Arepa is a staple dish in South America, but trying to replicate the authentic taste in the United States can be a challenge. Venezuelan sisters Maria Fernanda and Maria Corina Cabezas discovered this when they immigrated. Two Marias are reintroducing their favorite foods with TOAST-IT. The two women struck a deal with Daniel Lubetzky, with TOAST-IT now worth an estimated $2 million.
The women behind TOAST-IT
Maria Fernanda “Mafe” and Maria Corina “Coco” left Venezuela to study in the United States. Mafe majored in corporate finance and Coco earned a master's degree in data science from the University of California, Berkeley.
After college, Murphy worked at major companies including Citibank, PepsiCo and Pfizer. Coco initially took the entrepreneurial route, but has always wanted to be an entrepreneur.
The Cabezas sisters lead busy lives in Miami, but one thing unites them: their desire for Venezuelan food. They found a few stores that sold one of their favorite tortillas, but it didn't taste the same as back home.
The ingredients used are unhealthy and original recipes are rare. Mafe conducted market research and realized there was a huge gap in authentic Spanish cuisine. She plans to start a business and her sister is eager to join.
Founding of TOAST-IT Arepas
dos Marias got their mom's recipe and TOAST-IT was born in 2020. Coco makes the tortillas herself, while Mafe packs them. At the time, she had to juggle her job with PepsiCo.
They're introducing Venezuelan food that's as pure and healthy as possible while also tailoring it to an American audience. It's frozen, precooked cornmeal that can be baked in the air fryer, toaster, or oven.
Mafe and Coco are good at advertising and promoted TOAST-IT to more than 800 retail stores within three years. The sisters are long-time fans of “Shark Tank” and practice pitching endlessly in front of friends and family. The episode was filmed on June 13, 2023, and had to wait less than four months before airing.
After Shark Tank
After the episode aired, the girls noticed a huge increase in website traffic and emails from interested customers. The publicity alone should help them sell at least $100,000 in product within a week, as nearly 3.5 million people watched the episode live. The deal with Daniel should have been completed by now, but there is no information to confirm this.
Viewers won’t be able to resist trying their tacos, which you can order online at ToastItFoods.com. You can also buy it in-store at Walmart, Whole Foods, Milam's and Central Market. In 2021, authentic betel pancakes will also begin being sold at 500 Publix locations. The girls are selling the Shark Tank bundle for $55.99! In the long run, companies need to reduce the cost of goods to improve profitability.
Currently, they sell three flavors: original, tapioca, and chia and flaxseed. On their website, the Chia Flaxseed flavor has a 5-star rating, while the other two flavors have an average rating of 4.5 stars. Recently, the company has expanded beyond tortillas and now sells Pandebono Bites.
Categories: Shark Tank
Source: svlsf.edu.vn