029: Spanish Savory Secrets: From Idea to Table Success with Aaron Luo
Essential Ingredients Podcast
English - July 25, 2023 13:00 - 38 minutes - 31.9 MB - ★★★★★ - 127 ratingsNutrition Health & Fitness Business Entrepreneurship Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
“We want to make sure the product is different—not better, but different than what's out there.” —Aaron Luo
Nestled among the country's many gastronomic wonders lies an unsung hero: authentic Spanish charcuterie. With its rich history, meticulous craftsmanship, and mouthwatering flavors, this culinary gem has captured the hearts and palates of food enthusiasts worldwide.
Every slice tells a tale of age-old techniques handed down through generations, carefully selected ingredients, and an unwavering commitment to quality. The meticulous curing process involves patiently air-drying meats in natural environments such as mountainous cellars or coastal breezy areas. This time-honored method ensures that each product develops its unique flavors while preserving its authenticity.
This week, Justine sits with Aaron Luo. Along with his business associate Carmen Chen Wu, Aaron shares a rich Chinese heritage with a Spanish upbringing where they developed a deep appreciation for local Spanish cuisine, particularly charcuterie. Roughly two decades ago, they relocated to the United States only to face the difficulty in sourcing high-quality Spanish charcuterie at a reasonable price. This challenge led them to establish Mercado Famous, a European gourmet food brand, specializing in Spanish delicacies.
Listen in as Aaron reveals the best-kept secrets of Spanish Cuisine as he walks us through his entrepreneurial journey. Justine and Aaron also cover the process of popularizing Spanish cuisine, ensuring the quality and consistency of products, criteria for choosing team members and potential partners, the significance of value differentiation, the necessity of fostering appropriate conversations, and how to turn a viable idea into a viable business.
Meet Aaron:
Aaron Luo has an extensive background in the global supply chain, operations, and corporate finance. His impressive portfolio includes the foundation of innovative consumer brands and services including Caraa, a New York City-based sports bag and accessory company, and Mercado Famous, a haven for authentic Spanish charcuterie.
Born and raised in China, Aaron and his business associate, Carmen, share a passion for food, especially Spanish cuisine they discovered during their upbringing in Spain. They developed a particular interest in Spanish charcuterie, which eventually became a crucial aspect of their culinary journey.
After relocating to the U.S. nearly two decades ago, they soon realized that finding affordable, high-quality Spanish charcuterie was a daunting task. Spurred by this challenge, they launched their second venture, Mercado Famous where they aim to bring people closer together with high-quality, delicious food.
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Episode Highlights:
02:05 A Look Into the Spanish Culture
06:46 Spanish vs Italian Charcuterie
10:32 The History of Farm Industry
15:47 Bringing the Best of Spain to the US
20:38 Making Spanish Food More Mainstream
24:29 Finding the Right Product
29:12 The Importance of Value Differentiation
32:53 From a Viable Idea to a Viable Business