If you love almonds, you’re going to go nuts for Daily Crunch Snacks. Naturally gluten-free, keto-friendly, and gut-friendly, every tasty flavor is packed with nutritional goodness. In fact, they have three-times the protein and fiber of potato chips with 60% fewer carbs. Their secret? Slowly dehydrated sprouted almonds in lieu of unwanted oils or additives.
Diane Orley first started making these snacks as a fun hobby. Then, with the support of her niece, Daily Crunch scaled up to change the way people snack. Recently, we caught up with Diane and Laurel to learn more about their journey and hear their advice for fellow entrepreneurs.
01 Why did you start Daily Crunch Snacks?
Diane: It all started over 15 years ago when my sister took a trip to India and discovered sprouted almonds. When you soak almonds in water for a long period of time, they “sprout.” The end result is an almond that’s crunchier, tastier, easier to digest, and even more nutrient-dense. Inspired by those benefits and the “sprouted-nut-crunch,” I began sprouting and dehydrating my own almonds at home and flavoring them with real ingredients.
Laurel: I couldn’t get enough my Aunt Diane’s sprouted almonds and, more importantly, the way they made me feel! As a healthy food lover with a background in marketing, I called my Aunt and proposed taking the business to the next level. It was the impetus Diane had been waiting for — the rest is history!
02 What obstacles did you face along the way?
Diane: We launched Daily Crunch Snacks right when the pandemic started, so we had to completely shift our launch strategy. While it was challenging to try to build a new brand when retailers weren’t considering new products, it forced us to think outside the box and find new ways to build brand awareness.
03 What lessons do you have for other entrepreneurs?
Laurel: Even before we launched, our motto as entrepreneurs has been two steps forward and one step back. And that’s perfectly OKAY! Don’t rush the pre-launch process. Make sure you go through all the steps — consumer insights, competitive research, understanding your target, etc. — no matter how big or small your company is.
Diane: Make sure to incorporate your most cherished values into your business. I lost my son to mental illness while he was away at college. So, today, I dedicate much of my time and energy to reducing the stigma around mental health. In support of our mission, a portion of all Daily Crunch Snacks proceeds go to The Support Network, which advocates mental health awareness on college campuses. This mission is important to all of us at Daily Crunch — we believe that mental health should be as much a part of the fabric of our daily lives as the food we eat.
04 What’s on the horizon for Daily Crunch Snacks?
Diane: We recently launched the first of our “KETO Indulgent Superfoods” and “Savory Superfoods” sprouted nut lines. We look forward to expanding the line extensions later in the year. We have some really exciting flavor profiles in the mix and cannot wait to share them with all of you!
05 How do you keep work/life balance? What drives/inspires you?
Diane: I’m an empty nester who loves traveling the world with my husband and my two grown children. I draw inspiration from foods all around the world and I love incorporating them into my latest dishes.
Laurel: I have three children under the age of ten, so I’m very much in the thick of parenting. I love to reset with a good yoga class or a hike with my friends here in Nashville. We both have been beyond inspired by the fellow female entrepreneurs we’ve met over this past year. They have helped us tremendously and we couldn’t be prouder to be certified as a women-owned business!