We recently connected with Helio Bernal and have shared our conversation below.
Helio, appreciate you joining us today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?
You know, getting your first ever or first repeating, basically first of anything is always a bit challenging, and that’s when we definitely do not give up.
I went old school way and knocked on doors “commercial” until a few leads started to occur after numerous let downs.
Helio, 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 grew up in food and beverage all my life.
From Mexico to Chicago to Atlanta always in food & Bev distribution.
Worked my way through the ladder in a distribution center here in Atlanta. That is where I gained most of real life scenarios experience.
By 2017 I put my notice to resign and started my food pop up – that grew very quickly throughout 2017 into multiple food carts then food trucks and ultimately the first brick and mortar which opened 2022.
Have you ever had to pivot?
Covid – our main clientele events were over 150-200 guest at a time.
When covid came down the city halted on big group gatherings so we could not longer operate.
That is when I created to go taco kits. Boxes that fed families up to 6 per box. We did delivery through all of GA. Maybe a 65 mile radius at times.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
For partners – my commitment and word. If I said we were going to go service an event and be there at X time I kept my word, at times it would rain as if a hurricane was coming by, or as cold as Alaska, but I had given my word.
For clients – consistency on products and times. Always could count on us to be onsite selling the good food.
Contact Info:
- Website: Bocasummerhill.com
- Instagram: Bocaatl / boca.trmv
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helioibernal