Every brand has a story. A starting point from the time its Founder had that first ‘ah ha’ moment. Maybe it was a little voice inside their head leading them down a certain path, or maybe it was a bigger, life-changing event that hit them like a ton of bricks. One thing’s for sure, every story is different and every story is worth telling!

Tiffany’s story starts here.

My story began in 2012 in northern, VA just outside Washington D.C. where we had been living for several years as transplants from the Bay area. The kids were very young and life was b-u-s-y.

The phone rang one morning and I learned that my dear friend had been diagnosed with stage 4 colon and liver cancer. She had hundreds of tumors and we were told by the doctors that it was inoperable. I went into ‘action mode’ and organized meal deliveries for the next six months. I didn’t want her to even think about cooking during the next six months of chemotherapy and I knew if she and her family were being fed, that would be one less thing she’d have to worry about.

Chemo started, the meals started, but I realized very quickly that although the meals were great for her family, they weren’t great for her. She was sick and nothing was appealing to her. I began making her pre-portioned, organic, green smoothies in pre-portioned ziploc baggies and VOILA, it worked. It wasn’t much but it was something and it was nourishing her body which is exactly what she needed!

Cut to… that ‘AH HA‘ moment.

That’s the exact moment it happened. I saw her sitting on the sofa (exhausted) drinking a big, green smoothie and thought… WOW, NOW THAT’S A BIG IDEA. She had a small smile on her face and I just light up inside.

Whole, organic, pre-portioned, ready-to-blend smoothies. Yes, that’s it! My mind started whirling. I gave it some real thought and realized if I was going to do this, I had to do it right. I wanted them to be SMOOTHIES WITH PURPOSE. Functional smoothies that could potentially replace a meal, powered by nutrient rich foods (enter the superfoods).

The next two years were a blur. I began studying raw food nutrition and herbalism extensively. I studied Ayurvedic and ancient Chinese medicine and became a Certified Raw Food Nutritionist and Holistic Wellness Coach. Finally I had the knowledge and the confidence to put the ‘science behind my smoothie blends.’

We moved back to my hometown of Nashville, TN in 2014 and within 6 months I had launched Blendtopia. It wasn’t called Blendtopia at the time… it was called Roots True Foods but it was a start!

It was SO exciting to be part of a wellness movement that was happening in REAL TIME. Innovation was happening everywhere and I was fueled by my passion,  excitement and sheer dedication to someday making a difference!

That brings us to today.

Wow, so much has happened since that ah ha moment back in 2012. The ups, the downs, the highs, the lows, the times I wanted to throw in the towel but a little voice inside my head said JUST KEEP GOING, you can’t give up now!

My brand is now Blendtopia. A national brand with distribution in major retailers across the entire U.S. including Whole Foods Market, Wegmans, Sprouts, Albertsons, Harris Teeter plus thousands more. Store finder link here. Innovation with new products is whirling and I’m finally at the ‘fun part’. I love my job and I love that I’m now finally making a big difference in people’s lives. It just goes to show that with true passion, grit and determination, you really can move mountains and bring dreams to life!

Julie is no longer with us but she was a true inspiration.

This is Julie, the true inspiration for my journey! She gave it her all battling cancer for over 10 years. I miss her dearly but I’m thankful for the time I had with her and I’m thankful for her constantly pushing me to follow my dreams and make them a reality.

My story began with a mission to create better-for-you foods that help people shape healthy eating habits that will hopefully last a lifetime. For me, it was always about offering ‘clean convenience.’ Foods that you can feel good about that are also easy and convenient!

Blendtopia: Smoothies, Pops & Lattes

With growth comes expansion into new and exciting product lines. We have our Superfood Smoothie Kits but we now offer Superfood Smoothie Pops and Superfood Coffee Lattes in retail stores nationwide.

SO…  that’s my story, at least to date anyway! The story is still being written but I’m thankful each and every day for this exciting journey. I never in a million years would have guessed I’d become the founder of a national food brand but anything is possible.

Just a reminder that a brand’s beginning almost always starts from a place of passion and that the founder’s energy is always the driving force behind it. That’s what makes each brand unique. Listen to their stories. And, listen to the voice inside your head. Don’t be afraid to lean in and step outside of your comfort zone. You NEVER know where it might lead you!