EP 26December 10, 2024· 1:10:00

How Riaz Surti Went from Fried Chicken to National Shelves with Hearty Foods

with Riaz Surti Founder, Hearty Foods

food industryCPGentrepreneurshipscalingretail

Episode Summary

Riaz Surti joins the Caravan to tell the story of Hearty Foods — a brand that started from the simplest roots and grew into a product sitting on national retail shelves. From frying chicken to mastering CPG distribution, Riaz breaks down what it actually takes to build a food brand from scratch. The conversation covers the unglamorous side of the food industry: supply chain nightmares, retail negotiations, and the persistence required to get your product in front of consumers at scale.

Key Takeaways

  • The food industry rewards persistence and relationships above all
  • Getting on national shelves requires a completely different playbook than local sales
  • Starting simple (fried chicken) can lead to massive scale if you keep iterating
  • CPG entrepreneurship is a grind — but the margins improve with volume
  • Authenticity in your product creates loyal customers who become evangelists

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