With summer in full force, there is no better time to get outside, soak up some sunshine, and enjoy a refreshing snack from TRŪ Bowl Superfood Bar! After struggling with medical issues, TRŪ Bowl owner Lucy Manalo decided it was time to make a change in her lifestyle. Once her husband discovered TRŪ Bowl, the couple became instantly hooked and last November, they decided to open up a location of their own. When they aren’t busy managing school and work, Manalo’s children enjoy helping out at the store, which not only brings the family together, but fosters a connection with the local community. Below, Manalo explains her journey in joining the “TRŪ Crew” by conquering fear when starting a new business.
What inspired you to get into foodservice?
“I got really sick, and I knew I had to start eating better. While I was recovering, my husband had discovered TRŪ Bowl Superfood Bar. He liked it so much; he introduced it to me. It was delicious! He said he wanted to open one up. Since I knew I had to eat better and it was something my husband really wanted, it was a no-brainer! And the rest is history!”
What do you love about your business?
“I love that we get to meet new people and make connections. We get to give back to the city we love by providing healthy food as an option to fast food. And we work together as a family. My husband and 2 of my 3 kids all work at TRŪ Bowl when we can. It’s a way to bring us closer together.”
What’s the most interesting thing to happen to your business?
“The fact that we opened!!! I still can’t believe it! We opened in November of last year. It still amazes me to this day! We’ve never had a place like this and it’s just amazing to see the operations, the people, the experiences. It’s just fascinating and we would love to open up another one in the future.”
What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?
“The biggest challenge was the fear of opening up the business and all of the things that come with it. How are we going to do this? Do we have the funds? What if we fall short? BUT, one of the things I’ve learned in life is that FEAR is really the only thing holding you back. It’s not that we weren’t afraid, or that we are just super brave. It’s that despite the reservations we had, we did it anyway.”
Which Cambro products help make your business work?
“OMG, we use a lot of your CamSquares® to store our fruits and veggies! We need them to keep our products fresh! We also use them to hold our chia puddings, our cold oats and our granolas. We need a good product that will help ensure the freshness and safety needed to keep our business going! We also use Camwear® Pans! We use the pans to hold all our fruits, chias, superfoods on our toppings bar! It helps keep our products looking beautiful and displayed professionally!”
About TRŪ Bowl Superfood Bar
Location: Glendora, Calif.
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Categories: Cambro Featured Business of the Week