Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sachi Kittur, Founder and CEO of Sachili, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Sachili is a line of mouth-watering condiments formulated with a twist on the expected flavor of chili – where flavor beats the heat! So move over flavor shakers and forget the boring salt and pepper. Sachili is 100% natural sauces and flavor toppings that can be added to just about any dish, instantly transforming an ordinary sweet or savory food offering into an extraordinary experience.
Sachili's customers are millennials who are exploring their flavor palette in the kitchen, home cooks who want to make sharing food fun again with their family, kids, and friends, and even full-size restaurants that are looking for a healthy, non-MSG, vegan alternative to adding flavor into their dishes.
Tell us about yourself
From a very young age (early teens), I have always played an active role in the community. Whether it's teaching dance to kids and young adults or collaborating with friends/family to organize special events. My energy and my purpose have always been driven by "we" and "collective successes" - this is likely what led me down a rewarding leadership career path building engaging cultures and nurturing talent in growth companies.
As I now embark on my venture Sachili, I try to be mindful of balancing growth and profitability with the community and supporting the success of others. This value is still at the core of what motivates me.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Sachili was initially built as a part-time hustle. Despite thriving in a demanding full-time leadership role, I also managed to scale our products into 120 stores. This was a big personal milestone and validation that I not only had a unique product/brand but that I was the right leader in scaling and growing this business.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I spent my entire 25+ year career in the technology and telecom industry. Entering CPG was a completely new realm. Not only did I have to ramp up learning how to navigate this eco-system, but I also work aggressively to build and grow my network. I am proud to say that I now have two key advisors in the business who have successfully grown Fortune 500 CPG brands - and I did this all on my own.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Perfection is overrated, and action is underrated. It's impossible to perfect an idea or concept at the inception stage, so you just need to take a chance on yourself and go for it knowing that your idea, product, or service will evolve many times before you get it just right.
- Seek mentors that have done what you are embarking on. This will help minimize growing pains/hurdles.
- Change your narrative from "I can't" to "I can and I will." Remember, what you think is what you become.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.sachili.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sachiliflavors
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sachiliflavors/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sachili/
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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