Founder Feature: Katie Lefkowitz of Harken Sweets

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Dec 6, 2024

Katie Lefkowitz, founder of Harken Sweets, shares her inspiring journey of creating a better-for-you candy brand infused with superfoods. She discusses how her personal health experiences shaped her product development and led to rapid national distribution. Katie reveals the challenges of scaling a bootstrapped business, managing cash flow, and navigating retail relationships. She offers practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of community engagement, persistence, and preparing for future growth and innovation.

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ANECDOTE

Health Journey to Harken Sweets

Katie Lefkowitz, a former Snickers enthusiast, was diagnosed with a colon cancer-related illness.
This led her to discover the power of food as medicine and inspired her to create Harken Sweets.

ADVICE

Persistence is Key

Founders need persistence to overcome obstacles.
Never give up on your idea, especially when doing something innovative.

ADVICE

Launch Strategy

Focus on a strong product that resonates with consumers.
Launch locally to test the market and gather feedback before expanding.

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In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Grace Kennedy speaks with Katie Lefkowitz, founder of Harken Sweets, about her journey from concept to creating a successful better-for-you candy brand. Katie shares how her personal health journey inspired the development of candy bars infused with superfoods like dates and oats, offering healthier alternatives to traditional sweets.

Katie covers Harken’s rapid expansion from a local launch in New York City to distribution in over 4,000 stores nationwide, including Walmart and Safeway, within just one year. Katie explains the challenges of product development, scaling manufacturing, and managing cash flow as a bootstrapped business. She also provides actionable advice for founders on navigating retail relationships, trade shows, and building an engaged community through social media.

Katie also highlights her strategic approach to operations, the importance of persistence, and how her team is preparing for further innovation and growth in 2025. This episode provides valuable insights for entrepreneurs in the CPG space looking to scale effectively while maintaining brand focus. Listen now!

Listen in as they share about:

Katie’s Journey to Founding Harken Sweets
Product Development Challenges
Early Launch Strategy
Marketing and Growth
Operations and Cash Flow
Personal and Team Dynamics
Future Plans and Advice for Entrepreneurs

Episode Links:

Website: https://harkensweets.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katielefkowitz/

Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.

Show Links:

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Episode music by Super Fantastics