Episode 9 | Wichita Chamber Business Accelerator

Sometimes a simple idea can explode into a full-blown business. Eddie Sandoval started Pinole Blue in his dorm room at Wichita State and now finds his products on grocery store shelves. Pinole Blue offers cookies, protein balls and different flavors of pinole (including pumpkin spice) in 300 stores across 18 states. Most recently, Whole Foods Market began carrying Pinole Blue Tortillas, which are also produced in different flavors---ask about the red tortillas they make for Cheifs games and Valentine’s Day. On this episode of the Wichita Chamber Business Accelerator podcast, Eddie talks about growing up making trips twice a year to bring home pinole, a multiuse, nutrient-dense mixture of roasted ground maize savored by his family for generations which is now the basis of his career. He also shares with co-hosts Don Sherman and Ebony Clemons-Ajibolade about Pinole Blue's marketing strategy and how they have gone viral in the TikTok world.

Pinole Blue
242 N. Cleveland Ave.
Wichita, KS 67214
(785) 760-5683
Like on Facebook
Follow on Instagram
Follow on Twitter
Follow on TikTok
Number of employees: 4
Chamber member since 2020

On this episode we discuss:

• The evolution of Pinole Blue through the initial inception
• Starting the business with a simple idea at Wichita State and working in his dorm room, bringing back his first load of blue corn in a truck across the border
• Going viral on social media fueling growth during the pandemic
• How TikTok is their key marketing strategy, allowing people to understand their business and products
• Allowing goals to evolve from the content creation and customer engagement
• As a new business, leaning on the resources that are available to you
• Leveraging influencers on social media
• Stress relief through running and reading 
• The need for a local community kitchen in Wichita
• Finding inspiration in Toms Shoes

Learn more about Pinole Blue on their website and like them on Facebook and follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Check out these links that feature the company and provide more information about their successes:

Pass the Chipotle Podcast
Wichita Life Podcast
WeGotGoals Podcast

Listen on popular podcast directories and aggregators, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pandora, and ICT Podcast Network or using the player above. Send feedback on this show and/or suggestions for future guests or topics by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or emailing communications@wichitachamber.org.

Preview:

Wichita Chamber Business Accelerator is a weekly podcast devoted to supporting and learning from area business owners. Released every Wednesday, it's produced by Forge Podcast Co, managed by the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Evergy.

Learn more about this podcast series by visiting our January 7 blog post.