Founder Spotlight: Susannah Schoolman (Tourlami)
Meet Susannah Schoolman:
Tourlami is a plant-based ingredients company specializing in plant-based butter for professional use.
Location:
New York, New York, USA
When did you launch the business?
August 2023
Become a member today!
Get access to industry-leading mentors, resources, events, and more to grow your business!
Join the world’s largest plant-based business community 🌱
Startup Stage?
Seed
What led you to where you are today?
I am a baker by trade and have been working in kitchens professionally for over 15 years. Over 8 years ago I went fully plant-based, and suddenly my personal and professional lives were at odds. At first, I wanted to create my own plant-based pastry line, but once I researched the ingredients I wanted to work with, I saw that there were no plant-based butterson the market that were specifically formulated for food service use. That led me to switch gears and create two plant-based butters that compare in taste, texture, and functionality to the highest dairy-based butters on the market.
What do you wish you knew before embarking on your entrepreneurial journey?
Everyone says it, but it will always take longer, and be more expensive than you anticipate. Just because you have a product that works well in a benchtop setting, doesn't necessarily mean that it will behave the same way once you start manufacturing at a higher volume. It's about balancing expectations, and knowing that more often than not, it will not work out exactly as you had hoped the first time around - but you will be better for it.
What is the most difficult decision you've had to make regarding your business so far?
There are so many decisions to make every day! The hardest decision is actually bigger than just one decision for me. It's about managing my time and making sure I can do everything I need to do to put Tourlami in front of all the right people. I have to spend a lot of time not only being the CEO and managing my team but also selling and working with chefs and my distributor to make sure the process of switching to Tourlami butters is as seamless as possible.
What can you help the VEGPRENEUR community with?
The food service market!
How can the VEGPRENEUR community help you?
We would love to be connected with folks in food service who would be interested in trying out our butters.
Fun fact about you:
I learned how to surf when living in Hawaii, and now I can't imagine my life without surfing in it.
Read More On Our Blog
