THE FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO DO THIS MONTH

THE ROUND-UP!

Q & A

P B L o v e C O A conversation with Mario Esparza and Andy Mason, the masterminds of Denver based PB Love CO.

10 I N T E R V I E W: Chantel Ellerington P H O T O G R A P H S : Andy Mason

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M I N U T E S W I T H T H E F O U N D E R

PIKKAS PERUVIAN CUISINE & PISCO BAR

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AVIANO COFFEE

SECOND HOME KITCHEN + BAR

“To grow, evolve,

change food production and business, as a

company and as individuals”

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- PB Love founders

PB Love jars - Denver Startup Week 2014

Q & A

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CE: Share with us what is PB Love CO?PB Love founders: We are an all natural, nutritious nut buttercompany, creating fun and delicious experiences. CE: What is PB Love CO’s mission and purpose? PB Love founders: To grow, evolve, change food production and business, as a company and as individuals by inspiring others to create and experience a culture of funand love through food. CE: What inspired you to create this brand and why now? PB Love founders: It all has to do with food, being humanwith the food we live with. The responsibility we each haveto food is also very motivating to create work in food production. There are so many types of food and ways toeat and enjoy it. We want to celebrate how fun and delicious food can bewhile also being extremely nutritious. We believe nut butteris definitely one of the most fun foods. Now? Because we are ready to do something different and see what we actually CAN do!

CE: What does it mean personally to share PB Love with localsin Colorado and across the globe?PB Love founders: It’s very special to share PB Love with all of our family and friends in Colorado. They’re the ones who will makeit possible for PB Love to be experienced by everyone all over the world one day! It means PB Love’s visions are becoming a reality. That must mean some of our dreams are coming true. It means celebration!CE: How are PB Love’s nut butters different from others currentlyon the market? PB Love founders: Taste! Your mouth will be filled with richlayers of flavor and texture from the most delicious nut buttermix made here in Colorado. Our nut butters are nutrient densewith the highest quality ingredients in all PB Love nut butter mixes.CE: Insiders tip? What is the best snack on the go to compliment PB Love?Mario Esparza: I’d say a crispy Colorado apple. Keep it simple - or even a plain ol’ vanilla cookie!Andy Mason: Bananas!

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Q & A

- PB Love founders

“It’s more than just peanut butter, it’s PB Love.”

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CE: Share with us a few must have PB Love nut butters you’ve handcrafted that will hit the market spring 2015? PB Love founders: The Cinnamon Almond seems to be the most anticipated nut butter flavor. You can literally mix anythingand discover amazing creations. All of your childhood favoritesjust got better with our Classic Creamy. But the Salty Peanutis addicting and a delicious evolution of a traditional past-time food. CE: PB Love will be available to the masses come spring 2015, everyone is asking where to buy it?PB Love founders: PB Love will always be available online atthepbloveco.com, keep tabs and get on the list for the latest retail and farmers market buzz by following us on our Facebookpage at PBLOVECO.

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A caffeinated brainstorm session - at Crema Coffeehouse

- PB Love founders

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Mario introducing PB Love to Denver at Denver Startup Week 2014 Photo by The Denver Post

Q & A

CE: The best business advice ever received? Mario Esparza: Take care of your people, it’s all about them!Slow down and trust your gut. Andy Mason: You won’t know unless you try. CE: Having coconut oil as one of PB Love’s main ingredientsraises the bar for others in the market... Tell us where you willbe sourcing the oil from?PB Love founders: As a producer of delicious food, we believe,in the inherent responsibility we have in taking care of our environment, body, and our community. We believe in sourcing our ingredients from places and people who believein similar if not the same responsibility. And so, we are EXCITED to share our first partnership in sourcing one of the very important products needed to create PB Love. Tropical Traditions will be providing PB Love CO with thecoconut oil needed to create and share our PB Love story with you. The coconut oil, molasses and honey are sourced from Colorado.

CE: How did the opportunity participating in Denver Startup Week affect the future of PB Love?PB Love founders: Denver Startup Week was the dominothat fell and made it all a little more real. Our idea was no longer an idea it became a reality and it was the beginning of the next chapter in the PB Love story. We can’t give enoughpraise to all who made Denver Startup Week possible for us!Our journey would not be possible without the amazing resources this great city has to offer. We have so much gratitude for Denver SBDC for all the help along the wayCE: Love notes from PB Love fans?Andy Mason: My sister loves to bake and she said she made some record breaking PB Love cookies!