138. Scale Up or Step Away: What’s Next for Your Food Business? - with Jordan Buckner of FoodBevy

At some point, every business owner has a moment of reflection—is this brand ready to grow, or is it time to let go? And the reality is that you may even go back and forth on the same day, right?!

In this episode, I'm joined by my new co-host Clint Matthews, co-founder of Start Right Foods, and Jordan Buckner, founder of Foodbevy.

Jordan shares his behind-the-scenes journey of launching his first food brand, winding it down, and using those lessons to build a thriving support hub for food business founders.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

✅ How to evaluate whether your business is ready to scale—or if it’s time to pivot into a different direction

✅ Why product-market fit is essential (and what happens without it)

✅ How over-innovating can confuse customers—and what to do instead

✅ Insights about working with partners and agencies

✅ Why learning from past experience (yours or others’) can be a fast track to clarity

✅ The importance of making sure your business still aligns with your “why”

Jordan, Clint, and I talk candidly about what it means to build with purpose, simplify your strategy, and move forward with more clarity. Whether you're scaling up or wondering what’s next, this conversation is packed with insight and encouragement.

🔗 Related Resources:

• Foodbevy’s free guide to building a food & beverage brand
• Start Right Foods
• Get your free guide to avoid 4 common brand strategy mistakes (and how to fix them if you’re making them).
• Real Food Brands Brand Checkup Scorecard
• Real Food Brands Marketing Roundtable Facebook Group

IG: @realfoodbrands

LI: let’s connect!

✨ Ready to see where your brand could be stronger as you get ready to scale up? Explore the Brand Review or the Brand Success System to move forward with clarity and confidence.

Let’s go shake up shopping carts!

Katie Mleziva

Host & Food Brand Strategist | Real Food Brands