June National

Being distributed by Nassau Candy, you can find these cookies as well as granola in some grocery stores as well as online at otscookies.com . After their first year in business, Lombardo shared that they’ve had a lot of fun and exploration and learned some lessons as well, as all business owners do. In their case, packaging was a lesson. O’ts started out in tubs but recently transitioned into stand-up packaging which offers more real estate to share messaging and show the product off.

When asked what advice they would have for other new businesses, Lombardo encouraged, “Don’t let the bumps in the road dissuade you.” Kotler added, “The math has to work otherwise you’re delusional.” What that means is that both in the short- term and long-term, the economics need to make sense for your business. As you anticipate avenues that you want to grow into – for O’ts, it’s foodservice – the math needs to back that up.

ACF Chefs Forum Webinar: The Rise and Impact of Food Trucks on Industry & Education Wed., June 12, 3:00 p.m. ET

Join us for a robust discussion on the dynamic industry segment of food trucks. These mobile kitchens have revolutionized the restaurant industry, offering an affordable entry point with minimal real estate, reduced labor, and lower overhead costs - prized by independent restaurant owners and large-scale institutions alike. You won’t want to miss this insightful panel discussion led by ACF’s Executive Director, Chef Chris Tanner and featuring ACF Chefs David Brough , PhD, CEC, CCE, CCA, AAC, Dean — School of Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism and Rain O’Donnell, assistant professor from SUNY Schenectady; Damian Del Pizzo , chef/owner, Vucca Street Food; and ACF Chefs Anthony Jung , CEC, and Alexander Ong , University of Massachusetts at Amherst.