North Hills Buzz recently got a chance to interview Bob Menard, the founder of Uncle Bob’s Nuts & Kettle Corn. His company is one of the vendors that comes to the North Hills Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. Check out the interview below to learn more about Bob and his products. He talks about how he started the business and who he looks up to, and he reminds us that it’s important to do something that you’re passionate about.

1) How about telling our readers a little bit about Uncle Bob’s Nuts & Kettle Corn

We specialize in glazed pecans, almonds, and cashews. Our Honey Cinnamon Pecans are our signature nut. The comments of our customers say it all: “ taste like a tiny pecan pie”, “ reminds me of Christmas”, “ just like a cinnamon bun”ect. People love this nut! Our Vanilla Cinnamon Almonds and Honey Vanilla Cashews are also crowd pleasers. We also have Hot Buffalo Peanuts for the spicier lovers. Rounding out our offering we have roasted salted cashews and pistachios. All of our nuts that we use are top shelf in quality.

Uncle Bob’s Kettle Corn is the best! We get this feedback from many of the people who try it and buy it. I believe in keeping a balance of sweet and salty. People love it this way.

Our nuts & kettle corn are derived from the thought of simple everyday quality ingredients, freshly made in small quantities by hand and have wonderful flavor. Just like I would make for my family. We have eliminated the lengthy chemistry sounding additives, the preservatives and all the colors of the rainbow that end up in so many food products.

In short we make a quality, all natural, fresh and tasty products.

2) When did you get started with this and how did you decide to start?

I began roasting nuts in January of 2006. I was a partner in a Mediterranean grocery and the manager who was trained in nut roasting was released. We had no one to roast the nuts so I said I would do it. I had an adventurous education (ruined a lot of nuts) in nut roasting.

I began seeking out others that had nut businesses in various parts of the United States. They pointed me to high traffic areas like flee markets, farmers markets, festivals, and events. I started going to farmers markets with some success. In the mean time our little Mediterranean grocery was struggling and eventually we sold it but I retained the roasted nuts. So Uncle Bob’s was born last year.

The reason that I continued with it was multifaceted. One reason was that I wanted to recoup the cost of the equipment and another was that I really enjoyed what I did. I saw that it brought joy to people. It also allowed me to be creative and free of the encumbrance that is met in the corporate environment. When I am Uncle Bob there is such an air of happiness and joy out of something so simple.

3) What sets Uncle Bob’s Nuts & Kettle Corn apart from other brands that creat similar food products?

The large snack food producers do not provide what Uncles Bob’s offers in freshness, simple ingredients, highest quality (there is a distinction in nut quality grades). Most other brand with similar food products are about keeping their product as fresh as possible for longer periods of time. This is were the preservatives come into play. Then there are the additives to create fill or the color enhancement which are numerous. The grade of nuts that you find also is never mentioned by these companies. Why? Because what is used mostly is a lower quality nut product, which cost them less to purchase. As I mentioned above we just don’t adhere to this policy. I repeat this is what I believe in: We make a high quality, all natural, fresh and tasty product.

Kettle corn is mostly sold at events/festivals. You will see it on grocery shelves in the autumn and winter months from large snack producers. A good percentage of the local population does not have an understanding of what kettle corn is. We and other kettle corn maker in our area are creating awareness of this product. Our goal is to have Uncle Bob’s Kettle Corn on grocery shelves by 2009. Anyone interested?

4) How did you achieve success with your business?

Five words: Plan, Vision, Commitment, Perseverance, Reward

There are many ups and downs to any business (I have been an entrepreneur for 26 years). Being committed to your vision will see you though. Having a business plan with capital going in will also support you. Persevering the roller coaster (or enjoying the roller coaster if you like coasters) will get you the reward. You have to see it to achieve it!

5) Nuts or Kettle Corn? If you had to choose one to sell, what would it be and why?

I take both. Both are needed to succeed. They enhance each other.

6) I’m assuming you are pretty passionate about nuts and kettle corn. How important do you think it is to work at something that you’re passionate about?

I believe everyone gets to have something in life that they are passionate about. In a career we spent most of our awake quality hours. I prefer to spend these hours in a way that I am juiced about and have passion in. It is very important to me to experience this passion, as I believe it effect how my life is seen from within and lived out. I love to succeed in the business world!

7) Besides your business, what else are you passionate about?

I am passionate that people get to see how great they are and how they can express this in their lives. To see people empower themselves. To see them fly!

8 ) How has the current economic situation affected your business? What changes have you had to make, if any?

My business has been affected, as people are more careful in their spending. I have been creative in trying different approaches in our selling with some things working and some not. I consider what works as my intellectual property as I have paid for the education.

9) What do you think about the North Hills area and the Farmers Market?

North Hills is a great area for people, families, and business. To me it has an eclectic flair and is a desired place to live and shop. Kane Realty and Duke have done a great job with the North Hills Farmers Market. The site selection is wonderful with it being located in the village green area. The music and the selection of vendors work very well. I can only see an upside to this Market going forward.

10) Who is someone that you look up to in the business world?

I look up to my grandfather Napoleon Menard as my business inspiration. He was an uneducated factory worker who became bed ridden for over a two-year period due to illness and having a family to support. In his time of disability he began to consider what he would do once he became well. He decided he wanted to be a salesman.

When he became well enough to work he set out to be that salesman and was rejected numerous times. He finally found someone to give him the opportunity. He became a very successful salesman in the clothing industry. From there he began to buy overstocked and unsellable apparel from various stores. He opened a business in the basement of his home selling the clothing at a discounted price. People told that he was foolish and to stop wasting his time and energy. He had a different vision that they could not see. He became extremely successful at his business. He bought other business that people were failing at and turned them into profitable ventures that he would give to his children.

Napoleon also had a desire to enrich his community. He poured himself out for people of the city of Fall River, Mass. that their lives too would be of quality. He was written of in a book of that city as a man that shaped the community for the better.

11) What keeps you awake at night?

I sleep very well!

12) If you had all the money in the world, what would you be doing right now?

I would be philanthropist. I would also set up experimental self-empowerment workshops to give people the tools for them to see their great gift of who they are.

Thanks to Bob for providing us with some great insight and thoughts. Check out Uncle Bob’s Nuts & Kettle Corn next time you visit the Farmer’s Market here.

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