Encore: The Best Product Name Ever: Cool Beans on the NexxtLevel Brands Podcast

Encore from April 2022 -The biggest trends we’re seeing in the natural products industry (as evidenced at the recent ExpoWest 2022 in Anaheim this past March) are plant-based, regenerative, and upcycling/reducing food waste.  Cool Beans’ whole food, plant-based, minimally processed frozen wraps are right on target. 

In this episode, I’m speaking with Tyler Mayoras, founder, and CEO of Cool Beans.  Tyler has over 20 years of private equity investing experience and is currently the Co-Manager of the $155 million Advantage Capital Food & Ag Fund.  He invests in and helps scale growing food and agriculture companies. Tyler is involved with portfolio companies Shenandoah Growers, Farmhouse Culture, Snaxsational Brands, and NurturMe.  He’s also an angel investor with a focus on sustainable brands including Simple Mills, Tiesta Tea, EVR Foods (Lavva), Spero Foods, and CB Food Company (Cool Beans).

Tyler became frustrated with what looked like vegan junk food on grocery store shelves and started making frozen wraps at home filled with clean, whole-food ingredients...specifically beans. Today we’re going to hear how Cool Beans wraps made it all the way to the store shelves, and hear what they’ve got in store for us very soon.

The “NexxtLevel Brands Podcast’ is hosted by G. Steven Cleere, Founder and “Chief Pot Stirrer” of NexxtLevel Brands. This show focuses on disruptors and thought-leaders from the Entrepreneurial Food, Beverage, and CPG Industry, but we also share tips from veterans and key suppliers that may help fellow CPG professionals achieve their goals.

Discussion Points

• Did you begin this Cool Beans journey as a vegan, or as an investor first?
• Tyler’s origin story and preparing vegan plant-based at home
• Did you look for your favorite foods, to replicate?
• As a long-time CPG/food industry insider, didn’t you know this might be too difficult?
• Did you begin with a business plan and all the things you’re supposed to do?
• The Expo West 2022 was all about plant-based, and clean label trends
• Three trends in the food industry:
  • Plant-based
  • Regenerative (planting a wide diversity of plants)
  • Upcycling ingredients/reducing food waste
• You’ve been an investor, a mentor, an advisor, what’s your role at Cool Beans?
• How did it go for you during the pandemic?
• How have retailers done in handling the pressure?
• Food buyers are loving the Zoom meetings, they can see twice as many new products without the hassle of in-person
• As an investor, any wisdom to pass along for picking a winner?
• The experimentation with meat alternatives is driving more people to try plant-based
• What’s next for Cool Beans?
• Tyler’s words to grow by: "Be Adaptable"  Constantly monitor your products, your customers, and the market and change as needed!

Resources:

Tyler Mayoras LinkedIn

Eat Cool Beans Website

Luv Cool Beans Instagram

NexxtLevel Brands Website

Steven Cleere LinkedIn