017: Dawn Kelley, CEO of Barney Butter

Hi friends! Thank you so much for checking out today’s podcast episode. It’s been such a fun endeavor and your support means so much to me! Turns out I really like talking to interesting and knowledgable people. I get so pumped to record new episodes each week. <3

Today I’m chatting with the CEO and woman behind one of our very favorite brands: Dawn Kelley from Barney Butter.

In this episode we discuss:

– How she became involved with Barney Butter (and met her husband in the process)

– How to take an idea to a branded product

– Our shared love of Peloton

– The importance of meditation and sleep

– Barney Butter’s newest product (I can’t wait to try this!!)

A little bit about Dawn Kelley:

Dawn had a dream of making something positive for the world and set out to grow a tiny Californian almond butter company into one of the nation’s leading producers of premium almond butter and one of the Inc. 5000 fastest growing companies.

In the last year, Dawn has continued to successfully grow Barney Butter to be the only mom-and-pop brand in the top three almond butter brands on the market, while also leading the brand’s innovation and product development with buzzworthy flavor launches and exciting portfolio expansions. In February, the brand launched its newest almond butter flavor of chocolate and just recently, introduced the nation’s first-ever powdered almond butter – which is also the first Paleo-friendly powdered nut butter. 

Dawn and her husband Steve, who is also co-owner and president of Barney Butter, bought the  company in 2010, shortly after being introduced through a mutual friend. The couple have set Barney Butter apart as one of the few specialty nut butter brands devoted exclusively to almond products, creating the smoothest texture around due to being the only company that blanches (removes the skins) their almonds, and has a peanut-free promise. This is a promise Dawn works hard to keep as the brand’s CEO and is part of how she has taken Barney Butter to become the #3 brand in the category.

Resources from this episode:

You can check out the Barney Butter website for a store locator, or find it on Amazon, Thrive, and at many health food stores

My tips for meditation

Headspace App

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