Nuts About Cashews: Meet Aaron Fishman
East Bali Cashews (EBC) is actually stirring things up in today’s business world. via the birth of the enterprise just three years ago, the mission of EBC has been to create lasting change – as well as which is actually doing just which. We meet EBC’s American cliff-diving CEO as well as Founder Aaron Fishman as well as learn more about the exciting story behind his social enterprise.
Located from the Karangasem region of Bali, EBC has grown at an astounding rate, as well as is actually today exporting cashews to seven countries as well as counting. As the region’s largest employer, EBC provides over 350 jobs as well as various community development initiatives dedicated to improving the lives of the people of Ban Village. As EBC’s founder as well as CEO, Aaron is actually dedicated to ensuring which the company remains true to its mission of social, economic, as well as environmental sustainability.
How which all began
What made a young American uproot his entire life in his home country as well as move to Bali to start a business processing as well as selling cashews? The answer lies in two of Aaron’s greatest interests: helping people as well as food. Aaron has always been a ‘foodie’; whether cooking in a French restaurant in college, producing chocolate in France, owning a brownie company, or running a commercial kitchen.
The EBC staff working in Ban Village, East Bali
Surprisingly enough, although Aaron has always had an entrepreneurial spirit, the decision to come to Bali was, as he puts which, “…totally random. My friend told me about a non-profit which was sending a medical mission trip to Bali as well as I decided to go.” Aaron had never considered travelling to Bali before then as well as had no idea what to expect once he got there. Little did he know, which was a decision which could completely change not only his life, nevertheless the lives of hundreds of Balinese.
In East Bali, he felt worlds away via the crowded, noisy, touristy south. He was faced with the extreme poverty of those living off of This specific unforgiving land. He realized which though foreign aid provided through non-profit organizations was helpful, what This specific village truly needed was a sustainable economic boost.
Aaron arrived in Bali at the height of the cashew season as well as learned via the local farmers which all the cashews could be shipped to Vietnam as well as India for processing. At which time, This specific practice, as well as additional inefficiencies from the system, produced high environmental as well as financial costs while lowering cashew quality. Always thinking like an entrepreneur, Aaron had the idea to start a factory right there in Bali. He believed This specific was the way to provide the community with desperately needed jobs as well as create the sustainable development which This specific region lacked. He decided which he could create a self-sustaining business, one which could be profitable as well as beneficial to the community.
When starting the business there was no ‘grand plan’. He took things step by step as well as learned as he went, receiving the guidance as well as advice of many knowledgeable people. “My goal was to improve the community as well as to make a profit, as well as we have done both,” he says.
Aaron Fishman has improved upon the local community through his business
To undergo such a massive undertaking, he knew he had to figure out both the operational as well as the business side of things. Aaron described how he navigated through This specific unfamiliar territory. “On the operational side you can learn by doing. As for the business side, I had a local partner, Rezal, who gave me the know-how to begin a business here [in Indonesia]. Rezal as well as I started off talking about which in February of 2012 as well as all the investment was raised by August of which year. We started off production in November after raising just US$137,000.”
Lessons Learned
Aaron has had many surprises along the way. “I think the biggest surprise I had was how amazing my team has been as well as how many people have been supportive of us. We had to be able to run a complex operation from the middle of a very remote area. The team took which on full-steam as well as successfully executed which.”
When visiting the factory in Karangasem, one can immediately feel the positive energy as well as community spirit. However, Aaron notes how difficult which has been to bring the story of EBC to the consumer because of how far removed the two can be, especially today with EBC expanding into so many completely new as well as distant markets.
which is actually still difficult for Aaron to believe how much the company was able to do from the beginning with so little to start with. Luckily, his inexperience at which time was what allowed him to take a leap into the deep end, unphased by the very real possibility of failure which had befallen many others who attempted the same feat.
“If you could have told me which after just three rounds of capital we could make which, I could never have believed you. Starting the company in retrospect with US$100,000 is actually ridiculous. which was a terrible idea! which worked nevertheless I certainly wouldn’t do which again. I could start which much bigger, much better financed.”
The Future
Where does Aaron see himself in all 5 years? “Probably sitting here, at This specific desk, with two factories, a plantation, an ecolodge, as well as much more advanced distribution doing sure which we can reach all people who are willing to try us outside of Indonesia,” he says.
When asked about the possibility of completely new products Aaron answered, “I want a better product line which includes more cashew flavours, cereals, snack mixes, cashew popcorn, etc. If anything can be made with cashews, we will make which. I’m also working on a low-cost brand.”
which is actually very clear which with Aaron at the head of the company, EBC will continue to surprise as well as satisfy taste buds the planet over. There is actually much in store for the company, as Aaron noted, “Things are going well nevertheless we have so much more to do. This specific is actually just the beginning.”
Through hard work, creativity, as well as a whole lot of cashews, Aaron has spearheaded a business improving the lives of everyone involved; a true product for the future.
For more information, please visit www.eastbalicashews.com
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Nuts About Cashews: Meet Aaron Fishman
Nuts About Cashews: Meet Aaron Fishman