Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Margaret Coons, owner of Nuts For Cheese, located in London, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are on a mission to prove plant-based diets no longer cater to vegans alone; they cater to everyone! We make artisan, organic cashew cheese and butter products sold across Canada and the US! Our consumer base is a mix of vegans, vegetarians, flexitarians, moms, and foodies looking for 'better for you' alternatives. Nuts For Cheese makes a stunning charcuterie centerpiece and versatile ingredient. Our second line, Nuts For Butter melts, spreads, and sizzles like its dairy counterpart on a 1:1 ratio!
Tell us about yourself
While working as a vegan chef I introduced a plant-based cheese board to the restaurant menu which quickly became one of our most popular items. The positive feedback encouraged me to open a farmer's market stand in 2015 and Nuts For Cheese was born! We're scaling rapidly and it's incredibly rewarding to see such positive consumer and retail response to the growing plant-based category and our unique line of plant-based dairy alternatives.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Outside of building an incredibly talented team and launching our brands across North America, I was recently humbled and proud to see our products on US shelves for my first time! Launching into the highly competitive and innovative US market, during a pandemic was no small feat but we've been pleasantly surprised by the positive reception and rapid growth we've achieved!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Scaling from an independent farmer's market into a full-scale manufacturing facility certainly came with a few learning curves! I've had to allow myself to let go of various aspects of the business and trust the expertise of my team. I am also fortunate to have great mentors who bring industry experience and share their knowledge when we are facing new challenges on things like innovation, international market development, and operations.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
1) Don't underestimate the importance of a solid business plan and market research.
2) Get connected! Reach out to business support groups (like your local Small Business Centre), network with industry, find a mentor, be a mentor.
3) Be prepared to give it your all! In the early days I rented commercial kitchen space to make vegan cheese late into the night and 15 hour days weren't uncommon!
Where can people find you and your business?
https://www.facebook.com/nutsforcheese
https://twitter.com/nutsforcheese
https://www.instagram.com/nutsforcheese/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/nutsforcheese/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.