In this episode I interview Nicole Sopko and Dan Staackmann from Upton’s Naturals, an independently-owned natural foods company in Chicago that creates meat alternatives using simple, recognizable ingredients.
Dan founded the company in 2005, pioneering flavored, wheat-based seitan. Nicole, his life partner, who also owns two yoga studios, came on board in 2010 and now serves as vice-president.
The business started off small, operating out of a shared kitchen, and has grown to the point where its products are sold in around 2,000 outlets across the US.
Three years ago it moved into a new building and opened Upton’s Breakroom, a café for staff and the public.
In 2015, Upton’s launched the first-to-market, seasoned and ready-to-eat jackfruit in the US.
Five years ago the company took off the word ‘vegetarian’ from its packaging, leaving ‘vegan’ to do the job of explaining the products’ animal-free status.
As well as helping to run Upton’s, along with her yoga studios, Nicole is a founding board member of the Plant Based Foods Association, a newly established trade body representing plant-based alternatives in the marketplace, government, and media.
In this interview Nicole and Dan talk about:
• The challenges of starting a company with a business partner
• The benefits of implementing a slow growth plan for your business
• Why Dan turns down offers of investment and chooses to remain the sole owner of the company
• The hands-on strategy likely to get retailers and buyers to remember you
• Why you need to let go of being right when you’re in business
• And much more
Visit the Upton’s Naturals website
Check out the Plant Based Foods Association
Brands mentioned in vegan business news roundup:
Veggie Grill
Beyond Meat
Purple Carrot
Wholefoods Market
Tofurei
More Than Meat
The Allotment
RESOURCES:
My Online PR Course for Vegan Business Owners & Entrepreneurs: Vegans in the Limelight
My book Vegan Ventures: Start and Grow an Ethical Business
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Connect with me personally at:
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Vegan Business Media is a multi-media, multi-author blog for aspiring and existing owners of vegan-run businesses, designed to equip them with the information, tools, inspiration and resources they need to start and grow their enterprises. It is hosted by award-winning journalist Katrina Fox.
