Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Daniel Jafarizadeh, Co-Owner of Pastaggio INC., located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a Vancouver-based artisanal fresh pasta company on a mission to share high-quality Italian food with our community. Our specialty is creating handmade, laminated, and bronze-die extruded pasta with the best ingredients while sourcing locally whenever possible. The name Pastaggio comes from merging two words, pasta & homaggio, the Italian word for homage! You can find us in retail, purchase from us direct at local farmer's markets, or alternatively, you can now order ready-to-eat fresh pasta & provisions online for delivery or takeout through our website.
Tell us about yourself
Pastaggio was actually a COVID pivot; it was important to me to provide our community with fresh, comforting, restaurant-quality meals - in a time that was unpredictable & unprecedented. I've always had a love for Italian food and handmaking fresh pasta. My fondest memory as a young boy was trying pasta & pizza for the first time in Italy on our way to Canada. I can still remember the way it made me feel, comforting with a wave of happiness in an uncertain & unfamiliar time.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is still being in business; this is our third year.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Trying to find work-life balance.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Use your network, and don't be afraid to ask questions or for advice. People are more willing to help than you think. Make sure to pay it forward in return.
- Make sure your numbers are on point, do your research, keep your numbers up to date as we're in constant fluctuation, and calculate leakage.
- Hire people whose value aligns with yours and take good care of them; our crew is like family to us.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.pastaggio.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pastaggiofreshpasta/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pastaggioyvr/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pastaggioyvr
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-jafarizadeh-78412b235/
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.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.