Nourishing Bodies, While Nourishing Lives

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Susanna King, founder of Snackables, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.

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

Snackables is an employment social enterprise- for those not familiar with the term employment social enterprises are businesses that create training and employment opportunities for people facing systemic barriers to entry into the mainstream labour market. For Snackables, we are looking to support black youth with employment who have previously been charged or incarcerated. The business's main goal is to increase employment amongst its target hiring demographic in an effort to reduce the likelihood of reoffending.

We do this through our snack catering business which offers a range of bistro snack boxes: veggie, fruit, and protein, as well as energy balls in three different flavours: lemon bliss, salted caramel, and cranberry oat. This helps provide individuals and spaces with access to healthy snacking for their teams and clients. Snackables customers enjoy affordable, fresh, healthy food that provides better nutritional value for their lunch or snack.

When someone purchases from Snackables - they're not only purchasing a healthy snack; they're supporting a black-owned, woman-owned company; they're supporting a company that does not hold individuals' past behind them, a company that wants to provide second chances as well as opportunities.

Tell us about yourself

At a young age, I found myself a victim of my own surroundings, which led to my getting caught up in the criminal justice system. I remember the day I went to court; the judge asked if I was in school or working. I told her I was working a summer job and was starting university that September.

The judge gave me a second chance that day; she told me that she believed I was more than my crime. She admonished me not to prove her wrong. From that day on, I decided to educate myself in social and community work with a focus on the role the environment plays in the behaviours and actions of young people. My goal was to better the community by providing access and opportunities for all.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

One of my biggest accomplishments is launching Snackables during a pandemic. At a time when many food catering service businesses had to shut down, I was able to not only get our energy balls into a retailer - BlackOwnedToronto located in Scarborough Town Centre mall. We also were able to partner with two schools in the Toronto Catholic School Board for their nutrition program.

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

Learning how to find a balance - especially as a new business owner. Understanding how to navigate different roles has been extremely challenging; you are not only the owner, you play the role of human resources, accounting, marketing- everything. As a social enterprise, one of the hardest things I've faced was accessing funding, especially for a for-profit social enterprise.

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

Don't be afraid to ask for help.
Do work that you truly believe in.
Understand your customers.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.snackables.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snackables.services/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/snackables/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.