Breaking the Monopoly: How Founders Can Navigate a Consolidated Market

In this eye-opening episode of the Good Food CFO podcast, Sarah Delevan talks with Stacy Mitchell, co-executive director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, about the myths of market consolidation and how food founders can fight back against corporate monopolies. Stacy Mitchell is a writer, strategist, and policy advocate whose work focuses on dismantling concentrated corporate power and building thriving local economies. As co-executive director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, she has played a leading role in today's growing anti-monopoly movement and has authored influential works including "Big Box Swindle" and "Amazon's Stranglehold." You’ll hear: The Invisible Rules: How corporations have made market rules invisible, positioning us as consumers rather than citizens with power to change policies Myth-Busting: Hard evidence disproving the "bigger is better" narrative, including the North Dakota pharmacy model that outperforms corporate chains Food System Consolidation: How the suspension of the Robinson-Patman Act in 1980 allowed big retailers to demand preferential treatment, squeezing independent grocers Beyond Consumer Power: Why "voting with your dollars" is important but insufficient for creating systemic change Paths Forward: Practical actions for founders to engage with local policymakers and join the growing movement to enforce antitrust laws Signs of Hope: Recent shifts in policy approach showing how the tide is turning against unchecked consolidation More from Stacy:  Institute for Local Self-Reliance "The Great Grocery Squeeze" in The Atlantic Stacy's TED Talk: "Why We Can't Shop Our Way to a Better Economy"   This episode is brought to you by Settle.  Settle helps you make smarter decisions, and keep your business on track to grow sustainably. Head over to settle.com/goodfood to learn how brands like Carnivore Snax use Settle to manage their cash flow and growth.   Join The Good Food CFO Community:  Follow us on Instagram: @thegoodfoodcfo  Connect on LinkedIn: @sarahdelevan  Watch on YouTube: @thegoodfoodcfo  Become a Member: BABOYOT This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thegoodfoodcfo.substack.com