WWW.CHEWMA.COM
by Petra Pasquina
NYC COMMUNITY FEATURE
MEET CHEWMA + FOUNDER PETRA PASQUINA WHAT IS CHEWMA? Chewma Protein Bites are a betterfor-you savory snack because you are sweet enough. Chewmas are an alternative to carb-laden chips, crackers, and pretzels.These Bites pack 10 grams of protein per serving, are low-carb, gluten and grain-free and still taste absolutely delicious. They come in three, savory flavors and will keep you on the go without the snack guilt.
WHY CHEWMA? For years, I struggled to find an on-thego snack that would keep me satisfied between meals. With a full-time job, two active boys, hectic travel schedule, and other activities, I found myself grabbing whatever food was in the cabinet at home (typically my kids snacks) or the convenience store just to carry me through the day. Most of the options at the store were loaded with sugar and carbohydrates or contained unwanted ingredients that didnât taste good. And for health reasons, Iâd made the decision to go gluten-free.That narrowed my choices even further. So I started experimenting in my home kitchen on nights on weekends. And Chewma Protein Bites were born! Chewma Protein Bites are the perfect balance of simple, savory ingredients like almond flour, real cheese and plant-based pea protein, baked into a crispy bite. I was excited to finally have an âadult snackâ and started sharing them with others. My friends and family couldnât get enough of the snacks I was baking so I left my full-time job in tech sales and marketing to take my snack business to the next level. Iâm still baking the product by hand and now Iâm working in an incubator kitchen so I can make enough to share more broadly. I was a one-woman operation for several months but knew that wasnât a sustainable model. In order to give back to the community and get a little help, I reached out to a fellow baker who runs a non-profit bakery working with neurodiverse adults. My timing was
Founder Petra Pasquina perfect as she was looking for opportunities for her trained bakers to find additional employment beyond her organization. I was excited to welcome a team of two neurodiverse bakers to work with me in the kitchen. We bake and pack the product every week and I couldnât do it without their support. They are helping me scale my operation and bake enough Chewmas to keep up with growing demand.
LAUNCHING CHEWMA Given my background in tech sales and marketing with a focus on helping other brands connect with customers on social media platforms, I made the decision to sell Chewma Protein Bites direct-to-consumer. In early 2021, Chewma.com launched and I began promoting the product with a small marketing budget. Iâd determined this would be the best, and most cost-effective way to test and learn more about the product and consumer reaction before diving head-first into retail. I had a lot to learn about selling a food product and had to force myself to reflect, ask a thousand questions to anyone with more experience, and spend my money wisely (since Iâm currently self-funded). As a result, I have updated package size, adjusted pricing, enhanced positioning and Iâm developing my brand voice. Iâve also begun selling at local specialty retailers and looking to expand into grocery and on Amazon by the end of the year. People in the CPG industry are some of the nicest, most helpful folks Iâve ever met and Iâm grateful for everyone who has helped me along the journey.
25
