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A collection of all-natural preserves and fruit wines with varieties of berries and fruits native to the Appalachian region. Their full selection of fresh fruit preserves, fruit butters and fruit wine come from a history of passion, dedication, and a promise to deliver to their customers the all-natural products inspired by their West Virginia heritage. Their company started nearly 25 years ago, offering a few varieties of preserves in fairs and festivals throughout the state, to now being available in over 600 retail stores in the region including major retailers like Kroger, Wal-Mart, and Sam’s Club. Read more @: www.wvfruitandberry.com
“If you can’t make it yourself, we are the next best thing.”
– Bob and Becky Titchenal
Founders of Fruit and Berry | Bob & Becky Titchenal
Show Notes:
- 00:31-2:44: Jim introduces today’s guest, Becky Titchenal, and her company, West Virginia Fruit and Berry. Jim asks Titchenal to take a moment and fill in some gaps from the brief intro as well as give some insight into her personal life.
- 2:45-5:20: Titchenal talks about the amount of work they’ve put into their company and how far they’ve come since the conception of their company. She also talks about her and her husband’s roots in West Virginia and how that brought them and their business back home.
- 5:21-5:36: Give us your 30 second elevator pitch for West Virginia Fruit and Berry…
- 5:37-6:12: “We’re a food and beverage company who markets value-added products that we all grew up with in the state of West Virginia… We make sure they’re all-natural.”
- 6:13-6:28: What’re you most excited about for your company right now?
- 6:29-11:36: “Well actually, our exit plan.” Titchenal describes some of her company’s exit plan, without revealing too much.
- 11:37-12:02: Tell us that story of your worst business moment so far…
- 12:03-14:13: Titchenal talks about a time when a massive order was cancelled by Kroger and what it was like dealing with that adversity and what it took to straighten that out.
- 14:14-15:44: What would you say is the best thing about being in business in West Virginia?
- 15:45-16:47: “Well, for us, it’s the people of the state of West Virginia and the beauty of this state.”
- 16:48-17:20: What’s the long-term vision for your company?
- 17:21-18:12: “To stay in West Virginia, to expand it into a direction so that it never gets lost here. We also want to add a product-line.”
- 18:13-18:32: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to young business people and aspiring entrepreneurs?
- 18:33-19:28: “There’s a lot of resources here that people people probably don’t even realize.” (Small business Administration, Emerging Leaders, State department of agriculture) Titchenal urges you to reach out to them but to still follow your heart and not
- 19:29-20:33: What’s one thing you do everyday that you think contributes to your success?
- 20:34-21:24: “I get up every morning and I go to work.”
- 21:25- 21:30: What’s one resource you use in your business that you cannot live without?
- 21:31-22:15: “At the moment, accountants.”
- 22:16-22:33: What’s been your best business moment?
- 22:34-24:26: “I’d have to say it was giving in to selling wine.” Titchenal talks about the process they went through as a family and company to get where they eventually started to sell wine and the success they’ve seen from that.
- 24:27-25:15: What’s a book you’d recommend to aspiring entrepreneurs?
- 25:16-26:48: “By the Numbers” by: Jen Lancaster
- 26:49-29:04: If you could meet anyone in West Virginia that could help grow your company, who would that be?
- 29:05-29:31: “Woody Thrasher!”
- 29:32-29:48: How can our listeners learn more about you and your company and reach out to you?
- 29:49-30:28: “The best way is through our website @ www.wvfruitandberry.com“
- 30:39-Close: Jim thanks Becky Titchenal for joining him on another wonderful episode of Positively West Virginia. Jim recognizes the amazing sponsors of the show that allow stories like this one to be told!