Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Eugenia Simosa.
Hi Maria, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
The journey started when I worked in a convention center here in Miami.
In the midst of the pandemic, they turned part of the convention center into a military hospital in case of emergencies, and some of the doctors were vegan, so we had to find a way to accommodate their dietary lifestyle.
However, all we had to work with was chocolate. When I noticed that everyone would come into the kitchen asking if I ever made chocolates to sell, it was obvious that my recipe needed to reach more people.
My passion for chocolate was already developing at a rapid pace, and on my birthday the head chef gifted me a book on the inner workings of chocolate, which sparked even more passion. As the pandemic progressed, my place of work shut down and I, like many other people, lost my job- that’s when the idea came to me.
I would make my own brand of healthy chocolate snacks to share my passion with the world! Creating the brand itself was a challenging but very rewarding experience for me. With the help of friends and family, I was able to hone in on exactly what I wanted the brand to look and feel like, and that’s when Nanao was born.
Nanao stands for the last letters in my family’s first names (my husband’s, kids’, and my own):
- JuaN
- MariA
- SebastiaN
- AndreA
- PablO
Through lots of late nights, hard work, and consistency we have been able to establish a presence not only all over South Florida but in other states as well. The growth we have seen has been truly incredible to watch unfold.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like every business, we have had some learning experiences along the way.
Learning to manipulate chocolate and create the perfect combination of flavor and texture is an ongoing process (My son always jokes with me because I have learned to “talk” to the chocolate by now).
Obviously at the beginning of a business journey, one has to wear many hats (sometimes every hat) and that can be challenging at first.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Nanao is not the regular dark chocolate bar you find just anywhere.
The recipe is handcrafted from a handpicked selection of the finest chocolates in the world and carefully balanced for a rich, healthy, artisan experience.
We offer a completely new approach to vegan/healthy snacks.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success to me is not numerical. Success to me means doing what I love, and receiving that love back when I see the faces of everyone who comes in contact with my products.
The joy my chocolates have brought to my community is enough to keep me inspired to keep providing new and innovative ways to bring healthy snacks to the world.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/nanaoartisanbars?utm_medium=copy_link
Image Credits
Roman Quijano
