Member Highlight: Rule Breaker Snacks
To learn more about Rule Breaker Snacks, we asked their team to weigh-in.
What is the name of your company?
Rule Breaker Snacks
When and why did you start your company?
I used to be a health journalist, and so I know exactly what to eat to be healthy.
BUT I have a terrible sweet tooth (we’re talking dessert-for-breakfast-bad), and could never find anything at the store that truly satisfied it and was vegan, gluten free, lower in sugar and made with only good clean ingredients. So in 2015, I got busy in my kitchen and decided to try making brownies made from chickpeas (yes, beans!). My first tries were terrible. But I kept working at it for a year and came up with a brownie that was loved by everyone who tried it. I had no experience in food. But I thought, how hard could it be to start a food company? I’ll try it! Well, I’ve found out exactly how hard. But I’m so glad I did it.
3 sentences or less, can you tell us about the work your company is doing and why it is important?
For too long, vegans and people with allergies or other dietary needs have been underserved when it comes to great tasting products. We’re part of the wave of new vegan brands that deliver on great taste and experience–without any sacrifice.
What do you think others should be aware of with regards to the work your company is doing?
At Rule Breaker Snacks, we take being vegan and having food allergies very , very seriously. Our bakeries are completely free of animal products and the top 11 allergens, and all our snacks are made and packaged there. So you can be sure you’re eating something that truly aligns with your values and needs.
How have the current circumstances of the world changed your business plan?
Back in 2015, we started off in brick and mortar and paid less attention to online. But with fewer people going to the grocery store during the pandemic, we have turned our attention to online sales in a big way. That channel comprises 40% of our current sales, and we hope to make it 50% by the end of the year.
Do you have any exciting news or launches occurring this year?
In January, Rule Breaker received a minority investment from Bimbo Bakeries USA, the biggest baked goods company in the country (Sara Lee, Arnold’s, Thomas’, etc) and that funding is really helping us grow like crazy. We’re working on lots of new products and line extensions. The first was our launch of our new Pumpkin Spice Bites this month.
What is one thing you wish you knew as you began your work that you think is important for others working in this industry to know?
The food business is HARD, and something is bound to go wrong almost every day. So I’ve learned to expect that, not let it throw me, and just keep moving forward. That’s the way to survive, thrive–and keep your sanity!
Where can others find you online?
- Website: https://www.rulebreakersnacks.com/
- Instagram/Facebook: @rulebreakersnacks Twitter: @bearulebreaker
Investor Highlight: Eat Beyond Global Holdings Inc.
To learn more about Eat Beyond, we asked their team to weigh-in.
What is the name of your company?
Eat Beyond Global Holdings Inc.
Why did you start your company?
The move to Eat Beyond represents a unique opportunity to lead an organization that is at the forefront of the shift to plant-based and alternative proteins. It provides a three-fold opportunity: 1) To assist high-potential start-ups in dramatically accelerating their growth; 2) The opportunity for retail investors to participate at a stage of funding they typically do not have access to; and 3) the opportunity to accelerate the overall development of the alternative protein space for the betterment of the planet.
In 3 sentences or less, can you tell us about the work your company is doing and why it is important?
Eat Beyond’s work is important as it allows entrepreneurs in the alternative protein space to dramatically accelerate the development and growth curve of their businesses. Our ability to leverage our roster of industry expert advisors gives our portfolio companies access to expertise, insight, and an industry network that is unparalleled. In a consumer space as dynamic as these categories, this acceleration provides a distinct competitive advantage to our portfolio companies.
What do you think others should be aware of with regards to the work your company is doing?
Our ability to unlock and fully realize the potential of high-quality start-ups in the alternative protein space.
How have the current circumstances of the world changed your business plan?
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on Eat Beyond and its portfolio companies. From a portfolio company perspective, it has reinforced and accelerated consumers’ awareness of healthy food and its sources, local supply of food, and the risk of human/animal interaction in the food chain. These all resonate positively within the bulk of our portfolio companies.
Do you have any exciting news occurring this year?
We are currently working on a number of potential new investments to further expand our list of high potential portfolio companies. Stay tuned.
What is one thing you wish you knew as you began your work that you think is important for others working in this industry to know?
The traditional consumer packaged goods (CPG) players, while interested and curious about the alternative protein space, have yet to fully understand the urgency of reducing our reliance on animal protein and its associated stress on the environment. My learning curve on this front has dramatically accelerated in recent years but this is still a blind spot for the broader industry. This opportunity is about much more than just the latest fad or trend, this is a shift that can have a dramatic impact on our future quality of life on this planet.
Where can others find you online?
Website: https://eatbeyondglobal.com/