Tuesday Jun 17, 2025

EP 17 - The Power of Branding and Intention in the Natural Foods Industry - Ari Raz

Ari Raz is a distinguished entrepreneur and executive in the natural foods industry, renowned for his leadership and innovative contributions.

Before joining The Coconut Cult in August 2021, Ari co-founded Once Upon a Farm, a company specializing in cold-pressed baby food, where he held the positions of CEO and later President from 2015 to 2021. Once Upon a Farm is currently on a $250M revenue run rate and valued at over $1B.

His tenure was marked by significant growth and the establishment of the brand as a trusted name in children's nutrition.

Under Ari's leadership, The Coconut Cult has grown from a $2.7M annual revenue business to a $36M revenue run rate actual and $57M revenue run rate if capacity existed to fill all orders.

His strategic vision continues to propel The Coconut Cult toward new heights in the plant-based yogurt market.

He is also the President of Naturally San Diego, a nonprofit organization and business network that fosters sustainability and responsible business practices, stimulates conscious growth, supports entrepreneurship, and develops leadership in the San Diego natural products community.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Ari Raz and His Journey

01:01 Inspiration from Family and Early Experiences

05:45 The Birth of Once Upon a Farm

10:51 Branding and Marketing in the Food Industry

15:09 The Role of Jennifer Garner in Once Upon a Farm

24:12 Commitment to Growth

26:00 Navigating Leadership Transitions

28:42 The Impact of COVID-19 on Business

30:51 Manifestation and Intuition in Entrepreneurship

33:54 Building Naturally San Diego

40:22 Personal Biohacks for Entrepreneurs