Turning Problems into Candy with Amy Keller, CEO and Co-Founder, Climate Candy

Welcome to another episode of W@W! In today's episode, we have Amy Keller, the CEO of Climate Candy, a company that turns problems into Candy!

Amy is not just your ordinary CEO—she's a 7-time Ironman and a vegan triathlete, embodying her passion for sustainable living and promoting a healthy lifestyle. At Climate Candy, they're all about upcycling perfectly imperfect food, contributing to the fight against the alarming global food waste crisis.

Did you know that a staggering 40% of all the food grown globally goes to waste? Amy sheds light on this issue and points out that Nogales, Arizona is a significant entry point for produce into the United States, with 2/3rds of it being distributed from there. Shockingly, a quarter of the food produced in America never leaves the farmer's land.

Amy introduces us to the concept of "Stealth Nutrition" as she reveals her favorite candies, which surprisingly include fruits and vegetables. She emphasizes the importance of root vegetables, highlighting their dense nutritional value and how they provide essential plant fiber that keeps us feeling full and satisfied.

We dive into the intriguing origin story of Climate Candy. Initially an ingredient company, Amy's desire to make a positive impact clashed with the reluctance of big food corporations to embrace change.

Amy shares how Climate Candy's manufacturing facilities are strategically dispersed across the globe to process fruits and vegetables based on harvests, seasons, and locations, underlining their commitment to sustainability and efficiency.

A remarkable aspect of Climate Candy's mission is educating children about the food-to-plate journey, imparting vital knowledge about food origins, and fostering a deeper connection with what they consume.

Starting with a direct-to-consumer (DTC) model and thriving on the Thrive Market e-commerce platform, Climate Candy eventually transitioned into retail, broadening their reach and impact. Amy also discusses their efforts to utilize compostable packaging, aligning with their eco-conscious ethos.

We learn about "Duffle," the trending food ordering app on college campuses, and delve into the challenges farmers face in harvesting their entire crops, prompting us to question the current state of food distribution systems.

To wrap up our conversation, Amy offers a glimpse into the exciting future of Climate Candy and her personal favorites. We're left inspired and motivated to join the movement towards a more sustainable and mindful consumption of food.

Season 3, Episode 61:

Climate Candy:

• Website
• Linkedin
• Instagram
• TikTok

Connect with Amy

Connect with Tony

About me and my mission and the podcast:

Are you looking for a fun and light-hearted podcast to discover unique brands and learn about the people and strategies successful companies are implementing in the CPG and Food and Beverage Industry?  The brands featured here take us into the world of innovation, sustainability, good for you, lifestyle, QSR, Foodservice, Distribution, DTC, Club, and more.

I am a fun-loving business leader, podcaster, husband, dad, cyclist, and Convention of States volunteer in my spare time. My mission is to discover the people and ideas behind these different, better, and special companies. 

 

Entrepreneurs and CEOs, are you:

Searching for distributor or broker partners? 

Actively prospecting commercial buyers to gain more points of distribution?

Searching for the right person to add to the team?

My Direct Response Marketing Service attracts exactly what you need to help your brand thrive and grow. 

Here is a NOVEL approach to ATTRACT distributors, buyers, and people (DEMO)

 

Contact me: Tony@timpl.com

Follow me on LinkedIn: Different, Better, Special Brands

Join Our Community

Music from Uppbeat and ZapSplat
https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/get-the-funk-in
License code: SF3WUKBUJQULFHXE

TIKTOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | LINKEDIN PAGE | LINKEDIN GROUP