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Michael Panara Jr. is the President and CEO of Pretzel Man Bakery, an artist and pretzel company founded as an extension of Michael's family baking business. Since 1808, many of his family members have been twisting soft pretzels that have been enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of hungry consumers.
Several years ago, the family decided to create a new pretzel classic taking the twist and turning it into a line of awesome stuffed pretzel balls. The company can only be known by one name, the moniker Michael’s grandfather Albert was known by: The Pretzel Man.
Michael Panara Jr. talks about growing around the baking business and what he wanted to pursue once he got older
How Michael evolved the idea for making stuffed pretzel balls and who they sell them to
Michael talks about their business model and their preferred packaging for their products
How the pretzel machinery works and how they teamed up with a co-packer
Michael shares how his grandfather inspired and left a positive impact in his life
Challenges Michael faced when he shifted from tech sales to working full time in the food industry
How Michael met his business mentor and how he influenced Michael's business
Why are people moving from the tech industry into the food services industry?
Michaels discusses how he works with independent food brokers and distributors, and their expansion plans for 2020
Michael Panara's advice to fellow entrepreneurs on managing business challenges
After working in the technology industry for a number of years, Michael Panara found himself drawn to the food industry, the very same industry that he grew up in. His family has been in the business of making soft pretzels since 1808 and now, Michael has revolutionized not just their products but in their manner of doing business. From selling to friends and family to handling orders for events, tournaments, and other social gatherings, their business is booming from all business standpoints.
Join G. Steven Cleere as he interviews Michael Panara Jr. about his transition from tech sales to embracing the food industry. Tune in as they discuss the growth and expansion of the Pretzel Man Bakery, how Michael’s grandfather inspired him, the challenges of revolutionizing their product line and production process, and the importance of staying committed and not giving up on your vision in business.
Pretzel Man Bakery on Instagram
Michael Panara Jr. on LinkedIn
Our podcast today is sponsored by Kitchen2Shelf, the educational arm of NexxtLevel Brands. Kitchen-2-Shelf provides online and in-person courses and workshops for CPG entrepreneurs at any stage of growth.
Whether you're an early-stage startup, a local growing business, or if you want to just expand your distribution to a national level, Kitchen-2-Shelf can help you learn what you need to know to grow.
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