40 Successful Years in Food: Financial Lessons from D'Artagnan's Founder
Description
Ever wonder how a food business thrives for four decades without compromising on quality? Sarah sits down with culinary visionary Ariane Daguin, who transformed America's specialty meat landscape with just $15,000 and an unwavering commitment to sustainability.
Ariane shares the unvarnished truth about building D'Artagnan from the ground up. She walks us through those challenging first ten years managing tight cash flow, explains why turning down certain growth opportunities actually strengthened her business foundation, and describes the strategic "shotgun clause" she used when buying out her partner who wanted to prioritize rapid growth over maintaining quality standards.
For food entrepreneurs navigating today's rising costs and economic uncertainty, Ariane offers practical wisdom: "Don't panic. Whatever goes down goes back up." She explains why economic downturns can become valuable moments to reassess, reinvent, and differentiate your business from competitors.
Now mentoring the next generation through her Germinators program while building a new sustainable farm venture with her daughter, Ariane continues sharing insights that food founders won't find in typical business resources. This episode delivers straightforward financial guidance from someone who's weathered four decades of economic cycles while staying true to her founding principles.
Connect with Ariane Daguin
AOOA Farm Website: alloneoneall.org
Instagram: @arianedaguin
Germinators: Learn More
Join The Good Food CFO Community:
Follow us on Instagram: @thegoodfoodcfo
Connect on LinkedIn: @sarahdelevan
Watch on YouTube: @thegoodfoodcfo
Become a Member: BABOYOT
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thegoodfoodcfo.substack.com/subscribe
United States
