DiscoverStrawberry LetterFollow Your Passion: She transitioned from a corporate sales career to launching a food brand from her home kitchen.
Follow Your Passion: She transitioned from a corporate sales career to launching a food brand from her home kitchen.

Follow Your Passion: She transitioned from a corporate sales career to launching a food brand from her home kitchen.

Update: 2025-08-31
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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Tiffani Neal. 

Founder of Barlow’s Foods. Here's a detailed summary of the key themes and takeaways from this episode:


🥞 Guest Spotlight: Tiffany Neal, Founder of Barlow’s Foods 🚀 From Corporate Sales to Pancake Mix

  • Tiffany transitioned from a corporate sales career to launching a food brand from her home kitchen.
  • The idea sparked when friends raved about her homemade pancakes, prompting her to explore turning it into a business.

🧁 The Birth of Barlow’s

  • Named after her grandfather, whose photo inspired the brand name.
  • Started by testing pancake mix recipes and packaging them in ice cream pint containers for friends and family.
  • Positive feedback (except from one friend!) encouraged her to refine the product and move forward.

🛒 Product Line & Expansion 🥞 Barlow’s 3-in-1 Mix

  • One mix, three uses: pancakes, waffles, and biscuits.
  • Vegan-friendly base—no dairy or animal byproducts.
  • Just add milk, egg, and butter (or alternatives) to prepare.

🍯 Syrup Line

  • Started with a homemade peach cobbler syrup that won the Flavor of Georgia 2023 Product of the Year.
  • Now includes seven syrups, such as:
    • Peach Cobbler (flagship)
    • Strawberry Bourbon
    • Blueberry Lemon
    • Sweet Potato
    • Gingerbread
    • Maple (imported from Canada)
  • Seasonal flavors rotate throughout the year.

🏪 Retail Growth & Strategy 🛍️ From Trunk Sales to Store Shelves

  • Began selling out of her car and at local farmer’s markets.
  • Entered contests to gain exposure—winning Flavor of Georgia led to a deal with Fresh Market.
  • Now in 45+ Food Lion stores across Georgia and expanding.

📦 Packaging & Branding

  • Designed to be bold and nostalgic, with a red label and illustrated pancake stack.
  • Packaging is intentionally clear to help customers easily identify the product.

🧠 Business Insights & Advice 🛠️ Operations & Manufacturing

  • Recently expanded to a larger production facility.
  • Works with UGA and food scientists to ensure quality and compliance.
  • Handles everything from production to in-store demos and staff training.

👥 Team Building

  • Focuses on hiring people who are passionate about startups and flexible with evolving processes.
  • Emphasizes the importance of documentation and clear expectations.

📈 Keys to Success

  • “Do the work.” Tiffany credits her success to hard work, focus, and persistence.
  • Believes in setting goals and taking consistent action to achieve them.

🌍 Vision for the Future

  • Tiffany aims to make Barlow’s a global pantry staple and a legacy brand that evokes nostalgia and family tradition.

 

#BEST

#STRAW

#SHMS

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Follow Your Passion: She transitioned from a corporate sales career to launching a food brand from her home kitchen.

Follow Your Passion: She transitioned from a corporate sales career to launching a food brand from her home kitchen.

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