Meghan Phillips: Sacramento’s Food Storyteller and Champion of Collaboration
Meghan Phillips, CEO and Founder of Honey, a Sacramento-based design and marketing studio, has dedicated her career to amplifying the voices of those within the food, beverage, and agricultural industries. Rooted in a childhood spent between the vineyards of Sonoma and her father’s work as a grocer for Safeway, Phillips has cultivated a unique understanding of the connection between people and their food.
From Sonoma Vineyards to Sacramento’s Food Scene
Growing up in Sonoma, California, Phillips was immersed in the world of winemaking and the dedication it requires. Her family’s influence extended beyond her father’s role at Safeway; her brother, Shane Ryan, is a winemaker at Larson Family Winery in Sonoma. She pursued her passion for the industry at Sonoma State University, majoring in marketing with a concentration in wine.
Phillips’ path led her to Sacramento in 2002 when her husband, Christopher, attended University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law. She began working at Java City during the rise of the craft coffee movement, an experience that further fueled her interest in the power of storytelling within the food and beverage sector.
Founding Honey: A Fusion of Design and Marketing
In 2008, while pregnant with her first child, Phillips launched Honey, a public relations firm designed to bridge the gap she observed in the food and beverage industry. “I wanted to take everything I was learning from a coffee, food and wine perspective and do it with marketing and design under one roof,” she explains.
Honey specializes in building brand loyalty through compelling narratives. Phillips likened the firm’s approach to the collaborative nature of bees, seeking out the best elements to create a cohesive and impactful story.
Championing Sacramento’s Food and Agricultural Innovation
Honey’s portfolio includes branding work for prominent Sacramento initiatives such as the Tower Bridge Dinner and the city’s Farm-to-Fork movement, as well as Mi Rancho tortillas and various wineries. The firm also represents the California Alliance of Family Farmers and Capitol Corridor rail service.
Phillips is a key figure in Food Frontier, a collaborative effort with Chef Brad Cecchi, Trish Kelly, and Kelsey Nederveld, aimed at promoting the agricultural story of the Capital Region. She is also involved in initiatives to improve the quality of school lunches in local schools.
“One of the big things that we realized over time is that this region doesn’t really tell its story super well in terms of the incredible assets that we have,” Phillips stated. “We are unmatched in food and agriculture.”
Recognition and Leadership
Phillips’ work gained national recognition in 2022 when she was invited to speak at the South by Southwest (SXSW) conference in Austin. She was featured in Adam Davidson’s book, “The Passion Economy,” which highlighted individuals who successfully transformed their passions into profitable careers.
Phillips attributes Honey’s success to her female-led team, many of whom have been with the firm for over a decade. “I feel most proud that I have a place where women feel safe to be both career creatives and also moms.”
Beyond the Boardroom
Outside of her professional life, Phillips enjoys spending time with her family, which includes her husband, Christopher, daughter Delaney (17), and son Beau (14), along with their Husky, Vega, and Golden Retriever, Eve. She also maintains a long-standing commitment to fitness as an early-morning cycle instructor at Urban Flex and Flow in Carmichael.
Phillips’ ultimate goal is to foster collaboration and showcase the innovative programs driving the food and agricultural sector in Sacramento.