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Founder of $100 million company says she quit her day job to rebuild her father’s Cape Cod chip empire—and there ‘wasn’t time’ to worry about nepotism
Yahoo Finance· 2025-10-26 11:05
Core Insights - Nicole Bernard Dawes, a serial entrepreneur, has a strong background in the food industry, influenced by her family's businesses, including Cape Cod chips, which was valued at $4.87 billion when bought back from Anheuser-Busch in 1996 [1][2] - Dawes transitioned from a management consultant role to marketing director at Cape Cod chips, where she played a crucial role in revitalizing the brand after Anheuser-Busch's divestment [2][3] - In 2003, Dawes founded Late July, an organic, non-GMO tortilla chip brand that grew into a business exceeding $100 million, eventually acquired by Campbell's in 2017 [4] - After her success with Late July, Dawes identified a gap in the beverage market for healthy options, leading to the launch of Nixie, a zero-sugar soda line [5] Company Development - Cape Cod chips was a significant player in the snack industry, with a valuation of $4.87 billion at the time of its buyback [1] - Late July has become a major brand in the organic snack segment, with distribution in major grocery chains like Target, Whole Foods, Kroger, and Walmart [4] - Nixie aims to fill the market void for healthier beverage options, offering a range of flavors in a sustainable package [5] Market Trends - The snack food industry is seeing a shift towards organic and non-GMO products, as evidenced by the success of Late July [4] - There is a growing demand for healthier beverage alternatives, which Nixie is addressing with its zero-sugar offerings [5]