Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Andrea Young, founder, and CEO of Sweet Vegan, located in New York City, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Sweet Vegan Chocolates is a plant-based chocolate company located in Harlem, NY. All our chocolates are gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, and preservative-free. Our delicious chocolates have already been featured in events such as The Clinton Global Initiative 2022 at the New York Midtown Hilton Hotels - an example of our recent corporate gifting success. We've also reached customers at notable brands such as Williams Sonoma and Kendra Scott. We have collaborated successfully for over three years with in-person chocolate tastings every week in New York and New Jersey.
Our customers are a mix of health-conscious chocoholics, each searching for the perfect bite of deliciousness. Our premium chocolate offers a unique combination of exceptional flavor and nutritious ingredients - sure to satisfy even the most discerning gourmands!
Tell us about yourself
I have been an interior designer with a dedicated plant-based diet for many years. With downsizing in the interior design industry, I dedicated my time to becoming a vegan chef. By creating a comprehensive vegan menu, I discovered that delicious dairy, soy, nut, gluten, and preservative-free chocolate were hard to find. I started making various plant-based chocolates to complement my vegan recipes. Such flavors as "Midnight Passion" align with the chocolate purist who prefers deep dark chocolate. With its fruity notes, our "Strawberry Sensation" Chocolate has become a crowd-pleaser with many repeat customers. Creating chocolate that everyone can enjoy is what motivates me each day. By making our product all-inclusive, we hope to bring a joyful and delicious experience to everyone by creating a 100% allergen-free experience.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is helping the world embrace plant-based chocolate's deliciousness. I invite you and everyone looking for a healthy and delicious snack to experience our signature flavors, Energizing Espresso, Midnight Passion, Luscious Lemon, and Spicy Ginger, which are all sure to seduce your taste buds!
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Running a successful business can be challenging and unpredictable. As the owner of an ever-evolving chocolate company, I'm constantly presented with new challenges daily. The hardest of those challenges is continually adapting to the market landscape, reaching new customers, and staying relevant in a highly saturated market. Despite these daily curveballs, staying focused on achieving success is essential!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
The top three tips I would give to anyone who is looking to start and grow a business today are:
- Perseverance is everything. It takes perseverance to push through the challenges to come out on the other side and achieve success.
- Have clear goals. Ask yourself, "What does my business do?" and "what can I do better?" Then focus on doing that to the best of your ability and being open to change, and embracing the new.
- Hire the right team. The key is building your team so everyone works in their area of expertise. There's no one-size-fits-all solution, so you must identify your business's specific needs.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.sweetvegan.nyc/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweetvegannyc/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetvegannyc/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sweetvegannyc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sweetvegan/
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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