EATABLE: From Home Kitchen to Million-Dollar Snack Sensation

EATABLE, the gourmet popcorn brand that infuses spirits and wines into its confectionery coatings, has achieved remarkable success by turning a “happy accident” into a thriving business. Founders Vince and Charlene share their journey, from launching from their home kitchen to securing major retail partnerships and even creating custom popcorn for Disney and the oscars.

The “Eureka” Moment

the concept for EATABLE was born from a personal passion for snacks and drinks. After discovering a community called Commonwealth Kitchen in Boston, Vince learned the ins and outs of starting a food business. “That was the ‘eureka’ moment that inspired us to leave our jobs and move back to Toronto… and officially start the business,” he explains.

From Kitchen to Shopify

Back in Toronto, the couple found a rental kitchen and spent over a year learning the art of chocolate and candy making. They then launched a Shopify store in 2019. Charlene recalls, “my first customer was my dad! But I distinctly remember the moment we got our first order from a name I didn’t know, and it was the most exhilarating feeling.”

Challenges and Triumphs

The journey wasn’t without its challenges. Early on, finding a co-manufacturing partner proved tough due to EATABLE’s unique production process.They decided to build their own small manufacturing facility, securing a government-backed bank loan to outfit their 3,000-square-foot space.

The pandemic years brought further challenges, including supply chain disruptions and rising costs. Charlene notes, “Our supply chain was a nightmare, with rising costs and limited availability of raw inputs.”

Key Challenges

• Finding a co-manufacturing partner.
• Pandemic-related supply chain issues.
• Balancing business growth with family life.

Delegation and Growth

One of the biggest lessons learned was the importance of delegation. “I wish we learned how to be effective delegators much earlier on in our journey,” Charlene admits. They realized they had become bottlenecks and needed to build a team to scale up faster. They consulted books and resources on growing lean teams and developed a newfound gratitude for process documentation and SOPs.

Revenue Milestones

EATABLE’s growth has been extraordinary. They finished their first year with $56,000 in revenue and hit $467,000 in year two, followed by $893,000 in year three. They have now crossed the $1 million mark in revenue and are experiencing more than 30% year-over-year growth.

Revenue Highlights

• Year 1: $56,000
• Year 2: $467,000
• year 3: $893,000
• Current: Over $1 million

Specific Instance of a Major Problem

Vince shared one specific instance of one major problem they had:

“One of the biggest challenges we faced at EATABLE was during a crucial co-manufacturing production run when a batch of our gourmet popcorn didn’t meet our quality standards” Vince shared. Rather than, pushing out a substandard product, the team worked overtime in their facility and made sure their retail partners where kept in the loop of any possible delays. Vince went on to share that “We’ve always operated under the firm belief that a win should be a win for everyone involved.”

Collaborations and Recognition

EATABLE has collaborated with major brands like Disney and Netflix, and even created 24k edible gold popcorn for the Oscars. “Our business has never just been about food but more about being a platform for connection and bringing people from all walks of life together through shared experiences,” Vince explains.

Actionable advice

The most actionable piece of advice from the founders is to “constantly check in with yourself and ask: Why am I doing this?“

They emphasize the importance of having a strong “why” behind your business to navigate challenges and stay resilient. “Mindset is everything,” Charlene says. “Just like parenting, entrepreneurship isn’t about perfection: It’s about showing up, adapting and leading with purpose.”

what inspired them to create alcohol-infused popcorn?

EATABLE: Interview with the Gourmet Popcorn Founders on Building a Million-Dollar Brand

From a home Kitchen to Award Shows: An Interview with EATABLE’s Founders

Archyde recently sat down with Vince and Charlene, the dynamic duo behind EATABLE, the gourmet popcorn brand taking the snack world by storm. They shared their inspiring journey of crafting alcohol-infused popcorn, from their initial “Eureka!” moment to serving A-listers at the Oscars. Here’s a glimpse into our conversation:

Archyde: Charlene and Vince, thank you for joining us today. Let’s start at the beginning. What sparked the initial idea for EATABLE,the gourmet popcorn brand that everyone is talking about?

Vince: It really came from a love of both snacks and cocktails! We stumbled upon a community kitchen in Boston years ago,the Commonwealth Kitchen. That’s where I really learned the ropes of starting a food business. It was a real “eureka” moment for us, inspiring us to move back to Toronto and officially launch EATABLE.

Archyde: Amazing! So, how did you transition from that initial spark to launching your first product? Take talk us through the journey of using Shopify to become a true brand.

Charlene: Back in toronto, we found a small rental kitchen and essentially became popcorn artisans. We spent over a year perfecting our recipes and mastering the art of creating confectionery coatings. We launched our Shopify store in 2019. It’s funny, my first customer was my own dad! But I’ll never forget the thrill of that first order from a complete stranger. That’s when we knew we were on the right track.

Building a Business from the Ground Up: Manufacturing Challenges

Archyde: Building a food business isn’t always easy. What were some major challenges you faced, especially in the production and manufacturing stages?

Vince: Definitely. One of the biggest hurdles was finding a co-manufacturing partner. Our production process is quite unique, involving spirits and delicate coatings, so not everyone was equipped to handle it. We eventually decided to build our own small manufacturing facility.We secured a government-backed bank loan and created a 3,000-square-foot space, that was exactly what we needed.

Archyde: And, Charlene, I imagine the pandemic threw a wrench into those plans as well.

Charlene: Absolutely! Our supply chain became an absolute nightmare. Rising costs and limited availability of raw ingredients put a lot of strain on the business. Butter was so hard to find, and that’s a key ingredient for popcorn!

Delegation, Teamwork, and Scaling Up

Archyde: Growing a business often requires a shift in mindset. What’s one key lesson you learned about scaling EATABLE and building a successful team?

Charlene: Oh, delegation! I wish we had learned to be effective delegators much earlier on. We realized we had become bottlenecks ourselves. We started consulting books, articles, and resources on building lean teams and developed a newfound gratitude for process documentation and SOPs. Our team is everything!

Archyde: EATABLE’s revenue growth has been remarkable. Can you share some of those milestones with our audience?

Vince: Sure! We finished our first year with $56,000 in revenue, then jumped to $467,000 in year two, and $893,000 in year three.Now, we’ve officially crossed the $1 million mark and are experiencing over 30% year-over-year growth. It’s proof that following your passions and continuing to work hard, truly does pay off.

The Oscars and Beyond: A Popcorn Platform

Archyde: From Netflix collaborations to serving 24k gold popcorn at the oscars, EATABLE has achieved remarkable recognition. What do these partnerships meen to you both?

Vince: It’s surreal,to be honest. But for us, EATABLE has never just been about popcorn. It’s about food’s undeniable ability to connect people from all walks of life through shared experiences. We’re really proud to be a part of that.

Archyde: to bring the interview to a close, what’s one piece of actionable advice you would give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start their own food businesses?

Charlene: Constantly check in with yourself and ask: Why am I doing this? Having a strong “why” behind your business will give allow you to navigate its challenges and stay resilient. Mindset is everything. Entrepreneurship, just like parenting, isn’t about perfection; it’s about showing up, adapting, and leading with purpose.

Archyde: That’s incredibly insightful! Thank you both so much, Charlene and Vince, for sharing your EATABLE journey with us.

Vince and Charlene: Thank you for having us!

What inspired them the create alcohol infused popcorn? What do you think about this article? Let us know in the comments below!