Podcast Summary
Food industry cost-cutting: The food industry's focus on cost-cutting has resulted in a complex and unhealthy food system, but entrepreneurs like Justin Mares of Kettle & Fire are turning wasted resources into valuable products and promoting healthier alternatives.
The food industry's focus on shaving costs has led to a complex and unhealthy food system. Justin Mares, the founder of Kettle & Fire, a leading bone broth brand, shares this perspective. He became an advocate for health and wellness through his personal experience with the Paleo diet and its impact on his health. The journey to Kettle & Fire began when he recognized the potential of bone broth for gut health and saw an opportunity to turn a seemingly wasted resource into a valuable product. By reaching out to ranchers and defining a manufacturing partner, Mares and his brother built the business from the ground up. Their efforts have not only created a successful company but also contributed to addressing the food crisis and its connection to chronic diseases.
Startup Challenges: Maintaining high-quality standards and holding firm to unconventional requests can lead to success despite initial resistance from manufacturers
Persistence and networking paid off for the founders of Kettle & Fire when they faced challenges in sourcing and manufacturing high-quality bone broth. Mark Cuban's response to a cold email led them to a manufacturer willing to take a risk on their unique process. Despite initial resistance from manufacturers due to their small size and unconventional requests, they held firm to their standards and eventually found a manufacturer that shared their vision. The founders' commitment to using high-quality bones and long cooking times resulted in a nutrient-dense product that appealed to health-conscious consumers. Their determination to maintain their standards, even when faced with pressure to compromise, ultimately contributed to the success of Kettle & Fire.
Bone Broth Production: Sourcing high-quality bones and cooking at high temperature for a long time results in a nutrient-rich bone broth, but scaling production while maintaining quality can be challenging
Creating a high-quality organic bone broth involves sourcing the right bones with connective tissue and marrow, ensuring uniformity, and cooking at high temperature for a long period to extract nutrients. The importance of good inputs leads to an amazing output rich in protein, gelatin, collagen, and amino acids, which most people are not getting enough of. Kettle & Fire, a bone broth brand, launched online to find their niche market in the health food industry and gained support from influencers. They started selling in Whole Foods with a small facing but did better than the category average. However, as success grew, they faced challenges in scaling production and maintaining quality. They made tough decisions to expand with a real manufacturer rather than compromising on their core values.
Supply Chain: Investing in supply chain infrastructure and expertise is crucial for business success, especially in the food industry. Poor management can lead to stockouts and hinder growth, but professional help can turn things around.
Building a successful business, especially in the food industry, requires significant investment in supply chain infrastructure and expertise. The founders of Kettle & Fire learned this the hard way, experiencing frequent stockouts and poor management of their supply chain before bringing on professionals. Despite these challenges, the company has grown exponentially, reaching nine figures in revenue and expanding into 20,000 stores. The founders are passionate about using their brand to promote better nutrition and challenge the broken food system. Bone broth, a key product for Kettle & Fire, offers benefits for those following healthy lifestyles, particularly during periods of fasting or intermittent eating. The company plans to expand its bone broth offerings to make the product more palatable and accessible to a wider audience.
HSAs and FSAs for health optimization: HSAs and FSAs can be used for more than just rainy day funds, they can be utilized for preventative health measures and biohacking modalities, potentially reducing long-term healthcare costs
There are underutilized funds, specifically Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), which can be used to invest in preventative health measures and biohacking modalities. These accounts are often overlooked and considered as rainy day funds, but they can significantly impact an individual's health journey and potentially reduce healthcare costs in the long run. TrueMed is a project aimed at helping people access these funds for preventative measures, including nutrition, supplements, and fitness programs. With over 40 million Americans currently having an HSA or FSA and over $150 billion in these accounts combined, there's a vast potential for optimizing these funds for better health outcomes.
Food system corruption: Big food companies influence the US food system, promoting unhealthy foods and potentially exposing Americans to harmful substances, but consumers can save up to 40% on healthier alternatives through HSAs and FSAs.
The food system in the US is heavily influenced by big food companies, leading to biased research and the promotion of unhealthy, highly-processed foods. This corruption in the system can result in Americans being exposed to harmful substances, such as glyphosate and other pesticides, which can negatively impact their health. However, there is a solution. Consumers can take advantage of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) to purchase healthier alternatives, such as nutritional supplements, fitness equipment, and other wellness products, effectively saving them up to 40% on these expenses. These accounts allow individuals and families to invest in their long-term health and wellbeing, bypassing the corrupt food system and taking control of their own health journey.
Hormonal impacts of harmful compounds: Exposure to harmful compounds like PFAS and microplastics can negatively impact our hormones and development, and regulations are flawed, leading to potential health risks. European regulations are more cautious, potentially leading to healthier populations.
Our bodies are being exposed to a multitude of harmful compounds, such as PFAS and microplastics, which can have significant negative impacts on our health, particularly on our hormones and development. These compounds are bioaccumulative, making it difficult for our bodies to clear them out. The regulatory approach to these compounds is flawed, as we are essentially conducting large-scale experiments on the human population without fully understanding the consequences. European regulations are more cautious, leading to fewer restrictions on these compounds in Europe and potentially healthier populations. Additionally, the massively centralized food system in the US contributes to the need for pesticides, additives, and packaging materials, which can lead to less nutrient-dense food and potential health issues. It's important to be aware of these issues and make informed choices to minimize exposure to these harmful compounds.
Food System Reform: Supporting local and small-scale farming and reconsidering subsidies for processed foods can lead to a healthier and more sustainable food system
The current food system, including bottled water, is broken and can lead to dehydration rather than hydration due to the lack of essential minerals. The ideal solution is for individuals to buy whole, locally sourced foods from smaller farms, as this supports healthier and more sustainable farming practices. Additionally, subsidies for corn, soy, and wheat contribute to the affordability and overuse of these crops in processed foods, creating a vicious cycle that prioritizes artificial cheapness over natural and healthy options. To create a food system where organic is the default, we need to reconsider these subsidies and support local and small-scale farming. Regulatory action can also play a role, as seen in Europe with bans on lab-grown meats and GMO foods.
Healthy Foods & Tax-Free Funds: Companies like Kettle & Fire and TrueMed collaborate to make nutritious foods accessible using tax-free funds, promoting medically tailored diets for chronic conditions.
Kettle & Fire, a bone broth brand, and TrueMed, a health savings account platform, are working together to make nutritious foods, like bone broth, more accessible using tax-free funds. The goal is to create medically tailored diets for those with chronic conditions. Kettle & Fire founder Justin Mayors emphasizes the importance of health and enjoyment in life, and being an "ultimate human" means being present, grateful, and focusing on wellness. To learn more about Kettle & Fire and TrueMed, check out their websites or follow them on social media. Mayors encourages listeners to prioritize their health and live in the present moment.