Co-Founder of Chomps, Pete Maldonado: Building a Leading Snack Brand Without a Traditional Playbook

In this episode of Rooted, I sat down with Pete Maldonado, the co-founder of Chomps. Chomps is the grass-fed meat stick brand that’s become a household name among health-conscious eaters, busy moms, athletes, and college students alike.Pete’s story is such a powerful reminder that there’s no one path to building a successful company. He didn’t come from a flashy corporate background or a fancy business degree. He left college early, got certified as a personal trainer, worked in real estate, and even went bankrupt. What Pete has is a relentless entrepreneurial mindset, shaped by his Colombian immigrant family and a strong instinct for what people actually wanted in a snack, even before it was trendy.In this conversation, we talked about:Pete’s unconventional path and his continued relentless attitudeTaking action vs overthinking and getting nowhereHis insights on building trust and changing behavior across different consumer groups, especially womenWhy he stepped down as CEO and what’s next for him personallyHis honest take on the grass-fed and regenerative space today and what’s real vs. marketingThe long-term vision for Chomps and what trends he’s watching in food and wellnessThis episode is packed with wisdom for anyone who’s ever questioned whether they were “qualified enough” to start something meaningful. Pete’s story proves that belief, persistence, and integrity can take you further than any title. Hope you enjoy! Also highly recommend trying Chomps, for anyone that hasn’t already! They can be found in various retailers across the country. For more updates, please follow @themarleemethod on instagram!