Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Manette Jen McDermott, CEO, and founder of muun chi, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Muun chi’s business is to support your health. We focus on the gut, which science is revealing is critical to overall well-being. We produce and sell fermented probiotics that contribute millions of good bacteria to your gut and fiber-rich prebiotics that keep those beneficial microorganisms well-fed and multiplying. No pills, potions, or powders because every gut microbiome is different and responds better to nature’s foods than synthesized pharmaceuticals. We use only organic real food ingredients, and we avoid substances that can create inflammation in the body (no dairy, no gluten, no soy, no refined sugar, no preservatives). Our main probiotics are a Kvass (fermented beet drink) and kefir (fermented coconut milk yogurt alternative). Our prebiotics includes granola, muesli, and bites (crackers).
Muun chi’s products appeal to customers who recognize the importance of investing in their gut health and who view food as medicine for the body. Regular customers use our probiotics to optimize their well-being and address a variety of conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome, high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction, interrupted sleep, and low energy. Adults of all ages, both men and women, take advantage of what we offer.
Tell us about yourself
I’m a Boomer woman and a first-time entrepreneur. My interest in food goes back to cooking in the kitchen as a little girl with my Chinese mother. I got started with muun chi when I could not find delicious, nutritious snacks with no refined sugar. I needed to remove sugar from my diet in order to eliminate a painful, inflammatory condition. Making my own snacks helped me to appreciate the importance of fiber-rich foods to feed gut bacteria and evolved into a focus on the gut microbiome when my mother’s medications left her uncomfortably constipated. Instead of treating her condition with laxatives, I decided to experiment with making real food probiotics that would help to balance the bacteria in her microbiome. When my creations helped her and others feel better and become more regular, I knew I wanted to introduce as many people as possible to the power of food to heal.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is developing delicious foods that are making a difference in the lives of my customers. I’m overwhelmed by the feedback I receive from customers. It will never get old! A young man who has battled Crohn’s disease his entire life and can now eat a much wider variety of foods. Women who no longer have to rise multiple times during the night to use the bathroom. Athletes who experience higher quality work-outs and faster recoveries as a result of our Kvass. I am humbled to be able to contribute to the quality of these lives.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Lack of sleep. Very little downtime. It’s similar to the most intensive periods when I was a mother to young children. I’m producing continuously in order to have sufficient supply for my customers. I want to support their health with outstanding foods and high-quality service. The pace is relentless, but the feedback I receive makes it all worthwhile. It’s energizing and sustaining.
Remaining faithful to our values is also a challenge. We package all of our products in returnable, reusable glass bottles and jars because we greatly dislike disposable, single-use packaging and, especially, plastic. It would be easier to use conventional packaging, but we are committed to staying true to the company’s environmental priorities as the business grows.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Build a business that has a purpose. muun chi is about supporting personal well-being and honoring our precious Earth. It’s about helping people take control of their health and appreciate that real organic food is medicine. Our customers are grateful for that. Yes, we sell products, but our relationship with our customers is much more than transactional. The purpose is our compass. It’s the solid foundation for our growing business.
- Stay true to your passion, and your brand will come through. Your brand is your truth. As you build followers, they trust and believe in what you are doing. It’s not about the number of followers. It’s not about the money. It’s about your truth and connecting with others who understand it and identify with it. Ask yourself, what purpose am I driven to share with the world?
- Know your limitations and partner with people who complement you. I am very much a right-brain creative type. I love developing new foods, and I find a lot of energy when I interact with customers. On the flip side, I’m not good with details, and you wouldn’t want me to manage the company’s financials. I’m fortunate to have found a partner who is my left-brain, process-oriented counterpart. The synergy that we have has been a key ingredient to the company’s success.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
It’s got to be FUN! If you are not (for me) dancing in the kitchen and laughing with your customers, it’s probably not something that opens your heart to more and more joy. Of course, I want to build a financially successful business, but I know I won’t be able to do that unless I enjoy the journey.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.muunchi.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muunchifood/
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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