I’m Rick Field. I founded Rick’s Picks and spent 20+ years building it into a national food brand.
Along the way, I learned where food businesses get stuck, where they quietly lose momentum, and where a single decision can change everything — for better or worse.
About Pickles & Soup
I work with people building their first food brand, second-act founders, and experienced operators entering food. Different backgrounds — same turning points.
My approach helps both the business and the person behind it move forward with clarity, traction, and a roadmap that fits their unique context.
Services
Building a brand isn't just about having a great product—it's about making the right moves at the right time.
Whether you're refining your first formulation or preparing for your next funding round, the decisions you make today shape your trajectory for years to come. We work with founders who want to move faster and smarter—helping you build strategic clarity from the economics of your SKUs to the story behind your brand, so you can create something that works in the real world.
Stages of the Foodpreneur journey
Make sound decisions across brand, product, and scale.
From kitchen to commercialization.
Each growth stage brings new questions, pressures, and opportunities. We help you move forward with clarity and confidence at each stage. Click on the cards below to explore five key stages of the Foodpreneur Journey.
1
Spark
Idea clarity & early validation
What you're facing
You’ve got the product and passion — but you need direction. Is this idea strong enough? Who is it really for? And how do I explain it clearly?
We help you
- Define your positioning and point of difference
- Create early pitch or investor-ready narratives
- Shape your story, mission, and values
- Validate demand with real market insight
Outcome
2
Prepare
From kitchen to commercial
What you're facing
Things are getting real. Packaging, pricing, margins, and production decisions suddenly matter.
We help you
- Build a clear commercialization roadmap
- Design packaging and branding that fits your market
- Dial in pricing, costs, and margins
- Align today’s decisions with long-term goals
Outcome
3
Launch
Go-to-market strategy
What you're facing
You’re ready to make your debut — now what? Buyer conversations, distributor choices and channel strategy is in front of you.
We help you
- Build a focused go-to-market strategy
- Prepare sales materials and retail presentations
- Develop best-practice approaches
- Establish intention, not chaos
Outcome
4
Climb
Growth without losing control
What you're facing
You’re growing — but it's stretching you. Systems strain, teams stretch, and brand consistency gets harder.
We help you
- Expand broker and distributor networks thoughtfully
- Support team growth and leadership decisions
- Iterate on the brand without losing what made it work
Outcome
5
Scale / Pivot
Expanding relevance, not just volume
What you're facing
Growth brings choices. New products? New SKUs? New regions? Or reposition entirely?
We help you
- Evaluate product or SKU expansion
- Plan horizontal or vertical growth
- Maintain a healthy innovation pipeline
- Explore pivots, repositioning, or exit options — on your terms
Outcome
Approaches
Ways to work together
Whether you’re starting out or scaling up, we offer three focused approaches to guide, mentor, and empower you to achieve clarity, growth, and long-term success.
Discovery Sessions
Three 90-minute sessions
Suss out fit, context, and strategic priorities.
Key Moves
90-day sprint
Make critical decisions and set up smart systems.
Embedded
9-month engagement
Capacity building by addressing real problems, long-range clarity.
For Founders
Work with an experienced founder, not a "consultant."
From first steps to expansion, you’ll work with a founder who brings practical guidance, market-tested insight, and adaptable tools that evolve with your brand. The work is grounded in firsthand operating experience, informed by real market dynamics, and focused on building durable, long-term growth.
Practical, candid support from someone who’s built a national brand
A blend of coaching + strategy + commercialization
No fluff — clarity, traction, and action
Deep category experience, deep empathy for founders
"A great coach can change everything. It’s hard to fully put into words the value I’ve gained from working with Rick. He has delivered everything I hoped for, and far more than I expected."
-Charles Wekselbaum, Founder of Charlitio's Cocina
"Rick is a force multiplier for founders. Whether you need transformative change or a well-timed nudge, he brings his full experience as a founder and brand builder to bear. Strategic and action-oriented, working with Rick feels less like consulting and more like having a business partner or co-founder working alongside you"
–Andy Schiavetti, Founder of Fourth Creek Foods
Let's talk
Bring the food recipe.
We’ll work the success recipe together.
Whether you're at a crossroads, facing hurdles, or navigating a growth spurt, we’ll figure out what kind of support will make the biggest difference.
pickles & soup
- About
- My approach helps both the business and the person behind it move forward with clarity, traction, and a roadmap that fits their unique context.
© pickles & soup 2026 · In strategic alliance with Hypenotic.