Q&A
10 MINUTES WITH THE FOUNDER
PBLoveCO A conversation with Mario Esparza and Andy Mason, the masterminds of Denver based PB Love CO. I N T E R V I E W: Chantel Ellerington P H O T O G R A P H S : Andy Mason
THE FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO DO THIS MONTH
THE ROUND-UP!
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PIKKAS PERUVIAN CUISINE & PISCO BAR
“To grow, evolve, change food production and business, as a company and as individuals” SECOND HOME KITCHEN + BAR
- PB Love founders
AVIANO COFFEE
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Q&A
PB Love jars - Denver Startup Week 2014
CE: Share with us what is PB Love CO? PB Love founders: We are an all natural, nutritious nut butter company, creating fun and delicious experiences. CE: What is PB Love CO’s mission and purpose? PB Love founders: To grow, evolve, change food production and business, as a company and as individuals by inspiring others to create and experience a culture of fun and love through food. CE: What inspired you to create this brand and why now? PB Love founders: It all has to do with food, being human with the food we live with. The responsibility we each have to food is also very motivating to create work in food production. There are so many types of food and ways to eat and enjoy it. We want to celebrate how fun and delicious food can be while also being extremely nutritious. We believe nut butter is definitely one of the most fun foods. Now? Because we are ready to do something different and see what we actually CAN do!
CE: What does it mean personally to share PB Love with locals in Colorado and across the globe? PB Love founders: It’s very special to share PB Love with all of our family and friends in Colorado. They’re the ones who will make it possible for PB Love to be experienced by everyone all over the world one day! It means PB Love’s visions are becoming a reality. That must mean some of our dreams are coming true. It means celebration! CE: How are PB Love’s nut butters different from others currently on the market? PB Love founders: Taste! Your mouth will be filled with rich layers of flavor and texture from the most delicious nut butter mix made here in Colorado. Our nut butters are nutrient dense with the highest quality ingredients in all PB Love nut butter mixes. CE: Insiders tip? What is the best snack on the go to compliment PB Love? Mario Esparza: I’d say a crispy Colorado apple. Keep it simple - or even a plain ol’ vanilla cookie! Andy Mason: Bananas! 004
Q&A
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“It’s more than just peanut butter, it’s PB Love.” - PB Love founders
. CE: Share with us a few must have PB Love nut butters you’ve handcrafted that will hit the market spring 2015? PB Love founders: The Cinnamon Almond seems to be the most anticipated nut butter flavor. You can literally mix anything and discover amazing creations. All of your childhood favorites just got better with our Classic Creamy. But the Salty Peanut is addicting and a delicious evolution of a traditional past-time food. CE: PB Love will be available to the masses come spring 2015, everyone is asking where to buy it? PB Love founders: PB Love will always be available online at thepbloveco.com, keep tabs and get on the list for the latest retail and farmers market buzz by following us on our Facebook page at PBLOVECO.
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A caeinated brainstorm session - at Crema Coeehouse
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Q&A
Mario introducing PB Love to Denver at Denver Startup Week 2014 Photo by The Denver Post
CE: The best business advice ever received? Mario Esparza: Take care of your people, it’s all about them! Slow down and trust your gut. Andy Mason: You won’t know unless you try. CE: Having coconut oil as one of PB Love’s main ingredients raises the bar for others in the market... Tell us where you will be sourcing the oil from? PB Love founders: As a producer of delicious food, we believe, in the inherent responsibility we have in taking care of our environment, body, and our community. We believe in sourcing our ingredients from places and people who believe in similar if not the same responsibility. And so, we are EXCITED to share our first partnership in sourcing one of the very important products needed to create PB Love. Tropical Traditions will be providing PB Love CO with the coconut oil needed to create and share our PB Love story with you. The coconut oil, molasses and honey are sourced from Colorado.
CE: How did the opportunity participating in Denver Startup Week affect the future of PB Love? PB Love founders: Denver Startup Week was the domino that fell and made it all a little more real. Our idea was no longer an idea it became a reality and it was the beginning of the next chapter in the PB Love story. We can’t give enough praise to all who made Denver Startup Week possible for us! Our journey would not be possible without the amazing resources this great city has to offer. We have so much gratitude for Denver SBDC for all the help along the way CE: Love notes from PB Love fans? Andy Mason: My sister loves to bake and she said she made some record breaking PB Love cookies!
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