SelfMade Speed Round - Melanie Kahn

A photo of Poppilu founder, Melanie Kahn, and her kids

Melanie is the Queen of Lemonade. Her eponymous, mouth-puckering lemonade can be found amongst the shelves of specialty grocers as well as Jewel and soon, Mariano's. From a consumer standpoint, our family cannot.get.enough of this delicious beverage. Comprised of aronia berries and low on sugar, it makes for the perfect beverage for your babes and for the adults...try it with vodka or bubbles!

I have a special spot in my heart for Poppilu having worked with her professionally, too. She is part of our Oak Street Social family! Follow her feed here! Beyond the taste, what makes this brand + entrepreneur so addicting is her love for PINK!, family and creating healthy alternatives without the guilt. Quite the winning combo. Read on!

And if you missed last week's self-made babe, click here: Jennifer

ENTREPRENEUR: MELANIE KAHN

CITY: CHICAGO

COMPANY: POPPILU

  1. What’s the name of your business?  Poppilu

  2. Two sentences or less...what is the goal of your business?  We’re bringing North America’s only superfruit to the mainstream: It’s called the aronia berry, it’s grown in the Midwest and it has the highest antioxidants of any fruit in the world.  Our first product line is antioxidant lemonade featuring aronia berries.

  3. How long have you had your business? Less than a year

  4. What was the hardest part about getting started? Accepting investment money from people you know - it’s major pressure to make sure I don’t lose their money and can one day make their investment worth something!

  5. What is the biggest triumph you’ve experienced thus far? Getting Chicago mega-retailers Jewel and Mariano’s to both believe in the product.

  6. What’s for breakfast? Peanut butter-filled oreos.

  7. Kids - yes/no and if yes, how many/ages? Yes, a 3-year-old and a 16-month-old

  8. Workout? What do you love to do? Almost daily. High intensity workouts at SWEAT.

  9. Favorite snack? Nutella and anything, including just a spoon.

  10. Favorite guilty pleasure? Real Housewives (any except Jersey).

  11. Best vacation you’ve ever taken and why? Solo backpacking to Everest Base Camp with a sherpa.  Words cannot describe!

  12. One must have item in your purse?  Phone charger.

  13. Go-to everyday uniform?  Any one of my signature fuschia wardrobe items.

  14. Favorite luxury beauty product?

  15. Favorite drugstore beauty steal?

  16. Milk or dark chocolate? Milk!

  17. What did you want to be when you grew up? Broadcast journalist.

  18. What’s your party trick?  I’m great at faking accents.

  19. Name one destination on your bucket list? St Lucia

  20. Favorite TV program?  Back to Real Housewives

  21. Beyonce or Jay Z? Beyonce, duh.  Lemonade!

  22. Wine or cocktail? What kind?  Moscow mule - copper cup a must.

  23. Your friends’ nickname for you is? Meli

  24. What’s next for your business? Getting ready to launch in a whole bunch of new retailers in spring.

  25. Pets? What kind/name? Strudel the Schnauzer

  26. Favorite neighborhood in Chicago? Gold Coast

  27. Podcast listener? Which one? This American Life

  28. Biggest pet peeve? Running out of iPhone batter

  29. What’s your sign? Scorpio

  30. What’s your favorite quote?

Thank you Melanie. xx

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Career, Food + LifestyleJohanna Grangeinterview with a female entrepreneur, female founded comapny, female entrepreneur, Melanie Jahn, PoppiluComment