Bobo’s: Beryl Stafford. A Single Mom Turns a Baking Project into a $100M Business

Beryl Stafford, founder of Bobo's Oat Bars, recounts building a $100 million brand after her divorce in her early 40s. Out of desperation, Beryl started baking oat bars based on a recipe she made with her daughter, Alex, nicknamed Bobo. Beryl initially sold the bars to local coffee shops in Boulder, Colorado, and gradually expanded to local co-ops and grocery stores. Despite facing skepticism from family and lacking business experience, she bootstrapped the company, even buying ingredients at full retail from Whole Foods. Beryl later partnered with Justin of Justin's Nut Butter to share a commercial kitchen and employees. Over time, Bobo's grew, entered Whole Foods Market, and eventually secured national distribution, navigating challenges like competition, marketing, and investor relations.