Archive for Food – Page 5

Lancaster Cast Iron

Lancaster Cast Iron is a Pennsylvania based company that produces skillets, cutting boards, wooden utensils, and other accessories for the pans.  Everything that they sell is made in the United States and strives for quality and perfection.  This company was actually started by two Grove City graduates which makes the whole company better in my opinion.  Mark Longenecker and Brandon Moore started this company in 2018 and it has grown ever since.  These pans are very high quality and the company clearly put a lot of time and thought into the design and production of them.

This company is especially inspirational and interesting since they are both Grove City graduates, fairly young ones at that.  You would not immediately think of cast iron pans when you think of something that you could innovate.  Cast iron pans have basically stayed the same forever.  I think it is very interesting how Mark and Brandon saw issues with the basic cast iron pans and decided to improve them.  The co-founders seem very motivated by slowing down to embrace the little parts of life and getting the little details perfect.  My grandparents have some of their pans and utensils and love them.  Not only did they like the first few items the purchased, but they were repeat customers with not complaints.

https://lancastercastiron.com/

Me and the Bees – Mikaila Ulmer

Mikaila Ulmer isn’t just a typical young entrepreneur struck by a great idea, she was stung by one!

See the source image
When Mikaila was just 4 years old, she was stung by two bees within just one week! Finding it strange and interesting, Mikaila began to do tons of research on her own about everything related to bees. While Mikaila was in the middle of her fascinating research on bees, her parents had received an old 1940s cookbook from her grandma which contained many old traditional recipes. Around this time Mikaila was also encouraged by her family to try out for young business competitions in their area.
Thinking of possible inventions in her environment, Mikaila learned about how dangerously endangered bees have become over the years in America and was interested in making a product that could support them. So, after finding a small flax seed lemonade recipe in the old 1940s cookbook, Makaila decided to substitute the unhealthy sugar in the lemonade with all-natural honey from local beekeepers to support bee conservationists. Ever since then, Mikaila’s lemonade business, now called “Be Sweet” (Changed later to “Me and The Bees” due to copyright disputes), has skyrocketed and she was even featured on the famous tv show “Shark Tank”!

See the source image
Mikaila’s company had started small ten years ago but has grown exponentially by then. Mikaila’s products can even be found in several select retailers and restaurants and is increasing that number almost every year.

Mikaila has also written a book that released in August of 2020 called “Bee Fearless, Dream Like a Kid”, that documents her experience as a young entrepreneur and gives tips to future entrepreneurs like herself.

Mikaila’s story is very inspiring and gives a look at how most good ideas or inventions could come from something you are very passionate about.

Or an old cookbook.

 

Sources:

Mikaila Ulmer of Me & the Bees Lemonade | Microsoft In Culture

Meet Mikaila: CEO, entrepreneur and bee conservationist – YouTube

BeeSweet Lemonade Featured on CBS This Morning News – YouTube

Our Sweet Story – Me & the Bees Lemonade (meandthebees.com)

Teen Entrepreneur Mikaila Ulmer Turned Saving the Bees into a Multi-Million Dollar Empire – Capitalism.com

Fraser Doherty: SuperJam

Fraser Doherty, founder of SuperJam, began his business venture when he was just fourteen years old.  From the UK, Doherty learned how  to make jam from his grandmother.  Doherty’s genius idea was a way to make jam exclusively with fruit, with zero additives.  He started by taking local orders and making the jam himself, but word soon spread, and demand greatly increased.  Eventually Doherty dropped out of school to focus entirely on his business.  His next move was to rent out a factory for a few days a month to begin to take bigger orders.

Awesome Companies Built By Teens: Fraser Doherty –By the age of sixteen, he had presented SuperJam to a major UK supermarket, Waitrose, and his jam was on shelves in 184 stores soon after.  In 2007, SuperJam reached $750,000 in sales, and it has continued growing since.  Today SuperJam can be found in stores all around the world and the company has sold millions of jars.  Through SuperJam, Doherty has also given back in multiple successful charity projects.  He runs free tea parties for the elderly an has established hundreds of community beekeeping projects.  Beyond selling jam, Doherty has also written books.  His first, The SuperJam Cookbook, was published in August of 2010.  He has since published two more books on entrepreneurship, titled SuperBusiness and 48-Hour Start-up: From idea to launch in 1 weekend.  

For his success, Doherty has received countless awards, such as the Global Student Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2007 and the Bighearted Scotland Business Person of The Year in 2009.  Doherty is an inspiring example of what happens when a young person has a good idea and is determined to put it into action.

Project “I am” -Jahkil Jackson

Project “I am “was started by a nine year old Jahkil Jackson in Chicago. Jackson helped his aunt distribute cans of food to the homeless in Chicago which sparked his own idea. The I Am project is a non-profit and shares a goal to help to the homeless in the world that are in need to his coined terms as ‘Blessing Bags.’ These consisted of deodorant, wipes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, bottled water, granola bars and more. Jackson’s small business quickly grew, and he has impacted more than 50,o00 lives of the homeless around the world. Atlanta, Virginia, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and Idaho and many more states in the U.S. have been greatly impacted by his generosity and care. There has also been a worldly impact where the blessing bags have been sent to many countries in Africa, and South America for special relief packages after natural disasters.

Jackson is really emphasizing the need for donations that go towards project I Am, so they can continue to make an impact around the world. He encourages everyone to be able to see the importance of helping out can make in your community. I AM thankful for my many blessings 🙏🏽 including @walmart for believing in my mission. This donation will help make over 500 blessong bags for those in need. #walmart #endhomelessness #BeTheChange #YouthDoItBetter #JahkilJackson #DontWaitToBeGreat

While Jackson had a lot of help from his family in the idea of helping others, he took that idea and pivoted to make a bigger idea. This is very inspiring, because Jackson saw that there was a need for the homeless that was unfulfilled. Instead of just handing out money, Jackson knew he wanted to make a real life impact by giving them the opportunity for staying healthy and clean as they go through difficult times. Jackson was acknowledged by former president, Barack Obama as well for his efforts in 2017 and featured on Cartoon-Network and many other platforms. This helped a lot with networking and getting his message out there for the public to understand the mission.

Waffles and Dinges- Kraus

Thomas DeGeest was a worker for IBM for 12 years before he decided he was called to do something else. Thomas left his day job and started to pursue his dream job of owning his own business where he is now serving waffles to the streets of New York City. Originally, Thomas was from Belgium and moved to the states in 1997. Waffles and Dinges has now become such a huge hit in New York City, and Thomas has created over 100 jobs. The annual revenue for W&D is $5 million. The business is open 7 days a week and for at least 14 hours each day. Originally Thomas and his wife were thinking of moving to Brazil, where they thought they may be able to open up there business idea there. However, Thomas did not speak Portuguese and they ended up not moving to Brazil. Now the mission of the company is to not just make waffles, but to make it be the customers best part of their day. The waffle recipe is straight from Belgium and Thomas stated that he will never sell frozen waffles.

Originally the company was ran out of a mobile truck serving waffles. This became an issue due to the cost of maintaining the truck and the traffic is hard to maneuver through in New York City. This led Thomas to pivot and tow his business behind his car, and then led to buying actual stores for a home base. Thomas stated, “If you really want to run a food-truck business, realize your most important asset is your vehicle.” He goes further to explain how the truck is running 18 hours per day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Thomas has grown such a successful business, and he his interviewed on CBS Magazines where he gives his input to other immigrants on how they can grow a successful business, using themes from the country of origin.

Gus’s Eats & Treats

Picture a beautiful, clear, sunny, summer day at Merrymeeting Lake in New Hampshire. You are relaxing on a rock and soaking up the sun by a dock and can see the lush green trees in the distance on the other side of the lake. There is a slight breeze that make the tree leaves quiver. The birds are cheerfully chirping. What could be better? Well, Gus Schoenbucher knew how to perfect the scene. As you are enjoying yourself by the dock, you realize that you are hungry. Thankfully, Gus pulls up in his boat with a variety of food products to sell. Your day is topped with a hot dog and ice cream from Gus’s Eats & Treats.

May be an image of 1 person and outdoors

Gus Schoenbucher is a fourteen-year-old boy from a small town in New Hampshire. His brilliant idea of an ice cream truck in boat form, came from his dad bringing back memories from his childhood when he used to sell ice cream on the lake where he grew up. The business has even deeper ties than that: the same boat is used to deliver the ice cream. The initial product of his business was selling ice cream, but as time continued, someone complained that he did not have a license. The complaint did not stop Gus, he was determined to continue his business, so he obtained his license, became official, and expanded his business to hot dogs, soda, and chips. The expansion created Gus’s Eats & Treats.

As the popularity of Gus’s Eats & Treats evolved, social media helped spread the word of the business to the point where Gus’s Eats & Treats received the notice from Krispy Kreme doughnuts. In addition to theMay be an image of 1 person, standing and text that says 'MML EATS & TREATS' other products Gus serves, the business now sells Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Gus’s Eats & Treats had the opportunity to attend The Alton Winter Carnival and serve hot chocolate and doughnuts and experience the festivities of the carnival.

 

Jam Boy

Fraser Doherty:

At age 14 Fraser Doherty started his business by making jam with his grandma’s jam recipe with her in Scotland. He made a twist on jam. Most jams are made with artificial flavor and other bad ingredients, so he wanted to make jam 100% out of fresh fruit. He named His product SuperJam. At age 16, he took his product of jams to big supply stores, and he pitched his product to them for them to sell his product in their stores. He is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the UK. This website provides Fraser’s story, and the blog says, “Fraser has been commended by the Prime Minister at Downing Street, by HRH Prince Charles and was recently awarded a medal (MBE) “for services to business” by The Queen.” https://www.fraserdoherty.com/pages/about-usHe has also written a book called, “SuperBusiness” and “48 Hour Startup”, and it is published in multiple counties. Additionally, he is the Co-founder of “Beer52”. This man is a success, and he is creative and diverse in his focuses. He has created Jam, written books, and co-founded a beer company. On top of all of this, his company provides funds to charitable initiatives. For example, they run over 100 tea parties for people who are elderly.  The Scottish charity called The SuperJam Tea Parties is run by Mr. Doherty. We can learn from Mr. Doherty’s innovative spirit and creative drive. 

Sprout and Lentil: The business which expanded during the pandemic  

        Sprout and Lentil is the only mom-and-pop vegan cafe on Aquidneck Island. Founded in 2019 by the husband and wife team of Carmen Foy and Matt Sole, Sprout and Lentil has grown from being a booth at a farmers’ market to having its own independent retail business located in the center of Middletown, RI. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Foy – who was born in Spain – trained at the Cordon Bleu in France and then worked for twelve years as a chef aboard yachts. 

     Foy and Sole have stayed true to their business mantra of “Food with a Mission” by serving only plant-based foods. For instance, Foy ordered granola and then returned it to the producer it contained honey. She and her husband are dedicated to a purely vegan business. Additionally, the owners have created a special niche serving their community for people who are vegan, vegetarians, and kosher. Foy and Sole know their target customers very well and have seen that there is a high demand for quality vegan products. Some may ask, “Who would ever want to pay for a $16 burger?” or “Why isn’t the 50 cent spicy ketchup included with my fries?” Without doubt, the prices are high and sauces are not included with fries, burgers, nor cauliflower nuggets. A gourmet truffle oil dressing retails for eleven dollars. Perhaps it is hard to believe here in western Pennsylvania, but their local customers – hard core vegan regulars, and tourists – do buy and enjoy the expensive truffle oil dressing as well as the $16 burgers. The customers believe that the high prices are worth the money for what they receive. Foy and Sole have created a demand for specialty vegan food.

Please take a look at Sprout and Lentil’s website:

http://sproutandlentil.com/

 

Spoiled Milk Waste Into Loveable Fashion? Meet Mi Terro!

Who ever thought that spoiled milk could work as a shirt? Well co-founder and CEO, Robert Lou, of Mi Terro Sure did!

Mi Terro’s creator: Robert Lou

When visiting an uncle’s dairy farm in China, Robert Lou barred witness to the gallons and gallons of milk spoiled waste his uncle was having a hard time getting rid of. When asked by said uncle to find a possible solution, Robert wasn’t exactly sure how to get around such a problem. After doing a bit of research back at his LA home and consulting a friend in chemistry, he was able to come up with a solution. When milk sours and spoils for a certain amount of time you can produce a polymer fiber from the milk that is soft enough to use in clothes, packaging, medical appliances, and even bed lining. So in 2018, Mi Terro was born!

 

“Our goal is to replace petroleum materials with protein-based materials, especially made from food waste. So we’re not just talking about solving food waste, but also helping other industries with the technology that we have.”

-Robert Lou

By aiding more than one market with one innovation is amazing for such a young entrepreneur!

Mi Terro has been trying to grow little by little. One example, is their exchanges with famous fashion brands like H&M and Nike to get them to invest in their milk solution and replace the not-so ecofriendly petroleum waste with spoiled milk.

Roughly 128 billion tons of milk waste is disposed of yearly. That is a good amount of materials just going to the wayside! Hopefully, in the future, some of the larger clothing brands will accept this new form of producing clothes. Thus joining the markets of dairy and clothing together! Wouldn’t that be a crazy future to live in?

Find out more at:

Replace Plastic With Biomaterials Made From Agricultural Waste – Mi Terro

Got Milk? Mi Terro Turns Spoiled Milk into Sustainable Fibers for Fashion – YouTube

Mr. Cory’s Cookies

Have you ever watched the show The Profit? Then you may have heard of Cory Nieves, the creator of Mr. Cory’s Cookies. With the help of his mom, Lisa, Cory has made a very successful business selling cookies that have all-natural and higher quality made ingredients. His cookies are become very successful due to his ambition to create something unique, especially at such a young age. He started at age 6! Cory started selling hot cocoa as a start-up business to help his mom pay for a car so he wouldn’t have to ride this school bus anymore. That became successful among his local community in Englewood, New Jersey. Once his original goal was achieved, Cory expanded his products and market by selling lemonade and his now-famous cookies. He targets customers who have certain health-conscious lifestyles as well by including double dark, oatmeal raisin, and sugar cookies. Cory just wants to make the world happier and help his mom with payments as best he can.

Mr. Cory’s Cookies certainly took off causing Lisa and Cory to branch out and get their own building space, which brought Marcus into the picture. In addition to having Marcus Lemonis as their partner, they have been a part of Whole Foods, Macy’s, TOMS, Viacom, Pottery Barn, Barney’s, Bloomingdales, Ralph Lauren, Citibank, Aetna, Mercedes-Benz, Williams-Sonoma. They are also working with Bergen’s Promise in Rochelle Park, New Jersey, and the Children’s Aid Society in New York City.

Mr. Cory's Cookies (mrcoryscookies) | Official Pinterest accountAmazon.com: mr. cory's cookies

His business is different from the others because of his ability to produce and ship, freshly baked and freshly made ingredients, cookies in the matter of a couple days. Also, he started his business at the age of six, with help from his mother, but regardless, that’s pretty incredible. Cory is driven to make an affordable life for him and his mom, including their home and even for his future college career. His business is great because he is supporting multiple people and Cory is also inspiring other students to go after it and accomplish greatness. With determination and the right resources incorporated with a new idea will get you places and can ultimately end in success. Cory and his mom have inspired me to fight for what I want to accomplish no matter the set backs or disaproving looks that you may receive. They have gone through many struggles, but persevierance is key. Entrepreneurship is what I believe I am being called to do, and stories such as this only confirm my plans.

 

https://mrcoryscookies.com/

https://youtu.be/4yetWN5IIm0