Fresh by Design with Scott Zimmerman of Loli's Foods - Naturally Network Shorts
Scott Zimmerman, CEO and founder of Loli's Foods, shares the story behind his brand of clean, fresh, and functional sauces, dips, and dressings and why manufacturing locally in Southern California isn't just a values choice, it's a competitive advantage.
He discusses how self-manufacturing gave Loli's the control they needed to source the right ingredients and build deep relationships with regional retailers. Scott talks about the innovation happening on the outer perimeter of the store, where fresher, cleaner products are finally getting the shelf space they deserve, and shares his vision for a food system built around real ingredients and regional supply chains. He wraps up by talking about the role Naturally Network has played in Loli's journey and why finding community might be the most underrated strategy in the CPG playbook.
Takeaways
Loli's Foods makes clean, fresh, and functional sauces, dips, and dressings, including classic flavors and just launched a couple of new recipes.
The brand is named in honor of Scott's grandmother Loli, and that family legacy shapes every ingredient and sourcing decision they make.
Loli's manufactures their own products in Pasadena, CA, which gives them full control over ingredient quality, supplier relationships, and product freshness.
No manufacturer could meet their standards for clean, fresh, and functional, so they built it themselves.
The biggest growth opportunity Scott sees is the outer perimeter of the store, where consumers are increasingly seeking fresh alternatives to shelf-stable products.
A more regional, localized food system, similar to the European model, is Scott's vision for where food innovation should head.
Scott credits Naturally Network as a key catalyst for Loli's growth, having won the Pitch Slam in 2024.
Finding community as an entrepreneur isn't just good for business, Scott calls it "healthy therapy".
Sound Bites
"Being conscious of what you put into your body, using the best ingredients for the people you love, is synonymous with how we do business."
"It really helps early stage to be able to hold on and control that quality control on the product, especially how we feel when our grandma's name is on the bottle."
"You can get the same price product that is two years old on a dry shelf for the same price over at fresh that's a highly better quality product."
"I tell everybody on the team or anybody I bump into that we wouldn't be here without Naturally Network."
"The business is hard enough and the industry is hard enough. So if you can find community, it's such a weight off your shoulders.”
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