Plant-Based Beverages | Maya French

Scaling

Scaling a business, especially with a major retailer like Whole Foods, presents unique challenges and opportunities. Maya French shares how securing a national deal with Whole Foods marked a pivotal moment for Koia, necessitating a shift from a small operation to a large-scale enterprise. This transition required significant investment and the recruitment of experienced professionals to build a dynamic team. She explains, "Once we had that Whole Foods PEO in hand, that was huge credibility, and that really helped us raise a lot of money very quickly." 1

   

Operations

Operational challenges are a constant in the journey of a growing business like Koia. Maya French highlights the logistical difficulties of shipping refrigerated products and the importance of hiring the right team members from the tight-knit natural food industry. She notes, "We just trade off people all the time to find just people who are experienced in this." 2 The company operates with a remote team spread across the U.S., with key roles in marketing and sales filled by industry veterans. 3