In this week’s episode, Nick sits down with Alex Strauch, CEO & Founder of Conza—a brand that’s making waves with their high-quality sourdough breadcrumbs. Together, they dive into the challenges of food service sales and discuss key tactics for growth and market entry, especially for new brands. Alex shares firsthand experience on navigating supply chains, positioning products for food service buyers, and scaling operations while maintaining quality.

Whether you’re an emerging brand or looking to sharpen your sales approach, this conversation is packed with strategic insights that will help you accelerate growth and carve out your space in the food service landscape.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

00:26 - Food Service Challenges

11:26 - Transitioning to the Food Service Industry

20:35 - Navigating Food Service Sales: Strategies and Insights

21:09 - Sales Strategies in Food Service

RESOURCES

Portillo Sales

CONTACT

Nick: nick.portillo@portillosales.com

This week, Nick Portillo welcomes David Garascia, General Manager of Food Service at Bell Brands, to explore how to grow a food service business within a retail-driven company. David shares strategies for building strong distribution networks, creating operator relationships, and delivering value beyond pricing. He also reveals how Bell Brands is evolving to meet shifting market demands, making this a must-listen for anyone in the food service space.

Listen to gain insider knowledge on the forward-thinking strategies Bell Brands is employing to meet changing market demands and customer preferences.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

04:39 - Transitioning from Retail to Food Service

07:40 - Understanding Waste Management in Food Service

13:46 - Marketing Strategies in the Food Service Industry

15:05 - Innovations in Food Service: Strategies for Success

RESOURCES

Portillo Sales

CONTACT

Nick: nick.portillo@portillosales.com

This week, Nick is breaking down why so many food brokers fail early on — and what you can do to avoid the same mistakes.

It’s not about bad sales skills. The real issues come from not understanding how to run the business side of a brokerage. Drawing from real-world experience, listen as Nick unpacks the five critical mistakes that often lead to early failure in the food brokerage industry.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

00:36 - Struggles of New Food Brokers

05:08 - The Five Biggest Mistakes Brokers Make

08:00 - Navigating Manufacturer Relationships in Food Service

10:21 - Key Strategies for Broker Success

RESOURCES

Portillo Sales

CONTACT

Nick: nick.portillo@portillosales.com