Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food & beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sarah Davies, Founder of More Eats, Inc., located in Toronto, ON, Canada.

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

More Granola is Canada's first and only brand of snackable granola chunks. We make granola snacks in a line of dessert-inspired flavors, including Pecan Pie, Hot Cocoa, Nutty Crumble, and Salted Caramel.

The idea for More Granola was born out of a personal need. As a consumer, I used to buy boxes of Granola only to pick out all the little chunks to snack on. I was trying to understand why those pieces were so rare when they were so clearly the best part of the box! The void was clear: granola snacks are limited to chewy, single-serve balls and bars, and granola cereal is too messy to eat without a spoon.

More Granola was created to bridge the gap, with crunchy granola chunks that can be eaten right out of the bag or broken up to eat by the spoonful. Picture large, cookie-like pieces of your favorite crunchy granola bar piled high in a resealable bag designed for easy access. Having the flexibility to be both a stand-alone snack or part of a more significant meal positions. More Granola as an 'anytime food' that can be enjoyed morning, noon, or night, no spoon required!

Our consumers are inspired to get creative and enjoy moments of play with granola chunks big enough to eat in various ways. When you have more, the possibilities are truly endless. As an entrepreneur, my mission is to make healthy eating fun and encourage people to eat more of the things they love.

Tell us about yourself

My entrepreneurial career began during the pandemic. I used to work in Wealth Management but ultimately knew that wasn't where my passion lay. I decided to return to school and complete my MBA at an entrepreneurship-focused school in Madrid, Spain, when the pandemic hit. I flew home in March 2020 and knew it was the perfect time to launch the business of my dreams and spread joy through food.

Since then, it has never been more evident to me that passion is the key to reaching your potential and fulfilling your ambitions. My passion is my superpower. It propels me to go farther than ever before and gets me excited to work harder with each new day. I've discovered my talent for identifying opportunities within the food industry and my ability to innovate with healthy, delicious products that fill those gaps.

I leaped to work full-time on this business in January 2021. Almost two years later, we're in over 220 retails across Canada and have sold thousands of bags online via our Shopify store. I graduated from baking the product myself for most of 2021 to partnering with a co-packer to scale up our production in 2022. Now, we've just launched with a national food distributor! My goal is for More Granola to become a national brand and a household name.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

At More Eats Inc., we aim to contribute to the wave of change in the Canadian food industry toward more natural, plant-based, and "real" food. Consumers are reading food labels more than ever before and struggling to find options on grocery store shelves that are truly all-natural. Supporting the health of our population starts by having products that can fulfill the exact needs, cravings, and conveniences we've become accustomed to. More Granola is working towards this goal and building our business with a genuinely local supply chain.

We source Canadian ingredients where possible and exclusively partner with Ontario-based suppliers, predominantly women-owned and run. Building this community has been important for our business and mutually beneficial to our partners, many of whom started their freelance businesses during the pandemic.

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

The constant uncertainty and self-doubt can be challenging for an entrepreneur. The journey often feels like you are trying to find your way through a series of dark rooms with only a vague idea of where you are trying to go and uncertain that the destination exists. Surrounding yourself with people on the same journey as you who support you is crucial for keeping your momentum, growth, and a positive mindset.

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

  1. Put yourself out there! Reach out to people who own businesses you admire, and ask them for their advice. Hindsight is 20/20, so you always get valuable insights from those who have been through it.
  2. Tap into your local network. See what accelerators, grants, and small business support your community offers.
  3. Cultivate a group of like-minded peers. Connect with others on the same journey as you. The support and mutual understanding will be invaluable in facing the challenges ahead!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://moregranola.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moregranola_/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/more-granola/about/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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