Last days of summer just flew by. I live in two places that are completely different, one is a fast paced city and the other a small town that moves very slowly. I can appreciate them both for what they are. Earlier in August I was in Portland running from one thing to the other, always punctual, and just enough time to get it all in. Hull-some Foods is definitely gaining momentum. It was announced that I am a Top 10 Finalist in the Key4women Pitch Contest, an event put on by Key Bank at Providence Park in front of 6 judges and 150 spectators. It is a four minute pitch with six minutes of Q&A. When the order of presentations were announced, I was told I would be the first to go. I couldn’t imagine a better position to be in!
Between giving massages, spending time with family and friends, and continuing with the fast pace. I always squeezed in a couple runs with my Portland community. This is the place and the people where I began ultra running 11 years ago. On Tuesdays I run with Trail Factor’s run club at Forest Park, it’s a weekly ritual. Afterwards we always grab food and a beer at the Lucky Lab, a fellow ultra runner’s pub. My friend and ultra runner, Julija Šorytė, asked me to pace her at Pinhoti 100. I asked if she wanted me to run the last 20 or 30 miles with her? She responded, “I want you to run 40 miles with me!” It was that moment I realized I better start training and training to do well. I have heard all about Pinhoti. This is the description on their website, “Runners will make their way over the highest point in Alabama while navigation over rocks, through creeks and across beautiful ridge lines of the Talladega National Forest. The course will consist of 81 miles of single track, 17 miles of jeep road and 4 miles of pavement and will finish on the rubberized track in the Sylacauga High School Football Stadium.” I know to never underestimate the “flat,” or even the “hilly” terrain of the South. I am really looking forward to training hard to take Julija to the finish line.
A day well spent with Oregon State University’s Food Innovation Center, Melanie Hanlon, a senior food scientist and Dairy Initiative Program Manager that has been leading my project through its commercialization. We produced hundreds of samples of Shredder Cheddar. I applaud Melanie for her brilliance as a food scientist to develop this product for the marketplace. Without her and the team at FIC, I would still be passing out a patent-pending product for a farmer’s market, but they have made Shredder Cheddar better. The first taste wasn’t until we had finished packaging the samples. We shared that moment with the interns who helped us package Shredder Cheddar. As we were squeezing out the last bits of cheese, and recognizing how delicious it was. We both knew it would be a well loved product. I said to Melanie, “No one is going to believe me that this is natural!” The texture is so smooth and creamy, the cheese is rich with a bold and balanced flavor. I am so excited to share the patent-pending Shredder Cheddar with my fans!
I had to transport all of this product back to Pensacola in my carry on. It was so heavy, I could barely lift it over my head. I was so grateful that there was a nice guy seated next to me, would help me put it in the overhead compartment. I thanked him with Shredder Cheddar. He immediately became a new fan and follows me on Instagram.
Arriving back in Pensacola I always look forward to the change of pace. When I get off the plane and into the airport, I take a deep breath, and begin to relax and walk slowly with everyone else. It feels so incredible to change the pace, then a sense of calmness comes over me.
I had a commitment that weekend to bring some samples and koozies to sell to my run group. I started out that morning with a short beach run at first light, and I saw dolphins feeding and playing about ten feet from the shoreline. It is my understanding that dolphins are good luck. So every time I see them, I know today is going to be a great day! I saw a triathlete in the parking lot getting her bike ready, and I asked if she had an event? She said they meet up every Sunday for tri training, and that I should come. I thought to myself what an inclusive group, maybe I should try that sometime. I connected with my run group and we ran a few miles together. I continued my run to get a few extra miles in. I found new triathletes to run with and talk to them about their training group, the Mere Mortals Tri Gulf Coast. I was fascinated by them, because they were very friendly, inclusive, and exercising in three different ways. I finished my run and ended with sharing samples with my running group. They loved the Shredder Cheddar. I made my first sale for Hull-some Foods, and sold two Shredder Cheddar Koozies! I was just so curious about the Mere Mortals, and what they would think about Shredder Cheddar, so I walked over to them as they were finishing up. I pitched the patent-pending Shredder Cheddar to a group of Ironman athletes. They were excited and now they were fascinated by this. I was given the opportunity to promote with them, which I will definitely do. I asked if anyone in the group was running longer distances? I am always on the search for long distance runners with a matched pace. A guy piped up, and said he’d run with me. He asked, “When?” I asked, “How fast?” He said 7:15 pace, and I said how about 8:30 pace? We met up two days later to run 14 miles. We kept our pace around 8 minutes, and it felt so incredibly fast to me. He was motivating and keeping me at pace. We finished with an average 8:10 pace, and I have never been so happy to be done! The next week we ran together 16 miles with another breakthrough at 7:59 pace. Jeffers is incredibly motivating and an inspiring Ironman athlete! I am so grateful that he has made such an impact on my pace in just a couple of weeks. I am really curious how much faster I can get at 44, and how this will change how I pace Julija in November? These breakthroughs are making my mind and body stronger, and building the confidence to take on any challenge that I face.
Portland State University’s Capstone program finished mid August, and the students did two wonderful final reports for Hull-some Foods. There was so much to gain from that experience with them. I know they were inspired by Shredder Cheddar and my determination to bring this to market. They helped tremendously with my website, package design, financials, and social media. Thank you Brandon Baunach, a Capstone graduate, for building my website! These students taught me so much about running a business to getting my product in the marketplace. I am so impressed by these Capstone students. I know they are well on their way to having a strong career in business. In the Fall, I will lean back into PSU, but this time for their Student Work program. This is their ad agency program led by Marc Moran. He will have a team of students help me brand Shredder Cheddar. With such great success with the Capstone program I am really looking forward to working with these students next.
I have been invited to attend the Winter Fancy Food Festival in Las Vegas with Sarah Masoni’s incubator village with OSU FIC. I will have a booth with them where I will meet potential buyers and suppliers. I am stoked for this event! I have heard from other CPG startups that it will be the best event I will do.
I am speaking with co-packers in Wisconsin, California, and two other universities with Dairy Food innovation labs for manufacturing. I will not give up, and I know I am close to finding a co-packer soon.
Last weekend, I sponsored my first race, Wildcat Ultra. It is a 2.5 mile loop in the heat and humidity of Pensacola’s Equestrian Center for up to 100 miles. I set up a booth on the course loop where I talked to runners about their fueling and recovery choices. Also, how the patent-pending Shredder Cheddar is a healthy shelf-stable alternative to the sweet sugary snacks on the market. I pitched Shredder Cheddar to hundreds of runners, and most of them loved it. Some ate it for fuel and some for recovery. Additionally, I sold a limited edition Shredder Cheddar trucker hat and koozie, before I was told I couldn’t sell without paying the vendor fee. I knew I would learn a few things with this being my first sponsored race, but I didn’t think that would be one of them. I had runners try Shredder Cheddar, then I wrote down their review with their permission. I also collected emails, so they can receive future updates.
These were some of the reviews I heard throughout the day from runners.
“I like it a lot.”
“Shredder Cheddar’s electrolytes helped maintain hydration, and it got rid of my headache.”
“I wanted something different, and I’m tired of eating sweet stuff.”
“I liked the taste and texture.”
I felt like the race was a total success. I am really excited to do another one. I was fired up cheering the runners on, and talking to them. It was a day to be stoked for all the shredders!
I am in a cohort with Oregon Entrepreneurs Network this month where I am learning all about trademarks, patents, investors, and label claims. I have my third workshop today. I alway look forward to meeting with my peers and learning more in this CPG world.
I have recently been introduced to even more resources Portland has to offer for small start-ups like me. With this much help, I have no choice, but to succeed. There are accelerator programs, grants, advisors, workshops, and like minded business owners that really want to help. I appreciate each of the people who have reached out to help me on this incredible journey. Let the momentum continue and the pace stay strong.
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