SMACKIN Success – Next Level Sunflower Seeds with Brian Waddick and Cole Schaefer

Cole Schaefer and Brian Waddick, college roommates, had started a sunflower seed company in their dorm room at the University of Minnesota: SMACKIN’ Sunflower Seeds.

Out of money and with COVID impacting the world, Cole and Brian had to make aa decision: find a way to keep the business going or quit.

They believed in what they were doing and double-down on their goal of creating a sunflower seed inspired by the nostalgia of spitting seed on little league baseball fields but upgraded for the 21st century consumer. A healthy snack that tastes better than you remember with bold and unique flavors. Today, SMACKIN’ Sunflower Seeds is a growing profitable company. Their journey to creating a successful brand is filled with Perspective, Perseverance and Partnerships.

“Nothing in life worth doing is easy and the journey is usually worth it.” – Cole Schaefer, Co-Founder of SMACKIN’ Sunflower Seeds