Late July Snacks: Nicole Bernard Dawes. Crackers and Cookies were Failing… Tortilla Chips Saved Them
Summary
Nicole Bernad Dawes recounts building Late July, an organic snack brand, from her family’s Cape Cod potato chip legacy. After years of struggling with crackers and cookies, she faced a crisis when her father died and a $3.5 million loan was called in during the 2008 recession. She saved the company by pivoting to a hero product, eventually leading to its acquisition by Campbell Soup Company.
Topics discussed
Intro: Health tracking and sponsor messages
Nicole's background and her father's Cape Cod Chips
The rise of natural foods and the 1980s snack landscape
Family business struggles and selling Cape Cod Chips
Nicole's career at Cape Cod Chips and buying back the brand
Starting Late July: Inspiration and early challenges
Bootstrapping, finding suppliers, and getting into Whole Foods
Sponsor messages: Apple Card and NetSuite
Marketing struggles and the pivot to tortilla chips
Strategic investment and her father's terminal diagnosis
Crisis management: Refinancing debt with RSF Finance
Launching organic tortilla chips and balancing family life
The breakthrough Stop & Shop sales call
Rapid growth, brand value, and lean operations
Selling Late July to General Mills and legal battles
Reflections on the sale and the organic beverage market
Founding Nixie Beverage and lessons from the past
Company culture, employee giving, and final thoughts
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