Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ruby Lathon, Owner of Ruby Reds Vegan, located in Washington, DC, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Ruby Reds Vegan Meal Delivery provides premium, organic healthy ready-to-eat meals delivered directly to our customer's doors in the Washington DC and Baltimore areas. This eliminates the need for planning, shopping, and preparing meals; it also eliminates the need to know how to cook or prepare meals. We take all the work, effort, and worry out of daily meal preparation. Our customers are health-conscious people who desire to eat healthy for various reasons. Many follow a vegan lifestyle and want to eliminate the hassle of daily meal preparation. Other customers are just seeking to increase their intake of plant-based foods. Another large segment of our customer base is seeking help preventing or managing lifestyle-related illnesses such as diabetes, kidney disease, obesity, and cancer. Whole plant-based foods have been proven to help prevent, manage and reverse these illnesses. Thus our service helps solves a very large problem. The meals we prepare don't just taste good; they are designed to aid in improving health by balancing fiber, plant proteins, and phytonutrients while minimizing oils, salt, and processed ingredients.
A common barrier to eating healthy is that "healthy" food often doesn't taste good. We solve this problem by providing incredibly tasty meals designed by a holistic nutritionist and health coach with years of experience teaching vegan cooking around the country.
Tell us about yourself
I am an engineer turned holistic nutritionist. I made this sharp transition after healing myself of thyroid cancer using a plant-based diet. After this life-changing event, I decided to leave the defense industry and find a career that was soul-satisfying. I started sharing my health journey with others. I decided to relocate to Washington, DC, to work for a non-profit organization that promotes a plant-based diet for disease prevention and overall health. This was a job I would do for free. I had found my passion! Because of my wealth of information on plant-based nutrition, I was hired as the Nutrition Policy Manager. While working there, I got certified as a holistic nutritionist to guide people toward healthy lifestyles formally. I eventually left the non-profit and began coaching clients, teaching plant-based cooking, hosting conferences, and providing nutrition education to the community (churches, DC public schools, community events, workshops, corporate seminars, online classes, etc.). I was and still am spreading the word everywhere that we can take control of our health by what we put on our plate--this is the hill I will LIVE on!
As I coached more clients, many requested prepared meals rather than the recipes and cooking videos I provided. I started preparing meals for a few clients with very pressing health challenges. The food was helping them and provided them with the variety and tastiness needed to stay on track. I started getting this request more often and saw that there was a need for healthy, organic, unprocessed vegan food. When COVID hit, we decided to launch the delivery business, given the huge need for healthy ready-to-eat meals at such a trying time, with minimal person-to-person contact. Thus, Ruby Reds Vegan Meal Delivery was born. Keeping people healthy while enjoying good food is our mission.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I am very proud that we were able to start our business during COVID to help meet the community's needs in very trying times. I am proud to have expanded the business to provide part-time work to an additional chef and support staff.
Our biggest accomplishment to date is partnering with The Links (VA Potomac Chapter) to provide food along with a free nutrition workshop and cooking demonstration to families at a temporary family housing facility in Washington, DC.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is managing the unknowns and managing your fear. It's not necessary to be fearless, but you must be able to move forward despite the fear.
Our company and food are our passion. We have achieved momentum due to our team members' and followers' hard work, support, and love. We've had many challenges in our journey, but through these challenges, we can confidently say that we will continue on our path to creating healthy vegan meals for all!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be organized and have a concrete growth plan.
- Be flexible enough to handle unforeseen events and change course based on credible feedback.
- Be determined and have a good team around you. You will need help.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
There are many compelling reasons to eat more plants. My bout with cancer taught me the enormous healing power of plant-based diets and natural supplementation that was the foundation of my healing process. I also learned how much power we have within ourselves through our thoughts, emotions, and expectations. I know that my story of beating cancer will help people facing cancer and anyone who wants to live a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.rubylathon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rubyredsvegan/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RubyRedsVegan/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rubyl
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rubylathon/
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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