Recreating Your Childhood Favorites

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Brian Trupo, Co-Founder of Trupo Treats, located in San Diego, CA, USA.

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

I am in the business of giving back! Trupo Treats is a social cause that happens to sell delicious, plant-based & gluten-free chocolate bars. We sell better-for-you products, like vegan wafer chocolate bars, vegan rice crunch bars, and more, and then give profits away to causes that we care about, such as animal sanctuaries or other sustainable causes. Our main customers are animal lovers who want to eat dairy-free products and also consumers aiming to eat better-for-you versions of their childhood favorite chocolate bars!

Tell us about yourself

My twin brother, Charlie Trupo, and I started Trupo Treats out of our love for animals and want to make plant-based products more accessible. We stopped eating meat when we were 7 years old and shortly after went vegan when we learned about the dairy industry and how cruel it was. When we were 19 years old, we started a social media channel called Veggie Brothers and knew that one day we would aim to turn it into a business. In 2020, right after COVID-19 struck the United States, Charlie and I were still in college. I had a class called Entrepreneurship Practicum, and I either had to start my own business or intern for one. While trying to think of an idea, I walked down the chocolate aisles of Whole Foods Market. I was searching for something creamy, delicious, and sweet, but all I could find were dark chocolate products. Most of the dark chocolate products weren't even vegan, but regardless I was searching for a milky, creamy product. I realized that there was a huge need for dairy-free milk chocolate products, and I decided to pitch the idea to my brother that we should create this product ourselves! 2 months later, we launched a successful Kickstarter!

Each day, I'm motivated by the thought of giving compassionate eaters a chance to regain their childhood favorite chocolate bars. I also love that most of our bars are allergen-free except for coconut, so this allows people with soy, dairy, and nut allergies to eat our products!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I feel like my biggest accomplishment is figuring out a way to make these vegan wafer chocolate bars. It took us over one year to figure out a facility that could make them for us, but I am so happy that we did. The process of trying to find a manufacturer to create our gluten-free and vegan bars really taught me that anything is possible as long as you believe in yourself AND the dream that you are pursuing.

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

There will always be haters in this world, and as a compassionate person, it's always difficult for me to hear negativity around the products that I am creating. My piece of advice to new business owners is to get into a mindset of not caring what others think and to just go for whatever it is that you feel passionate about and have your heart set on. Nobody knows your business better than you do.

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

The hardest part of starting a business is putting the effort and mental energy into starting it.
If you're looking to scale a business into being national or international, I highly suggest getting amazing partners who you feel great about and potentially raising capital. The biggest killers in a new business are a lack of capital and a dysfunctional team.
Just go for it! Listen to your gut. Don't let anyone tell you that you won't succeed if you have the drive to succeed; you will always be able to make it happen.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://trupotreats.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trupotreats/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trupobrian/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/btrupo/

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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