43. Competing on quality (not price), the challenge of a seasonal product and utilizing grants with Lola Adeyemi - Founder & Chief Souper Woman @ It’s Souper

After immigrating to Canada from Nigeria to continue her education at University, Lola established herself in the IT consulting world before identifying a gap in the retail market with a lack of authentic, ready to eat African foods.

Lola and I cover the full spectrum of the It’s Souper startup story, including the challenge of selling what is typically considered a seasonal product, selling into her first retail locations and how she approaches competing against established brands.

Other key takeaways include the value of in store demos (now that they are back in play) and how she focused on brand building and marketing exercises when they weren’t an option.

Lola provides great insight into the grants that have been available to her and leveraged to assist in scaling her business - and what she considered the most critical components to focus on when working through the application process.

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Launched in 2018 and located in Toronto, Ontario Lola’s Afro-Fusion gourmet soup and sauce line was inspired by the fusion of cultures that exists in Canada, a yearning for authentic flavours from Africa, and a desire to share it with her community.

Their mission is to produce delicious tasting soups, meals, and sauces made with high quality ingredients and exotic flavours that meet the demands of today's diverse world, and ultimately to inspire a new found love for food.

Lola’s soups can be found in over 50+ retailers in and around the GTA and Quebec and online at itssouper.com 

For 10% off online orders use the promo code: PackH10

https://itssouper.com/ 

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Leave a review, rate the show and if you have any questions or feedback I would love to hear from you : hayden@thepackheavypodcast.com