Today we’d like to introduce you to David Jacobowitz.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
Hey! I’m David, Founder of Nebula Snacks. I grew up with a massive sweet tooth, snacking on all the classic sweets and chocolates that left me wired and wanting more. Going around the dinner table, I earned the nickname ‘Vacuum from my siblings as I would finish my dessert and then everyone elses. ‘ Entering adulthood, my sweet tooth still beckoned, and I struggled to meet that craving while cutting down my sugar. Due to my late sweet night snacking, I gained weight and suffered from a terrible sleep schedule. I needed to make a change and began learning more about the true cons of added sugars and their excessive consumption. (The average American adult consumes 60 pounds of sugar a year, nearly 2x the maximum recommended amount by the American Heart Association.) Not to mention the long-term effects on my health, including Type II Diabetes and heart disease. But, despite these health concerns, the FDA hasn’t made any significant changes, and BIG SUGAR cares only for profits. My go-to snacks consist of chocolates, dipped pretzels, and cookies. Yet, almost every version in the grocery is still in the 90s – loaded with added sugars, sugar alcohols, or artificial sweeteners. After three years of experimenting, including a 1st version to market, I successfully developed the nostalgic treat for today’s conscious snacker – chocolate that delivers a supernova of flavor without the gravity of added sugars. This led to Nebula Snacks, a brand on a mission to eliminate added sugars from Earth’s snacks.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It could have been smoother sailing. Launched in November of 2021, with the original version of Nebula chocolate, I encountered many issues getting the business started and off the ground. Here are a few:
One of the first hurdles was an oversight of distribution channels. With a background in digital marketing, I had hoped to be able to market primarily through my website – but come March 2022, Austin was already heating up, and the chocolate bars were melting in transit to customers. As I researched ways to prevent it, the costs of faster shipping, ice packs, and thermal envelopes made the channel unprofitable. As a result, I shifted my entire focus to learning and distributing the product in retail and wholesale for the business.
During the first production run, I missed an issue from the contract manufacturing team: some dark chocolate bars weren’t sealed properly, and the back was slightly open in some places. Ahead of the first large wholesale order to have the bars in the Meta office in downtown Austin, I had to manually check and seal thousands of bars with a blowtorch. Fast forward, after selling out of the original bars in January of 2023, I decided to make major changes and told my retail and wholesale partners that I could restock once that was completed. I initially estimated I would have a new product by May. However, my original manufacturing partner could not produce the changes to the chocolate, so I went down a rabbit hole speaking with 80+ different manufacturers to see who could, which took much longer than I had expected.
The primary feedback on the original products was that customers wanted smaller pieces as storing half an unwrapped bar wasn’t convenient, and they wanted flavors, which led me to the current filled chocolate bites. Out of the 80+ different facilities I spoke with, only two were able to make the filled bites. Once decided on the better fit, scheduling the production day kept getting pushed for many reasons, including delays in ingredients shipped, packaging being held at customs, and the head of product having a planned summer vacation. Ultimately, the production was finally completed, and the product was ready in September of this year – where I then had to restart all my retail and wholesale partnerships from scratch; there are plenty more challenges to come.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Nebula Snacks, we believe that snacking is our superpower, and rather than restrict our cravings, we take big bites with our sweet tooths. Based in ATX, Nebula is trying to eliminate added sugars from Earth’s snacks, making delicious zero-sugar-added chocolate bites. I’m a super snacker, who, after 20 years of failing with restrictive diets, culminating in an entirely unhealthy relationship with food, decided to create a more sustainable solution. After three years of recipe development, perfecting treats that can satiate my sweet tooth, Nebula launched the filled chocolate bites.
These bites deliver a supernova of flavor without the gravity of added sugars. Unlike the competition, Nebula’s chocolate is:
– Zero Sugar Added
– Zero Artificial Ingredients
– Zero Sugar Alcohols
– Features Organic Unsweetened Dark Chocolate
– Dairy Free
– Gluten-Free
– Keto Friendly (≤1.5g Net Carbs per Bite)
– Diabetic Friendly (Blood Sugar Friendly Sweetener Blend).
The bites launched in September of 2023 and are now on shelves at 21 locations across Austin, with more to come soon!
Networking and finding a mentor can positively impact one’s life and career. Any advice?
As I left tech for the consumer package goods industry, I needed connections or a sense of where to start. LinkedIn became my hub as I explored the industry and connected with as many individuals in the space who would hear me out. I followed thought leaders and set time with many walking ahead of me. It was here I learned of many local Austin networking events for startups, entrepreneurs, food & beverage-specific meetups, and more that I could attend. It’s fantastic to meet everyone, explicitly connecting with those walking the same path and perhaps even slightly ahead; it has provided me far more help than following those who have exited their businesses.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nebulasnacks.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nebulasnacks
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nebulasnacks
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjacobowitz
Image Credits
Nebula Snacks, LLC
