We had the good fortune of connecting with Danielle Dietz-LiVolsi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danielle, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Authenticity is the most important factor behind NuttZo. Brand trust is built on authenticity and transparency, and people can immediately tell when a brand is not being authentic with their customers. My daily goal is to lead the brand in the most authentic and transparent way possible to ensure a product that I am proud of and proud to share with the world. With NuttZo, I do not create or sell any product that I wouldn’t eat myself, or feed to my own family. What you see is what you get with NuttZo, especially when it comes to our ingredient list. My passion is to create healthy flavorful products that taste amazing, with low sugar and no added oils. With every NuttZo product, I want healthy to never have tasted so good.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The founding story of NuttZo first began in 2002, after adopting my first son at 3 ½ years old from Ukraine. He was having trouble gaining weight and adjusting to a solid diet, so I knew I needed a quick solution to provide an alternate protein source. I began combining a variety of nuts and seeds into a food processor to create a multi-nut and seed spread that also provided enough protein for him. I soon recognized that there were no other multi-nut and seed spreads out there, so it was then I decided to take my creation to market.

The biggest risk I took with NuttZo was leaving my successful six figure career in advertising sales to start a nut butter company. It took me 6 months to build up the courage to donate my suits to GoodWill – donating them was kind of like cutting the safety net below me, or blowing up the bridge behind me. Moving forward was the only option. Being an entrepreneur requires you to take calculated risks almost daily and it’s impossible to succeed without them. When I first launched NuttZo in stores I promised to take back the product if it didn’t sell which was a risk. I had to produce 500 cases of product before I’d sold one jar.

Today, NuttZo sells products in over 7,000 stores across the U.S. and Canada. We are known as the original multi-nut & seed butter and recognized as one of the most innovative brands in the natural food movement. Through NuttZo, I have also been fortunate to start my own non-profit called Project Left Behind, which funds underprivileged and disadvantaged children across the globe in a nod to our founding story. I would say this is the most important part of the NuttZo brand, as one impactful lesson I have learned and continue to teach my children is that giving back is the secret sauce to ‘happiness’.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
For food, i’d say Parakeet Cafe for coffee and breakfast – they make their own almond milk and it’s woman owned! Then GOODONYA in Encinitas for lunch, another woman owned business and everything is organic. For dinner I’d recommend Animae for asian fusion, and it’s led by a woman chef.

AxeVentures is a great spot for axe throwing, and I love to hike Torrey Pines for the views. Visting Old Town is a must, and watching the seals at La Jolla Cove. Then I’d suggest renting ebikes to rise along the 101 in Solana Beach, and of course do a little Coronado Island shopping!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to dedicate my shoutout to my children and family – without them, NuttZo would not be where it is today. My children were the inspiration for creating NuttZo and my entire family has truly been my biggest support system. When I’ve had to work late nights and travel they’ve all pitched in to cover the bases. They encouraged me to follow my dreams and have supported me during challenging times. There have been many challenges along the way, even a pandemic(!), and if not for them by my side I don’t know what I would have done.

Website: https://www.nuttzo.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatnuttzo/?__coig_restricted=1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoNuttZo

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/EatNuttZo/

Image Credits
NuttZo

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