How Koia’s Founders Mastered Sales to Transform the Beverage Industry | CEO Sales Huddle with Che Brown

When Maya French and Dustin Baker met in 2013, both were on a mission to improve their health. French had just discovered she was lactose intolerant and found there were very few products that suited her needs. Baker, who worked in medical sales, wanted to move away from his unhealthy college diet. They quickly realized that there was a lack of healthy and delicious options in the market. French and Baker dreamed of starting a juice bar, and they began their journey with research and development. They eventually pivoted to selling juice in grocery stores, conducting demos, and gathering customer feedback. An interesting fact is that French’s lactose intolerance led them to experiment with nut milks, which revealed a bigger opportunity for a plant-based, low-sugar protein drink. Customers immediately loved it, showing there was a market hungry for their product. Their big break came when they met with the buyer from Mrs. Green’s, a new store in Chicago. Though inexperienced, their passion and persistence shone through. This led to the creation of Koia. They even printed their contact information on the bottles, which attracted not just customers, but also investors. One particularly supportive investor sponsored their attendance at a major trade show, Expo West. This opened more doors, eventually leading to a pivotal meeting with Whole Foods. Their high-stakes pitch was successful, leading to a national rollout of their product. My Big Takeaway: The story of Koia teaches us the importance of having a solid sales system and strategy. By leveraging their passion and pivoting when necessary, French and Baker were able to take their vision from an idea to a national success. They also exemplified strong sales leadership by building relationships and effectively pitching their product. For CEOs looking to grow revenue and impact lives, having a clear sales strategy and being adaptable are key. Join the www.CEOSalesHuddle.com for sales growth and business strategies. Stay Hungry. Stay Humble. Che Brown www.CEOSalesHuddle.com Connect with me: @IamCheBrown #CEOSalesHuddle #CEOSalesDashboard #CEOMasteryNetwork