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Encore Presentation August 2020.
Isabella "Bella" Hughes is the President and Co-Founder of Shaka Tea, with a career spanning the arts, culture, agriculture, and entrepreneurship. Shaka Tea is an award-winning movement brand sharing herbal teas brewed with māmaki, an ancient super leaf found only in the Hawaiian Islands that supports sustainable agriculture. The brand is now available across the US and Japan, and recently won Best Beverage 2020 and the Gold Superior Award by American Masters of Taste Chefs in America.
Bella is a member of the 2018 Pacific Business News 40 Under 40 and a winner of the Judges’ Choice Award CPG Foodbytes! San Francisco 2019 by Rabobank, Burt's Bees Natural Launchpad Cohort 3, and Plug and Play Ventures Food Batch 6 in the Bay Area. In addition to her work with Shaka Tea, Bella previously spent a decade in the arts and culture field as the Co-Founder and Director Emeritus of Hawaii Contemporary and serving on the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation Board.
Bella's background in culture and arts and why she transitioned to the food and beverage industry
How the māmaki tea beverage idea was born
How Bella and her husband started producing Shaka Tea and selling it locally in Hawaii
Bella talks about building the company's supply chain to sell in mainland US
How the Shaka Tea brand manages to create affordable premium products
How Bella approached retailers in mainland US and her experience with Expo West
Bella talks about securing capital and funding for her business
The first retailers to sell Shaka Tea products and where they are currently sold
Bella talks about her future plans for the beverage company and how she ensures a continuous supply of the tea crop
Bella's advice to fellow entrepreneurs on building an ethical business
Māmaki is an invaluable medicinal herb native to Hawaii. It has many nutritional benefits and is traditional in Hawaiian communities.
Isabella “Bella” Hughes and her husband founded Shaka Tea in a bid to support their local community on the island. The company uses māmaki tea leaves to create their premium tea product, which are sourced from a dozen independent farms. The leaves are hand-harvested from the ancient forests and mineral-rich volcanic soils on the island, simultaneously restoring the native ecosystem habitat.
Isabella "Bella" Hughes, the President and Co-Founder of Shaka Tea, joins Steve Cleere in this week's episode of the NexxtLevel Podcast to talk about her premium tea product made from māmaki leaves. Bella also talks about her background in art and culture, growing and scaling her business from Hawaii to the US mainlands, and her future plans for the company.
Isabella "Bella" Hughes on LinkedIn
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