203. Cassie Michael — Community-Driven Food at Wholesale Prices

Season 7 Episode 4: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Cassie Michael, founder of Food and Meat Co-op. Michael discusses how she launched the business during the 2020 supply chain crisis to help communities access affordable, high-quality proteins and other food items. With a background in wholesale food and a passion for budget-friendly meal planning, she leveraged her industry connections to secure bulk pricing directly from producers, eliminating the need for traditional retail markups. Committed to quality and affordability, the co-op offers additive-free products through an online ordering system, delivering via refrigerated trucks to pickup locations across Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming, with recent expansions into home delivery in select areas.  Michael shares insights on running a community-driven food distribution business and how the cooperative model supports partnerships with local businesses for distribution. She emphasizes the importance of passion-driven entrepreneurship and the challenges of balancing business and family life. Additionally, Michael discusses the co-op's recognition for championing women in business and its plans for expansion into Nevada and beyond.