Expert Segment: How to Build a Brand that Stands Out — with Katie Mleziva

You have a great product — but is it a strong brand? There's a big difference, and most food founders don't realize it until they're already stuck. In this episode, Jacinta sits down with food brand strategist Katie Mleziva to break down what it actually takes to go from making a great product to building a brand that makes people want to choose you — every single time. If you've ever struggled to explain what makes your product different — or found yourself leading with "it tastes great and uses quality ingredients" — this episode is for you. Katie Mleziva, founder of Real Food Brands and host of the Food Business Marketing Podcast, walks us through the brand strategy framework she's used with food founders across the country. From identifying your purpose, vision, and values, to building brand pillars that give your whole business a backbone — this conversation will help you get out of your own head and into a brand that truly connects. 💡 In This Episode You'll Learn Why great products don't automatically become strong brands — and what bridges the gap The "know thyself" approach to brand strategy that Katie starts every founder with What features, benefits, and fire-in-the-belly really mean — and why you need all three How to build brand pillars that organise your thinking and guide every business decision Why your brand history and your brand story are two very different things How to extend your brand experience beyond the farmers market or tap room to the shelf What "shaking up shopping carts" actually looks like in practice for real food brands How to know if you're ready to expand regionally or nationally — and what to check first 🎧 Listen to Katie's Recommended Episode Katie's suggested starting point if you want to go deeper on brand strategy: Food Business Marketing Podcast — Episode 101: Where to Get Started with Brand Strategy 🔗 Connect with Katie Mleziva 🌐 Website: realfoodbrands.com 📱 Instagram: @realfoodbrands 🎙️ Podcast: Food Business Marketing Podcast (formerly Real Food Brands Podcast) — available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts Spotify Playlist to Get Started 📣 READY TO SCALE? ➡ Take the Scale Up & Retail Readiness Quiz to find out exactly where you are — and what to focus on next. [<a href= "https://retailreadyquiz.scoreapp.co