
Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford
Imagine a food, drink & pet food packaged goods industry where both small and large players coexist on a level playing field, consumers have choice, there’s integrity in what they’re buying and they experience innovative, sustainable products.
In this weekly podcast, hosted by founder, award-winning coach, consultant & CPG advocate, Chelsea Ford, you'll hear interviews with incredible founders and hard-to-reach industry specialists as well as practical and actionable content that directly supports your food, drink & pet food CPG business to grow, become more profitable and thrive.
Learn more at www.chelseaford.com .
Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford
#122 From Family Recipe to Beloved Brand: The Story of Springhill Farm
What began as her mum’s cherished muesli slice recipe, evolved into Springhill Farm, a brand house helmed by Fiona Whatley, bringing better-for-you, but equally delicious treats like Slice and Boodles to shelves across Australia. Together with her husband, James, Fiona has transformed a family recipe into a business that thrives on bold choices, from securing Woolworths’ support before products were even made, to shifting focus from product to powerful brand storytelling.
In Episode 122, Fiona shares her journey on:
🍫 Gaining early buy-in from retailers through pre-selling strategies (you’ve got to hear these!).
🍫 Why storytelling is the secret sauce behind Springhill Farm’s growth.
🍫 Savvy budgeting lessons and what to prioritise in marketing.
🍫 How they created loyal brand advocates through genuine community-building.
Get ready for a conversation packed with insights on how tradition and smart risk-taking can fuel brand success.
LINKS & RESOURCES:
- Springhill Farm
- Thrive Collective Website
- Food Entrepreneurship Academy Website
- Your Free Pitch Plan
- Become A Foodpreneurs Festival Insider
- Chelsea Ford Co. Industry Newsletter
Season 14
Season 14, out now, is 'Scale Season' and is being presented by Chelsea Ford Co.’s 10th anniversary.
For a decade, Chelsea Ford has backed Foodpreneurs and pushed to shake up an industry that too often plays it safe and leaves smaller players behind. She champions bold products, smarter tech, and better ways of working - because the future of CPG should be shaped by ideas, not just deep pockets.
Chelsea believes every emerging brand deserves a fair shot - not crumbs from the big end of town. Founders, no matter their gender, ethnicity, cultural background, spiritual path, sexual orientation, or beliefs, deserve their place on the shelves.
Chelsea stands for healthy competition - real competition - where brave ideas and fresh brands rise up because they’re good, not because they’re bankrolled.
This podcast is part of that mission. Every episode sparks bigger thinking, practical action, and the connections you need to get your products into more hands - and more money in your pocket.
Ten years in, she’s more committed than ever. The next decade is wide open for those ready to do things differently and back themselves to grow.
Click this link to see how you can be part of it.