Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Stephanie Howarth, founder of Mad Radish, located in Montreal, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Mad Radish is on a mission to elevate fast food and transform the way people think about healthy eating. We offer internationally inspired bowls, sandwiches, smoothies and craveable desserts. Our burrito offering, Luisa’s Burritos & Bowls, includes hand-crafted burritos made with fresh, South American inspired ingredients.
Our bowls and burritos are made-to-order and built to travel and we are the industry leaders in compostable packaging. Our crowd-pleasing dishes can be made vegetarian and vegan with the simple selection of a protein and our house made dressings have their own fan clubs.
Tell us about yourself
I'm governed by the principle that a life of meaning is a happy one. And I derive meaning and purpose from making a positive contribution to the lives of my friends and family and the people in my community.
When my co-founders and I looked around at the healthy fast food industry we were pretty disappointed by the options available to most Canadians. Big brands with major spending power are still using non-biodegradable packaging and serving proteins that are mostly filler. No one seems really excited about healthy food on the go and we want to change that. When you eat healthier you just feel better. When companies step up and spend a little extra to protect our planet, the whole world benefits. Mad Radish is serving Canadians the delicious, flavour-packed food they deserve and I'm incredibly proud of our menu and our principles.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Our biggest accomplishment has been weathering the pandemic for almost two years. Our customers are mostly the 9 to 5 office crowd and we've been missing them terribly. It's been very difficult to maintain a positive outlook as the pandemic has stretched on and on. The shining light keeping us on track is really our employees. Our teams have worked through incredibly challenging conditions and I'm endlessly inspired by the dedication and grit of our stores. We've seen people step up in the most amazing ways and some of our best people haven't just weathered the storm - they've thrived.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The uncertainty of the future can be hard to sit with at times. You believe in your product, you believe in your brand and your people but will the customers come? Will they love the things that you are so passionate about? Will your business translate well as it expands to other cities? The uncertainty keeps you hungry and pushes you to prove your viability so it's an important motivator but it can feel unsettling and scary sometimes.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
1. Don't just make a thing or offer a service because you think you can make money doing it. Because when the going gets tough, and it almost always does, your love for your product and your people will be what gets you through.
2. Choose the right partners. Entrepreneurship can be lonely and overwhelming at times and having the right people by your side will transform the way you meet the challenges ahead. Look for complementary skill sets (you can't afford to have two or more people with the same skills when you're starting out) but synchronized values. If the founders don't agree on how to treat people or the planet, you'll waste precious time and energy debating core principles instead of connecting with your customers and improving your product.
3. Have fun! I tell my people all the time "We aren't curing cancer here". And frankly, even if we were, I'd make sure we laughed and connected a little each day. A company is just a collection of people who want to do their best every day and feel recognized and optimistic about their future. Make them feel excited, make them feel good about their outlook and their work. Make them smile every single day.
Where can people find you and your business?
https://www.instagram.com/eatmadradish/
https://twitter.com/eatmadradish
https://www.facebook.com/eatmadradish
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mad-radish
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.
