Founder Spotlight: Kimberly Chamberland (Big Mountain Foods)
Meet Kimberly Chamberland:
As a plant-based food manufacturer, we produce food that we would proudly serve our own family. In other words, real food that tastes good. Food with no additives, no substitutes, and no names that you can’t pronounce. That is unless your mouth is full.
Location:
Delta, British Columba, Canada
When did you launch the business?
1987
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Startup Stage:
Bootstrapped
What led you to where you are today?
My Mom was vegan so I grew up eating a natural, organic, and plant-based diet. I also come from generations of hard-working entrepreneurial women, so it was a natural evolution for me to take my passion for plant-based, and purchase my own restaurant, where I developed and served the very first veggie burgers here in Vancouver! I realized early on that there was more opportunity for growth in the retail space so I further evolved my business to provide plant-based goodness for retail.
What do you wish you knew before embarking on your entrepreneurial journey?
There was so much I didn't know that I simply had to figure out. I suppose all the trials and tribulations gave me the strength and fortitude needed to continue my journey.
What is the most difficult decision you've had to make regarding your business so far?
Letting go. Selling my restaurant to venture into retail was a huge decision. At that time the restaurant was everything to me I felt like I had just figured out that business and was about to venture into a new business that I had no idea how it would all work out.
What can you help the VEGPRENEUR community with?
Helping fellow entrepreneurs with advice and support. It's a great journey but we need to be there for each other.
How can the VEGPRENEUR community help you?
Connecting with new partners and channels. Advice for expanding into markets outside of North America. Following us on social media.
Fun fact about you:
Making sure that fun is part of your life is how I live my life. I've come to appreciate that living a well-balanced life with happiness and laughter is all about that three-letter word: FUN.
Anything else you would like to share?
Hard times make you appreciate the good times. Enjoy the moments as it's about the journey, not the destination.
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