Behind the Brand: Ohh! Foods, with Brittany Charlton - Conversations with Consumer Goods Mavens

Episode 11: How Ohh! Foods Conquered Major Retail Shelves with Brittany Charlton

I had the pleasure of catching up with Brittany Charlton, the brains behind Ohh! Foods. At 18, Brittany developed a newfound allergy to peanuts. Faced with the challenge of finding peanut-free alternatives for her favorite foods and snacks, she discovered that there were hardly any good options on the market. 

In the fall of 2018, Brittany took matters into her own hands and launched Ohh! Foods. Just eight months later, their Apple Pie and Coconut Brownie Bites found a spot on the shelves at major retailers like Sobeys, Healthy Planet, Metro, and Bed Bath & Beyond! Business was thriving, and the name Ohh! Foods was quickly becoming a household name for parents navigating allergies for their kids.

The brand experienced lightning-fast growth. Brittany pointed to a few key takeaways that resonated for both of us. Stick these in your toolkit if you’re scaling your brand into retail.

• Don’t take no for an answer. Brittany emphasized the power of persistence. For a buyer, saying no is a lot easier than saying yes. Keep asking, and ask differently. Show new products and demonstrate flexibility as a partner. This can mean collaborating on an exclusive SKU or colorway, supporting a marketing effort, or offering creative packaging concepts.

• Just show up (literally). Brittany talks about the power of showing up for an in-person meeting. I love this! In our digital age, sometimes the best thing you can do is close the computer. Place an old-fashioned phone call, or if you have the ability, try and get to a retail location and see if you can talk to folks. You’ll be surprised at how effective this can be.

• Follow up. Establishing relationships with retailers requires consistent effort. It’s the number one most important thing you can do when trying to develop relationships with retailers and their buying teams: just keep checking in. Set a quarterly calendar reminder for yourself to say hello!

Brittany also talks about how she simply tried different approaches when trying to scale. I call this running experiments—and I do it a lot at Mvnifest. When you are building something new, don’t worry so much about the results of the experiment. Usually, the most fun is getting to try a bunch of things, gather data, and then build a plan around the successful experiments.

For a deep dive into Brittany’s inspiring journey, be sure not to miss our enlightening conversation above. 🎥👂

Behind the Brand aims to inspire entrepreneurs, marketing professionals, and design enthusiasts by showcasing the real stories of those who have navigated the complexities of product-based landscapes. Whether you’re curious about the latest trends, seeking practical advice, or craving inspiration, this interview series offers a deep dive into the minds shaping the future of consumer brands. Learn more about us at Mvnifest.