Regina Trillo founded Nemi Holisticks as a deliciously crunchy snack made from nopales. Learn more about her story:
Let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there. How did your company get started and why?
Nemi Holisticks launched in March 2019 to provide a healthier chip made from cactus and amaranth, while keeping the crunch and flavor we look for in chips! Growing up in Mexico, I enjoyed cactus (nopal) almost daily. When I moved to Chicago, I ran into the store for nopal and bumped into a thorny, spikey cactus paddle! I was bummed and it was intimidating to look at. Who will buy a cactus paddle with thorns if they don’t know how to eat it or clean it? Nopal is a nutritious and delicious plant and, with Nemi Holisticks, we turn this amazing ingredient into a delicious snack full of sabor and crunch!
Has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been an easy path. I bump into several challenges depending on the stage I’m at. I’ve had challenges around communicating the brand, time management and organization, educating consumers about nopal, having the right information on sell sheet, distribution and operations given that the co-packer I work with is in Mexico, sourcing ingredients, etc. I enrolled in a course called Retail Ready and it’s been a game-changer.
What is your next challenge to overcome? What’s your next milestone?
My challenge for this quarter and the next are growing distribution and switching to sustainable packaging.
Tell us about a time that you received help from another entrepreneur or mentor, and how it helped your business?
I’ve received help from many entrepreneurs on different matters. I don’t have a CPG or business background and know what I don’t know. Reaching out to fellow entrepreneurs and receiving their guidance helped me to refine my sales strategy, get to wholesale accounts, launch on Amazon, get a better understanding and use of social media, among many other. Nemi Holisticks is a one-woman show, but it is what it is because of the helped I’ve received from many entrepreneurs.
What skills or resources have you learned along that you would like to share with the Foodbevy Community?
Navigating the import/export process from Mexico to Chicago, organization and time management skills (still have a full-time job and daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual goal setting has been key), how to have a business while having a self-care practice, information buyers are looking for when you first reach out to them, making business decisions based on data.
