Student-athlete Titus Moore, a marketing graduate and current MBA student, is the owner of Moore's Granola Bars and an affiliate in the Samford Startup student business incubator program. His idea emerged from the late-night hunger struggles of a dedicated student-athlete, which he has now turned that into a business.
Interview
What is the story of your company? How did it start?
Moore's originated from a personal challenge I encountered during my years as an All-American student-athlete. As a college student with a demanding schedule, I often faced late-night hunger with limited options. With the cafeteria closed and a need to maintain my athlete's diet while working with a student budget, I took matters into my own hands and started crafting my late-night granola bars.
Leveraging my previous successes in growing social media pages to over a million followers and my valuable internship experiences at multiple Fortune 500 consumer goods companies, I soon realized the potential to transform my homemade granola bars into a solution for other student-athletes facing similar problems.
With that, I began the journey of creating Moore's, a brand dedicated to providing a convenient and affordable snack tailored to the needs of active students.
Why did you want to join the Samford Startup program?
It provides a great place for like-minded business owners to help one another when needed. I previously struggled to find the resources to help me develop the vision I had for my company. I knew the the program would help me with a great deal of problems that I was sure would come up.
How has the Samford Startup program supported your business?
The support of the Samford Startup program has played a great role in the development of Moore's. The incubator provides an environment where our entrepreneurial vision can be heard and shared.
What has been the most challenging part of launching your business? How did you overcome this?
Because I have no background as a food product manufacturer, I was challenged with figuring out the correct way to begin selling my bars at the volume I initially had in mind. Because of financial and operation constraints, I found myself pivoting into a strategy that allows me to scale at a slower rate while also keeping the company's end goal in mind.
Although it was not what I had initially envisioned for the company, I do believe it is extremely valuable to move at a pace that the business can withstand. Once the opportunity is available to scale, the company will be better prepared for that change.
How has the Samford Startup program helped you grow professionally?
Before I started my business, I had incredible positions on Coca-Cola's Supply Chain team as well as Danone's Brand Marketing team. While these experiences were incredible, they only allowed me to be exposed to the supply chain and marketing portions of the consumer goods industry. After joining the program, I had the opportunity to see how other sides of the industry function. I am now able to see firsthand how things like operations, finances, and sales are done for companies. This exposure has not only expanded my skill set but also deepened my appreciation for the consumer goods profession as a whole.
How has the Samford Startup program helped you achieve or exceed your business goals?
The Samford Startup program has helped me better organize the needs of my business. It gave me a way to better understand what needs to be done in the business to reach the goals I have.
Looking to the future, what do you envision for your business?
Market Expansion: While the initial focus is on serving the student-athlete community, Moore's will look to broaden our customer base significantly. One of our key visions is to make our products readily available in gyms, fitness centers, and various retail outlets, as well as e-commerce. This move will not only enhance accessibility but also align our brand with active and health-conscious consumers.
How do you see your company having an impact on the Samford and Birmingham communities?
I believe Moore's could be a food product that gives any Samford student or Birmingham local access to a health conscious option that is easily accessible.
Why would you encourage other student entrepreneurs to also join the program?
Samford Startup gives students the confidence needed to help them take a chance on an idea they have. It also provides a very valuable experience that can prepare you for the professional world.
