Ep. 182: ‘The Key To This Game Is Surrounding Yourself With People You Really Trust’

This week, we’re joined by Greg Vetter, the co-founder of Tessemae’s, which produces organic dressings and condiments made with simple and clean ingredients. Vetter and his two brothers launched the brand in 2009 and got off to a hot start; in its first week at Whole Foods, Tessemae’s broke the retailer’s record for sales in a single week. In the years that followed, Tessemae’s continued its rapid rise and was pegged as one of the next great natural food companies. Things cooled off, however, and while it’s still a well-respected brand with tens of millions in annual sales, Tessemae’s has faced a number of challenges to its growth, including a reduced retail footprint and supplier lawsuits.

In an interview included in this episode, Vetter spoke about Tessemae’s impressive start and how a decade in development has come with huge wins and unexpected losses. He also explained why his “positively intense” approach to business is not for everyone, the undesirable association with “bro culture,” why he has some regrets about revealing sales projections, and why he believes that “the key to this game is surrounding yourself with people that you really trust and have your best interests at heart.”

Show notes: 

3:04: Interview: Greg Vetter, Co-Founder/CEO, Tessemae’s -- Vetter met with Taste Radio editor Ray  Latif in Baltimore, where he spoke about about his background, the brand’s origins and the unorthodox way in which he won placement at Whole Foods. He also explained why a local rib restaurant will forever be supplied with free Tessemae’s products, why the company launched a production facility, and why he blames VMG general partner Wayne Wu for labeling him as a “bro.” Later, he discussed why “no one kind of likes the Vetter Brothers,” the investment from Under Armor founder Kevin Plank’s venture capital firm, the dangers of bad employees and advisors, and explained why “the universe turned down” two potential acquisitions of the company.

Brands in this episode: Tessemae’s, Kind Snacks, Starbucks