In a special episode of Crave – The IFDA Podcast, we're live in Miami at the SMart Conference with a dynamic duo: Deanna Segreto, Director of Corporate Marketing at Saval Food Service, and Mark Kwiatkowski, co-founder of Fun Day agency and creative marketing strategist.This conversation explores how personal branding, influencer marketing, and authentic storytelling can drive engagement and loyalty in foodservice, and why food distributors should stop chasing algorithms and start leaning into human connection.From local foodie shoutouts to Slurpee linguistics and cross-industry inspiration, this episode offers practical examples, marketing insights, and a clear message: you’re already an influencer. Now tell your story.Topics covered include:👉 Turning price updates into trust-building content👉 Why email marketing still reigns in foodservice👉 Personal branding tips for DSRs and DSMs👉 How to collaborate with influencers for real impact👉 Lessons from crypto and convenience store marketing👉 Trust as the foundation of all communication👉 The “titanium rule” of customer experience👉 Marketing to off-hours, algorithm-resistant buyersTimestamps:0:00 What We’re Covering: Storytelling, Strategy, Influence1:24 Meet Deanna Segreto & Mark Kwiatkowski2:05 Culinary Roots, Boardroom Strategy, and Branding2:44 Storytelling as a Human Connection Tool3:34 Feelings Over KPIs: Why Emotion Matters4:52 Why Foodservice is All About Relationship-Building6:06 What Storytelling Looks Like Today6:33 Influencers, Viral Reviews, and Local Buzz7:14 Community Marketing Examples from Saville8:02 How to Avoid Transactional Marketing9:07 The Power of Nuance in Storyselling10:24 Helping Offline Operators Get Online10:49 Don’t Chase the Algorithm—Use It11:45 Search is Changing: Are You Indexed Where it Matters?12:39 Mobile-First, Then and Now13:03 Where Foodservice Marketing Touchpoints Begin14:20 Email Preferences and Regional Habits14:49 Using ChatGPT for Market Opportunity Analysis15:11 Why Data + Email Still Win in Foodservice15:44 Impulse Marketing & Digital Hot Dogs16:27 Creating Brand Language That Resonates17:40 Using Data to Build Cultural and Retail Momentum18:16 Storytelling to Influence Buying Behavior18:48 Everyone’s a Storyteller—If They Care19:12 Sales Reps as Influencers: Real-World Examples19:59 Personal Branding Tips for Foodservice Pros20:19 The Titanium Rule: Beyond Great Service21:23 Influencer Case Study from the Crypto World23:11 How Content Builds Trust Before the First Meeting24:19 From Capsule to Community: Growing a Thought Leadership Platform25:07 Using Podcasts and Newsletters to Educate, Not Just Sell26:20 Trust as the Cornerstone of All Storytelling27:08 Getting Out of the Algorithm Bubble27:44 Watch, Follow, and Adapt to Your Customer’s World28:11 What Do You Want Your Brand to Be Known For?28:35 Practical Next Steps: Reshare, Connect, Repeat29:15 Mentorship, Listening, and Learning by Doing30:16 The Role of Speed and Action in Leadership30:58 Leadership T-Shirt Game: Supportive & Collaborative32:26 Final Reflections: Why Storytelling Is a Craft Worth Practicing🌐 Find Saval Foodservice on LinkedIn: https://www.savalfoods.com/ 🌐 Find Fun Day on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fundayagency/ 🌐 Learn more about this episode here: Learn more about Crave – The IFDA Podcast and future episodes: https://ifdaonline.org/crave-podcast/

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