Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brenna Foster. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Brenna thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love for you to start by sharing your thoughts about the pros and cons of family businesses.

What is not to love about a local, family-run business? I am so thankful that I can wake up every day and work with my husband to run Big Blue Grilled Cheese Company. It has changed our lives in so many ways – all good! I love that our kids are involved and that they know that owning and operating a business is a lot of hard work, but that it can and will pay off. It also has taught us to be thoughtful of our time and to make sure we balance work with life. When you buy from a small, family-run business, you know exactly where your money is going.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My husband and I own Big Blue Grilled Cheese Company, a local artisan grilled cheese food truck based out of Sarasota, Florida. We strive to make sure every customer that comes to our window leaves happy and for us, that means fresh, quality food, and superb customer service. Both my husband and I worked in the service industry for many years, but this is the first time that we have owned our own business. We take great pride in that and I think that really shows in our product and delivery.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I think the biggest factor in building a reputation is to make sure, with certainty, that every time your product goes out to a customer, it’s exactly what they’re expecting. Consistency with the food and flavors, consistency with the service, with the timing – I think that’s what brings folks back to our window.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

The biggest pivot both in our lives and careers was definitely the jump we made into founding Big Blue Grilled Cheese Company. After nearly 20 years in the industry, the stress of it all really began to take a toll on us. We knew something had to change, but we also had a young family to take care of and bills to pay. It was scary! But honestly, Big Blue was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made and I think part of the reason why it’s been so successful for us is because of our commitment to making it work for our family.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Big Blue Grilled Cheese
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/bigbluegrilledcheesecompany