How Phil Kosak Built a Snack Empire by Hiring Differently

Phil Kosak, founder of Carolina Fine Snacks, shares his decades-long journey from frying pork skins in a 1,500 sq ft bay to building Wicked Crisp into a nationally recognized brand. Learn how hiring employees with disabilities transformed his company, why e-commerce and TikTok shops are critical today, and how AI solves operational headaches for small teams.⏱️ Timestamps:00:02 – Phil’s start: Frito-Lay dropout to bootstrapping with pork skins.04:00 – The Weight Watchers lifeline that saved his business.06:00– Hiring employees with disabilities: “They either got better or quit.”12:30 – Adapting to e-commerce: “My daughter hasn’t been in a grocery store in 5 years.”19:00 – Willie Nelson’s birthday order and organic brand advocacy.29:00 – AI as a “physical tool” for operations: “It’s saved us tons.”🔗 Connect with Phil Kosak:💼 LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-kosak-53a56724/🔔  Enjoyed the episode? Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an update! 📌 Subscribe here: http://www.youtube.com/@FutureProofedPodcast📲 Follow me on social media: www.linkedin.com/in/brentmuller💬 Let me know your thoughts in the comments!#PhilKosak #CPG #SnackFood #Entrepreneurship #DisabilityEmployment #AIinBusinesshttps://valeogrowth.com/