After a decade of national growth, Big Spoon Roasters made a decision that has the CPG industry talking: they're walking away from Whole Foods, UNFI, and other national grocery chains. But this isn't a story about failure – it's about what happens when a good food brand chooses values over volume.

In this episode of The Good Food CFO podcast, we dive into the pivot that has founders across the industry applauding. Discover why this prestigious nut butter brand is saying goodbye to national distribution despite consistent growth, and how AI-driven pricing systems, automated forecasting, and erroneous chargebacks factored into their decision.

You’ll hear about:

• The hidden costs of "making it" in national grocery

• The moment that made them say "enough"

• How letting go of revenue might lead to higher profits

• What this means for the future of craft food brands

Whether you're a founder dreaming of national distribution or already navigating its challenges, this episode pulls back the curtain on one of the industry's biggest myths: that more stores automatically mean more success.

Get the story straight from Big Spoon Roasters:

A Spoon in the Road: Why We’re Breaking Up with Big Grocery

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When Bill Brinkerhoff and his wife stumbled upon a unique store model during a college drop-off trip, they had no idea it would lead them to transform an abandoned gas station into a revolutionary market that's paid out over $22 million to local farms.

In this episode, discover how Argus Farm Stop flipped the traditional retail model on its head, giving farmers 70% of sales and complete control over pricing, and hear how they navigated legal battles over egg sales (and won!), and why farmers are actually moving TO their county instead of leaving.

From University of Michigan athletes using special cards to buy local produce, to working with state officials to change laws, this conversation reveals how a "crazy experiment" became a blueprint for transforming local food systems across America. Plus, find out the surprising connection between gas station architecture and the perfect farmers market layout.

Whether you're a food entrepreneur, farmer, or someone who cares about building stronger local food systems, this episode shows how rethinking traditional models can create lasting change - and sustainable profits - for small farms.

Connect with Argus:

Website: Argus Farm Stop

Instagram: @argusfarmstop

Facebook: Argus Farm Stop

Learn About the Farm Stop Conference! 

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Ready to dig into some questions that could transform the way you think about your business? In this episode, Sarah and Chelsea share six questions that every founder should ask themselves. They tackle everything from "If we close 100 more deals like this, will we be happy?" to "What's one thing I'm afraid to ask my team, but probably should?"

Through real world examples and their own experiences, they explore how these questions can help you understand what your customers really want, when to kill a project that's not working, and how to spot (and break through!) those tricky revenue ceilings. Plus, they share some super practical tips on creating an open team culture where tough conversations can happen. 

Whether you're evaluating partnerships, trying to understand customer needs better, or looking to build a more transparent team environment, this episode offers insights you can put into action right away.

Original Article:

25 Hard Questions Every Founder Should Ask Themselves

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What’s worse? A $20,000+ legal battle, or having to completely rebrand your CPG company in 30 days? In this eye-opening episode, trademark attorney Nicole Swartz shares how losing her own brand to trademark issues led her to protect over 1,200 brands with a 99.8% success rate. Together with CPG brand strategist Kelly Bennett, they reveal their unique approach combining legal protection with strategic brand growth. Learn exactly when to trademark your brand name, what makes a name trademarkable, and why proper timing can save you tens of thousands in legal fees and rebranding costs. Whether you're testing at farmers markets or preparing for retail launch, this episode delivers crucial guidance for protecting your brand's future. Plus, get the inside scoop on Amazon's trademark requirements and some entertaining celebrity trademark drama.

Connect with Bread & Butter Law!

Website: Bread & Butter

Instagram: @breadandbutterlaw

Instagram: @sproutlaw

Instagram: @withkellybennett

Download their free Trademark checklist!

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Meet Sarah Nathan, founder of Nooish, who transformed traditional Jewish matzo ball soup into an instant comfort food sensation.

On this episode of The Good Food CFO podcast, Nathan shares how her decade of experience in CPG and deep roots in Jewish culinary culture led her to invent freeze-dried matzo balls - a culinary breakthrough that turns an hours-long cooking process into a 2.5-minute preparation. 

Beyond the innovation, she reveals how authenticity in branding and patience during development helped Nooish become a runaway success in the gifting market, particularly resonating with parents sending comfort to college students. Nathan's candid insights about pricing, growth strategy, and building a sustainable business make this episode essential listening for food entrepreneurs looking to create both meaningful products and profitable brands.

Connect with Sarah Nathan: Website: Nooish Instagram: @nooishfoods TikTok: @nooishfoods LinkedIn: nathansarah

Join The Good Food CFO Community: Follow us on Instagram: @thegoodfoodcfo Connect on LinkedIn: @sarahdelevan Watch on YouTube: @thegoodfoodcfo Become a Member: BABOYOT

In this special bonus episode of the Good Food CFO podcast, Sarah Delavan shares a deeply personal moment as she prepares to leave the home office where her consulting business was born seven years ago. From an unexpected job loss that led to her first consulting gig, to launching a podcast that's grown into a thriving community, Sarah reflects on how this single room has witnessed hundreds of conversations with founders across the globe – from Los Angeles to New Zealand.

With characteristic authenticity, she explores the complex emotions of being simultaneously grateful for a space while yearning for something different, a feeling many founders might relate to. As she prepares for this next chapter, Sarah shares how this unexpected journey has transformed not just her career, but her understanding of building something meaningful.

Join us for this intimate look behind the scenes as we bid farewell to where it all began.

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In this must-listen season finale, Sarah Delevan flips the script on typical year-end planning by exploring why looking back is crucial before looking ahead. Inspired by an Office Hours member's approach to evaluating progress, Sarah reveals how understanding your past performance in context can transform your decision-making. She challenges the "bigger is better" mindset, explaining why sometimes declining revenue in certain channels can actually signal success. Through real-world examples, Sarah demonstrates how to conduct an effective year-end review - from analyzing specific metrics that matter for your unique goals to understanding why some goals weren't achieved (and why that's okay). 

Whether you're closing out a banner year or facing challenges, this episode offers practical insights for conducting your own year-end review and using those insights to chart a meaningful path forward. 

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From accidental entrepreneur to confident business owner: Sydney, founder of French Squirrel, reveals how she transformed her healthy snack company by confronting hard truths about pricing and profitability. 

After years of underpricing her premium date-based treats and struggling with razor-thin margins, Sydney shares the pivotal mindset shifts that helped her raise prices, say "no" to unprofitable opportunities, and put her business health first. She candidly discusses overcoming people-pleasing tendencies, learning to be transparent with retailers about costs, and finding manufacturing partners who believe in her vision. 

This eye-opening conversation challenges common assumptions about food business margins and scale, offering valuable lessons for founders about sustainable growth. Sydney's journey proves that understanding your numbers and staying true to your risk tolerance can lead to better business decisions – and sometimes even increased sales after raising prices.

Connect with French Squirrel

Website: French Squirrel

Instagram: @frenchsquirrel.co and @sydney_kw 

Tiktok: @frenchsquirrel.co 

LinkedIn: Sydney Karmes-Wainer

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In this value-packed episode of The Good Food CFO podcast, we tackle three critical business questions asked by our BABOYOT Members.  First, we reveal why your cash flow tools might not be delivering results (hint: it's probably not the tool's fault!). Then, we dive into a step-by-step guide for analyzing customer profitability – essential knowledge for any business owner wondering if their biggest customers are actually their most profitable. Finally, we explore how to evaluate new retail opportunities, from local collectives to e-commerce platforms, breaking down the real costs and considerations before making commitments. 

Plus, we’re announcing our latest Book Club Selection! 

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This week on The Good Food CFO podcast, we explore financial benchmarks for CPG brands, emphasizing that many common questions about business finances often lead to the answer 'it depends.'  

Sarah discusses the importance of understanding individual business contexts rather than relying solely on industry standards, challenges prevalent beliefs in the food industry such as the notion that founders must sell their businesses to achieve financial success, and encourages founders to create unique business models that align with their values and goals, and breaks free from conventional expectations.

From Our News Segment:

Lexington Bakes Taking Transparency to the Next Level

Join The Good Food CFO Community: 

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