Tribali Foods
The terms all-natural, paleo and frozen-food aisle aren’t normally found together. But whole-foods evangelist Angela Bicos Mavridis has set out to make that the norm at major retailers that you may regularly frequent.
Mavridis is the owner of Tribalí Foods — a product line that offers the convenience of frozen meals without the synthetic binders and antibiotics you may find with the major brands. The basis for her flavorful, globally inspired dishes are sustainably raised proteins. They include grass-fed beef and free-range chicken.
Since founding the company in 2016, she has managed to catapult the brand toward mainstream success with appearances on The Today Show and retail agreements with Target Stores and Bristol Farms markets, among others.
As she saw her lifestyle improving, the single mother of three wanted to explore whether she could bring her nutrient-dense, high-quality food to the masses.
In less than a year, the company launched its products at Los Angeles area natural grocers and certain Whole Foods locations. She’s also reached agreements with Target and Bristol Farms.
The retail and consumer demand were clearly there. But in 2018 Mavridis needed funding to keep the momentum going, from funding more production to buying raw materials. That funding came in the form of an affordable SBA small business loan through CDC Small Business Finance.
“The SBA and CDC were very easy to deal with,” she said. “I had lots of confidence in the CDC soon after I met some of the representatives and didn’t feel the need to look elsewhere.
She recalls the day she got the call informing her she had been approved for financing. “It was a very exciting day,” she added. “The call came in right at the perfect time, because I literally didn’t know how we we’re going to fulfill the orders we received.”
In the short period of time Tribalí Foods has been around, Mavridis has already amassed a number of honors. They include:
- Becoming a certified-owned business through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, or WBENC.
- Winning the Nexty Award at EXPO West for Best New Frozen Food Product.
- Taking home the Project Nosh Pitch Slam victory in November 2017, and
- Receiving the “Delicious Living Best Bite” award for their Umami Patty.