Purest of Glacial Waters - Rök Glacier Water

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Troy Finnigan, president, and CEO of Rok H2O Ltd., located in Calgary, AB, Canada.

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

We are re-shaping the beverage industry with the rarest, purest water on earth. Our unique water source provides the perfect mineral and ph+ composition needed by the human body to maintain optimal hydration. Our mission of intentional sustainability has allowed us to become the first movers into the aluminum packaging category for water... helping to eliminate plastic bottles from our oceans and landfills.

Tell us about yourself

Having spent 20+ years in the beverage industry working with multinational as well as start-up companies around the world, I developed a passion for sustainable niche products that over-deliver on quality and give back more than they take. The opportunity to provide the world with such a rare water source while contributing to the environmental sustainability of the region encouraged me to go all-in on this project. The upside to our province as well as the environment was too positive not to pursue.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

The ability to grow a business over the last two years while keeping more than 20 people fully employed with a sense of accomplishment was no easy task. I believe anyone that has successfully navigated their business upheaval during COVID deserves accolades. No one but entrepreneurs truly understands how this has impacted the lives of everyone involved. The breadth of learning required during this time was very wide.

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

The Lack of resources for start-ups. Self-funding everything, dealing with banks which mostly talk about the great things they do for small businesses but are not there in any meaningful way until you have clawed your way through start-up costs and issues and become profitable... then they come to you. They should be more transparent about the actual resource available.

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

Have access to as much capital as you can and be comfortable with extending your personal money to make things happen. Create a solid business plan with someone who has started a business before. Be aware of all the regulatory requirements in your sector.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.rokglacier.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rokglacierwater
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rokglacierwater/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troy-finnigan-a9a73734/

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.