KIND Snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky explains the working capital dynamics and scaling challenges in early-stage consumer packaged goods.
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Post-Oslo Accords, Arab suppliers were eager to do business with Israelis
“They were super receptive because this was, remember, the romantic time. This was after, after the Oslo peace process. And it's hard to appreciate and remember how magical that time was, but you would go to Arab capitals, and you would go to Arab towns, and th…”
Insight
Distributors will not open retail markets for early-stage brands
“The way you do it, at least during my time, is distributors are not going to open markets. They're going to continue your stuff. So I opened New York City. I developed New York City. Once I have 50 accounts or a hundred accounts, then I find a distributor to c…”
Insight
A social mission cannot drive sales without product quality and value
“What I discovered along the way is that if you're too mission forward consumers will give you one shot, but then they think they're doing you a favor. And what I discovered is you need to make sure that you're not trying to tell the consumer, do this because o…”
Opinion
Whole Foods' ingredient list is the Magna Carta of natural food
“Whole Foods at the time, and still, their list is like the Magna Carta for natural.”
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Roughly 95% of snack bars are manufactured as pastes
“Most bars, I think, 95% of bars are what's called an emulsion or a paste, and it flows really easily to the manufacturing line.”
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Nine in ten consumers who sampled KIND became repeat buyers
“What we found out, guy, is that anytime somebody tried a kind bar, nine out of 10 would fall in love with the brand, would tell others about it, and within a month it would pay for itself because they would start buying the product.”