Rebranding a Family Business: Meryl Kennedy’s Startup Journey to Retail Success

Meryl Kennedy, CEO of Four Sisters Rice, is reshaping the future of farming with family, sustainability, and purpose. In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, Meryl shares how she transformed her father’s commodity rice operation into a nationally recognized consumer brand—while redefining leadership in a male-dominated industry.

From launching a cutting-edge rice mill at 21 to securing shelf space in Walmart and Kroger, Meryl’s journey is a powerful example of what happens when legacy meets innovation. If you care about female founders, branding, and building a business with heart, this conversation will resonate deeply.

🎙 In this episode:

✅ The moment Walmart told her to change everything

✅ Turning failure into the launch of Four Sisters Rice

✅ What it’s like to run a business with your dad

✅ Delegating to elevate—why every founder needs this mindset

✅ Building a brand rooted in sisterhood, agriculture, and storytelling

👉 Learn more at https://www.4sistersrice.com/

🔗 Connect with Meryl Kennedy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meryl-kennedy-36215b14a/, follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/merylkennedy/, or visit her website at https://www.merylkennedy.com.

#OYL #WomenInAgriculture #FemaleFounders #FamilyBusiness #FourSistersRice #MerylKennedy #OwningYourLegacyPodcast #LauretteRondenet

If you enjoyed the episode please share it with others, and rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about me and how I am Owning My Legacy, you can find me on Instagram @LauretteRondenet and online at lauretterondenet.com.