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


