Michael Mohammed
Let people do what they do best. Micro managing will stagnate your growth. If you have the right people in place you need to give them the opportunity to do…
food and beverages
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.
David Rawnsley
Seek out your detractors and objectors and ask for their advice on what you’re trying to do. David Rawnsley is President of Robeks, purveyor of fresh juices, smoothies, and…
Aneisha Soobroyen
You can overcome social barriers by not allowing them to define you Aneisha is founder and director of Scrumbles, an ethical brand of pet food released in the UK…
William Bronchick
Listen more. The younger version of me would often fail to take the advice of those with more experience. I’m not saying every entrepreneur should take all advice, but sometimes…
Lopa van der Mersch
Everyone has a valid point of view that is worth hearing. Listening to an “opponent’s” perspective begins to heal the divide and allow for the possibility of compromise and even…
Danny Lafuente
Starting with the problem, and understanding the roots of it, helps you determine HOW to solve it or if a solution is even necessary. Danny Lafuente, co-founder and CEO…
Sara Gotch
I’m always asking customers and non-customers what they’d like to see from Gnarly Pepper. The feedback is honest, and it saves a lot of time in the end when trying…
Michele Liddle
There are people who will boost you up and others who will tear you down; when you meet the later, move on. Surround yourself with those who bring you up…
Eric Plantenberg
Eric Plantenberg, the chief sales and marketing officer at Humm Kombucha, has watched the business grow from day one. The brand, formerly known as Kombucha Mama, started in Plantenberg’s kitchen…
John Shegerian
Once you have a little success in life, people will start to approach you with every type of distraction possible…please review this business plan, invest in this or that, sit…
Lisa Liguori
A business mentor of mine gave me a sticky note to put on my computer that said, “Only do what only I can do.” I really try to keep that…
Francesca Montillo
Listen to your heart more and your head less. Francesca Montillo is the founder and owner of Lazy Italian Culinary Adventures. As a native Italian, she now designs culinary…