Healthy food can taste good, too.
That's perhaps the driving force behind Yummi Foods, the company founded by Adriana Florez. Selling from an online store and in six retail stores, Yummi Foods offers nutritious but tasty paleo and keto baked goods.
What started as Yummi Empanadas in 2016 turned into Yummi Foods in 2017. Over the past few years, Florez has found a lucrative demographic of young, health-oriented customers in the Tampa Bay area.
Florez’ flair for entrepreneurship began in middle school, when she sold chocolates. When nuns at her Catholic school said she could no longer sell chocolates, the persistent Florez began selling popcorn instead.
A third-generation entrepreneur, Florez arrived in the United States from Colombia 12 years ago. Having already earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering in Colombia, she went on to earn a graduate degree in entrepreneurship from the University of South Florida. Yummi Foods was born in the Student Innovation Incubator at USF.
Her mother’s diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney failure led to Florez focusing on healthy foods, not only for herself, but for others as well. She was inspired to create healthy muffins and cookies.
“I needed to go with something really yummy and at the same time it was going to help her stay healthy [and] recover. So that’s how the healthy food started,” she said.
Florez began making gluten-free, oven-baked, low calorie empanadas, before beginning to make cookies and muffins.
The empanadas are sold online and at the Attic Café in downtown Tampa. Six different retailers sell Yummi Foods products: Bulk Food Superstore in Ellenton and Sun City Center; Intelligent Gourmet in Tampa; Abby’s Health and Nutrition in Tampa; Inside the Box Cafe at Armature Works; and the Attic Café in Tampa.
Yummi Foods also works with children with Angelman syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting the nervous system. Most children with this syndrome suffer from sugar-induced seizures, but when they eat Yummi Foods muffins, they can safely enjoy a somewhat sugary snack.
Yummi Foods also caters to new demographics by bringing colorful empanadas to customers who otherwise might not have ever tried them.
“I have a vegetarian empanada that is made out of lentils and potatoes. It’s green, so it’s easy to recognize,” Florez said. “[Empanadas are] intended to [be] the healthier option but also to be fun.”
In Tampa Bay, Yummi Foods competes with Sami’s Bakery and Base Culture, the latter of which has raised $500,000 in venture capital.
In the future, Florez hopes to begin selling dry mix this spring and to eventually offer brownies and waffles.
“My goal will be to make Yummi Foods a household brand,” she said.
To that end, she envisions Yummi Foods setting up kiosks at malls and sporting events. Florez also envisions her products being sold at large supermarket chains.
As she continues on her journey, Florez counsels aspiring entrepreneurs to never quit.
“Don’t give up on your dream, no matter how hard it is, because it’s gonna be hard,” she said. “Wake up every day knowing for sure in your heart that you’re going to make it happen.”
