Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Stefan Czapalay, president of Chef Brandz, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Our business is a vertically integrated team, or commercial, RD chefs, Quality Assurance and regulatory that takes any food item from concept to launch and manufactures and manages the accounts.

Tell us about yourself

I am a chef of 40 plus years. The beginning of my career was all about fine dining. I started this company as I was a high mileage traveler and wanted to improve the quality of airline food. Our focus today is supplying restaurant quality food to retail and online sales as well as supporting restaurants with a supply of what we call MIS ( mis en place=Prep) to assist in allowing them to operate at full capacity with reduced staff. What motivates me every day is to have a place of work employees look forward to coming and continuing to push forward quality and innovation to a broad group of consumers.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Taking a company that was 92% dependent on the airline industry in March 2019 and turning it around from near bankruptcy and growing 300% into other sectors.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Managing the people. As an empathetic person, I am bombarded by others emotional states and have a desire to improve the lives of others around me.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Do not put all your eggs in one basket, multiple income streams, or customer diversification.
  2. Be pragmatic and meticulous in the start-up. Properly open. Bank accounts, business registration. Minimize your personal debt.
  3. Borrow money early, even if you don't need it. Establish credit. You should not grow a business on your personal debt or leverage.
  4. Flexible and nimble business plan. Have the desired goal but be flexible in the path to get there.
  5. Work your butt off!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Being an entrepreneur is an amazing journey. I wouldn't go back and trade anything at all, but you must believe in yourself. You must not compare yourself to others. Keep the faith, and it all works out the way it is supposed. Systemize the predictable so you can humanize the exceptional.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: http://signatureculinarysolutions.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefzap/

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.