We got the chance to talk to Mani Hairston, co-founder of Billy's Original Foods about her journey to success and what inspires her on a daily basis. Billy's Original Foods aims to bring their customers delicious, quality, yet incredibly convenient food products. Billy's Original Foods can be found across the South East in Kroger stores, Mississippi Walmarts, and it is the first Mississippi brand to be carried in Target stores! Keep reading for more on Mani's amazing, inspirational story.
{Tell us about yourself!}
I was born in Laos. I lived in two separate refugee camps in two separate countries for the first three years of my life. My family and I arrived in the United States in 1984 as refugee immigrants when I was 4 years old. I grew up in Northwest Arkansas, where my family and I became naturalized citizens; moved to New York City after college and worked in investment banking; and then moved to Mississippi in 2009. I have a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, a master’s degree in communications from Mississippi College and the CORe Certificate from Harvard University School of Business. I have a passion for working with new and emerging companies on new products, start-up financing, market entry, market research, production analytics, and ownership structure. My mother often said I had the spirit of an entrepreneur. I co-founded Billy’s Original Foods in 2015 and manage product development and business development.
{Tell us a bit about Billy's Original Foods.}
Billy’s Original Foods is the answer to getting a homemade meal directly from your freezer. We are a start-up lifestyle food company that is set to change how you think about frozen food.
From its origins as a mom-and-pop restaurant, Billy’s Original Foods was converted over the course of a year to a full-blown manufacturing company. I co-founded the company in late 2015 with Billy and Robin Lieberman, a husband-and-wife team, who had owned an Italian dive restaurant in Vicksburg for about 15 years, and Cook Investments, who financed a part of our operations. The Liebermans built a loyal following in the area and knew that people craved good food and somehow wanted to turn the privilege of dining out into an option that can be easily accessible at home. The Liebermans mastered the recipes and I came up with the business plan and sought out buyers. We set out to make frozen food that didn’t have the infamous frozen taste because the idea of having good food needed to come easy. While we specialize in Italian-inspired frozen entrees, we also make a deliciously prepared Chicken Salad that Billy Lieberman calls his “Original.” The brilliant mix of this poultry salad leaves you wondering “why doesn’t mine taste like this?” As for our frozen products, the Meatballs with Sauce & Cheese have a sharply defined taste and texture that is dramatically different than its competitors in the frozen food aisles and the Lasagna with Meat & Sauce has been complimented as being “better than my Mama’s.”
Our secret that’s not so secret is that we do not add preservatives or any artificial flavors in our recipes. We want you to know that frozen food doesn’t have to taste frozen. Your taste buds won’t feel betrayed.
To produce federal standard and retail-ready products, we had to finance and outfit a USDA-certified food manufacturing facility. We commenced production complete with signature packaging and secured contracts to supply several large-grocery chains throughout a six-state foot print in the U.S. As a result of long hours, countless meetings, comprehensive market research, a well-developed pitch at shark tank like competitions such as the Delta Regional Authority entrepreneurial network and New Orleans Entrepreneur week, we were quite certain we could sell convenience without sacrificing quality.
I was born in Laos. I lived in two separate refugee camps in two separate countries for the first three years of my life. My family and I arrived in the United States in 1984 as refugee immigrants when I was 4 years old. I grew up in Northwest Arkansas, where my family and I became naturalized citizens; moved to New York City after college and worked in investment banking; and then moved to Mississippi in 2009. I have a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, a master’s degree in communications from Mississippi College and the CORe Certificate from Harvard University School of Business. I have a passion for working with new and emerging companies on new products, start-up financing, market entry, market research, production analytics, and ownership structure. My mother often said I had the spirit of an entrepreneur. I co-founded Billy’s Original Foods in 2015 and manage product development and business development.
{Tell us a bit about Billy's Original Foods.}
Billy’s Original Foods is the answer to getting a homemade meal directly from your freezer. We are a start-up lifestyle food company that is set to change how you think about frozen food.
From its origins as a mom-and-pop restaurant, Billy’s Original Foods was converted over the course of a year to a full-blown manufacturing company. I co-founded the company in late 2015 with Billy and Robin Lieberman, a husband-and-wife team, who had owned an Italian dive restaurant in Vicksburg for about 15 years, and Cook Investments, who financed a part of our operations. The Liebermans built a loyal following in the area and knew that people craved good food and somehow wanted to turn the privilege of dining out into an option that can be easily accessible at home. The Liebermans mastered the recipes and I came up with the business plan and sought out buyers. We set out to make frozen food that didn’t have the infamous frozen taste because the idea of having good food needed to come easy. While we specialize in Italian-inspired frozen entrees, we also make a deliciously prepared Chicken Salad that Billy Lieberman calls his “Original.” The brilliant mix of this poultry salad leaves you wondering “why doesn’t mine taste like this?” As for our frozen products, the Meatballs with Sauce & Cheese have a sharply defined taste and texture that is dramatically different than its competitors in the frozen food aisles and the Lasagna with Meat & Sauce has been complimented as being “better than my Mama’s.”
Our secret that’s not so secret is that we do not add preservatives or any artificial flavors in our recipes. We want you to know that frozen food doesn’t have to taste frozen. Your taste buds won’t feel betrayed.
To produce federal standard and retail-ready products, we had to finance and outfit a USDA-certified food manufacturing facility. We commenced production complete with signature packaging and secured contracts to supply several large-grocery chains throughout a six-state foot print in the U.S. As a result of long hours, countless meetings, comprehensive market research, a well-developed pitch at shark tank like competitions such as the Delta Regional Authority entrepreneurial network and New Orleans Entrepreneur week, we were quite certain we could sell convenience without sacrificing quality.
{How did Billy's Original Foods get to where it is today?}
I have always been a fan of Billy’s food since I was introduced to the restaurant almost 10 years ago. I was the marketing director for the shopping center where the former restaurant was located and knew right away that Billy’s recipes needed to be shared. In December 2015, I left my job and became a part owner in the brand-new start up investing countless resources including my experience in marketing and finance to introduce the brand to markets outside of Mississippi. To ensure our success, I’ve traveled to more than 20 states throughout the country meeting with executives in the c-suites of some of the largest corporations in America (Walmart, Kroger, Lipari, and Target to name a few) in addition to smaller independent grocers. Ironically, I’ve even met in freezers in stores with temperatures below 32 degrees just to get the face-time I needed with a decision maker to close a deal.
{What has made Billy's Original Foods so successful thus far?}
We thrive off our authenticity. From production to the finished product, you can see and taste the authenticity.
{What is the mission of Billy's Original Foods?}
If you tell me that you fed your family our products and don’t feel guilty about it, then my mission has been accomplished. We are proud to make our foods without any added preservatives or added artificial flavors.
I have always been a fan of Billy’s food since I was introduced to the restaurant almost 10 years ago. I was the marketing director for the shopping center where the former restaurant was located and knew right away that Billy’s recipes needed to be shared. In December 2015, I left my job and became a part owner in the brand-new start up investing countless resources including my experience in marketing and finance to introduce the brand to markets outside of Mississippi. To ensure our success, I’ve traveled to more than 20 states throughout the country meeting with executives in the c-suites of some of the largest corporations in America (Walmart, Kroger, Lipari, and Target to name a few) in addition to smaller independent grocers. Ironically, I’ve even met in freezers in stores with temperatures below 32 degrees just to get the face-time I needed with a decision maker to close a deal.
{What has made Billy's Original Foods so successful thus far?}
We thrive off our authenticity. From production to the finished product, you can see and taste the authenticity.
{What is the mission of Billy's Original Foods?}
If you tell me that you fed your family our products and don’t feel guilty about it, then my mission has been accomplished. We are proud to make our foods without any added preservatives or added artificial flavors.
{Where can you purchase Billy's Original Food Products?}
We are the first Mississippi company to be sold in Target groceries and that’s significant! We worked with Target for almost a year starting with the initial application. We pitched our products and they immediately liked it. From there, it was a matter of scaling our production, customizing our logistics and retooling our capacity to meet the demand of Target along with the businesses we were already servicing to achieve success. You can also find out frozen products in Kroger stores in the Southeast region and our Original Chicken Salad in Walmart stores in Mississippi.
We are the first Mississippi company to be sold in Target groceries and that’s significant! We worked with Target for almost a year starting with the initial application. We pitched our products and they immediately liked it. From there, it was a matter of scaling our production, customizing our logistics and retooling our capacity to meet the demand of Target along with the businesses we were already servicing to achieve success. You can also find out frozen products in Kroger stores in the Southeast region and our Original Chicken Salad in Walmart stores in Mississippi.
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{Can you speak to your experience as a female entrepreneur here in Mississippi?}
We are very proud to be a certified women-owned enterprise in Mississippi. As a woman in business, a mom, and a wife, it’s gratifying to be recognized in this way in corporate America. Starting a manufacturing company and building a pipeline from the ground up is very tough and many people told us it couldn’t be done. I’ve endured countless rejections, but have also celebrated the many wins. Almost two years into our venture, we’ve been able to reach several goals. In addition to Target, you can find Billy’s Original Foods products in Walmart and Kroger stores in the Southeast region, as well as independent stores in Mississippi. Some days are tougher than others juggling between home and work and home and work again, but the success of the company and the happiness of my family make it all worthwhile. I’m grateful for insightful business partners and a very supportive family. My husband, Tray, is my best advisor in life and work.
For more on Billy's Original Foods please visit their website and make sure to pick up some of their products to try next time you head to the grocery store!
We are very proud to be a certified women-owned enterprise in Mississippi. As a woman in business, a mom, and a wife, it’s gratifying to be recognized in this way in corporate America. Starting a manufacturing company and building a pipeline from the ground up is very tough and many people told us it couldn’t be done. I’ve endured countless rejections, but have also celebrated the many wins. Almost two years into our venture, we’ve been able to reach several goals. In addition to Target, you can find Billy’s Original Foods products in Walmart and Kroger stores in the Southeast region, as well as independent stores in Mississippi. Some days are tougher than others juggling between home and work and home and work again, but the success of the company and the happiness of my family make it all worthwhile. I’m grateful for insightful business partners and a very supportive family. My husband, Tray, is my best advisor in life and work.
For more on Billy's Original Foods please visit their website and make sure to pick up some of their products to try next time you head to the grocery store!
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