In today’s episode, Ian Navarro, founder of Navarro Culinary Connection, shares his journey from distribution roles to establishing his own food service brokerage in Denver, Colorado. Ian explains the concept of food brokerage as a fractional sales team aiding brands in navigating the food service industry.

Highlighting the importance of storytelling, building relationships, and leveraging technology, particularly social media, to connect chefs, brands, and distributors, Ian further discusses the challenges of customer acquisition, managing expectations, and the evolving role of digital platforms in creating brand relevance and authenticity and we conclude with insights into the future direction of his business.

Once Again, Thank You for tuning in to what proves to be an insightful discussion.

Connect With the Host:

David Maloni’s LinkedIn

Connect With Our Guest:

Ian Navarro’s LinkedIn

Navarro Culinary Connections’ Website

Connect with Datum FS:

https://datumfs.com/

Timestamps

02:40 - Welcome To The Show Ian

06:13 - Starting Navarro Culinary Connection

09:19 - Innovative Food Service Brokerage

13:01 - Ian Talks About Curating A Product Mix, The Importance Of Storytelling And Regional Foods

17:06 - Food Brokerage And Relationship Management

20:44 - Ian Talks About Starting His Business, The Challenges, And The Growth In The First Six Months

26:43 - Differentiation In The Market

31:10 - The Challenges Of Introducing New Products To The Market

36:57 - Ian Talks Emphasizing Using Technology To Build Relationships And Create Credibility Virtually

42:24 - Challenges In Food Distribution

47:38 - The Challenges Of Food Brokerage

50:29 - The Role Of Digital, Strategic Accounts, And The Focus On Creating Value For Brands.

52:22 - Scaling And Evolving Navarro

1:03:24 - Wrapping Up!

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