When your brand is built to stay relevant as people’s needs change, decisions (e.g., from brand partnerships to line extensions) become clearer and more effective.
➡️ This episode is the first in our next 3-part series following up on connections Katie made through Expo West. We’ll be releasing a new episode each day over the next three days.
Hosts Katie Mleziva (Real Food Brands) & Clint Matthews (Start Right Foods) are joined by Betsy Frost, CEO of Q Mixers, to explore how brand strategy helps a national brand stay relevant as the people they serve—and the market around them—continue to change.
From shifting drinking behaviors to identifying a gap in the market, Q Refreshers is a clear example of how brands can evolve to meet changing needs without losing what makes them work. This conversation brings strategy out of theory and into action.
You’ll hear how Betsy’s background—from purpose-driven organizations to big CPG—shapes how she leads today, and how staying rooted in your brand while evolving alongside the people you serve is what allows brands to grow with clarity and consistency.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- How a strong brand acts as a true north for decision-making and collaborations
- Why the best innovation starts with the intersection of insight and white space
- What it really means to stay relevant as people’s behaviors and expectations evolve
- How a content-first mindset can shift the way you think about building your brand
- What it looks like to evolve your brand without losing what makes it stand out in the first place
- How to think about line extensions through a brand strategy lens
- Why more isn’t always better—and how to stay focused
- How expanding use occasions can drive meaningful growth
Key Takeaway
Brand strategy isn’t just something you define once and move on—it then serves as a guide for how you make decisions. As your business grows, the strongest brands are the ones that stay rooted in what makes them stand out while evolving with intention so they continue to stay relevant as the people they serve change—how they shop, what they value, and how they use the product.
What’s Next
Stay tuned for our next episode, airing tomorrow with Jon Romano, founder of Letz Go! Nutrition, to hear how he took his personal health challenges, professional experience, and market needs to create a fast-growing stick packet hydration and energy company that the whole family can enjoy.
🤝 Share with a fellow food business owner
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LET’S CONNECT!
Listening is helpful, but doing is even better!
1) Connect with Katie Mleziva and Clint Matthews on LinkedIn.
2) Join Katie’s weekly newsletter HERE to get additional insights, industry resources, and the Weekly Worksheet for this episode, designed to help you build your own brand strategy workbook over time. Joining the email list gives you access to book a Brand Strategy Session as well!
3) Follow along on Instagram for more – @realfoodbrands
Let’s Go Shake Up Shopping Carts!
Katie Mleziva – Host & Food Brand Strategist