There’s an old saying that if Henry Ford would’ve asked people what they wanted, they would’ve said, “A faster horse.” Being a challenger brand in an established food category means you need to be willing to shake up the status quo and take the risks that bigger brands won’t.

Today on the Real Food Brands Podcast, host and Brand Strategist Katie Mleziva talks with Fred Hart, Creative Director and Partner at Interact Boulder, an entrepreneurial branding and packaging design agency obsessed with the food and beverage industry. We talk about what you can do to stand out as a small to mid-sized food brand, and the three design tips Fred has to differentiate yourself on shelves as well as examples of brands that have done it.

In This Episode:

Why brands need to think about more than just branding and packaging from the get-go. How to challenge the category, not the consumer. What BOOMCHICKAPOP did to stand out in a crowded category. The dangers of being different for difference’s sake. Why people don’t read, they recognize. How Boxed Water used packaging to differentiate themselves. How to take advantage of color to stand out. Why imagery is key to recognition.

Resources:

Interact Boulder Fred’s LinkedIn Profile “The restaurant owner who asked for 1-star Yelp reviews” BevNet Nosh The Edible-Alpha Podcast Katie’s LinkedIn profile Real Food Brands Marketing Roundtable Facebook Group Real Food Brands website (download your Brand Checkup Scorecard here)