The Good Food CFO Podcast
Food Industry Finances are unique, and no one understands them better than The Good Food CFO.
New Episodes Weekly
Enhancing Productivity and Collaboration in CPG Operations
CPG Operations Expert, Jessi Freitag shares how to use CPG Automation, file management and other tools to enhance productivity, improve culture and do more of what you love.
Episode 117 :: Cash Flow vs Profitability: Which is Most Important for Your Food Business?
In this episode, Sarah is joined by John Haskell, CFO Consultant and owner of Ranch Right, LLC. John has over 20 years of experience helping ranches become more profitable, starting new ranch businesses, and turning around failing ranches. Together, they are shedding light on the common causes of failure in business, and answering the question: Is it more important to have positive cash flow in your food business, or to be profitable?
Episode 114 :: Co-Ops: How Transitioning to Employee Ownership Creates a More Equitable Food System, Solidifies Community Ties, and Builds a Legacy for Your Food Business
In this episode, Sarah welcomes a panel of leaders to explore the real-life experiences and benefits of transitioning to employee ownership and cooperative business structures.
Stacey Smith from Project Equity explains the different models like ESOPs, EOTs, and worker cooperatives, emphasizing their role in economic stability and community retention. Devra Gartenstein, founder of Patty Pan Cooperative, shares her journey of converting her food business into a worker cooperative to improve employee quality of life. And Monica Rocchino discusses her experience transitioning The Local Butcher Shop to a cooperative, highlighting the importance of financial literacy and structured management.
Episode 111 :: Can Generative AI be a Game-Changer for Your Food Business? A Candid Conversation with Meg Faibisch Kuhn of Aioli
In this episode, Sarah welcomes Meg Faibisch Kuhn, an expert in AI, to discuss the applications of generative AI in your food business. Meg is the founder of Aioli, an AI education and consultancy firm specializing in helping founders understand, learn, and apply AI in their work.
Episode 107 :: Real Talk with Peter Gialantzis from Pod Foods: The Boomerang Effect of Transparent Distribution
In this episode, Sarah is joined by Peter Gialantzis, CMO of Pod Foods, as they explore the difficulties that emerging food brands face in national distribution. Peter is a 25-year veteran of the Grocery industry, with senior leadership roles at Whole Foods Market, Lucky’s Market, and KeHE Distributors prior to joining Pod Foods. His passion for food has led him to dedicate his career to opening accessibility to good, healthy foods to as many markets as possible.
Episode 106 :: Stop Losing Money on Online Marketing: Advice for Finding the Right Partner and Strategy with Ali Cox
In this episode, Sarah Delevan, The Good Food CFO and Ali Cox, CEO of Noble West, explore the challenges of achieving a return on investment and the importance of understanding consumer insights and brand identity. Ali stresses the significance of setting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and aligning them with business goals. They also highlight the necessity of transparent reporting from marketing agencies and the value of establishing a partnership rather than a transactional relationship with these agencies.
Episode 103 :: The Realities of Investment and Good Food Business: A Candid Conversation with Melissa Facchina About Finding the Right Investor and Navigating Expectations
In this episode, Sarah Delevan is joined by Melissa Facchina, Co-Founder & Co-Managing Partner of Siddhi Capital. They discuss the evolution of funding in the food industry. The investment world is tricky, and Melissa didn't shy away from discussing the pressures and expectations that come with it. They dove into the importance of picking the right investors and staying true to your business's core values, especially in today's capital-constrained environment. She emphasized the need for practicality and sound business fundamentals amidst investor pressure for growth.
Episode 101 :: Holistic Brand Strategy: The Exponential Value of Understanding and Addressing Diverse Consumer Needs with Kathy Guzmán Galloway
In this episode, Sarah is joined by brand strategist Kathy Guzmán Galloway. Kathy shows us that success doesn't necessarily mean creating a product for every niche, but rather making strategic decisions informed by a deep understanding of consumer behavior and preferences.
Episode 99 :: Errol Schweizer: An Insider Look at the Grocery Industry, the Policies and Profits Moving it in the Wrong Direction, and the Financial Impacts on Good Food Brands
In this episode, Errol Schweizer joins Sarah Delevan, The Good Food CFO, for a lively discussion covering everything from how grocery stores make money to the lack of policy enforcement that continues to hurt small food brands looking to find space on the shelf.