Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Salman Ahmad, founder of Sully's Chocolate, located in Mississauga, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Sully's handcrafts sugar-free chocolate that's ethical and delicious! We bring high-end, craft chocolate to those that want to reduce sugar from their lifestyle - whether you're trying to eat healthy, are on keto, or are a diabetic.
Our chocolate Tastes Good (we use premium, single-origin cocoa to highlight flavors from around the world), Feels Good (we removed sugar along with a bunch of other unnecessary ingredients), and Does Good (we go beyond to source our cocoa ethically and sustainably.
Tell us about yourself
As a former management consultant, I learned about the confectionery industry and how it was evolving towards healthier snacks. As a chocolate lover, I thought I could create a better tasting product than what was available on store shelves.
Both these things led me to quit my job during the pandemic and start this business! I'm driven to provide consumers with a better option for sugar-free chocolate while learning to build a successful company.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
As someone with no experience in recipe development, chocolate making, or food science, I successfully formulated a chocolate bar that tastes better than leading competitors.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
All of the decision-making responsibility rests on your shoulders. Not only does the sheer number of day-to-day decisions become taxing but the outcome of those decisions is completely dependent on you.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
1) Have a strong conviction in why you're starting a business. Being an entrepreneur is the hardest thing I've done and it's not as glamorous as you might believe. However, the beauty of it is that you get to actively shape what the future of your chosen industry might look like.
2) Persevere through the ups and downs. Your dedication to keeping going when things get hard will be a big determinant of whether you'll be successful. You need to stay focused and be willing to learn all aspects of running a company.
3) Network as much as possible. I was surprised by how helpful strangers have been throughout my journey. Get involved in your industry's community (Facebook groups, forums, in-person events), and don't be afraid to reach out and ask for help.
Where can people find you and your business?
https://www.instagram.com/sullyschocolate/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/sullyschocolate
https://www.facebook.com/SullysChocolate
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.
