Episode description

In this bonus episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Grace Kennedy chats with Gloria Allorbi, CEO and founder of Gloria’s Shito®️, a spicy chili oil brand inspired by Ghana’s traditional condiment, Shito. Gloria shares her entrepreneurial journey, from creating her product for personal use to scaling it into a thriving business in U.S. grocery stores. 

They dive into the challenges of maintaining authenticity while adapting the recipe to be vegan and the process of getting her product into retailers like Erewhon. Gloria also talks about her mission to introduce Ghanaian cuisine to the U.S. market and how she educates customers through in-store demonstrations, pairing Shito with familiar dishes like pizza and avocado toast. She reflects on the financial hurdles of bootstrapping her business and her experience with capital raising, all while building a strong community around her brand.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation about culture, food, and entrepreneurship! Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast, and connect with us to stay updated on more exciting founder stories.

Listen in as they share about:

• Origin Story of Gloria's Shito®️
• Vision and Mission of Gloria's Shito®️
• Transition to Business and Retail Expansion
• Challenges with Manufacturing
• Flavor Adjustments
• Introducing Shito to New Markets
• Customer Feedback, Funding and Business Growth
• Cultural and Personal Challenges
• Networking and Resources

Episode Links:

Gloria Allorbi LinkedIn

Gloria’s Shito®️ Website

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Show Links:

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• Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.com
• Episode music by Super Fantastics