Who We Work With (and Why)

We’re not built for everyone. And that’s on purpose.

At Schaefer, we serve food and beverage companies that are serious about growth but need a clearer plan to get there. Our clients come to us because they’re tired of guesswork, internal spin, and strategies that don’t stick. They want to know what’s working, what’s not, and why people actually buy.

That’s where we come in.

Who We Work With

We work with food and beverage companies across the value chain—CPG, manufacturing, foodservice, and restaurant brands. Most of our clients are doing $50M+ in revenue, but we also partner with high-growth brands backed by investors or gearing up for expansion.

Sometimes we’re hired by the brand itself. Other times, it’s the private equity group, the board, or a founder who knows it’s time to get serious about strategy.

The Roles We Partner With

Our core clients are usually in roles like:

• CMO or Head of Marketing

• VP of Brand or Growth

• Director of Consumer Insights or Innovation

• Founders or CEOs who still lead brand decisions

They’re often new to the role, taking over after a reorg, or staring down a big next move: new product lines, new geographies, new distribution channels, or a total reset.

Who’s a Good Fit?

Good fits usually say things like:

• “We’ve got a lot of ideas, but no real strategy.”

• “We’re spending a ton on marketing, and I’m not sure what’s working.”

• “Our positioning hasn’t kept up with who our customer is today.”

• “I just took this role and need to get a handle on everything fast.”

• “We’re about to launch something big and need to make sure we’re not missing anything.”

They know they need research, segmentation, and a strategy that can be used, not just presented.

Who’s Not a Fit?

If you’re just looking for a creative agency, media buyer, or ad execution partner—we’re not it.
We don’t run ads. We don’t do production.

We help you figure out what your customers care about, what your brand should say, and how to go to market with confidence.

Why We Focus on Food & Beverage

We’re food people. We chose this industry because we believe food is one of the most emotional, nostalgic, and sensory categories out there.

The stakes are high. The pace is fast. And the decisions people make are deeply human. That’s why our buyer psychology framework—Why People Buy—works so well in this space.

We don’t need to learn your world. We live in it.