Freshness Mastered: Simply Good Jars - Jared Cannon - Grounded Podcast: Leaders in Produce, Food Service & Restaurant Supply Chain
Please welcome today’s guest, Jared Cannon, Founder & CEO of Simply Good Jars. Jared engages with Lauren Mitchell as they discuss what inspired Jared to create Simply Good Jars, how he overcame challenges, and his adoption of the direct-to-consumer model. Jared also shares insights on the incredible team that helped him grow the company. Don't miss out on the inspiring conversation!
Takeaways:
- Simply Good Jars was founded in 2017 after Jared noticed problems with food waste while he was a chef. While Jared observed the need for healthier, on-the-go food options, the market was shifting towards uninspiring, low-quality foods. With a $1,000 starting loan and a passion for change, the company has recently celebrated its six-year anniversary.
- The company used a milkman-style direct-to-consumer approach, offering personalized, healthy weekly meals that catered to dietary needs. Customers returned jars for cleaning and reuse, and for each jar returned, a meal was donated through Feeding America.
- Partnering with Good Uncle, for their home delivery service, Simply Good Jars is able to produce their products at scale in New York, Florida, and Arizona and supply them to resellers. Good Uncle delivers their chef-crafted, hand-made, ready-to-eat and ready-to-heat meals to college campuses, hospitals, grab-and-go programs, and homes.
- Despite being a Shark Tank fan, Jared hesitated when a casting producer contacted him in 2019. Filming during the pandemic brought challenges, but it also coincided with Simply Good Jar’s retail launch, allowing them to educate consumers. The experience was genuine, and they secured a deal with two Sharks, increasing ownership percentage.
- The team has been incredible, having people approach their fifth anniversary, despite the company only being six years old. Their dedication to the company’s mission, passion, and product has been vital to success and traction in the marketplace.
- Proximity to high-density consumer areas secured 80% of the supply chain within a 350-mile radius, resulting in a consistent fulfillment rate above 93%. This strategic location enabled successful business scaling despite transportation challenges.
- Simply Good Jars has a tool on their website that allows for customers to locate a product in a store near them. If you are unable to locate a product within a 20-mile radius, you can request your local retailers to carry them.
Quote of the Show:
- “As we open up the doors to opportunity, focus is essential to maintain capacity and capability.” - Jared Cannon
Links:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chef-jared-cannon/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealjaredcan
- Company website: https://simplygoodjars.com/
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Creators and Guests
Host
Lauren Mitchell
Lauren Mitchell is the Director of National Accounts and Custom Distribution at Produce Alliance, LLC. She is a dedicated fresh produce spend & spec maximizer for multi-unit national restaurant chains & groups. She gets to know your brand and infuses your expectation for quality, consistency and transparency to create more reliability in your produce category.
