Join Food Industry Finance Expert Sarah Delevan as she breaks down the need-to-know financial concepts for running a profitable food business, shares case studies and lessons from around the food industry, and highlights the many different ways to build a successful food business on your own terms through conversations with founders and industry experts.
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Mira D'Souza started a food business called Queen Pickle that makes Indian style pickle from North American fruits and veggies. This short-form podcast explores her journey, and geeks out about the tradition, science, and yumminess of Indian style pickle.
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BABOYOT with Hope Lawrence of Hudson Henry Baking Co.: Building and Selling a Million Dollar Brand
1:03:32
1:03:32
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1:03:32In this episode of the Good Food CFO Podcast, Sarah Delavan sits down with Hope Lawrence, founder of Hudson Henry Baking Co., who shares her remarkable journey of building a profitable granola business on her own terms. From starting with just $4,000 in her farmhouse kitchen to reaching $1.25M in annual revenue, Hope's story proves that sustainable…
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Pivot Tables: A Secret Weapon for Food Business Profitability
53:31
53:31
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53:31In this episode, Sarah is sharing her favorite tool for quickly and easily transforming your basic data into actionable business intelligence - Pivot Tables. From helping you recognize sales patterns and trends, to identifying issues and opportunities, and seeing your customer and sales channel profitability, pivot tables are truly a secret weapon …
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Values over Volume: Why Big Spoon Roasters is Breaking up with Big Grocery
28:51
28:51
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28:51After 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 di…
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Revolutionizing Local Food: The Story of Argus Farm Stop
54:57
54:57
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54:57When 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, g…
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6 Strategic Questions to Drive Personal & Business Growth
50:11
50:11
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50:11Ready 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?" Thro…
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The $20,000 Mistake: What CPG Founders Need to Know About Branding & Trademarks
55:08
55:08
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55:08What’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 uniq…
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BABOYOT with Sarah Nathan of Nooish: How an Industry Veteran Created a Buzz-Worthy and Profitable Product
52:50
52:50
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52:50Meet 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 …
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Grateful & Growing: Saying Goodbye to Where This All Began
13:30
13:30
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13:30In 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 …
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A Fresh Take on Planning for the New Year: Why Looking Back is the Secret to Moving Forward
47:43
47:43
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47:43In 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 "b…
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BABOYOT with Sydney Karmes-Wainer of French Squirrel: Lessons in Pricing, Negotiations and Sustainable Growth
1:07:22
1:07:22
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1:07:22From 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 tha…
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Answering Listener Questions: Customer Profitability Analysis, Cash Flow Management, and Bubble Goods
49:56
49:56
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49:56In 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…
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Breaking Free from the Food Industry Playbook: How to Stop Comparing and Start Customizing
42:17
42:17
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42:17This 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 t…
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BABOYOT with Keesha of Live Loud Foods: Building a Bold and Authentic Brand
1:09:47
1:09:47
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1:09:47In this BABOYOT episode of The Good Food CFO podcast Sarah chats with Keesha, the vibrant founder of Live Loud Foods, a brand that’s redefining the nut market with bold, unique flavors. Keesha shares her fascinating journey from information systems engineer to culinary entrepreneur, highlighting the challenges of launching a food business, includin…
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Why Doesn’t My Model Match Reality? How to Know and What to do When Your Model isn’t Working
1:02:03
1:02:03
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1:02:03Financial Modeling helps build financially successful businesses. But what if your model doesn’t match reality?! Sarah and Producer Chelsea are discussing the importance of regularly comparing your models to your actual business outcomes, how to identify if your model doesn’t match reality (because as you’ll hear it is not always obvious!) and, of …
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Sarah’s Take: What the Siete Acquisition Says About Our Food Industry
33:18
33:18
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33:18Stay Connected! Instagram: @TheGoodFoodCFOYouTube: @thegoodfoodcfo Join us in The Good Food CFO Community There were a lot of “hot takes” on the recent PepsiCo acquisition of Siete Foods, a popular brand known for its grain-free tortillas and snacks. In this episode, Sarah offers her nuanced perspective, explores the reactions from various groups, …
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Old School Meets New Tools: How to Use CPG Automation to Do More of What You Love with Jessi Freitag
1:17:24
1:17:24
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1:17:24What advice would you get from a CPG Operations Expert that believes in building a business on your own terms (BABOYOT), and enhancing productivity to do more of what you love, rather than simply doing more? Sarah invited CPG Operational Expert, Jessi Freitag to the show to find out. Jessi is an operations and project management consultant helping …
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How to reduce risk in your CPG business with 3 Financial Models
1:08:52
1:08:52
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1:08:52Is it possible to de-risk your CPG business? We’re exploring three financial models that every founder should use to make smarter decisions and mitigate business risks. Discover how a Pricing Model can align production costs with market expectations and reveal hidden margin opportunities, and dive into the practical application of the Good Food CFO…
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BABOYOT with The Fishtown Pickle Project
1:12:11
1:12:11
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1:12:11Sarah chats with the Founders of The Fishtown Pickle Project about how their pickles went from wedding favors to the shelves of major retailers. Niki and Mike share their entrepreneurial journey and the strategic decisions that propelled their business forward, as well as the important role that staying true to their values, and taking an innovativ…
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BABOYOT with Kait of Savorista: How Shipping and Subscriptions Can Make or Break Profitability
1:12:43
1:12:43
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1:12:43The Holiday shopping season is getting closer, and with it comes some of the biggest opportunities to generate revenue! But higher sales don’t automatically equal higher profits in your business. In this episode, we kick things off with a Holiday primer to get you ready for the last quarter of 2024. Sarah shares what you should consider, analyze an…
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The Profit Assessment: How One Founder Doubled Their Monthly Profitability, and the Steps You Can Take To Do the Same
1:01:18
1:01:18
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1:01:18"Increasing sales is not the solution to profitability." Sarah recently shared on Social Media that one of her clients increased their July profit - year over year - from $19,000 to over $43,000. It got lots of hearts and clap emojis, and one reply that said “this is so inspiring - how did they do it?” In this episode, Sarah shares all of the detai…
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Cash Flow vs Profitability: Which is Most Important for Your Food Business?
1:21:11
1:21:11
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1:21:11"Things can look really good from the outside and your business can be failing." 20% of businesses fail in their first year, 30% by their 2nd year, and an additional 50% fail in year three. 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…
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BABOYOT with Sara Hauman of The Tiny Fish Co: How a Top Chef is Prioritizing Financial Security and Her Commitment to Sustainability Over Growth
1:02:34
1:02:34
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1:02:34As a Good Food Founder, you will face many challenges as you work to grow your business. Staying true to your mission and vision is essential to being grounded in that work. In this episode, Sarah is joined by Sara Hauman, Founder of The Tiny Fish Co. to discuss her vision for bringing the same values of sustainability and quality she stands by in …
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3 (more) Things Food Founders Should Never Do: Listening to Bad Advice, Data-Sync Chaos, and COGS Miscalculations
46:36
46:36
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46:36It often seems like there are more people offering business advice than those actually running businesses! As a Food Founder, it can be overwhelming to sift through all that guidance and find what truly works for YOUR business. In this episode, Sarah shares another set of crucial "Never Do's" for Good Food founders and business owners. This list ai…
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Co-Ops: How Transitioning to Employee Ownership Creates a More Equitable Food System, Solidifies Community Ties, and Builds a Legacy for Your Food Business
1:05:32
1:05:32
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1:05:32Transitioning to a cooperative structure isn’t just a trend; it’s a transformative journey. 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, …
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BABOYOT with Emily Winston of Boichik Bagels: Navigating Growth and Expansion from a Single Location to a Bagel Empire
1:07:49
1:07:49
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1:07:49Growth isn’t always linear. From opening new locations to driving retail sales, the story of Boichik Bagels offers valuable lessons for food founders on their own path to building a successful business. In this episode, Sarah welcomes back Emily Winston, Founder and CEO of Boichik Bagels, to discuss the growth and expansion of her business. Emily o…
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The Hidden Benefits of Bill Pay Systems: Clear Your Inbox, Eliminate Tasks, and Get Back to Building Your Business
1:04:22
1:04:22
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1:04:22Uncover the many advantages of bill pay systems for a more efficient and organized operation! In this episode, Sarah Delavan and producer Chelsea Stier dive into the topic of Bill Pay Systems and the financial workflows of food businesses. Along with learning about the primary functions and benefits of bill pay systems, you’ll hear how they can be …
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Can Generative AI be a Game-Changer for Your Food Business? A Candid Conversation with Meg Faibisch Kuhn of Aioli
59:27
59:27
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59:27How can cutting-edge technology like generative AI benefit Good Food Founders? What opportunities and challenges might arise from incorporating AI into your business operations? 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 e…
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BABOYOT with Taste of Pace: The Journey From High End Catering to the Sale of a Fried Chicken Franchise
1:10:13
1:10:13
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1:10:13From starting small and leveraging diverse experiences to embracing challenges and making strategic decisions, this story is a testament to the power of resilience and adaptability. In this episode, Sarah is joined by entrepreneurs Pace Webb and Chris Georgalas as they share their journey in the food industry. They discuss their backgrounds, the fo…
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BABOYOT with Lauren Montgomery of Monty’s: A Story of Recalibration, Patience and Growth
1:00:43
1:00:43
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1:00:43Trusting in the process can be the hardest and most rewarding thing you can do for your Good Food business. In this episode, Sarah is joined by Lauren Montgomery, the founder of Monty’s, to discuss the intricacies of building a sustainable food brand. Lauren's journey from a deep passion for nutrition to creating the cleanest ingredient cashew crea…
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Ask The Good Food CFO: How to Establish a Marketing Budget, Tips for Increasing Margin, and Clarifying Debt vs. Equity Funding
55:32
55:32
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55:32You’ve got questions The Good Food CFO has answers! In this episode, Sarah Delevan, The Good Food CFO is answering financial and business questions submitted by our BABOYOT members, and offering live coaching to member Chris Gilmour, Co-Founder of Wild Muskoka Botanicals. Sarah answers: What is the difference between Debt and Equity funding? I know…
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Real Talk with Peter Gialantzis from Pod Foods: The Boomerang Effect of Transparent Distribution
1:02:47
1:02:47
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1:02:47Navigating the distribution maze is no small feat for emerging brands. Join us in peeling back the layers of this complex process, examining the limitations when partnering with large distributors and the dire need for alternatives. In this episode, Sarah is joined by Peter Gialantzis, CMO of Pod Foods, as they explore the difficulties that emergin…
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Stop Losing Money on Online Marketing: Advice for Finding the Right Partner and Strategy with Ali Cox
1:02:34
1:02:34
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1:02:34There is a lot to consider when it comes to online marketing: Are you confident in choosing the right platforms to reach your consumer base? How do you incorporate consumer preferences into your marketing strategies? How can you measure the success of your marketing efforts? In this podcast episode, Sarahis joined by Ali Cox, CEO of Noble West, …
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The Rise and Fall of Foxtrot: Lessons on Funding, Expansion and Cash Management
47:48
47:48
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47:48Ever wondered how a promising startup can suddenly falter? Sometimes, growth isn't just about expanding - it's about evolving. In this episode, Sarah and Chelsea delve into the story of Foxtrot - the convenience store delivery business that soared with ambition but faced the stark reality of rapid expansion. Founded in 2015, Foxtrot's initial succe…
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BABOYOT with Jeff Wiguna of Kuju Coffee: How a Clear Vision, Consistency & Patience Lead to Success
58:29
58:29
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58:29This is a testament to the power of building a business on your own terms. When you focus on YOUR vision, the health of your business and brand loyalty, and have the patience to see those seeds blossom, there is no limit to what you can achieve. In this episode, Sarah welcomes Jeff Wiguna to the show. Jeff is the co-founder and CEO of Kuju Coffee, …
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The Realities of Investment and Good Food Business: A Candid Conversation with Melissa Facchina About Finding the Right Investor and Navigating Expectations
51:22
51:22
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51:22For a Good Food Business there are many paths to success, and for some that path may include outside investment. But today’s Venture Capital landscape can be difficult to navigate, with high expectations for returns, investors that don’t quite understand your business, and the overall slow down of venture funding in the last year. In this episode, …
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3 Things Food Founders Should Never Do: Advice for Avoiding Banking Issues, Preventing Bookkeeping Headaches, and Ensuring Accurate Financials
42:03
42:03
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42:03Ever encountered challenges with syncing apps to accounting software or using online-only banks? You are not alone! In this episode, I’m sharing the financial "never do's" - things that founders should be wary of, and the cautionary tales from my experience as a CFO consultant that I believe are crucial for any business owner to heed. Chelsea and I…
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Holistic Brand Strategy: The Exponential Value of Understanding and Addressing Diverse Consumer Needs with Kathy Guzmán Galloway
48:32
48:32
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48:32Inclusivity isn't just a buzzword – it's a strategic imperative. Our population is growing more diverse by the day, and businesses must evolve to meet the changing demographics. 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 rat…
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Exploring Product Margins: An In-Depth Examination of how 3 Different Margins Impact Your Need to Take on Debt
1:05:30
1:05:30
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1:05:30You’ve probably heard The Good Food CFO say “50% is not good for your food business!” Well today, we’re diving into what that really means. In this episode, Sarah walks Chelsea through the nuances of profit margin, specifically challenging the commonly accepted 50% target in the food industry. She shows that this one-size-fits-all approach doesn't …
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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
59:47
59:47
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59:47Errol Schweizer has over 25 years of experience in the food industry and was V.P. of Grocery for Whole Foods from 2009-2016. His team grew sales to over US$5 Billion by supporting the launch and commercialization of thousands of new products, many of which are now household names. He has developed plant-based, Organic, Non-GMO and regenerative supp…
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Clarifying COGS: The Only Calculation You Need, the Industry “Rules” to Break, and the Financial Impact They Create
40:07
40:07
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40:07In this episode, The Good Food CFO, Sarah Delevan breaks down the concept of cost of goods sold (COGS) and its importance in understanding the financial health of your business. We explore the differences between accrual-based accounting and cash-based accounting, and how each method affects the calculation of COGS. We also clarify the distinction …
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Improving the Profitability of Farmers’ Markets with Peter Henry
50:31
50:31
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50:31Most Good Food Businesses start out selling their products at the local farmers’ market. Many continue to utilize markets as a consistent sales channel for their business as they grow. But at the end of the day, transporting your goods, setting up your tent or booth, and working all day, just to break it all down and load out can be a lot for any o…
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Every business needs to understand their cash flow, ESPECIALLY if you don't have a lot of cash on hand, or a 12 week cash runway. You won’t find the answers looking at your P+L statement. That shows the operational profitability of your business and it's looking at your business in the past. A cash flow projection is looking to the future. In this …
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Burnout. Could building a business on your own terms be the solution?
50:49
50:49
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50:49When you are running your own business, it's never a question of if burnout will come, but when. Every founder has been there, and there are some telltale signs you might be going through it right now. But what if you could slow down, take a pause, and reflect on what is really important to you, in business, and in life? That’s what our guests, Eli…
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A million dollar deal can be a game changer for most small businesses, but it could also be a financial burden, and not a benefit at all if the product pricing and the deal aren't structured correctly. In this episode, Sarah is sharing the role she played in the negotiations between her client and a distributor that could result in $1 Million in th…
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Launching with Confidence with Jason McAlpin
56:37
56:37
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56:37Are you getting ready to launch a new business? Or maybe you're preparing to launch a new product, or considering launching into a new sales channel? You don’t want to miss this episode! Jason McAlpin is the Founder and CEO of daio – a better sparkling water that combines incredible flavor with functional ingredients. The brand is set to launch in …
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We’re back with another selection for The Good Food CFO Book Club! The Great Game of Business written by Jack Stack and Bo Burlingham, is a documentation and story telling of how SRC Holdings Corporation was approaching business differently. SRC wasn’t run in the traditional top-down way most other companies are. They practiced what Jack calls “Ope…
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Celebrating the Life & Legacy of Bryce Fluellen
1:12:31
1:12:31
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1:12:31In this episode we are celebrating the life of a hugely influential member of the food industry, Bryce Fluellen. Sarah had the honor of sitting down with Bryce at the end of 2023. Unfortunately, the world lost Bryce in early 2024. We hope that this interview tells his story and preserves his legacy as a Servant leader for so many in this industry, …
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You Can’t Scale Your Food Business Like a Tech Company
41:52
41:52
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41:52Scaling promises to bring not just more revenue, but more profit, more cash flow, and a sense of ease in doing business. And it seems every business owner is eager to get there. In this season opener, we are answering the #1 question we get asked inside The Good Food CFO Community - “How do I scale my business?” You’ll hear Sarah breakdown: The dif…
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Breaking Down the Price vs Margin Conundrum
33:05
33:05
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33:05Profitability is the goal of every business. But at times it can feel like you are doing everything right, everything traditional business media says that you should be, and yet your business is still running out of cash. In this episode, Sarah breaks down a different way of thinking about your finances and improving your cash flow and profitabilit…
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Managing Trade Spend at Any Size with Nikki McNeil
49:00
49:00
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49:00Nikki McNeil is a Co-Founder at Vividly, a trade spend management software which aims to deliver clear value through efficiencies when analyzing trade spend dollars. Whether you’re a founder managing trade spend for one partner or hundreds, having the right system in place can ensure you stay on budget and receive proper payment from all of your di…
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