From Cravings to Brand Power
Myles Powell on Building a Food Brand with Resilience and Vision
In this episode of Built Without a Net, I sat down with Myles Powell, civil engineer turned food entrepreneur, to explore what it really takes to build a consumer food brand from scratch. His journey spans Food Network competitions, the creation of a barbecue sauce line, the pivot to frozen mac & cheese, and the long climb toward building a business with the potential to become a $200 million enterprise.
From Engineering to the Kitchen
Myles began his career in civil engineering, but he quickly realized the work left him unfulfilled. Cooking became both an escape and a passion, eventually leading him to the Food Network show America’s Best Cook. That experience gave him the confidence to take the leap into entrepreneurship.
Building (and Rebuilding) a Brand
Myles launched his first food venture in 2015 with a line of barbecue sauces. But the business didn’t scale as expected, and after financial struggles, he went back to full-time work while continuing to test products. The real breakthrough came with a pivot to premium, clean frozen comfort food—especially mac & cheese. Over time, the brand grew to more than 1,300 retail stores before operational and financial challenges forced a reset.
Instead of quitting, Myles scaled back, raised capital, brought on new partners, and relaunched with a sharper focus in 2023. Today, his products are in over 500 stores nationwide with stronger distribution partners and a clearer strategy for profitability.
Lessons in Growth and Resilience
Throughout our conversation, Myles was candid about the challenges of the food industry:
Consumer psychology matters more than the product alone. Success requires deeply understanding customer behavior, not just having a great recipe.
Right shelf, right time. Not every retailer is the right fit, and chasing the wrong partnerships can drain resources.
Profitability over appearances. Big opportunities can tempt early-stage founders, but sustainable growth requires disciplined spending and careful scaling.
Support systems are essential. Entrepreneurship can be isolating—having mentors, peers, and advisors makes the difference when navigating setbacks.
Why Brand Matters More Than Product Alone
Myles emphasizes that while customers may try a product once, they stick with brands. Building loyalty requires more than flavor, it’s about communicating values, vision, and trust.
Looking Ahead
Myles’ goal is bold: to grow the only Black-owned consumer packaged goods (CPG) brand valued at $200 million. With lessons learned from Target shelves, co-packing, brokers, Shark Tank pitches, and a decade of entrepreneurial resilience, he’s positioning his company for the long haul.
🎧 Listen to the full conversation with Myles Powell on Built Without a Net here: Apple Podcasts (also available on all major streaming services).
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