Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kei Ohdera, co-founder of Pasture, located in Portland, OR, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Our business is a whole animal butcher shop and restaurant that focused on community sourcing. We build relationships with farmers and ranchers with high-quality programs with a regenerative perspective focused on land stewardship and ethical practices. Our customers come to us for our transparency and focus on carefully curating our supply chain to guarantee ethical sourcing.
Tell us about yourself
The concept was inspired by retired dairy cow meat that we tried years and years ago. It had such an incredibly unique flavor and had the added bonus of offering food to the community before being slaughtered. With such a big dairy industry in Oregon, I wanted to create a market for this product and be in a unique position to pay the farmers fairly for the animals which need to be culled for various reasons. They typically don't get what they deserve at auction. The meat is usually mixed into ground beef and sold generically. I am motivated by my desire to make people happy, work with amazing producers, and have fun while doing it.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Every guest who leaves happy from our lunch service or dinner service, every producer who is excited to work with us, and every farm's story, we are able to share our biggest accomplishments.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The stress of running a business with so many moving parts and facets can lead to sleepless nights after a sleepless night, but there is a great satisfaction that comes from knowing that you are doing exactly what you should be doing.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Don't do it during a pandemic like we did.
- Surround yourself with a community that supports you.
- Create a concept that cares for the community is authentic, transparent, and honest.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
It's not likely you will get others to believe in your concept unless you are confident in it yourself.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.pasturepdx.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pasturepdx/
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.
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