The Launching Pad and Company

Heather Stouffer, Owner, Mom Made Foods, www.mommadefoods.com , an organic frozen baby food company in Washington, DC area sent this unsolicited letter of recommendation to another food entrepreneur in Norfolk, VA:

“I am writing to introduce you to Carol Coutrier of Launching Pad Inc.  Carol has been (and still is) essential to the launch of Mom Made in sharing her first-hand experience and guidance. I just had my weekly phone call with her and your name came up when we were discussing allergy-sensitive foods. I wanted to introduce you to her in the case that you are looking for strategic consultation. I give Carol a five-star recommendation!

I was not looking for a consultant in my early days but I met a friend of my husband’s from college at a party who also happens to be a friend of Carol’s. This new friend put me in touch with Carol as she knew we would have a lot in common. After a couple conversations with her, I knew that she was just the right person to help me in making the difficult decisions for Mom Made.  Her expert advice has been a critical factor for our success thus far and future planning.  Carol founded The Hommus Factory, Inc. in New England and sold it after 17 years.  For the last 15 years, she has consulted with many specialty food business owners and is the President of the Massachusetts Specialty Food Association.”

 

 

“As a newcomer to the food industry, we needed guidance around how to plan, schedule and execute an approach to launching our products in the market.  Carol’s tremendous experience
in the field was critical to our successful entry into the market.  Starting with formalizing a business plan, to developing a product line and helping to come up with a marketing approach,
we tremendously benefited from her systematic approach to the effort.  Without her, we would still be struggling to figure out the maze of rules and regulations and supply chain management
complexities.  Thanks a lot, Carol!”
Avsi Partners
Early 2010 I wanted to finally  get  going with a  project that I had wanted to realize for many years but never had the time  . The one thing that I knew I did well was making my soufflés yet I did not know anything about selling product or anything about retail.

I contacted Carol and she took the time to find out who I was and what my company was  about . I explained that I was just at square one and needed a lot of help.   Carol was very knowledgeable with having been a long time in the retail world and was now a successful consultant.  I jumped at the opportunity to work with an experienced business person.  Carol helped  me to  see through my project and  suggested that although  my chocolate soufflé  idea was unique and interesting  I  should  not only have a few  sweet soufflés  but  a savory  line as well which  would  be displayed in 2 locations in the supermarkets.   Soon after, Carol introduced me to Johanna Bohoy and Larry Berk  ( Bohoy Design ) . Johanna and Larry are the very skillful pair who came up with the company Logo the packaging design the color, the font …….. Needless to say it is a lengthy and tedious process, but what a result, I couldn’t be happier.  The professionalism, the dedication, time spent, focus, I can’t say enough about them  . When it was time to do the photo for the packaging  Johanna  suggested Callaway Photo  which Carol was very familiar with as well , and again I was dealing with  nothing  but the best  ( Ellen Callaway ). Look at my website for yourself www.chefyvesb.com
Then we move on to the website and Carol recommended a great person Tommy Sanderson, of Blue T Design.  Tommy was very efficient and easy to deal with.

Overall Carol guided and made me see what works and did not without forcing me in any direction.  I feel that within one year I would have never accomplished the amount of progress that we did (having a full time job).  Carol was always there when needed and her vast connections through the retail world of business has been a blessing.  Being in my field for  the last 30 years and having an international  experience  I can say  that I am  very picky with who comes on board  in my team . Carol’s wisdom, experience, and common practical sense make for a winning result.

If you are  new in the specialty food field or retail don’t go  on  by yourself  , The Launching Pad was money well invested, and  I highly recommend  as well   all  the different companies that I mentioned earlier .
As the company name infers, The Launching Pad will launch you into the world of retail with the proper tools for success.

Yves Bainier
Owner of  chefyvesb  products
YMB Enterprises LLC

Adam and I would like to thank you so much for all of your efforts on our behalf and on behalf of our start-up company, Want’ems. As your email indicated, you have played a critical role in our development. We regard so many of your suggestions as not only helpful, but brilliant! We firmly believe our decision to work with you has put us on a path towards, hopefully soon, becoming a real company with a real product line.  We look forward to continuing to work with you for some time to come. We realize that getting a product, even product samples, is really only a small piece of the puzzle. We have much more to learn. But we are fortunate to have a great consultant, a great guide and teacher in you, and we are confident in the company’s eventual ability to succeed.

Thanks again so very much,

Noah Roffman