Everyone began to sample, choosing their favorite foods.  There were lots of good questions and lots of good feedback.  Many commented on the smoky and sweet flavor of our sauce that makes it so unique.  We discussed other foods that it might be good on, including some I had never tried.  But then, that’s why these guys are highly successful “in the business”.  We also discussed other products we could produce as derivative products.  A glaze was one that really piqued our interest.  We had made a family “gravy” in the past by thickening the sauce with a rue, which works quite nicely on other food items that don’t allow the sauce to penetrate (so, more like a thicker sauce topping).

Another great idea was a low sodium version.  While our teriyaki sauce has no more sodium than any other soy sauce based product, it is, by its very nature, a little high in sodium for some that need to monitor their intake for medical reasons.

All in all, I’d say it went well.  We got some really great feedback and ideas and, most importantly, the top brass found no “show stopping” reasons not to proceed.  So on we went.

Next post:  we announce our deal and the grocery chain that would become the first home for Truly Hawaiian Teriyaki sauce.

They say He works in mysterious ways.  We truly feel that the path we were on now truly had some Divine intervention.  How else would someone like this be put in our path without the Lord’s help?

In early March of 2009, I made my first of many visits to their office.  It took all of 30 seconds to hand a bottle over to him and say, “I hope you enjoy it!”  A few days later, I got the call.  He said they tried it on Buffalo steaks!  I would have never thought of that!  But the bottom line was they loved it.  They wanted to know more, to taste more, and most importantly, to work with us on our Teriyaki Sauce.

We exchange phone calls, emails, and brief conversations on the soccer field until finally around the first of April we met in their offices with their food broker, the man who would hold our hand through this entire process.  It was a great first meeting.  They began turning on the “fire hose of knowledge” regarding the food industry.  I must say I was bit overwhelmed, but taking it all in.  I love to be challenged and I knew this was going to be the challenge of a lifetime!

The next step was to setup a “cutting”, which basically means a taste-testing in layman’s terms.  They wanted all the corporate principals that would be involved in developing this product for their store.  Of course we love to entertain, so my wife and I set right out to plan this event with all of the enthusiasm that had been building up for weeks.

The date was set for April 10, 2009.  We’d bring the food, they’d bring the food selling know how.

In my next post, you’ll find out exactly how it went.