# Live From The HIBT Summit: Stacy Madison of Stacy's Pita Chips

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2020-03-12
- Length: 12m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-03-12-live-from-the-hibt-summit-stacy-madison-of-stacys-pita-chips

## Summary

Stacy Madison, co-founder of Stacy's Pita Chips, explains how she and her husband Mark bootstrapped a snack empire from a Boston sandwich cart without a business plan or outside capital. She details the pivot from gourmet stores to securing a massive Trader Joe's account, which provided the cash flow to fund growth and avoid selling to food conglomerates. Madison also discusses the personal toll of scaling the business and her current venture, B-Bold Energy Bars, where she is applying those hard-won lessons to a new startup.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-03-12-live-from-the-hibt-summit-stacy-madison-of-stacys-pita-chips#t=0) Introduction: Stacy Madison and the Origin of Stacy's Pita Chips
- [1:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-03-12-live-from-the-hibt-summit-stacy-madison-of-stacys-pita-chips#t=94) Bootstrapping and Early Growth in Gourmet Stores
- [3:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-03-12-live-from-the-hibt-summit-stacy-madison-of-stacys-pita-chips#t=235) Securing Factory Space and Bank Loans
- [5:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-03-12-live-from-the-hibt-summit-stacy-madison-of-stacys-pita-chips#t=314) The Trader Joe's Breakthrough and Financial Independence
- [7:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-03-12-live-from-the-hibt-summit-stacy-madison-of-stacys-pita-chips#t=443) Scaling Pains and the Decision to Sell
- [9:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-03-12-live-from-the-hibt-summit-stacy-madison-of-stacys-pita-chips#t=556) Starting B-Bold Energy Bars and New Ventures

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Stacy's Pita Chips (product)
- Trader Joe's (company)
- B-Bold (product)
- Whole Foods (company)
- Frito Lay (company)
- Quaker (company)
- Jim Beam (company)

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- [Founder Feature: Becca Wright of Piedmont Pennies](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-01-17-founder-feature-becca-wright-of-piedmont-pennies) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Sean Knecht of Tantos!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-05-08-founder-feature-sean-knecht-of-tantos) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Marilyn Yang of Popadelics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-04-11-founder-feature-marilyn-yang-of-popadelics) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#186 - Bootstrap Heroes: Bumpin Blends, Lentiful and Drink Wholesome](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-03-11-186-bootstrap-heroes-bumpin-blends-lentiful-and-drink-wholesome) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Maxi Heidenblut of Häppy Candy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-04-04-founder-feature-maxi-heidenblut-of-happy-candy) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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