We recently connected with Maggie Olczyk and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Maggie, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
It all began in flight school…
Where 6 of us shared an apartment excited to be doing what we loved. We flew long hours often at night and relied on coffee and quick snacks to get through the day. We thought we ate well, but within a few years a couple friends got sick and lost their medicals, ending their careers prematurely. It was then, I learned how little we all knew about nutrition and the life-long consequences of our choices. I wanted to learn more.
So I decided to become a certified integrative nutrition coach and used my knowledge to educate others. It ultimately inspired me to develop the perfect plant-based protein! And that’s how Avinola & AVI Foods was born!
Our granola is nutrient dense, has zero added sugars and loads of prebiotic fiber to help keep you full. The best part is it’s made from superfoods that span as far as our travels and nourish you from the inside out. Now boarding all rows on flight 143 to better health
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I would like your readers to know that if you are ever questioning yourself about anything to just think one thing: the sky is the limit! There is absolutely nothing you can’t do. I grew up in an immigrant family not speaking the language, and would watch Sesame Street in middle school so I could understand my classmates. And in a decade I decided that I wanted to become a pilot and did it! Now its the entrepreneurial road. When I was flying overseas on my trips I quickly noticed how differently other cultures treated food and the way they nourished their bodies. It was clearly evident that the way we ate in the States was causing most of our illnesses. I had discovered heart & gut healthy lupin beans on my layovers and during the pandemic decided to create nourishing foods that would help my body feel its best. Particularly since my parents were diabetic and needed help navigating their new lifestyle.
Our keto gourmet granola is grain & gluten free, has zero added sugars and is loaded with prebiotic gut healthy fiber. It fits many diets and particularly folks who are pre-diabetic or diabetic.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
When you are starting out and have limited funds I personally believe that the most effective strategy for growing your clientele is to do expos, shows and or demos and to show up in person as the face of the brand. That goes a long way, because people like meeting the ‘owner’ or ‘founder’ and actually having a conversation with them. At bare minimum just knowing that they are a real person and not just a company with no face makes it more authentic.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Ramping your Brand is a book I really enjoyed reading because it gave sound and informative advice that resonates with the reader. It illustrates some of the things you should look out for and focus on as a CPG founder and tactics that may help you succeed. Although, small business owner meet-ups, networking events and cohorts have also proved extremely helpful. You get an opportunity to share your struggles and triumphs and receive invaluable advice.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.avi-foods.com
- Instagram: avi_foods_co
- Linkedin: Maggie Olczyk
- Youtube: avifoodsco
Image Credits
Maggie Olczyk