Food Business Success® with Sari Kimbell

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...

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...

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 di...

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 ma...

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" minds...

Ever wonder why your email to a buyer, influencer, or supplier fell flat? Or why customers aren't responding to your carefully crafted message at events or in their inbox?

The secret lies in understanding that communication isn't just what you say—it's a four-part cycle that has a huge influence on whether you'll get the results you want (and we always want a results - that's the whole purpose of communicati...

Markets, pop-ups and in person events are a sales channel that Danny and I both love and on today's podcast we discuss why we love them so much, how to get into the events and markets you really want and how to make more money per minute once you are there. 

Plus, I give you a bonus tip on what you can be doing right now to get ready to hire and train well, so someday you don't have to attend the market (by choice or becau...

Are you spending hours (or days!) dwelling on things that didn't go as planned in your business? In this episode, I break down Mel Robbins' powerful Let Them Theory and how to apply it specifically to common setbacks in the packaged food industry. 

Learn how to handle everything from market rejections to late deliveries to competitive pressures with this simple but transformative two-part approach. You'll discover how...

If grocery store retail is part of your success strategy, then you don't want to miss today's podcast episode. My guest is Lisa Thorson, founder of Run The Numbers, who has 14 years of experience in the natural food industry including brokering brands into big retailers like Sprouts and Safeway.

We’re diving deep into the numbers—COGS, contribution margin, trade spend, and all the key factors you need to understand to succ...

Do you think of SELL as a bad, four-letter word? If you struggle to sell without feeling pushy or salesy, you're not alone—I see it plague many of the founders I work with.  

You launch our great product and then avoid selling because of the fear of rejection, imposter syndrome, or discomfort around "taking" money. 

But selling is not about taking—it's about offering value, creating connections, and building trust...

This industry has A LOT of acronyms from 3PL to BOL to LTL and other terms like "kitting". In this episode, you are going to learn all of these things and more so you feel more confident in the area of logistics and fulfillment. 

My guest is Caitlin Wilson, founder of Full Good Fulfillment, who is on a mission to help brands simplify the journey from finished product to scalable delivery operations. 

We’re diving into what ...

Are you stuck waiting for the "perfect moment" to work on your food business? In this episode I reveals why so many food entrepreneurs fall into the trap of waiting for inspiration to strike, leading to inconsistent progress and frustration. Drawing from the concept of "blue collar work ethic," I explain explains why treating your business like a real job - could be the breakthrough you need.

Learn why traditiona...

The path to success in the CPG world is paved with tons of boring administrative work that I know you never imagined when you started a business!

In today's podcast episode I talk with Tal Garden, founder of Tal’s Mediterranean who solved her own problem of delegating the paperwork, phone calls and other things she didn't like to a virtual assistant (VA). 

After creating a foundation for her VA to help...

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 Succes...

When you think about the future - 12 months from now or 10 years from now - do you see a stranger? Most of us think of our future selves like a stranger and often do things in the present that we would never do to a friend or loved one. There are a lot of hidden costs including postponing or never achieving your dream of a successful food business!

One resolution I encourage you to make as we step into a new year is to bef...

I know how entrepreneurs think (because I'm one too!) - you make a list of all the BIG things you are going to do in the year and are super excited to get going. In a flurry of excitement you start on a project and then find yourself dragging it out. 

Whether it is procrastination or a desire for perfection, everything grinds to a halt and you don't know why. And then frustration sets in and you might tell yourse...

When you look back over the year, did you accomplish all you set out to do?

Most likely, no. There were twists and turns you didn't anticipate and we always overestimate what is doable in a short period of time.

But, that doesn't mean you can't still make huge progress in 12 months like Ryan and Phillip did with Pup & The Pepper. 

I've watched them do really hard things, make inv...

Are you ready to make a BIG leap in 2025? Whether you're just getting started with a delicious idea, growing to $100K or scaling to the next level, today's podcast is for you. 

There is a certain amount of energy and investment required and it is ALWAYS more than you think - just talk with any founder! 

I share with you my own experiences in my business and working with 100s of food founders on how to accept the truth of Ho...

Have you ever felt like any success comes with a side of sabotage and you just can't seem to make forward progress in a meaningful way?

In this episode, I dive into the concept of what Gay Hendricks, author of the book The Big Leap calls "Upper Limit Problems".

Learn and understand why entrepreneurs often hold themselves back after a big win and how to break free from self-sabotaging patterns.

I’ll share practical tools...