Many of you may remember the recession of 2008 — I do! — it was a heavy crush for a lot of people. Maybe one of the few silver linings that came out of it was people looking at what they did for a living and saying — Screw it! — I am going to do what I love. Makers, craft artisans — whatever you want to call it — these people had passion projects that they wanted to bring to fruition — enter Union Kitchen in 2012. The DC area’s first business incubator, now an accelerator and an investment fund with area markets and… and… and… So many shifts, pivots and swivels over the last 10 years. I am so excited to catch up with CEO & Founder of Union Kitchen Cullen Gilchrist and he brought with him two “graduates” — Margarita Womack, Founder and CEO of Latin Goodness Foods aka MasPanadas & Samy Kobrosly, the Founder of the very yummy Snacklins — both of whom are now living the dream. Let’s get into it on the next Industry Night with Nycci Nellis.
Quotes
"Collaborating with Union Kitchen, we found the perfect partner who guided us in design and the comprehensive process. Every detail contributes to our success." -Margarita Womack
"We were completely obsessed with finding problems because they led us to the solutions we wanted to build."- Cullen Gilchrist
"Launching in Walmart doesn't guarantee discovery for small brands. Stores like Whole Foods or mom's organic are where customers actively seek out new and exciting products.." -Samy Kobrosly
Guests Social Media Links:
Samy Kobrosly:
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eatsnacklins/
Margarita Womack:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maspanadas/
https://www.instagram.com/latingoodness/
Cullen Gilchrist:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unionkitchendc/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=union%20kitchen
Twitter - https://twitter.com/UnionKitchenDC
Featuring Nycci Nellis
https://www.instagram.com/nyccinellis/
https://www.thelistareyouonit.com/
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
08:24 From Empty Spaces to Shared Kitchens
10:45 Solving Problems for Food Businesses
15:28 Collaborating with Health Department for Cleanliness
16:16 Investing in Stage Zero Startups: Long-Term Success Resources
20:42 Passion Projects: Dessert-Making and Job Transitions
24:06 Healthy Twist on Empanadas: Baked Options and Customization
29:13 Expanding to Whole Foods: Local Products and Store Partnerships
29:54 Taking Control: From Copacker to Independent Manufacturing
34:09 Vegan Pork Rinds: From Bar Bet to Popular Snack
38:36 From Snacks to Consumer Goods: Union Kitchen's Acceleration
43:05 Driving Demand and Retailer Partnerships
45:54 Resilient Store Systems: Regional Growth and Investment Fund
51:02 Thriving in the Changing Retail Landscape: Collaborating with Retail Giants
54:42 Preparing for Growth: Streamlining Operations and Hiring
58:12 Outro
Produced by Heartcast Media
http://www.heartcastmedia.com
