Episode•October 7, 2021•29 min

Breaking Into the Plant-based Food Industry with Jim Pakulis | Ep. 72

About Our Guest Jim Pakulis is the CEO and Chairman of Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc. Boosh provides a healthy, 100% plant-based, non-GMO, gluten-free alternative to comfort foods. Jim has over three decades of experience working with public and private entrepreneurial companies in a variety of emerging sectors and has developed a unique eye for identifying small emerging publicly traded companies and quickly scaling them. He has taken ventures from zero to $16 million in two years and now he is leading the forefront of the trillion-dollar shift from animal-based protein to plant-based protein. He is passionate about being in the plant-based sector because simultaneously it helps individuals eat healthier foods, decreases the butchering of animals, helps the planet by re-structuring farming resources for sustainable purposes and helps to preserve the depleting water sources. In Jim’s spare time he co-founded an animal rescue non-profit where he has helped save over 1,000 animals from being euthanized and found them loving homes. Connect with Jim Pakulis Website: https://www.booshfood.com Connect with Tiffany on Social Media Facebook: Money Talk With Tiff Twitter: @moneytalkwitht Instagram: @moneytalkwitht LinkedIn: Tiffany Grant YouTube: Money Talk With Tiff Channel Pinterest: Money Talk With Tiff This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

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Key Takeaways

Plant-based comfort foods can serve as a gateway for meat-eaters transitioning to healthier eating

Boosh focuses on 'heat and eat' meals like shepherd's pie and rustic pot pie that are fulfilling and designed for busy families

The target audience is the masses, not just vegans or vegetarians

Fast food companies like McDonald's, Burger King, and Starbucks are adopting plant-based options, indicating a broader industry shift

Non-dilutive share structures protect investors and align management interests with shareholders

Boosh went public with only 16 million shares outstanding, which is considered non-dilutive

CEO Jim Pakulis receives no salary; his compensation is in warrants requiring him to invest $0.50 per share

This structure ensures management's interests are 100% aligned with shareholders

The plant-based food industry is projected to reach $1.4 trillion by 2050

Bloomberg reported this valuation, representing massive growth from near-zero five years ago

The shift is driven by younger generations (millennials, Gen X, Gen Z) concerned about health, animal welfare, and environmental impact

Water conservation is a key factor, as animal-based protein requires significantly more water resources

Hire slow, fire fast: Quality team members are critical to business success

Bad hires can be detrimental because employees become the face of the business

Pakulis implements a 90-day trial period where either party can exit as friends if it's not a fit

People don't leave companies, they leave managers

Successful businesses often start small and scale through strategic partnerships

Connie Marples started Boosh by delivering products from her 'Bushmobile' in Vancouver

Strategic partnerships with Unify (largest natural food distributor) and Beyond Meat helped scale distribution

Four revenue streams planned: organic growth, acquisitions, U.S. expansion, and e-commerce

Intro

Tiffany Grant interviews Jim Pakulis, CEO and Chairman of Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc., about breaking into the plant-based food industry and building a publicly traded company.

Jim Pakulis has over three decades of experience scaling entrepreneurial companies from zero to $16 million. He leads Boosh, which provides healthy, 100% plant-based, non-GMO, gluten-free alternatives to comfort foods. He co-founded an animal rescue non-profit that has saved over 1,000 animals.

Breaking Into the Plant-based Food Industry with Jim Pakulis | Ep. 72

Key Takeaways

Intro

– The Meaning Behind 'Boosh'

– Plant-Based Comfort Foods Explained

– Plant-Based Cheese and Product Expansion

– Why Fast Food Is on Its Way Out

– Major Food Chains Embracing Plant-Based

– Understanding Capitalization Tables

– Where Boosh Trades

– How to Evaluate Investment Opportunities

– Hiring Philosophy: Hire Slow, Fire Fast

Books Mentioned

Resources

Topics