Meet Trailblazer Anna Salazar

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Salazar.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started my business in 2014. I worked for a major corporation for 18 years and took a severance package in 2014. My son suggested I sell my salsa at a farmer’s market. I started selling salsa and hot sauce at Uptown Farmer’s market. I noticed other vendors had vegan options. My brother and his family are vegan, so I have been cooking vegan Mexican food for years. My son is vegan as well, so I added vegan red chile jackfruit tamales to the product line. I currently have three different salsas, hot sauce, chips, horchata, jamaica, chickpea salad, and pozole… all vegan. I sell at several markets in the valley and do pop-ups at Veggie Rebellion (vegan grocery store in Glendale) and special events. I was also in the ASU Prepped program and won the People’s Choice Award at the 2018 Showcase for my vegan red chile and green chile jackfruit tamales. Veggie Rebellion is carrying our chickpea salads, salsa and tamales in their grab n go refrigerator.

Has it been a smooth road?
Initially, it was very tough because it worked full time and did just one market on Saturday. I quit working contract jobs and started doing more markets and pop-ups and drive Lyft and Uber part time when I need to. I try and sell at as many markets as I can or do pop-ups in different areas to get my name out there. I also try and collaborate with other small businesses and network with them. Lately, in the central Phoenix area, small businesses have been collaborating. A friend of mine owns Fair Trade Cafe and she holds Markets at her cafe. Another place is Cosecha Coop. I would encourage young women to connect, network, collaborate and help boost one another. Being a small business owner is tough but I love what I do.

We’d love to hear more about Raul’s Cocina.
I sell my food at Uptown Farmer’s markets, 6th Street Market and the AZ Center market, pop-ups around the valley and Veggie Rebellion is carrying some of my products in their grab n go refrigerator. My specialty is my award-winning vegan jackfruit tamales. I am very happy to provide my customers vegan Mexican comfort food and other vegan items that tastes delicious. I have customers who had not eaten a tamale in years because they are vegan and could not find any until they tried mine. I don’t want to have something just to say it’s vegan. I want it to be great and I want my customers to be satisfied. I get a lot of compliments on my products and have 5-star ratings. My goal is to have my own place and serve up amazing vegan food.

Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
I get a lot of my inspiration from the women in my family and female friends that have small businesses. A few of my aunts and cousins own restaurants in the valley and a good friend of mine is a local artist who owns her own gallery. I look at their social media accounts to get ideas from their posts and pics. I definitely recommend an Instagram and Facebook account.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.raulscocina.com
• Phone: 6233411521
• Email: Asalazar@raulscocina.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/raulscocina
• Facebook: Facebook.com/raulscocina

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