WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE BAD ASS BEHIND KWEEN & CO., ALI BONAR !!

TODAY, we have the woman, the myth, the KWEEN, Ali Bonar on the bloggety blog!

You’re probably familiar with Ali from her foodie, self-love IG account, @avokween… OR her delish granola butter… !!

She is inspiring. She is innovative. She is a MF KWEEN!!

On her instagram account, she transparently shares her health and recovery journey with nearly 40k followers. She also is the co-founder of the FIRST granola butter on the market, Kween & Co.

I first ate this granola butter when I was at an event at Yoga Spark ( funny story here ) last summer in Tribeca. I ate it on top of cookie dough… & have been in love with this granola butter ever since. BEFORE you amazon prime yourself some granola butter, let’s dive into the back story with the KWEEN *KO*-FOUNDER, Ali Bonar!!

Introduce yourself!

Hi there! I’m Ali — co-founder of Kween and the gal behind @avokween.

What sparked your interest to study nutrition at UC Berkeley?

I’ve been obsessed with food and nutrition for as long as I can remember. I loved the way that food could immediately create a connection between two people. Food is a creative outlet for me. Studying nutrition seemed like a no-brainer.

On Instagram, you are so transparent and honest about your recovery journey. What has been most helpful in your journey to recovery?

What began as an innocent interest in nutrition and healthy eating took a dark turn once I started at Cal. I became overly obsessed with what I was eating, to the point that I didn’t feel like anything I ate was “clean enough.” This continued throughout college, until I reached out for help and saw a nutritional therapist who changed my life. She taught me that food is meant to nourish us, it’s not something to be afraid of.

How did the idea of granola butter come about? Did your journey to recovery or studies at UC Berkeley have any influence in the founding of this company?

In my recovery journey, I began to introduce big quantities of nut butter back into my diet (something I had restricted for a long time). While I love me some nut butter, I was piling it on to every meal and all the nuts started to take a toll digestively. I felt tired and weighed down. I searched high and low for a nut-free spread that actually tasted good, but couldn’t find anything! It was then that Granola Butter was born.

What has been your the biggest or “favorite” challenge in founding and growing Kween and Co?

My favorite challenge so far has been “shutting it off.” I’m dead serious when I say that I live and breathe this company, and it’s so hard to maintain a work/life balance when running your own company. But it’s my favorite challenge because I love what I do!

What are your top 3 pieces of advice for upcoming entrepreneurs?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. In business, it can be intimidating to be the new player in an industry. But remember that everyone started somewhere! The worst thing you can do is stay silent because you’re afraid of looking dumb or inexperienced.
Find a mentor. Preferably someone in your industry who is willing to give you advice any time of the day.
Launch quickly and get feedback. I know so many people who have been working on an idea, but never get around to launching it. As a perfectionist, I know it’s tough to get your product out there before you feel “ready.” But by launching to your demographic, you’ll receive validation whether you’re spending your time in the right place or need to pivot before you have a large sunk cost.

How has being an Instagram influencer yourself given you a unique perspective on the development, branding, and marketing your product?

Being on the “other side” has given me a sense of what I look for in a wellness brand on Instagram. (Eye-catching packaging, a strong brand ethos and an authentic voice). I also noted how I liked to be approached by brands, and applied that to our outreach with influencers.

What does a day in your life look like – morning to night? We LOVE the specifics!! 🙂

I wake up around 6am (just got a new puppy, so he’s my alarm clock!) and spend the first hour of my day waking up slowwwly. I’ve never understood people who can spring out of bed and start their day. It’s just not in my DNA! I’ll head to the gym or walk on the beach around 7, because movement gets me out of my head and into my body, which I always need. When it comes to work, every day is so different, but I’m either home working on sales or in the kitchen helping out with production. Non-negotiables throughout the day are walks with my dog Squishy and calling my parents at least a few times a week. I like to end the day with a candle, mug of tea and episode of Queer Eye.

I can only imagine how exhausting it is to be an entrepreneur and constantly create content and document your journey on social media. What are your favorite ways to wind down and relax?

Aside from my recent Queer Eye obsession (it’s such a heartwarming show), I love epsom salt baths. I’ll turn on some tunes, lay in the bathtub and just BREATHE. If I don’t have time to take a bath, some intentional, deep breaths throughout the day help me relax when shit hits the fan.

If we were to start off with ONE recipe/ way to enjoy Kween and Co, where should we start?!

Slice an apple, dip in Granola Butter, repeat. 🙂

Where can we find you? Where can we buy the delish Kween and Co?

My personal IG is @avokween and our brand account is @kweenandco! You can find GB on Amazon Prime, Whole Foods (launching in June) and as a topping on Pressed Juicery’s Freeze nationwide.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, ALI! ♡

LMK how you guys enjoy eating your granola butter. TBH – I’m all about having it on cookie dough… HELL, on a spoon works just as well!

xx hails