We were lucky to catch up with Michael Oraschewsky recently and have shared our conversation below.
Michael, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
I had a catering that canceled and left me holding a bunch of cooked off bacon. We turned it into bacon jam and thus was born TBJ Gourmet a company focused on upcycling ingredients into delicious food products that people want to eat. No food should go to waste especially meat, and combating food waste is the number one way to fight climate change.
Michael, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I was a restaurateur who took some food that would have otherwise gone to waste and turned into the greatest condiment ever, bacon jam. Now we upcycle other ingredients into value added specialty food products for gourmet stores, grocery and even restaurants. We help both the home and professional chef craft the perfect bites that make memorable meals and we do it sustainably by upcycling.
Any fun sales or marketing stories?
While selling our bacon jam at a farmers market a man approached and asked me if I would like to sell this on TV. I said sure and he handed me his card. The man was an on air host from QVC. We had to borrow money for inventory, rent storage space and beg friends to help pre back boxes to get to the minimum required quantity. I went through the on air guest training courses but nothing could prepare me for the big day. Lights blazing, millions of people watching and my business partners and very supportive girlfriend, now wife, monitoring from the green room. We would sink or swim based on my performance and the consumer’s willingness to buy spreadable bacon jam without tasting it. My on air time went by in a blurr, I was sure it had been cut short, and when I got back to the green room I was told that it had been. An eight minute segment ended in 6 because we sold out. I was elated and terrified at the same time. How were we going to ship 6,000 packs of product out in 48 hours!
Have you ever had to pivot?
Starting this company was a huge pivot. I was killing myself at the restaurant working 7 twelve hour days a week for 6 years straight. Standing on my feet all the time drinking heavily and eating like crap. The restaurant was at the peak of where I could take it or at least that’s what I thought. Starting the new company gave me an opportunity to travel, get out the kitchen setting and most importantly exposed me to a new series of challenges to overcome.
Contact Info:
- Website: tbjgourmet.com
- Instagram: @tbjgourmet
- Facebook: @thebaconjams
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-oraschewsky-30a2b366/
- Twitter: @tbjgourmet