Union Kitchen

??? A successful product is where your passion meets what people want. Caribe Juice Inc., a tropical juice company inspired by the flavors and traditions of the Caribbean, was started by Luis Solis while pursuing his MBA at University of Virginia Darden School of Business. “I love the food I had growing up in the Dominican Republic and after moving to the U.S., I had to leave a lot of it behind. Now I’m trying to bring some of it with Caribe Juice, starting with my favorite drinks.” Over the years, Luis demoed and talked to as many customers as he could to understand what they wanted and what they loved about his products. He took those lessons and refined the messaging, tweaked the formulation, and built something that people love. Today, Caribe Juice continues to grow and is now available in stores like Publix Super Markets, Whole Foods Market, and even in Luis' home country, the DR!

Is it possible to create a better house cut fry? For?Jesse Konig ?? and Ben Johnson, the answer is a resounding yes. And they are using their decade+ of experience running food trucks, restaurants, and catering operations to do so. Since launching their new line of house cut fries (Jesse & Ben's) this past summer, they've already landed in the likes of Whole Foods Market, MOM's Organic Market, and Fresh Thyme Market and are outperforming the category average 4x in some locations! The secret sauce? Listening and understanding what people want. Read more about how Jesse and Ben have built a winning line of frozen fries by focusing on consumers first. Swizzler Crispy Chicken + Smash Burgers https://lnkd.in/eXba5cTg

We recently started working with Mike Johnson, the founder of the non-profit OurFarm DC, on turning the greens they grow in their urban, hydroponic farm into a line of ready-to-eat salads. To build a winning product, we focused on three things for the initial launch: 1?? Taste and Texture. This is where the urban farming comes into play. Leveraging hydroponics resulted in more flavorful lettuces that have the added bonus of being more nutrient-rich and fresher thanks to its shorter travel distance from urban farm to consumer (locally grown in DC). 2?? Packaging. The next step was selecting packaging that aligned with how consumers enjoy their salads. Always meet the consumer where they are at. 3?? Positioning. The packaging design highlights what makes this product special - the greens’ vibrant color and crisp texture.? Launching a product is an iterative process. We're excited to see the feedback on the initial launch and continue to move towards what people want in their salads. Read more about Mike's product launch journey ?? https://lnkd.in/dS9AECfR

"Deciding what not to do is as important as deciding what to do." - Steve Jobs Starting a food business often feels like saying "yes" to everything. After all, every dollar counts. But sometimes, the smartest decision you can make is to say?no. Enter in.... your ? Mission and Core Values ? . These will become your best friends as you build your business. They will allow you to say no to things that do not drive your business forward. Think of it as setting up guide posts to support you in the many, many decisions you will make as a founder. Here are a few of our favorite missions to inspire you: ???? Spreading the vibrant taste of the tropics one bottle at a time (Caribe Juice Inc., Luis Solis) ?? To make real latin food to fuel real life in the fast lane (Latin Goodness Foods/MasPanadas, Margarita Womack PhD, MBA) ?? ???? Creating a healthier future for farmers, the planet, and you- one sip at a time (Eat the Change Seth Goldman) ?? Make better?ice creams?and bring people together (Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, Jeni Britton)

Every successful business is built on a winning product that people want. So how do you find yours? 1?? ?? Pick something you're passionate about. Your passion is what will allow you to build the best version and outcompete others. 2?? ?? Learn what people want at your local grocery store Shelf space and product placement are an amazing proxy for what people are buying. There's a reason certain categories are given a lot more space on the shelf than others. 3?? Find the intersection between the two! The sweet spot is the intersection between what people want (the market) and what you're passionate about making. Michael Haft built Compass Coffee based on his passion for coffee. Margarita Womack PhD, MBA built Latin Goodness Foods/MasPanadas on hers for latin foods. Luis Solis created Caribe Juice Inc. after missing the flavors of his childhood in the Dominican Republic. All big markets (coffee, juice, etc) and reflective of their passions.

A big thank you to Seth Goldman for sharing his knowledge and insights during his keynote at our annual Meet the Makers event this past Saturday! It was incredible to hear the journey and lessons learned from early days founding Honest Tea to today leading Eat the Change as the CEO & Co-Founder, and chairing the board for Beyond Meat and PLNT Burger. Thank you to Seth and the entire Eat the Change team! Event Co-Hosts: MAVRK Studio (Aaron Swinton), The Well Network (Mark Nguyen) Union Kitchen (Elena (Rosenblum) Gonzalez, Cullen Gilchrist), Foster Garvey PC (Kevin Frisch)

Thanks so much for the recap Adrianne DeLuca of our recent Meet the Makers event. It was a ton of fun working alongside the amazing individuals at MAVRK Studio (Aaron Swinton) The Well Network (Mark Nguyen) and Foster Garvey PC (Kevin Frisch) to see it all come to life. Elena (Rosenblum) Gonzalez Cullen Gilchrist

Matet's Kitchen is family owned and run by Christopher, Marcia, and Chef Matet! They will be dishing out their lumpia and other filipino deliciousness at Meet the Makers on November 16th from 3p-6p. Matet's Kitchen, was inspired by a passion many can relate to - a love for Mom's cooking. The team is taking their family recipes, made many time's over in their own home, and building their company Matet's Kitchen. They are on a mission to celebrate and share the diverse and delicious tastes of Filipino cuisine and we can't wait for you to support them at this year's Meet the Makers. ???TIX for MTM: ??? https://hubs.la/Q02W8lJ80 WHEN: November 16th 3p-6p And check out over 100 other makers sampling and selling their products at the event. The Well Network MAVRK Studio Foster Garvey PC

What's up Daniel Berg! Daniel founded Berg Bites and Future Forward Foods as a junior studying at The George Washington University Berg Bites deliver long term energy with complex carbohydrates from heart healthy oats, essential fatty acids from nuts, chia seeds and coconut oil, and prebiotic fiber for gut health. Their lineup includes everything from protein cookies to oat-based bites and bars. ???Get your TIX: ??? https://hubs.la/Q02W85680 WHEN: November 16th 3p-6p WHERE: UK Eckington + Eckington Hall ++ 100 other vendors sampling and selling their delicious products + Raffle with really cool local prizes AND SO MUCH MORE! The Well Network MAVRK Studio Foster Garvey PC

This is Lesley, the founder & CEO of Khamsa Tonic. Sip, sample, shop her wellness tonic shot at Meet the Makers on November 16h from 3p-6p. Inspired by her personal experience, Lesley developed a powerful recipe for a daily immunity drink that has kept her feeling healthy and vibrant for years. Each ingredient is carefully crafted using a combination of natural ingredients that are packed with antioxidant, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. PS - Lesley is an artist! And she designed her own packaging. Make sure to chat with her about it at Meet the Makers. ???TIX for MTM: ??? https://hubs.la/Q02W85-90 WHEN: November 16th 3p-6p WHERE: UK Eckington + @ecking___ton.hall And check out over 100 other makers sampling and selling their products at the event. The Well Network MAVRK Studio Foster Garvey PC