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As the summer weather draws near, Blender Bites presents a refreshing solution for staying nourished and energized, minus the typical hassle of homemade smoothies. Their innovative frozen puck-shaped blends, carefully portioned with organic ingredients, make enjoying a cool smoothie a breeze. Simply add water or your favourite liquid, blend or shake, and savour the chill, flavorful experience with every sip.
Committed to using clean ingredients, promoting sustainability, and ensuring practicality, Blender Bites is a must-try for a summer filled with health and vitality.
For deeper insights into Blender Bites, I had the pleasure of interviewing Chelsie Hodge, the visionary Founder and CEO.
Fujio: Do you drink a Blender Bites smoothie every day? What is your favourite flavour/product?
Hodge: I try to fit in a Blender Bites smoothie or frappé most days! It’s a convenient and delicious way to get a nutrient boost. Picking a favourite is tough, but lately, I’ve been loving the Liquid Sunshine flavour. It’s a perfect blend of peach, raspberry, and banana – a real taste of sunshine!
Blender Bites is available in 5000 stores across North America. How challenging was it to negotiate these distributions with retailers such as Walmart and Loblaws?
Getting into 5,000 stores has been an incredible journey, and it definitely wasn’t easy. Negotiating with retailers requires a lot of preparation, data, and a deep understanding of their needs. We had to demonstrate the value Blender Bites brings to their shelves, focusing on the growing demand for healthy, convenient options. There were some bumps along the road, but perseverance and a strong belief in our product helped us secure these valuable partnerships.
Why did you decide to take Blender Bites public? What are the benefits of this as opposed to keeping it private?
Taking Blender Bites public allowed us to access a wider pool of capital to fuel our growth. This means we can invest in expanding our product lines, reaching new markets, and ultimately, getting healthy, delicious smoothies and frappés into the hands of even more people. While there are advantages to staying private, for Blender Bites, going public allows us to achieve our ambitious goals at a faster pace.
Any plans on expanding to Europe and Asia?
Absolutely! The demand for healthy, convenient snacks is global. While we’re focused on solidifying our position in North America right now, expanding to Europe and Asia is definitely on the horizon.
Any upcoming product launches this year that you can tease?
We’re thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of our brand new Superberry Sport 1-Step Smoothie, coming this summer! This exciting product is a result of a fantastic collaboration with Orgain, the #1 selling plant-based protein brand in the USA. Superberry Sport will be a first-of-its-kind post-workout smoothie designed to optimize muscle recovery.
It’s packed with plant-based protein, along with other powerful ingredients like tart cherry, maqui berry, and turmeric, to help reduce inflammation and soreness. We partnered with actress and Blender Bites investor Julianne Hough to develop this delicious and functional smoothie. Julianne is a huge advocate for healthy living, and her insights were invaluable in creating this product.
As a female founder and CEO, do you have any advice for other young female professionals interested in entrepreneurship?
For all the young women out there dreaming of starting their own businesses, my advice is to believe in yourself and your ideas. Don’t be afraid to take risks, but also be prepared to work hard and learn from your mistakes. There will be challenges, but with passion, perseverance, and a strong support system, you can achieve anything. Remember, there’s a whole community of women entrepreneurs out there cheering you on!
All images in this article are courtesy of Blender Bites.
