Case Studies January 2022

Finally, it’s lunchtime and you’ve decided to go a healthier route today. However, when you open your bag of mixed greens, it doesn’t have croutons, cheese or dressing to liven it up. Here was a gap in the condiment supply chain, Leslie Surber thought—and it needed to be fixed. That’s among the reasons she started […]

Going out to eat with children can be challenging, especially if they’re picky eaters. Darden Coors had been seeing this at MAD Greens, the fast casual restaurant chain where she’s CEO, and wanted to offer more than salads. Now, with macaroni and cheese on the menu, she’s hoping the restaurant will appeal to a wider […]

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, it seemed like everyone was trying to make sourdough bread. Bruce Stewart recalls people coming into True Grain Bread, where he’s owner and president, to share stories of their success, and sometimes of their fails. One man told Stewart he’d been in the shop six months prior […]

Growing up, Luis Castaneda remembers his family hosting large gatherings where his mom would cook for 80 to 100 guests. He’d be in the kitchen as she moved between the stove, the counter, the sink and the fridge, mesmerized by how his mother managed to do so much at once. Later, he’d join the guests […]

When Jean Swoope became the president and owner of The Coffee Tree Roasters, she had a few ideas for change. Her late husband, who started the business with his father in 1993, had been consistent in how the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, coffee company had operated. Without disrespecting his legacy, Swoope added her own touch. “He did […]

On March 19, 2020, Superior Grocers President Richard Wardwell was driving across town to visit a store in Santa Ana, California when he heard the news that Gov. Gavin Newsom was issuing a stay-at-home order due to rising cases of COVID-19. With the mandate going into effect within 72 hours, there was plenty to do […]

Tim Gomez will never forget his 10-day trip to Switzerland in January 2020 right before COVID-19 brought the world to a screeching halt. The Kansas entrepreneur wasn’t there to ogle at the Matterhorn or buy a cuckoo clock. Instead, Gomez toured farms in Gstadd—a place where cheesemaking has been revered for centuries—to learn more about […]

There’s nothing like sinking your teeth into the perfect, mouth-watering Wagyu ribeye. The marbling of the cut; the soft, velvety texture; the unctuous flavor achieved by grilling over an open flame. As steaks go, these premium cuts are as good as it gets. Francois Leger, owner of FPL Food, LLC, has been selling high-quality Wagyu […]