Today we’d like to introduce you to Veronica Blue.
Hi Veronica, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My professional background is in sales and marketing. I worked in the hotel industry for fifteen years, helping Fortune 500 companies develop travel programs for their employees. The majority of that time was spent with Marriott, but I also worked for Hilton and InterContinental Hotels. As a Corporate Account Manager and eventually, Director of Sales and Marketing, I managed regional client relationships in the Cleveland and Atlanta markets and was responsible for revenue goals of up to $3 million per year. I also spent some time in the tech space selling for a multi-national internet service provider, so I learned a lot about data centers and how the internet actually works.
My bachelor’s degree is in business administration and I have a master’s in digital marketing. I went back to school for the master’s in 2015 with the goal of making a career shift. Marketing has always been my first love, and I wanted to be more involved in the messaging that opens the door for sales. After finishing the master’s, I took a position with Things Remembered, where I managed SEO for their ecommerce website, as well as marketing strategy for their B2B division. From there, I moved into the agency space and worked as director of search marketing before going out on my own to start VERB Digital Media where I worked with clients in manufacturing, medical, tech, fashion, and government.
My inspiration to start Phenomenal Foods Co came from my experience losing 60 pounds on a low-carb diet in 2015. With that lifestyle change, I had to learn a whole new way of cooking and eating. Creamy Keto Hot Cereal is something I came up with after making a batch of keto-vegan cookies. One of the ingredients instantly reminded me of Cream of Wheat – my all-time favorite. As much as I loved Cream of Wheat, the carbs were too high for me and I had also tested positive for a wheat allergy, so it just wasn’t an option anymore. I started experimenting to see if I could come up with a low-carb hot cereal replacement and eventually, I had something that tasted great and was very filling. I knew I wasn’t the only one missing traditional hot cereals – including oatmeal and grits, so I set out to learn everything I could about the food industry so I could bring it to market.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road to entrepreneurship was long and anything but easy, but looking back, I’m grateful for every challenge and uncertainty I’ve encountered along the way – both personally and professionally. We all encounter peaks and valleys in life that we don’t understand at the time, but eventually, you realize everything serves to teach you a lesson and help you focus forward. I wouldn’t change a thing about my journey.
One of the lessons I learned from my corporate career is that success and fulfillment are something we have to define for ourselves. It wasn’t until I began seeking out new interests that I started to feel a sense of fulfillment from my work. I remember feeling like my 9 to 5 sales work was meaningless. I didn’t feel like I was making a difference in anyone’s life, which that really bothered me. Although I was promoted several times, I had ambitions to do more, but it became harder and harder to move up the ladder. Eventually, I realized that that I would have to create my own opportunities for advancement. The lesson was that hard work doesn’t necessary equal success. When I went back to school, I knew my goal was to one day work for myself and by 2018, I was working full-time through my marketing agency.
That was the same year, I went low-carb. I had been dealing with chronic fatigue for about ten years by that time, and after being told by doctor after doctor that I was perfectly healthy I figured maybe dropping things like bread and rice would help me lose a few pounds so I could feel better. The fatigue and brain fog had become debilitating, so I was willing to try anything. Thankfully, it worked. That small change did more than help me lose weight…it healed my gut. I felt better than I ever had – even in my 20s. That’s when my journey began to make sense. I had found a new passion for health and wellness, so starting a business was a natural progression. I was able to draw on everything I’d learned personally and professionally. From sales and marketing to accounting and people management…even networking. I had to pull from all of it on a daily basis and I finally felt that sense of fulfillment that I had been missing.
We’ve been impressed with Phenomenal Foods Co, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
There are millions of people who have had a health journey similar to mine and the common denominator for many of them is gut health. I started Phenomenal Foods Co to provide a solution for a small, but important part of their everyday lives…the food they eat. At Phenomenal Foods Co, we make low-carb foods that support the taste and nutritional needs of consumers who follow the keto, paleo, gluten-free and vegan lifestyles. Our mission is to make their lives a little simpler and a lot more delicious as they pursue their personal version of wellness.
There are new wellness food brands emerging every day. Unfortunately, not all of them provide products that truly support good health. Our ingredient sourcing process is highly selective so our customers can buy with the confidence of knowing our products are made with all-natural, whole foods and no artificial fillers.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The global keto foods industry is valued at $9.5 billion today, and it’s growing at 5.5% every year. By 2027, it’s expected to reach $14.75 billion, so there are no signs of a slowdown. With that, I see an amazing window of opportunity for brands like Phenomenal Foods Co to provide consumers with innovative new products that serve their needs. Consumers have had enough of the highly processed “foods” that dominated for so long. We want foods that support health and wellness, and we’re committed to serving that need.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amazon.com/phenomenalfoodsco
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/phenomenal_foods_keto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/phenomenalfoodsketo
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/phenomenal-foods-co/
Image Credits
Alla Machut
