Co-op Business Spotlight - Co-opportunity

Co-op Business Spotlight
Getting to know….. Co-op Member and Cal Snax Co-Owner
Emil Kalil
Emil has been one of my favorite Board Members. He resigned from the Board a few
years ago but as a long time Co-op member and now vendor, it’s always nice to see
him when he visits the store. California Snax—his new product line of raw food
snacks—are some of the Co-op’s most popular and best selling products. I thought it
was only fitting to get to know more about Emil and his new business venture.
LW: Hello Emil! Please tell us a little about yourself and how you became a member of
the Co-op.
EK: I have been involved with the Co-op as a member and Board Member for over 25
years. I joined the Coop because my 6 year old son was having severe asthma attacks,
often resulting in trips to the hospital. After one hospital visit, the doctor suggested we
do something different because the asthma would only get worse. I became macrobiotic
(a dietary regimen which involves eating grains as a staple food— supplemented with
other foodstuffs such as local vegetables, avoiding the use of highly processed or refined
foods and most animal products) which saved my son’s life.
My teacher made me shop at the Co-op. At that time, the Co-op was across the street
from where we are now at the old location. I remember one day shopping there in the
bulk area looking for “aduki” beans. I couldn’t find them and asked this grey-bearded
man for help. He told me “we” called them “Adzuki” beans. He helped me with the rest
of my shopping list. This gentleman was Eytan Ben Sheviya, one of the original founders
of the Co-op. Since then, every time I’m at the Co-op and I see someone with a list, I
help them in my “Co-op” way. Sometime after that I became involved with the Co-op as
a member of the Board of Directors where I served happily for 21 years.

LW: Wow, I’m glad you found something that worked. It’s always great to hear
memories of Eytan. So now, tell us about Cal Snax and how your partnership began?
EK: After I had lost most of the brown in my hair color, I left the Board and joined the
raw food revolution. I was quite familiar with the health and nutrition aspects, so I
brought in my partner, Mark Wong, to run the business and head up new product
development. As a result Cal Snax was born. We were constantly testing new products
and formulations to produce the highest quality products in the raw space. We did all of
our initial demos at the Co-op until we felt our recipes were rock solid.
LW: How has business been?
EK: Our 5 year old business has grown almost every quarter; something we are very
proud of. We expect to see a 50% increase in growth in 2013. We began with a raw
organic chocolate chip cookie and later branched into a raw organic hummus line. We
are the price and value leader in our niche. In late 2011 we took over the Rawk-n-Roll
dehydrated kale chips and have turned it into a major player in this crowded field.
LW: Share with us some of your experiences running a local business?
EK: Running a small local business is always challenging and fresh food is no exception.
One challenge in particular is delivering to stores. We prepare all of our products in a
commercial kitchen often for delivery that same day. Our biggest challenge though has
been maintaining our leadership low prices to the consumer as costs of everything
significantly increase, especially over the past 3 years. This year alone organic raw
cashews have doubled in price. To offset these raw material price increases our
manufacturing had to get much more efficient. My chemistry and bacteriology
background has helped us produce products with much longer shelf life using natural
ingredients.
LW: Well Emil, I’m glad everything is going well for you and for Cal Snax. I really
appreciate you taking the time to talk with me. I wish you all continued success with
your products.
*The Co-op will partner up with Cal Snax for the month of January offering an 8oz
container of their Garlic flavored hummus or the Jalapeño Cilantro to all new
members. Join today or tell a friend!