Founder of Simple Mills, Katlin Smith: Scaling with Purpose in a Shifting Food Landscape

In this episode of Rooted, I interviewed Katlin Smith, the founder of Simple Mills, the natural food company that’s redefined clean-label snacking and baking with products made from simple, nutrient-dense ingredients. What started in Katlin’s kitchen with almond flour muffins has grown into a household staple nationwide, recently joining forces with Flowers Foods from an ~800M acquisition to expand its impact even further.Katlin’s journey is a testament to building a business rooted in values while navigating growth in an industry that’s fast-paced and constantly evolving. From the early days of prioritizing ingredient integrity, to leading with education and transparency, she’s remained focused on using food as a vehicle for positive change.In this conversation, we talked about:The genesis of Simple Mills and its mission to make real food simple and accessibleWhat innovation looks like post-acquisition with new R&D and distribution powerThe opportunities and risks for purpose-driven brands scaling under corporate structuresSimple Mills’ commitment to regenerative agriculture and how she vets ingredients todayWhy education and transparency have been central to building consumer trustHer perspective on emerging trends in wellness and what’s next for Simple MillsThis episode is full of insight into scaling with intention, staying true to your mission, and leading with authenticity in an industry where it’s easy to lose sight of what matters. Hope you enjoy! Highly recommend trying Simple Mills if you haven’t already. You can find them in most grocery stores across the country.For more updates, please follow @themarleemethod on Instagram.