdine overcame barriers to prioritize fresh, healthy foods over processed alternatives. Learn about their acquisition of Simplex Health, a Medical Nutrition Therapy company, and its integration into their approach.

Value-Based Care and the Impact on Insurance and Self-Insured Companies: Understand how Value-Based Care is transforming healthcare and how Nexdine's Food as Medicine aligns with this transformative shift. Discover how pending legislation will mandate positive changes in care, paving the way for the future of food services.

The Importance of Buying Local: Find out why Nexdine is committed to supporting local communities by buying local whenever possible. Learn about the benefits of sourcing fresh ingredients from local farmers and producers.

A Holistic Approach to the Dining Experience - Exploring 19 Dimensions: Explore the comprehensive dimensions of Nexdine's holistic dining experience, which goes beyond the food itself. Discover how ambiance, service, and social interaction contribute to customers' overall well-being.

Setting the Blueprint and Goals - The Role of Culture: Learn how Nexdine's strong company culture sets the blueprint and goals for their Food as Medicine approach. Discover the crucial role culture plays in fostering openness, collaboration, and innovation within the company.

Philosophy - Doing the Right Thing: David shares Nexdine's philosophy, where doing the right thing doesn't always cost more. Uncover how investing in health and well-being is a cost-effective strategy in the long run.

Lanci-isms - Valuing Team Members: Explore David Lanci's unique "Lanci-isms," including the importance of valuing team members on their way in and their way out of the company. Discover how Nexdine pays bonuses to employees who have left the company as a token of gratitude.

Tune in to gain insights into the transformative power of Food as Medicine and how Nexdine is shaping the future of food services with a passion for health and wellness.

Connecting with Nexdine

Season 3, Episode 39:

NEXDINE:

• Website

Connect with David Lanci

Connect with Tony

About me and my mission and the podcast:

Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to discover unique brands and learn about the people and strategies successful companies are implementing in the CPG and Food and Beverage Industry?  The brands featured here take us into the world of innovation, sustainability, good for you, lifestyle, QSR, Foodservice, Distribution, DTC, Club, and more.

I am a fun-loving business leader, podcaster, husband, dad, cyclist, and Convention of States volunteer in my spare time. My mission is to discover the people and ideas behind these different, better, and special companies. 

Entrepreneurs and CEOs, are you:

Searching for distributor or broker partners? 

Actively prospecting commercial buyers to gain more points of distribution?

Searching for the right person to add to the team?

My Direct Response Marketing Service attracts exactly what you need to help your brand thrive and grow. 

Here is a NOVEL approach to ATTRACT distributors, buyers, and people (DEMO)

Contact me: [email protected]

Follow me on LinkedIn: Different, Better, Special Brands

Join Our Community

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Hey coffee lovers and foodies. Discover what makes the Kona Coffee Belt unique and why Joanie Wynn and her husband moved to Hawaii, bought a coffee farm, and now sell directly to consumers the richest-tasting coffee in the world.

Kona Earth

Micro-roasted

100% Kona coffee

Founder’s Story

Arabica bean (Kona Tipica)

Harvesting – all hand-picked. Only ripe cherries are picked.

September – March, 5-7 rounds of picking

Challenges with CBB pests and CLR leaf rust

Production

Wet milled, then dried and raked over several days to dry, then dry milled, then green coffee is sold at wholesale, or roast it yourself.

Drying specifications 9-12% moisture content

Flavor Profiles

The Kona region

30 miles long, 2 miles wide

300 feet - 2,000+ elevation

Each farm finds what works in its location.

Challenges facing Kona Coffee Farmers

Labeling clarity laws

Season 3, Episode 38:

Kona Earth Coffee:

• Website

Connect with Joanie Wynn

Connect with Tony

About me and my mission and the podcast:

Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to discover unique brands and learn about the people and strategies successful companies are implementing in the CPG and Food and Beverage Industry?  The brands featured here take us into the world of innovation, sustainability, good for you, lifestyle, QSR, Foodservice, Distribution, DTC, Club, and more.

I am a fun-loving business leader, podcaster, husband, dad, cyclist, and Convention of States volunteer in my spare time. My mission is to discover the people and ideas behind these different, better, and special companies. 

Entrepreneurs and CEOs, are you:

Searching for distributor or broker partners? 

Actively prospecting commercial buyers to gain more points of distribution?

Searching for the right person to add to the team?

My Direct Response Marketing Service attracts exactly what you need to help your brand thrive and grow. 

Here is a NOVEL approach to ATTRACT distributors, buyers, and people (DEMO)

Contact me: [email protected]

Follow me on LinkedIn: Different, Better, Special Brands

Join Our Community

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TIKTOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | LINKEDIN PAGE | LINKEDIN GROUP

Foodies and Founders - this episode is packed! Prabal uncovers the problem with traditional snacking and upends the jerky market with an offering of juicy, chicken jerky (don't tell the guys they market this for women!). His entrepreneurial wisdom points out the different business strategies if you are a small business or a start-up. I know you will devour this episode faster than a fresh pouch of spicey jerky!

What’s behind the name?

Brand VS Product – the Brand has a mission to inspire a certain outcome

How can we make an offering in the protein space for women that aids in constructing a new food system that is accessible to all people and addresses the needs of the future of this world

What is wrong with the healthy snack category? Natural isn’t leading the snack category because the products aren’t tasty and people go back to carbs and sugar.

We made something healthy, packed full of energy with low carbs and low sugar that is delicious.

How did you get into 5,000 retail in less than two years?

Put the needs of others first, rather than approaching people with your agenda

Buyers want to drive their category

Retail ready day one

Early buyers that took a chance are benefitting

Staying on shelf is extremely complex

Know what value you bring to the retailer

You need to have unshakable confidence in your product

There are different paths to success

You have to understand if you are building a small business or a start-up.

You have to validate the positioning of your product

How do I generate demand and awareness to drive consumers to look for this brand in a scrappy way

Question traditional thinking

Resilience is key!  Believe in what you are doing.

Season 3, Episode 37:

Brave Good Kind:

• Website

Connect with Prabal Chaudhri

Connect with Tony

About me and my mission and the podcast:

Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to discover unique brands and learn about the people and strategies successful companies are implementing in the CPG and Food and Beverage Industry?  The brands featured here take us into the world of innovation, sustainability, good for you, lifestyle, QSR, Foodservice, Distribution, DTC, Club, and more.

I am a fun-loving business leader, podcaster, husband, dad, cyclist, and Convention of States volunteer in my spare time. My mission is to discover the people and ideas behind these different, better, and special companies. 

Entrepreneurs and CEOs, are you:

Searching for distributor or broker partners? 

Actively prospecting commercial buyers to gain more points of distribution?

Searching for the right person to add to the team?

My Direct Response Marketing Service attracts exactly what you need to help your brand thrive and grow. 

Here is a NOVEL approach to ATTRACT distributors, buyers, and people (DEMO)

Contact me: [email protected]

Follow me on LinkedIn: Different, Better, Special Brands

Join Our Community

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JJ Jaxon joins me to discuss his founder's story and how he and his wife, Catherine, are solving the food allergy problem with their retail snack for infants and toddlers. 

Dr. Gideon Lack groundbreaking work - LEAP learning early about peanut allergies.

The Founder Story behind Mission Mighty Me.

Taste developed around the infant palate.

Statistics

Solving the biggest challenges in DTC  – no one is walking past your website

Knowing your target audience – ICP – MMM is the new mom community.

New moms research about 70% of products they buy

Where do they get their information? Who do they trust?

Balancing functional and nutritional marketing messages to not appear too medical

Expo West

Season 3, Episode 36:

Mission MightMe:

• Website

Connect with JJ Jaxon

Connect with Tony

About me and my mission and the podcast:

Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to discover unique brands and learn about the people and strategies successful companies are implementing in the CPG and Food and Beverage Industry?  The brands featured here take us into the world of innovation, sustainability, good for you, lifestyle, QSR, Foodservice, Distribution, DTC, Club, and more.

I am a fun-loving business leader, podcaster, husband, dad, cyclist, and Convention of States volunteer in my spare time. My mission is to discover the people and ideas behind these different, better, and special companies. 

Entrepreneurs and CEOs, are you:

Searching for distributor or broker partners? 

Actively prospecting commercial buyers to gain more points of distribution?

Searching for the right person to add to the team?

My Direct Response Marketing Service attracts exactly what you need to help your brand thrive and grow. 

Here is a NOVEL approach to ATTRACT distributors, buyers, and people (DEMO)

Contact me: [email protected]

Follow me on LinkedIn: Different, Better, Special Brands

Join Our Community

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TIKTOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | LINKEDIN PAGE | LINKEDIN GROUP

Dr. Andrew Hemmen AKA "Doctor Andy" has created a revolutionary energy drink that produces dopamine. Tune in to discover how this is possible, where to sample it, and more from his founder's journey from Doctor to Beverage entrepreneur. 

Beyond Energy

Mucuna, L-dopa, Amino Acids

3 SKUs Dark Berry, Mango, Blood Orange

Medicinal uses

In KC market

Aggressive marketing

Has a few big retailers lined up

Go to the website and check out this emerging energy brand

Season 3, Episode 35:

BeyondEnergy:

• Website

Connect with Dr Andrew Hemmen

Connect with Tony

About me and my mission and the podcast:

Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to discover unique brands and learn about the people and strategies successful companies are implementing in the CPG and Food and Beverage Industry?  The brands featured here take us into the world of innovation, sustainability, good for you, lifestyle, QSR, Foodservice, Distribution, DTC, Club, and more.

I am a fun-loving business leader, podcaster, husband, dad, cyclist, and Convention of States volunteer in my spare time. My mission is to discover the people and ideas behind these different, better, and special companies. 

Entrepreneurs and CEOs, are you:

Searching for distributor or broker partners? 

Actively prospecting commercial buyers to gain more points of distribution?

Searching for the right person to add to the team?

My Direct Response Marketing Service attracts exactly what you need to help your brand thrive and grow. 

Here is a NOVEL approach to ATTRACT distributors, buyers, and people (DEMO)

Contact me: [email protected]

Follow me on LinkedIn: Different, Better, Special Brands

Join Our Community

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TIKTOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | LINKEDIN PAGE | LINKEDIN GROUP

Amir Sabetian, CEO of Squeeze In, brings his executive experience from California Pizza Kitchen, Steak and Shake, and ZPizza International to discuss his breakfast and lunch concept and how he plans to scale this through franchising.

Squeeze In Restaurant Brand

West Coast Breakfast and Lunch

Plans to expand to 100 locations

Brought in industry best practices

Cut down the menu

Time and motion studies in the front and back off the house

Benefiting from the big boys in restaurants

Knowing what’s working for other brands and what’s not

Sat/Sun does 55% for the week – so there is a need to turn tables faster

You have to make money – it’s a business!

Having a nice brand that breaks even isn’t going to attract investors.

The expansion plan

Using a sophisticated training model for every

Can you help people grow into a hospitality career?

Demonstrate care – don’t just say ‘we care’

Innovations – loyalty programs!

Season 3, Episode 34:

Squeeze In:

• Website

Connect with Amir

Connect with Tony

About me and my mission and the podcast:

Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to discover unique brands and learn about the people and strategies successful companies are implementing in the CPG and Food and Beverage Industry?  The brands featured here take us into the world of innovation, sustainability, good for you, lifestyle, QSR, Foodservice, Distribution, DTC, Club, and more.

I am a fun-loving business leader, podcaster, husband, dad, cyclist, and Convention of States volunteer in my spare time. My mission is to discover the people and ideas behind these different, better, and special companies. 

Entrepreneurs and CEOs, are you:

Searching for distributor or broker partners? 

Actively prospecting commercial buyers to gain more points of distribution?

Searching for the right person to add to the team?

My Direct Response Marketing Service attracts exactly what you need to help your brand thrive and grow. 

Here is a NOVEL approach to ATTRACT distributors, buyers, and people (DEMO)

Contact me: [email protected]

Follow me on LinkedIn: Different, Better, Special Brands

Join Our Community

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Brass Roots CEO Aaron Gailmor joins me today to unveil the Sacha Inchi Seed from Peru and shares the how he and his team keep the brand moving off the shelf.

His Shark Tank experience

That Suit is money!

The Sacha Inchi Seed – functional benefits and the Impact on the Environment

Sourced from Peru and SE Asia, Thailand, and Laos with no irrigation needed! VS Almonds which require massive amounts of water

Retail strategies, Packaging

Footprint – Sprouts nationally and Whole Foods regionally

Whole Food's story is the success story they want to replicate

You have 6-9 month to show growth in sales and gross margin for the store than the bottom 20%

You can sell at full price and discounted  (trial and repurchases)

Getting access to data – setting expectations and goals from the beginning

Best thing you can do retail – get as much real estate as possible – an end cap is the Holy Grail

go to corporate to get “off shelf”

Use brand ambassadors – customers perhaps – samplings at the store and build a relationship with the managers of the category

Field service teams VS ambassadors and can you manage them

Micro-influencers

Get them to do what they love – they will be more engaged naturally and you will retain them

Ideas on advertising – Instagram customer acquisition – but at a certain point, its harder to target your audience.

Top of the funnel – brand awareness in social media

Season 3, Episode 33:

Brass Roots:

• Website

Connect with Aaron

Connect with Tony

About me and my mission and the podcast:

Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to discover unique brands and learn about the people and strategies successful companies are implementing in the CPG and Food and Beverage Industry?  The brands featured here take us into the world of innovation, sustainability, good for you, lifestyle, QSR, Foodservice, Distribution, DTC, Club, and more.

I am a fun-loving business leader, podcaster, husband, dad, cyclist, and Convention of States volunteer in my spare time. My mission is to discover the people and ideas behind these different, better, and special companies. 

Entrepreneurs and CEOs, are you:

Searching for distributor or broker partners? 

Actively prospecting commercial buyers to gain more points of distribution?

Searching for the right person to add to the team?

My Direct Response Marketing Service attracts exactly what you need to help your brand thrive and grow. 

Here is a NOVEL approach to ATTRACT distributors, buyers, and people (DEMO)

Contact me: [email protected]

Follow me on LinkedIn: Different, Better, Special Brands

Join Our Community

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What is upcycling? Why should you support brands in this category?  Millions of tons of food representing countless hours of human labor and "inputs" are wasted each year. Anna Hammond explains the story and operation behind Matriark Foods on Winning at Work today. 

33 million tons of vegetables never make it to the table and millions never make it off the farm

Upcycling vegetable solutions for foodservice channels – Compass, Sodexo, Guggenheimer, Harvest Table, and Vizient

Retail – targeted NE launch with Whole Foods with 3 pasta sauce SKUs

Working with a food manufacturer who is “wasting” and “can’t use” 3 million pounds of tomatoes because they are too big or small or soft or hard.

Disrupting this point in the manufacturing cycle makes the biggest impact because of the inputs

Upcycling misconceptions: upcycling is not recycling

Getting into Wholefoods story

Sampling at store

Loves the hungry teenager

Targeted ads and SEO

Amazon

Misfits

Imperfect

Hive

Use Dirty Hands broker

Build relationships with WF store managers

Season 3, Episode 32:

Matriark Foods:

• Website

Connect with Anna

Connect with Tony

About me and my mission and the podcast:

Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to discover unique brands and learn about the people and strategies successful companies are implementing in the CPG and Food and Beverage Industry?  The brands featured here take us into the world of innovation, sustainability, good for you, lifestyle, QSR, Foodservice, Distribution, DTC, Club, and more.

I am a fun-loving business leader, podcaster, husband, dad, cyclist, and Convention of States volunteer in my spare time. My mission is to discover the people and ideas behind these different, better, and special companies. 

Entrepreneurs and CEOs, are you:

Searching for distributor or broker partners? 

Actively prospecting commercial buyers to gain more points of distribution?

Searching for the right person to add to the team?

My Direct Response Marketing Service attracts exactly what you need to help your brand thrive and grow. 

Here is a NOVEL approach to ATTRACT distributors, buyers, and people (DEMO)

Contact me: [email protected]

Follow me on LinkedIn: Different, Better, Special Brands

Join Our Community

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