Advice Line with Pete Maldonado and Rashid Ali of Chomps
Pete Maldonado and Rashid Ali, co-founders of the meat stick brand Chomps, discuss the 'proteinification' of the food industry and how a recent, costly product recall reinforced their commitment to consumer safety. They advise Yari Dariz of Yadi Artisanal Empanadas on scaling strategies, suggesting a commissary model and delivery to manage seasonality, and counsel Zachary of Noble Pies on proving velocity and incrementality to break into big-box retailers like Whole Foods. Finally, they guide Josh Shrinko of Achigan on when to transition his smallmouth bass lifestyle brand from part-time to full-time, emphasizing focus on high-margin product lines like lures.