Company Stats

• Revenue: ~$100 Million
• Employees: 35+
• Founded: 2015

Episode Highlights

✅ Hiring ahead of the curve accelerates business growth and prepares teams for future challenges.

✅ Clean, simple ingredients are critical for maintaining consumer trust and brand integrity.

✅ Listening to customer feedback and quickly pivoting is key to sustaining long-term success in the market.

Episode Summary

In this episode, Jason Bronstad, CEO of Malk Organics, shares his insights on the rapid growth of the company and the importance of maintaining a clean ingredient label for their plant-based milk products. Jason discusses Malk's journey to nearly reaching nine-figure revenue, the strategic decision to hire talent ahead of time, and how this approach has allowed them to scale efficiently. He explains that planning for hires 18-24 months ahead is critical for long-term success in the fast-paced consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry.

Jason also recounts a critical moment in Malk’s evolution when the company faced backlash for introducing natural flavors into their products. He shares how the team swiftly responded to consumer feedback, reformulated their products, and reinforced their commitment to transparency and clean ingredients. This experience led to the "Turn It Around" campaign, encouraging consumers to be mindful of ingredient labels and choose healthy, simple products. Jason emphasizes that Malk’s mission is to create organic, clean products without sacrificing flavor, ensuring customers return for more.

Notable Questions We Asked

Q: How far ahead do you plan your hires to ensure growth?

A: We look 24 months ahead to identify the key roles we’ll need to support future growth. Often, we bring people in 18 months ahead of schedule to ensure they're fully integrated by the time we need them.

Q: How did you handle the backlash over natural flavors in your product?

A: We went into crisis mode and quickly reformulated the product within days, switching to organic vanilla extract. Our response reaffirmed our commitment to clean ingredients and reinforced our connection with loyal customers.

Q: What is the importance of clean ingredients to Malk's brand?

A: Clean ingredients are everything to us. Transparency and simplicity are central to our values, and we ensure that every ingredient in our products is something our consumers can understand and trust.

Q: How do you leverage external expertise when growing your team?

A: We work closely with trusted recruiting firms to streamline the hiring process, ensuring we get top-tier talent without disrupting our internal team’s workflow.

Q: What’s the message behind your “Turn It Around” campaign?

A: "Turn It Around" encourages consumers to read ingredient labels and make informed decisions about what they put in their bodies. It’s about transparency, knowing what you’re consuming, and making healthier choices.

Chapters

00:00  Intro

00:16  Company Stats

00:57  Company Growth and Hiring Strategies

03:58  Leveraging Experts and Recruiting Firms

06:34  Challenges and Success Stories

08:56  The Importance of Clean Ingredients

12:27  Connect with Malk Products

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#PlantBasedMilk #OrganicLiving #HealthyEating #CleanIngredients #SustainableFood #CPGIndustry #ConsumerHealth #ProductTransparency #NaturalFoods #HealthyLifestyle