In this episode of At Home in Waterloo Region, Cheryl Goetz sits down with Irene Divaris, founder of Meal in a Jar. From a successful career in the fitness industry to an unexpected journey into food entrepreneurship, Irene has built a business that focuses on nutritious, convenient meals with a sustainable approach. What started as a simple solution for her family quickly evolved into a thriving venture, capturing national attention on Dragon’s Den. Irene shares the lessons she’s learned along the way, the challenges of scaling a food business, and her passion for addressing food insecurity in local schools. This conversation is packed with insights on innovation, resilience, and community impact.

In This Episode You Will Hear:

• [02:07] Irene’s transition from the fitness industry to the accidental start of launching Meal in a Jar, and how the business quickly gained momentum.
• [08:49] Irene’s experience pitching on Dragon’s Den and how the opportunity unfolded.
• [15:15] How Meal in a Jar is tackling food insecurity by providing healthy school lunches.
• [19:48] The challenges of scaling a food business, from production to distribution.
• [31:33] Expanding product offerings and entering new markets while maintaining quality.
• [40:54] Irene’s vision for the future, including expanding the school lunch program and potential business growth.

Whether you're interested in entrepreneurship, business operations, or food sustainability, there are plenty of insights to take away. You can also support the podcast by subscribing, leaving a review and sharing this episode with a friend so we can continue to grow our community in this beautiful region!

Irene’s Links
Use code ATHOMECO for 20% off your first Meal In A Jar order!
Website:https://mealinajar.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mealinajar

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• Amanda Walczyk, Mortgage Agent | Level 2 license at Dominion Lending Centres National Ltd, FSRA #12360
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