Spotify
Apple PodcastsThe Avi Foods origin
Maggie explains the family experience behind the brand and its use of lupini beans.
Road2Retail podcast
Interview with Maggie Olczyk — Founder at Avi Foods
Maggie Olczyk shares the story behind Avi Foods and its lupini bean granola. She discusses choosing retailers whose shoppers fit the brand, learning through samples and demonstrations, and handling the uncertainty of a new CPG business while also working as an airline pilot.
Guest
Maggie OlczykFounderAVI Foods
Watch the interview
Watch on YouTubeAbout this episode
Maggie Olczyk started Avi Foods after looking for food options for her parents. She discusses the brand's origin and its use of lupini beans, including how the granola differs from other products in the category. The conversation also covers her work as a commercial airline pilot alongside building the company.
Maggie considers why the match between a retailer's shoppers and the brand's consumer matters when choosing stores. She describes the role of sampling and demonstrations, and what the team learns from hearing immediate consumer reactions. The episode includes a candid discussion of the challenges of starting a CPG brand and the role that luck can play.
Topics covered
Choosing retail partners
The conversation considers whether a retailer's shoppers are a good fit for the product.
Sampling and feedback
Maggie discusses demonstrations and learning directly from people who try the granola.
Building through uncertainty
The episode covers the difficulties of starting a brand while Maggie also works as a pilot.
Go To Market Strategy
Build a practical plan to enter or grow retail distribution.