Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with David Delcourt, co-founder of Seed Ranch Flavor Co., located in Boulder, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Seed Ranch Flavor Co. | GrownAs* Foods makes award-winning, gourmet hot sauces and vegan mac & cheese. From our best-selling Truffle Hound to Everything but the Taco to our Classic Mac & Cheese, we focus on clean ingredients and delightful flavor. Our customers are sauce lovers and foodies, dairy-free and vegan eaters, and anyone looking to make their next meal into an experience. We are masters of the art and science of flavor and believe you can change the world by changing how it tastes.
Tell us about yourself
I am Chief of Flavor at Seed Ranch Flavor Co. | GrownAs* Foods based out of Boulder, CO. My incredibly delicious job is dedicated to creating the most grin-inspiring vegan food for customers to enjoy and buyers to love. Every product we make and have ever made starts in my kitchen, from ingredients that you could buy in the grocery store. Why? If I wouldn't feed my kids the foods I sell, why would I feed them to anyone else? I started this company with peppers growing on the porch and slinging products at the farmer's market. And still, each day, I wake up motivated to turn the next customer's bite into an ah-ha moment.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is being available nationwide in 10,000 stores and creating the world's best darn mac & cheese (that just happens to be vegan). That accomplishment is in the future, and that's the way I operate. Each day is a chance to achieve the best possible in that 24 hours, but while I learn from mistakes in the past, there's no success in remembering past achievements.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Balancing work and family is incredibly difficult. I can negotiate with suppliers, chase down sales leads, and develop new products. Yet, I'll never get the time back I DON'T spend with my seven and 11-year-old boys. As a single father, half of the time, I am incredibly picky with those hours with my kiddos. I've said no to 99% of meetings, events, etc., so I can be with them, and still, my phone is a challenge. This life-work balance drives efficiency and productivity, but it also drives late nights working. Though, after all, if it were easy, everyone would do it.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Have passion, curiosity, and a burning problem your business solves. Passion keeps you going in the rough times, curiosity makes you learn and ask questions before launching a product/service, and if there's not a burning problem to solve, it's probably not going to work.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.seedranchflavor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seedranchflavor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seedranchflavor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/seedranchflavor
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davedelcourt/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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