Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Atara Bernstein, co-founder and CEO of Pineapple Collaborative, located in Campbell Hall, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Pineapple Collaborative is a multi-channel platform connecting people who love food. What started as a simple potluck dinner in 2015 has grown into an engaged and authentic community of 100,000+ members. Together, we savor the good times at IRL and URL events, share inspiring culinary stories from food icons and rising stars, and cook with our sustainably produced, highly covetable pantry staples. We've developed and launched three iconic women-made products: The Olive Oil, The Apple Cider Vinegar, and The Salt to great acclaim.
Tell us about yourself
I’m Atara, the CEO of Pineapple Collaborative. I’ve been in the food industry for over a decade and couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my precious wild life. Food is my absolute passion and getting to work every day toward a mission of creating real authentic connections through food is a privilege.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
On paper, my biggest honor was being a part of the Forbes 30 Under 30 class. I was so grateful to be recognized and for Pineapple to get the acclaim that I believe we deserve. However, most of the accomplishments I value are more immaterial. I meditate daily on how lucky I am to be able to work with an amazing team who are just as passionate as I am, or how grateful I am to meet and create a community with amazing women who inspire me like Dana Cowin, Sana Javeri Kadri, Phoebe Cole-Smith, Erin Patinkin and dozens of others (there are too many to name!). The ability to work with inspiring, creative women in the food industry is something that I will never take for granted.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
It can be a lonely, seemingly impossible journey at times. You’re the one that is responsible for balancing many conflicting needs all at once. Rely on friends, advisors, and peers to help you through and do what you can to manage the isolating emotions. Know that you’re not alone.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Do hard things and do them in the morning.
- Remember this mantra: You are not your business.
- Ask for help, often.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Contrary to how it looks on social media, we are a very small business. We don’t have venture backing, and our company and our partners are sustained through product sales. Every dollar makes a huge impact on our small business. I’d love to share an exclusive code with all of you to give us a try (while supporting our women-owned small business and the small businesses of our farmers). Use code SUBKIT for 20% off ;)
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.pineapplecollaborative.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pineapplecollaborative/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pineapplecollab
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.