From Gooey Oat Treats to Multimillion-Dollar Success: The Bobo's Story

The Swell Pod

In Episode 049 of the #kilnroadtrip, created and produced by The Swell Pod, hosts Spencer McKeown and Josh Taylor interview TJ McIntyre, CEO at Bobos. Bobo's is a baked goods company celebrating its 20th anniversary, known for simple, delicious, and wholesome snacks. TJ discusses the company's growth from a single mom's kitchen to a $100 million revenue business, the challenges of scaling production, and maintaining a culture of love and care. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity and quality, aiming to build Bobo's as a multigenerational brand.

Check out today’s episode and every other installment of the Kiln.Roadtrip by listening, watching, and subscribing to the podcast here - https://linktr.ee/theswellpod

eatbobos.com - Bobo's baked goods are a delicious and wholesome snack you can enjoy at home or on the go. Check out all the available products and flavors the whole family will enjoy!

Location: Kiln. Boulder

The Kiln Road Trip: Uncovering Deep Truths with 100 Pleasantly Rebellious Humans. 10 days. 5 States. 3,580 Miles.100 Interviews! Daily episodes starting on March 5, Monday to Friday, for the next 100 days, followed by a short documentary and a book about the journey.

Thank you to the partners and sponsors who made the kiln.roadtrip possible: KILN, MOTERRA, TORUS

And thank you to the crew who helped us document and share the journey: DENISSE LEON, TY COTTLE, NATHAN CLARK, FINDLAY MCKEOWN

Bullets:

• Kiln Road Trip partnership with The Swell Pod and Kiln Motor Camper Vans
• Interview with TJ McIntyre, CEO of Bobo's, a baked goods company
• Bobo's journey from inception to present day
• TJ McIntyre's involvement with Bobo's and his journey to becoming CEO
• Vision and core values of Bobo's
• Current challenges faced by Bobo's, including capacity and demand
• Maintaining company culture and values as the company grows
• Future aspirations for Bobo's as a multigenerational brand
• Discussion about Kiln and its role in hosting events for the natural foods community

Timestamps:

The challenge (00:00:03) The hosts discuss their 10-day journey across five states, covering 3580 miles, to interview 100 individuals challenging the status quo.

Introduction to the interview (00:00:54) The hosts introduce TJ McIntyre, CEO of Bobo's, and provide a brief overview of the company's products and history.

TJ's introduction and background (00:01:42) TJ McIntyre introduces himself, discussing his role as the CEO of Bobo's and his career in the natural foods industry.

The founding of Bobo's (00:02:05) TJ shares the story of Bobo's founding by a single mom and the company's growth from selling $17 worth of product to becoming a $100 million revenue business.

Expansion and distribution (00:03:50) TJ discusses Bobo's distribution, highlighting its presence in North America and the competition with other billion-dollar brands.

TJ's background and ideology (00:04:43) TJ shares his background, including his relocation to Colorado, progressive ideology, and entry into the natural foods industry.

Challenges of previous roles (00:06:51) TJ discusses his experience with publicly traded companies and the challenges of short-term decision-making and trend-laden products.

Vision and sustainability (00:11:04) TJ emphasizes the vision of building Bobo's to last for 100 years, avoiding quick dietary trends and focusing on the core merits of the product.

Maintaining product quality and culture (00:20:19) TJ discusses the importance of the team, internal culture, and maintaining the company's core values and vision, emphasizing love language and volunteering.

Challenges in capacity and operations (00:15:10) TJ highlights the challenges in capacity and operations, including the pressure of meeting high demand and the need for internal talent and operational leadership.

Maintaining product quality and culture (00:20:19) TJ discusses the importance of the team, internal culture, and maintaining the company's core values and vision, emphasizing love language and volunteering.

The connection to Kiln (00:22:16) Discussion about events and mindfulness at Kiln, and Bobo's participation in the natural food community.

Kiln's role in hosting events (00:23:17) TJ McIntyre shares how Kiln provides an inspiring workspace and hosts events for Bobo's.

Bobo's availability (00:27:34) Where to find and taste Bobo's products, including at natural food stores, conventional grocery stores, and online.

Creating a successful food business (00:28:07) TJ McIntyre shares advice on creating a successful food business by focusing on regularly consumed food categories.

Tags:

#SwellPod, #KilnRoadTrip, #Kiln, #MotorraCamperVans, #podcast, #interview, #innovation, #resilience, #communitybuilding, #passion, #purpose, #community, #diversity, #collaboration, #thoughtleadership, #100interviews, #entrepreneur, #CEO, #leadership #bobos