Aaliyah Nitoto
Negative talk while starting a business can hamper your momentum, which makes everything harder. Being positive doesn’t necessarily make anything easier, but it does give you more energy and clarity…
Food is universal. Everyone eats. But building a food business? That’s a special kind of challenge. The founders in this section have done it. Restaurants, food brands, beverage companies, meal delivery services, and everything in between. All while dealing with razor-thin margins and the fact that your product literally expires.
These interviews cover the full food and beverage landscape. CPG brands. Restaurant concepts. Food tech. Alcohol. Coffee. Health food. The farm-to-table movement. And the logistics of getting perishable goods from point A to point B without anything going wrong. Which it always does.
What makes these founders interesting is the passion. Nobody gets into food for the easy money. Because there isn’t any. They get into it because they care about what people eat and drink. And that passion comes through in every conversation.
You’ll find insights on product development, retail distribution, restaurant operations, food safety, branding in a crowded market, and the particular challenge of scaling something that started in a kitchen. If you’re building in food and beverage, or thinking about it, these are your people.
Negative talk while starting a business can hamper your momentum, which makes everything harder. Being positive doesn’t necessarily make anything easier, but it does give you more energy and clarity…
Patience, patience, and then, patience. The time will come, when all the sacrifices will make sense, and when the “why’s” will be explained. And it will all feel natural, and…
Never stop learning. Sharpening your axe (or mind, in this case) is crucial. If you’re weak in an area, surround yourself with experts who have experience in that field and…
Take in as much information as possible because it gives you confidence that you’re making the best and most educated decision possible for the situation, or in this case, for…
Let go of your ego and pride, be in the moment, and LOVE YOURSELF unconditionally. Shari Stein Curry has a passion for making beverages that make the world a…
Work harder! Hard work is still undefeated, that is why I get up so early everyday–you have to work very, very hard to make it in this industry. A…
A startup has limited resources, and your time is the most important resource. Trista Li is the Founder and CEO of KitcheNet, where she and her team bring happy…
Talk to everyone about your idea. Don’t be afraid of people stealing it from you. Connections and sparks come from the most unlikely places but only if you share what…
Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. There is a better way to do everything vs working harder or longer. Chris Hall is currently the Chief Executive Office at Talking Rain…
Pick the Hill you want to die on or choose your battles wisely is this the one your willing to go all in on. Chef Jeffrey Mora started his career…
Talk and listen. Seek people out who have built a business (even if they’re not directly in your industry) as there is always something to learn from other successful entrepreneurs…
Andy Sartori is the founder and CEO of MealPro, a California based online health food delivery service with national distribution. His cuisine appeals to fitness-minded professionals who do not have…