From Kid Idea to Candy CEO: Alina Morse on Building Zolli Candy

In this episode of Gluten-Free Unwrapped, Jenny sits down with Alina Morse, the 20-year-old founder and CEO of Zolli Candy, to unpack how a simple childhood question — “Why can’t candy be good for your teeth?” — sparked a multimillion-dollar, better-for-you candy brand.Alina takes us behind the scenes of building Zolli from a kitchen-table idea into a nationally recognized company. She shares how she partnered with dentists and food scientists to develop tooth-friendly formulas, what it really took to land shelf space at Whole Foods Market, and what it’s like growing up while running a fast-scaling business.We also talk about navigating life gluten-free as a kid entrepreneur, how the gluten-free and better-for-you food space has evolved, and the expansion of Zolli beyond lollipops into fan favorites like Zaffi Taffi, Gum Pops, and more.Plus, we wrap with rapid-fire questions covering favorite products, biggest lessons learned, advice for young founders, and what’s next for Alina and Zolli.If you love founder stories, CPG entrepreneurship, or inspiring examples of purpose-driven business, this episode is one you won’t want to miss.Connect with Alina and Zolli CandyWebsite: https://zollipops.com/Instagram: @zollicandyFacebook: @ZolliCandyTiktok: @zollicandyConnect with Jenny Finke (host)Follow Love Me Gluten Free on Instagram (@lovemeglutenfree) and Facebook (@lovemeglutenfreebox).Follow Jenny's founder content on Instagram at @goodforyouglutenfree and subscribe to her newsletter at welcome.goodforyouglutenfree.com.Connect with Jenny on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferfinke/Order a Love Me Gluten Free subscription box at lovemeglutenfree.comChapters00:02 — Meet Alina + the idea that started it all04:16 — Building tooth-friendly candy (ingredients, partners, taste tests)06:57 — Gluten-free + allergen-friendly life and why it matters16:55 — The retail breakthrough: pitching Whole Foods Market and scaling the brand40:15 — Expanding the lineup: taffies, sour pops, and more52:38 — Rapid fire + where to buy Zolli