Britney Miller shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Britney , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about your customers?
Honestly? Who they really are.
When I first started BrightEyes Catering, I had a surface-level idea of my customer: women ages 18–45 who enjoy entertaining and good food. But that version was too broad and generic. I thought I knew them—but I didn’t really know them.
It wasn’t until I leaned into the advice of my mentors—“Know who your customer is”—that things started to click. Once I stopped assuming and started truly listening and observing, I discovered something surprising and humbling: my customers weren’t just looking for food—they were looking for flavor, quality, and intention.
They aren’t hunting for the cheapest option. They’re looking for something that elevates their table, impresses their guests, and feels like a treat. That told me they saw the value in what BrightEyes brings—whether it’s through our smoked gouda turkey meatballs or our handcrafted charcuterie boards. That shift in understanding helped me redefine my products, better solve their needs, and market with purpose.
It’s one of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned: when you know exactly who you’re serving, your business becomes something people truly connect with.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Britney Miller, and I’m the founder of BrightEyes Catering—a gourmet appetizer company serving up bold flavors, hand-crafted love, and unforgettable bites. At BrightEyes, we specialize in gourmet meatballs and elevated charcuterie boards that turn everyday occasions into delicious experiences. We cater events, celebrations, and gatherings of all kinds—but our small bites are where we truly shine!
What makes this brand special is how it all began. BrightEyes Catering started as a YouTube series called Shot Glass Cooking with Britney, where I showed viewers how to create gourmet appetizers from scratch using simple, creative measurements. But soon, I realized something big—people didn’t just want to watch the food… they wanted to taste it! So, I rebranded, launched BrightEyes Catering, and gave it our signature slogan: “Come with BrightEyes and Leave with Full Bellies.”
Right now, our biggest project is our Signature Meatball Collection—and it’s retail ready! The collection includes our Smoked Gouda Turkey Meatballs, Garlic Parmesan Turkey Meatballs, and Chicken Piccata Meatballs, with Shrimp and Salmon Meatballs currently in the works.
These meatballs aren’t your average frozen food. They’re fully cooked, 100% frozen, gluten-free, and made with fresh ingredients—ready in just a few gouda minutes! What makes them truly unique is that they’re solving a real problem: many customers stepped away from meatballs because of pork or beef content, or because turkey versions were dry and flavorless. Our meatballs are juicy, flavorful, and changing minds—bringing people back to turkey, back to meatballs, and back to the frozen aisle with excitement.
Right now, our collection is being reviewed by some of the top grocery retailers in the country, and we’re proud to be one of the few Black women-owned brands in this space creating high-quality, gourmet frozen options.
At BrightEyes Catering, our appetizers set the gold standard. We don’t just feed people—we give them a full-on flavor experience they’ll remember.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that constantly questioned, “Can I really do this? Am I good enough?”
In the early stages, those thoughts pushed me to over-deliver—to prove to others, and honestly to myself, that my food was worthy, that my vision for a gourmet food experience mattered. I poured my heart into every bite, not just to serve others, but to validate my place at the table.
I spent a lot of time comparing myself to others in the industry, measuring my success by their standards. And while it’s important to know the landscape, I’ve learned that the version of me who hustled for recognition was just one chapter of the story—not the whole book.
That version got me here, and I honor her. She was necessary. But today, I stand in a different space—with confidence, clarity, and trust in my voice, my brand, and my products.
I know the value BrightEyes Catering brings to customers. I know my approach is unique. I’ve built a formula for success that is truly my own. And now, I release the need to prove myself—because I already have.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely. Taking this journey to the next level—from selling meatballs directly to customers to getting them into grocery stores—has been one of the hardest transitions of my life.
The biggest challenge? Finding the right co-packer. My product isn’t simple—it’s made with poultry, cheese, and high-quality ingredients that require a specific standard. That means not every co-packer can (or will) make it.
It’s taken months—months—to find a partner who could meet our needs. And just when you think you’ve found the right one, the unexpected happens. They can’t produce it after all. Or the pricing they give you is so high, it pushes you right out of a competitive market.
Honestly, the back and forth, the waiting, the disappointments—it’ll wear you down. You have this big dream for your product, but so much of it rests in the hands of someone else. It’s frustrating and emotional. There were moments I thought, “Maybe this just isn’t going to happen.”
But my mentors reminded me: this is entrepreneurship. The grind, the setbacks, the long game—it’s all part of it.
What this season taught me is the power of asking for help sooner and building a stronger network. I’m now surrounded by peers and colleagues who’ve walked this path before me. They’ve opened doors, made introductions, and helped me get closer to the right co-packer—one that meets BrightEyes where we’re at and where we’re going.
I almost gave up. But I didn’t. And that’s why I’m still here.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to believe that if you just work hard, success will follow. “They’ll see.” That was my mantra. I thought if I poured everything into my craft, eventually the right people would notice.
But what I’ve learned is that hard work alone isn’t enough. You have to invest in yourself. You have to take financial risks. You have to get in the right rooms and have the right conversations with people who have the resources and insight to help move your vision forward.
For example, years ago my brand looked completely different. It worked for where I was at the time. But the level of polish, professionalism, and intentionality behind BrightEyes Catering today—the logo, the slogan, the colors, the packaging—that didn’t just come from grinding harder. It came from listening to feedback, hiring experts, and surrounding myself with people who had the creative vision to elevate my brand to where it needed to be.
So yes, hard work and dedication matter. But now I know: success also takes strategy, investment, and relationships. You can’t just work hard in silence and hope to be seen. You have to position yourself to be seen.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What will you regret not doing?
I would regret not doing what I was meant to do.
I didn’t set out to build a food brand. But now that I’m in it—now that I’ve seen the inside of this industry—I know I’m here for a reason. And if I were to give up now, I’d be letting that reason die. The dream, the plan, the legacy would end with me.
BrightEyes Catering is more than just a business—it’s certified woman-owned, certified diversity-owned, and a brand with purpose. Every time I walk through the grocery store and see the same food in different packaging that’s been on shelves since I was a child, I’m reminded why I have to keep going. I’m building something new, something needed—something that quite literally brings something different to the table.
And truthfully? I’d regret letting little Britney down. The girl who dreamed big but didn’t yet know how far she could go.
There’s a glass ceiling in this industry—and I fully intend to break through it. And when I do, I’m not going through it alone. I’m making space for others to come with me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brighteyescatering.com/
- Instagram: Brighteyescateringllc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrightEyesCateringLLC/
