Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Chris Peruzzi, founder, and COO of The Functional Chocolate Company, located in Evergreen, CO, USA.

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

The Functional Chocolate Company is a health & wellness brand of products that is a functional food. We create condition-specific formulas with Vitamins, herbs, minerals, and botanicals to target everyday symptomatic health realities such as: PMS, Menopause, Energy, Sleep, Stress & Anxiety, Focus, and Libido. So, it is like taking a formulated supplement for an area of health focus, but delivered in ethically sourced dark chocolate. They are also Vegan, Gluten-Free, Cholesterol Free, Non-GMO, and low in sugar.

Tell us about yourself

My name is Chris Peruzzi, and I am the Founder of The Functional Chocolate Company. I have been in the Natural Market Place (Health & Wellness) for 27 years. I was drawn to wellness from early on and have lived that lifestyle since I was a child. It seemed a natural fit for me when I started my first job professionally to pursue my passion in this field. I have always focused on quality of life and getting the most out of it. That quickly turned into me wanting to educate and inspire others to have the knowledge so they can empower themselves to have the best quality of life possible for them.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is quite frankly getting to a point in my career to be able to become a business owner. I have worked so hard for so many amazing companies and incredible business owners/leaders in my career. Those experiences have led me to this point. Just being able to offer products that I created and formulated that can help others has to be at the top of my list of my most satisfying benefits of being a business owner.

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

It is difficult to say that there is just one thing that is the hardest thing about being a business owner...I wouldn't even say "hard" as much as I would use the word "challenge." It is having oversight and input on all facets of the business. Being integral, along with my amazing team, in all decisions from: Sourcing, formulating, packaging, images, design, branding, production, inventory management, fulfillment, marketing, sales, and the list just goes on and on, and it is most definitely challenging, but I wouldn't want it any other way. This company, our products, is a direct reflection of me and what I had envisioned that I wanted to create and offer to consumers.

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

  1. Don't lose sight of your vision. You might have to make concessions on a few things here and there, but always keep the soul of your idea/dream at the core of your focus.
  2. Surround yourself with a great team, and remain open to new ideas and learning. My team is amazing, and as much as I have given to them, they have given back to me in return. Trust, open communication, not being afraid to admit a mistake, or being open to a new idea has created an environment that allows collaboration...and we seem to work best and produce our best results when we respect this process.
  3. Pace yourself. It is most definitely a marathon and not a sprint. As much as you want things to happen quickly, understand that patience is a quality that will yield some incredible results. I am not saying to be complacent or let it organically blossom...you need to work your butt off every day, but understanding that there is a balance of effort and patience will serve you well.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Thank you for the opportunity to participate in your platform and article. I hope everyone tries their very best to have a healthy mind, soul, and body.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://funcho.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/functionalchoc/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FunctionalChoc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/functionalchoc/

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.

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