Food Marketing Agency FAQs

Do you only work with food and drink brands?
Yes. Food and drink is all we do. That means we understand the realities of margins, retailers, buyers, regulations, and the pace of the category. You won’t need to explain how your world works — we already get it.

Are you a marketing agency or a consultant?
We sit somewhere in between. We lead with strategy and commercial thinking, but we’re practical and hands-on. That means clear positioning, messaging, and direction first, then helping you apply it through the right marketing activity. We’re not about churning out tactics for the sake of it.

What size businesses do you usually work with?
Typically founder-led food and drink businesses from early stage through to established brands. Some are pre-launch, others are doing several million in revenue but feel stuck or unclear about their next move. Stage matters less than ambition and openness to change.

Do you work with founders who aren’t natural marketers?
Most of our clients aren’t marketing people — they’re product experts, operators, or entrepreneurs. We explain things in plain English and focus on what will actually move the business forward. You don’t need to become a marketer; you just need the right partner.

What is working with a food marketing agency like Relish actually like?
Most engagements start with a focused piece of work around positioning, messaging, or strategy. From there, we may support you on an ongoing basis as an outsourced marketing lead. We keep things lean, clear, and outcome-focused — no unnecessary meetings – we know how busy you are.

How much does working Relish Marketing cost?
Projects typically start from around £1,000 for focused strategic work. Ongoing support varies depending on scope. We’ll always talk things through first and give you clarity on cost before you commit.

How long does it take to see results of marketing activity?
Strategic clarity often comes quickly — within weeks. Commercial results take longer, depending on your route to market and goals. The aim is to build a foundation that makes all future marketing and sales activity more effective, not just short-term wins.

What if we’re not ready to invest in marketing yet?
That’s okay. Sometimes the right decision is to focus on product, operations, or cash flow first. If that’s the case, we’ll tell you. When you are ready, having clarity on your positioning will make every pound you spend work harder.

Do you work with food and drink start-ups?
Yes. We regularly help early-stage food and drink businesses get the fundamentals right — who you’re for, what makes you different, and how to communicate that clearly. This helps avoid expensive mistakes later.

Do you work with food and drink scale-ups?
Absolutely. As businesses grow, what worked before often slows or stops working altogether. We help scale-ups sharpen their brand, systemise marketing, and build credibility with retailers, investors, and partners.

Do you work with established food and drink businesses?
We do. We often support established brands that feel stuck, want to refresh their positioning, enter new markets, or prepare for sale or investment.

Do you help food and drink businesses gain investment?
We help you become more investable. That means a clear story, strong positioning, a credible brand presence and clear sales plans for your routes to market. We ensure your sales and marketing supports your investment goals and help create the relevant pitch decks and numbers.

Should we focus on direct to consumer (DTC), retail, or foodservice first?
There’s no universal answer. It depends on your product, margins, capacity, and ambitions. We help you weigh up the trade-offs and make a clear, considered decision.

How do I get my food product into supermarkets?
Retail buyers look for more than a good product. You need a compelling brand story, evidence of demand, and professional presentation. We help brands become retail-ready — from positioning and packaging to pitch materials.

What marketing should a new food business prioritise?
Clarity first. Who it’s for, why it matters, and how you talk about it. Once that’s clear, focus on visibility in the places your customers and buyers actually pay attention to — not generic activity for the sake of it.

How do food brands build awareness on a small budget?
By being distinctive and consistent rather than everywhere. Clear positioning, strong storytelling, and focused content usually outperform expensive campaigns at this stage.

How do I market a food product with no budget?
Focus on what you control: your story, your content, and your relationships. Founder-led content, PR, partnerships, and sampling can all build momentum. That said, meaningful growth eventually requires investment.

What makes a food brand stand out on shelf?
Distinctiveness beats trying to say everything. Brands that stand out commit to a clear visual and verbal identity that breaks category norms. Confidence and simplicity achieve much more than cramming on-pack messages.

What actually drives sales for food brands — brand building or activation?
Both. Brand building creates demand; activation captures it. Too much focus on short-term tactics without a strong brand limits growth. We help you get the balance right.

How do we compete with bigger brands with bigger budgets?
By being more focused. Big brands have to appeal to everyone; you don’t. Challenger brands win by owning a clear position that matters deeply to a specific audience.

We’ve tried a marketing agency before and it didn’t work — why would this be different?
Usually marketing fails when tactics come before strategy. Without clear positioning and messaging, activity doesn’t land. We start with clarity, so the sales and marketing activity that follows actually works.

Do you do social media, PR, branding or websites?
Absolutely. We can support all of these, but they’re never the starting point. We focus first on strategy and messaging, then help you decide which activities will genuinely support your goals.

Do you work with food brands outside the UK?
Yes, depending on the brief. While most of our work is UK-based, we do support international brands, particularly those entering or expanding within the UK market.

What makes Relish Marketing different from other food marketing agencies?
We focus on commercial clarity, not noise. Our work is grounded in strategy, experience, and an understanding of how food businesses actually grow — not chasing trends or vanity metrics.