Interview with Margaret Coons - Founder & CEO of Nuts for Cheese
“I always like to say that [Nuts for Cheese] was a really happy accident. I don't think I knew what I was getting into. I'm glad I didn't because it's been an amazing journey.I am thrilled to tell you about Margaret Coons, Founder and CEO of Nuts for Cheese, in the latest episode of The Irresistible Factor Nuts for Cheese is a premium vegan cheese brand that sells really high-quality products ranging from cheeses and butter to their newest addition, cream cheese spreadsMargaret was only 24 when she founded her company at a local farmer’s market in London, Ontario. She was an English major with a love for vegan cooking, and despite lacking any business experience, she dove headfirst into building her dream venture. Being unaware of the full spectrum of challenges that come with starting a business can make it easier to make the scary leap to founder. Margaret thinks that naïveté combined with her unique viewpoint might have been a good thing.What Margaret did understand was hard work. After long days at her restaurant job, she’d go home, grab her cashews, and bring them back to the restaurant kitchen, where she’d perfect her cheeses until 4 in the morning! She never dreamt that her brand would become a nationwide sensation that is now sold in over 4,000 stores across North America. It just goes to show that passion and determination can lead to incredible accomplishments.In this episode, Margaret explains how they managed 50% year-over-year growth with ZERO funding. Margaret talks about the challenges she’s experienced thus far like education marketing, cash flow, being a woman in business, and her fear of public speaking. Margaret also shares some words of wisdom for founders at the beginning of their journey, like the importance of surrounding yourself with great advisors, how to block out the noise, and the significance of authenticity. From raising capital, to social media, to goals for the future, and so much more. This episode has it all so be sure to tune in now! Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Margaret Coons - Founder & CEO of Nuts for Cheese. Here’s what you won’t want to miss from our conversation:
- What made her decide to go from working in a restaurant to starting her own brand
- How she really learned what it takes to run a company
- How she’s educating consumers about her products
Links mentioned in this episode: Margaret Coons on LinkedIn Margaret Coons on Instagram Nuts for Cheese The Irresistible Factor Podcast Sawtooth Group