Let’s tackle the issues beyond the kitchen.
Sign up for a free consultation to identify your food business needs and find solutions to tackle them.
How can we help you?
Do you need help with packaging? or how to determine your food cost? With our initial discovery call, we break down what your needs are and develop action plan to propel your vision forward. We work with clients to provide tangible strategies that funnel solutions. Contact us here!
Product Development & Scale-Up
This support involves developing a product from idea to implementation or helping you develop existing products. We test the entirety of products using scientific methods, standardizing them with the end goal of scaling up. Our goal is to enter the market with proper packaging, nutritional, and competitive prices.
Menu Development & Nutritional
This service evaluates the menu, food cost, and nutritional of your business. We help you to minimize food costs and increase profitability. Using industry-standard nutritional software, we develop labels that are not only within regulation but informative to customers.
Marketing & Project Management
This support helps equip the client with general marketing plans and strategies. This includes web and social media assessment and development assistance. We also offer services that help you take the load off as we manage the bulk of the responsibility.
This is where Food, Science, and Sustainability collide.
-Ali Manning
With a degree in Food Science & Technology and over 15 years in the food industry, we are thrilled to be using the resources and tools we’ve gained to serve aspiring and current food entrepreneurs. We look forward to partnering with you!
Ali is the creator of Food Science 4 Kids, a program that teaches grade school children science as it relates to food. She is the Program Consultant for Project Green Fork, a PCQI-certified auditor, and a food content creator. She is the 2026 Mentor Matters keynote speaker presented by Memphis Grizzlies Foundation and MENTOR Memphis Grizzlies. She is a 2023 Comcast Rise Recipient and a 2024 South by Southwest Panelist (Yet We Rise: Breaking Bread with Black Food Leaders).
To find out more, visit ali-manning.com/info@umamifcc.com
Check out recent articles features by Spruce Eats "Women in Food to Follow", Choose 901 Local Food Scientist, Turned Author, the Commercial Appeal "Can I Play with my Food?" or Daily Memphian Food News Feature. If you’re interested in my podcast interviews check out the New Memphis, Meanwhile in Memphis podcast MiM, Grindset Podcast, or Raising Kellan Podcast.
Comcast Rise 2023 Umami Food Consulting, LLC Commercial
“The Food Scientist” - News Channel 3 WREG
I have been a recurring news contributor on Live @9 am with Kontji Anthony since 2023. Get ready for some more exciting segments coming this year!
Episode 2: WREG Live @9 am, “Tackle your digestive woes with local solutions.” View more of my segments on Ali-Manning.com!
Check out this recent collab with Faze Rug! Watch us remake five of the famous Youtuber Snacks!
Accomplishments:
2026 Mentor Matters Summit keynote speaker presented by the Memphis Grizzlies Foundation. 2024 SXSW Speaker: “Yet We Rise: Breaking Bread with Black Food Leaders” and 2023 Comcast Rise recipient—competitor on Netflix’s newest show Snack vs Chef, which premiered November 30, 2022. Ali is a member of the Overton Park Shell board and an advocate for music and food for all. She is an AgLaunch Mentor Pro, a Junior Achievement mentor, a Feed the Soul Foundation consultant, and a 2022 Bookstock Children’s Keynote Speaker presented by the Memphis Public Library. She is also an Epicenter fellow, a 2018 Ignite Memphis speaker, and a 2023 Real Talk, Drives Real Change panelist presented by Chevy and TV One. She has been featured in numerous publications and podcasts, including Martha Stewart, Bon Appétit, The Huffington Post, The Spruce Eats, Diaspora Foods, Style Blueprint, Local Memphis 24, The Commercial Appeal, Eater Austin, and The Daily Memphian. She also landed the cover of Memphis Health & Fitness in September 2020 thanks to her passion for skating and community building.
Our Clients
Recently Featured
Snack vs Chef Episode 1
Live at 9 am on WREG
Daily Memphian
MBJ Article- A fun take on what it means to be a Food Scientist--" I play with food for a living"
ABC 24 Memphis
Choose 901 Feature- Food Science 4 Kids
FACES of Memphis
Hidden Gems: Meet Ali Manning of Umami Food Consulting
Levitt Shell Professionals Board Member
Edible Memphis IG FS4Kids features
Cook with Food Scientist, Ali Manning
Our Partners
Thank you to each of our partners for making our work possible.
Contact us.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Let’s have a 30 minute comprehensive conversation that will give me insight into your business needs and how I can serve you best!