Jeff Cohen, the founder of Granola Gourmet in Santa Clarita, CA, has been a diabetic since 1993. He was frustrated while trying to find a snack that not only did not cause a blood sugar spike, but that also tasted good. He finally decided to create his own, and his company was born to solve this problem. From humble beginnings in the family kitchen the bars were made in small batches and became a weekly family tradition. Then his teenage boys began getting requests for new flavors from their friends. The cast and crew of Hollywood television shows on the Warner Brothers lot and CBS-TV began buying the bars. Soon they became the healthiest product on the Craft Services table catering to the motion picture industry. And Granola Gourmet became a local family business success.
I recently interviewed Jeff on my online talk show Baker: In the City and had a chance to taste his bars.
Health E-Insights: Is healthy food too expensive to go mainstream?
Mr. Cohen: Not anymore. Organic ingredients have come way down in price. We are seeing small differences in the cost of many of the organic ingredients we acquire today. In our case, you'll find our energy bar products priced the same or less than many of the bars that are not healthy.
Health E-Insights: What do you consider your company’s competitive advantage?
Mr. Cohen: In a sea of energy bars, customers have found our product is 100% natural and formulated with several organic ingredients. When I think about our brand two words come to mind. Healthy is one. The other is delicious. When Whole Foods in Southern CA began carrying our product line I knew we had something and decided to put extra effort into the business. Today we are expanding and excited about the future.
Health E-Insights: If you could improve only one area of your company what would it be?
Mr. Cohen: Sales. This drives everything we do. We've become the first product that
www.yourhealthyfundraiser.com is offering. Helping launch this new venture shows that our product is viewed as a special product that helps people. Getting the word out about Granola Gourmet will make our company successful.
Health E-Insights: Have you ever had a fantasy job?
Mr. Cohen: I've never focused on my fantasy job; it's always been about helping others obtain their goals. I've always known that if I helped others then my goals would naturally be obtained. By providing products that are healthy and delicious and help fight diabetes we are helping others. This is very fulfilling.
Health E-Insights: Do you consider yourself a collector of anything?
Mr. Cohen: I am a collector of ideas and friends. As an entrepreneur I am always coming up with new ideas to try. This energy naturally attracts others and I value the friendships I've made along the way. Come friend Granola Gourmet and me on Facebook or Twitter.