Market research can make a huge difference in your product offering and launch strategy, but bad data can be worse than no data at all according to my guest, Lara Fordis.

In this episode, Lara returns to discuss how market research has evolved in the CPG industry over the past four years, particularly with the emergence of AI tools that have made research both more accessible and potentially misleading. Lara shares insights on how entrepreneurs can properly validate their product ideas beyond the "echo chamber" of friends and family, highlighting the importance of getting feedback from representative target audiences who will actually pay for your product. We learn about the benefits of in-home use testing (IHUT), how to avoid common survey pitfalls like double-barreled questions, and why understanding your product's unique differentiation is crucial for success.

Whether you're launching a new food product or scaling your existing brand, this conversation provides valuable perspectives on gathering meaningful consumer insights that can save you from costly mistakes and help you develop a viable market proposition.

Find out more info about Lara's work and new course at http://fordisconsulting.com or email her at lara@fordisconsulting.com

Stop the endless research and overwhelm! Know exactly what each sales channel looks like for success and create a roadmap for your unique business - it's all inside the Sales Channel Challenge https://www.foodbizsuccess.com/challenge

When you are ready to make the leap, get the support and accountability you need to create a beautiful business!

• Get Food Business Success to launch and scale to $100K guaranteed
• Scale your existing business to $300K in 2025 with the financial and operational foundations and become the CEO of your biz in Master Your Business

Pick up your copy of "Key Ingredients" on Amazon here.

Check out my YouTube channel at www.foodbiz.tube for how to videos to start and grow a packaged food business.

Do you dream of quitting your job and running your business full time? Sure, you can do the "quit and figure it out" approach that leads many founders to burnout or failure OR I'll share what has worked best for my clients and Fuel members to start a business while working full time and then to transition out of the your 9-5.

Whether you're just starting your food business journey or already juggling a side hustle with your day job, this episode provides the roadmap to intentionally build your exit strategy.

Stop the endless research and overwhelm! Know exactly what each sales channel looks like for success and create a roadmap for your unique business - it's all inside the Sales Channel Challenge https://www.foodbizsuccess.com/challenge

When you are ready to make the leap, get the support and accountability you need to create a beautiful business!

• Get Food Business Success to launch and scale to $100K guaranteed
• Scale your existing business to $300K in 2025 with the financial and operational foundations and become the CEO of your biz in Master Your Business

Pick up your copy of "Key Ingredients" on Amazon here.

Check out my YouTube channel at www.foodbiz.tube for how to videos to start and grow a packaged food business.

If you've ever laid awake worrying about getting someone sick from your product or if you are doing things correctly to not be sued, this episode is for you.

I sat down with my go-to food safety expert Scott Roi, and he makes this “unsexy” topic feel doable and even empowering.

We break down what you actually need to be food safety compliant at different stages of business and you might be surprised at what you do, or don't need.

Whether you're at farmers markets, selling nationally online, or about to pitch to Whole Foods, this is the episode to keep in your toolkit.

Hit play, take notes, and let’s make food safety one less thing keeping you up at night. If you need Scott's services, email him at scott@fss-llc.com and be sure to tell him you heard our interview on Food Business success!

PS - Scott is our Fuel VIP guest in May - if you've been on the fence about joining a program from Food Business Success, now is the time to get inside!

Launch & Grow to get to $100K

Master Your Business to become a CEO and scale to $300K

Stop the endless research and overwhelm! Know exactly what each sales channel looks like for success and create a roadmap for your unique business - join me in the Sales Channel Challenge - 3 days April 15, 16 and 17. Reserve your space for just $27 at https://www.foodbizsuccess.com/challenge

MAKE A BIG LEAP THIS YEAR! Commit to the support and accountability you need to create a beautiful business!

• Get Food Business Success to launch and scale to $100K guaranteed
• Scale your existing business to $300K in 2025 with the financial and operational foundations and become the CEO of your biz in Master Your Business

Pick up your copy of "Key Ingredients" on Amazon here.

Check out my YouTube channel at www.foodbiz.tube for how to videos to start and grow a packaged food business.

I'm pulling back the curtain on the three biggest mistakes that cause early-stage food entrepreneurs to struggle and often fail. Drawing from my experience over 7+ years helping hundreds of food businesses launch and scale, I give you an honest look at why so many passionate food makers hit roadblocks despite having amazingly delicious products.

You'll discover why listening to everyone's conflicting opinions leads to confusion rather than clarity, how spreading yourself too thin across multiple sales channels sabotages your momentum, and the surprising cost of operating without a proper long-term plan or budget. More importantly, I share practical solutions for each of these pitfalls, including how to filter advice, strategically choose your sales channels, and create a vision-driven plan that actually works.

Whether you're still in the dreaming phase or already knee-deep in your food business journey, this episode delivers the tough love and actionable strategies you need to avoid common traps and set your business up for sustainable success. Don't miss this essential guide to navigating the early stages of your food business with confidence!

Stop the endless research and overwhelm! Know exactly what each sales channel looks like for success and create a roadmap for your unique business - it's all inside the Sales Channel Challenge https://www.foodbizsuccess.com/challenge

When you are ready to make the leap, get the support and accountability you need to create a beautiful business!

• Get Food Business Success to launch and scale to $100K guaranteed
• Scale your existing business to $300K in 2025 with the financial and operational foundations and become the CEO of your biz in Master Your Business

Pick up your copy of "Key Ingredients" on Amazon here.

Check out my YouTube channel at www.foodbiz.tube for how to videos to start and grow a packaged food business.

Someone has probably told you to "just run ads" or "get on TikTok Shop" if you have an ecommerce business, and they're not wrong, but...

There is a time and place for each of these strategies depending on the size and stage of your business. When done at the wrong stage it is a waste of time and money - two things busy entrepreneurs don't have a lot of.

My guest on today's podcast is Ari Gordon of Like and Likes, an agency that manages CPG digital strategies to boost sales online.

I love that Ari did it himself first as a brand founder of Hone and is now helping other brands choose and execute the right strategy at the right time for their business.

Stop the endless research and overwhelm! Know exactly what each sales channel looks like for success and create a roadmap for your unique business - join me in the Sales Channel Challenge - 3 days April 15, 16 and 17. Reserve your space for just $27 at https://www.foodbizsuccess.com/challenge

MAKE A BIG LEAP THIS YEAR! Commit to the support and accountability you need to create a beautiful business!

• Get Food Business Success to launch and scale to $100K guaranteed
• Scale your existing business to $300K in 2025 with the financial and operational foundations and become the CEO of your biz in Master Your Business

Pick up your copy of "Key Ingredients" on Amazon here.

Check out my YouTube channel at www.foodbiz.tube for how to videos to start and grow a packaged food business.

How do you feel after talking with with someone or listenening to a podcast or scrolling on social media? It's interesting to note any changes in your mood or energy after engaging with different people and influences.

Who and what you surround yourself with will either slow you down—or help you soar.

In this week’s podcast, I’m diving into why your environment matters so much as an entrepreneur and how it directly impacts your mindset, your habits, and your success. Whether it’s the people you spend time with, the content you consume, or even the physical spaces you work in—it's time to take inventory.

Tune in and let this episode be your reminder that you’re not meant to do this alone, but who (and what) you allow into your circle of influence is up to you.

Stop the endless research and overwhelm! Know exactly what each sales channel looks like for success and create a roadmap for your unique business - join me in the Sales Channel Challenge - 3 days April 15, 16 and 17. Reserve your space for just $27 at https://www.foodbizsuccess.com/challenge

MAKE A BIG LEAP THIS YEAR! Commit to the support and accountability you need to create a beautiful business!

• Get Food Business Success to launch and scale to $100K guaranteed
• Scale your existing business to $300K in 2025 with the financial and operational foundations and become the CEO of your biz in Master Your Business

Pick up your copy of "Key Ingredients" on Amazon here.

Check out my YouTube channel at www.foodbiz.tube for how to videos to start and grow a packaged food business.

A lot of founders I work with are inspired to finally start their business - if others can do it, so can they!

I was SO excited when Chennelle and Justin, co-founders of GoodLove Foods called to me they were going to be on Shark Tank.

I had to sit down with them for the podcast and hear about this epic experience, what led up to making this decision, and what they are doing now that the episode has aired (and spoiler alert - they made a deal).

The end of 2023 and 2024 was a breakthrough 13 months that started going viral on Instagram with the help of Kayla King and then having to scale up FAST to meet the onslaught of orders - a good problem to have, but still a problem.

You can listen to other milestones in Chennelle's journey on episodes 72 and 135 of the podast too.

These co-founders and life partners are full steam ahead on their 10X goal to be the go-to GF frozen bakery products on retail shelves and beyond. Don't miss this episode!

Want to get the secrets to going viral and ramping up orders on social media? Get the course Kayla King created just for CPG small businesses for 20% off! Use code GOODLOVE20 at http://socialwithkayla.com

Stop the endless research and overwhelm! Know exactly what each sales channel looks like for success and create a roadmap for your unique business - join me in the Sales Channel Challenge - 3 days April 15, 16 and 17. Reserve your space for just $27 at https://www.foodbizsuccess.com/challenge

MAKE A BIG LEAP THIS YEAR! Commit to the support and accountability you need to create a beautiful business!

• Get Food Business Success to launch and scale to $100K guaranteed
• Scale your existing business to $300K in 2025 with the financial and operational foundations and become the CEO of your biz in Master Your Business

Pick up your copy of "Key Ingredients" on Amazon here.

Check out my YouTube channel at www.foodbiz.tube for how to videos to start and grow a packaged food business.

It's trade show season with the biggest one of the year, ExpoWest, wrapping up this week. Whether you are walking the floor of regional shows, distributor shows or buyer shows like Fancy Food or Expo, it can be overwhelming at best and deflating at worst.

I've seen founders come back from shows feeling hopeless caught in compare and despair or a "how will I ever succeed with all the other brands out there" mindset.

Trade shows, or event big farmers markets, can be used for good to help uplift and inspire you and help you feel more determined that you can be successful than ever, if you follow what I prescribe in today's podcast.

Stop the endless research and overwhelm! Know exactly what each sales channel looks like for success and create a roadmap for your unique business - join me in the Sales Channel Challenge - 3 days April 15, 16 and 17. Reserve your space for just $27 at https://www.foodbizsuccess.com/challenge

MAKE A BIG LEAP THIS YEAR! Commit to the support and accountability you need to create a beautiful business!

• Get Food Business Success to launch and scale to $100K guaranteed
• Scale your existing business to $300K in 2025 with the financial and operational foundations and become the CEO of your biz in Master Your Business

Pick up your copy of "Key Ingredients" on Amazon here.

Check out my YouTube channel at www.foodbiz.tube for how to videos to start and grow a packaged food business.