Hardware Podcasts

Late July Snacks: Nicole Bernard Dawes. Crackers and Cookies were Failing… Tortilla Chips Saved Them

How I Built This · 31 Aug 2026 · 1h 20m

What this episode covers

Nicole Bernard Dawes, founder of Late July Snacks and Nixie Beverage Company, recounts how her company survived a near-collapse in 2009 by pivoting from failing organic crackers and cookies to organic tortilla chips. She details the crisis triggered by her father's death and a $3.5 million loan default, her successful pivot to tortilla chips to secure distribution, and the eventual acquisition of Late July by Campbell's via Snyder's Lance. Dawes also discusses launching her new beverage brand, Nixie, and the lessons learned regarding strategic investors, keyman insurance, and the challenges of entering the competitive soda category.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up and established companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Cape Cod Potato Chips, Anheuser-Busch, Snyder's Lance, Campbell's, Whole Foods, RSF Finance, Stop and Shop, Jane Goodall Institute, Stonyfield
Products
Late July Snacks, Tostitos, Spindrift, La Croix, Liquid Death

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