School lunch. It's the bain of many parents' existence. While the cafeteria offering is often light on nutrition, packing a healthy alternative is a drag. Seeing a gap in the market, Red Rabbit decided it could do better. Here, COO Jackie Walters talks about how the company is transforming lunch in schools across NYC.
Wild at Heart: Untamed Sandwiches Makes a Quick Lunch of Slow Food
When Andy Jacobi and Ricky King set out to open a restaurant they sought to solve a conundrum: Could they turn the taste for slow food into a quick lunch option? The answer now exists in the form of Untamed Sandwiches, which has branches in midtown and DUMBO and a third set to open this summer,. While King was busy braising, Jacoby sat down to tell Hungry how it all started and why location is everything.
No More Tilling: Kimbal Musk Does His Farming in the Big City
Food entrepreneur and venture capitalist Kimbal Musk -- yes, Elon's brother -- seeks to seize control of the food supply from the industrial food complex. Through his venture, Square Roots, Musk and co-founder Tobias Peggs, are betting that the future of growing food lies in vertical urban gardens housed in shipping containers. Recently Peggs discussed their vision and plans for success.
Sweet Treat: Brewla Bars Puts a Spin on the Ice Pop & Gets Acquired
Brother and sister duo Daniel and Rebecca Dengrove just scored a major victory. Their company, Brewla Bars, maker of ice pops from naturally brewed ingredients, was recently acquired by Ruby’s Naturals. Here Daniel Dengrove talks about how he and his sister found their niche in a saturated market and why they decided to sell.
Hooked on Success: Legally Addictive's Salty Sweet Treats Make It Big
Could there be a more seductive name for salty and sweet cookie concoctions than Legally Addictive? But as Laura Shafferman, founder of Legally Addictive Foods, knows, there’s more to business than a great moniker. We sat down with Shafferman to find out how she launched her business and why she decided to take on a big name partner.
The Mad Pickler: Shamus Jones Makes a Statement in Brine
Shamus Jones is a man of strong convictions. He believes in workers’ rights and artistry in everything he does. His ethos is on display in Brooklyn Brine, a six-year-old company that takes pickling and condiments to a new level. Through unique formulas like Whiskey Sour Pickles, a $16-an-hour wage, and partnerships with Finger Lakes Distilling and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Shamus is building a just pickle kingdom that extends as far as Australia and Japan. Recently, Hungry Marketing had the pleasure of chatting with Jones about his vision and success.
On Tap: Wild East Saddles Up to Become the Next Hot Craft Beer Brewer
Building a Better Jerky: SlantShack Seeks to Scale
It started with an obsession over beef jerky and a group of college buddies tinkering with recipes. Then came a write-up in New York Magazine and SlantShack Jerky went from a stand at Greenpoint Market to the grocery aisles at Whole Foods. Hungry spoke with David Koretz, CEO, about organic growth, the importance of brand authenticity, and challenges with profitability.
Succeeding by Design: Metabrew Iterates Its Way to the Shelves
Romy Raad and Natalie Neumann's foray into the food business started with an idea for a meal delivery company. But over time they refined their idea until they landed on Metabrew, a coffee-based energy drink that is both vegan and paleo. During a break from bottling, Raad shared the ups and downs of bringing a beverage to market and the joys of finally making headway.
One Smart Cookie: A Brooklyn Entrepreneur Turns a Favorite Snack into the Perfect Gift
Dawn Casale was working retail at Barney’s when she realized there was a hole in the market for gift-appropriate cookies. Fast forward 16 years, three storefronts, and one pastry-chef husband/co-owner later, and One Girl Cookies is now a thriving business with many lessons learned along the way. Recently, Casale sat down with Hungry to share her home-baked story.
Incubating Success: Brooklyn FoodWorks Nurtures New Ventures
Keeping it Fresh: A Food Distributor Fills A Gap in the Farm-to-Table Market
When Mark Jaffe started The Fresh Connection, connecting local small farms with different outposts in New York City, he had limited funding and no business training.
Midas Touch: Joe Carroll on His Secret of Restaurant Success
The Business of Booze: Bridget Firtle, Rum Evangelist and Owner of The Noble Experiment
In 2012, Bridget Firtle, left behind a well-paid job at a hedge fund to start The Noble Experiment, one of the only rum distilleries to operate in New York since Prohibition. Today at the age of 31, her Owney's rum can be found in 11 states and 4 countries. The secret? A great product, a great story, and a market that is looking for a hand-crafted alternative to Bacardi’s and Captain Morgan.