#130 Burnout to Breakthrough: How Laura Allan Scaled Isaac’s Snacks

Burnout is a real challenge in the industry. Many Foodpreneurs start their businesses as a side hustle - juggling production, marketing, sales, packing, and every other task that comes with running a business solo.

But it doesn’t have to stand in the way of scaling.

For episode 130, I sat down with Laura Allan, founder of Isaac’s Snacks, the wholefood bites brand keeping it real with fewer than 10 ingredients. With 900+ Woolworths stores stocking her products and a strong presence in independents, Laura has built what so many Foodpreneurs dream of. But it hasn’t been easy.

Scaling isn’t just about getting more products on more shelves. It’s about navigating MOQs, cashflow pressures, and the hidden costs of retail that no one warns you about. And for Laura, it also meant hitting a breaking point - stuck in the relentless cycle of doing everything herself, until burnout forced her to rethink how she was running the business.

In this episode, we unpack:

🧇 The real cost of outsourcing to a co-manufacturer, why it’s necessary, but not without its challenges.

🧇 How she tackled the financial strain of meeting retailer expectations - because it’s not just about getting on the shelf, it’s about staying there.

🧇 The trial-and-error approach to finding the right people so she could focus on growth, not late-night admin.

🧇 Why relationships (not just branding) have been the key to her success, and how she’s leveraged partnerships to push through every challenge.

🧇 The evolving P&L and cashflow forecast that keeps her in control - because running a food business without a financial strategy is a recipe for disaster.

This Season of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford is brought to you by Foodpreneurs Festival - a year’s worth of sales and promotion opportunities under one roof - and Chelsea Ford Co., modernising the CPG industry, one emerging brand at a time.

LINKS & RESOURCES:

• Isaac's Snacks website
• Your Free Pitch Plan
• Get Your Foodpreneurs Festival Ticket Now
• Become a Chelsea Ford Insider

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.