As partners in life and business, Alon and Marie-Josée share a passion for healthy food, travel, and sustainable living. They founded B Corp Certified Prana Organic in 2005, creating organic snacks made with whole ingredients that are ethically-sourced and 100% plant-based. Start your morning with their maple spiced granola or enjoy their sweet and savory nut mixes as a midday snack.
Recently, we caught up with this dedicated duo to learn more about their journey and hear their advice for fellow entrepreneurs.
1. Why did you start Prana Organic?
Our story began in 2005 when we fell in love. We’d met in India where we had started a vegan seasonal restaurant in Goa before returning to Quebec. Driven by a desire to have a positive impact on people's lives while responding to social and environmental issues, we used entrepreneurship as a driver of change by sharing our love of food and passion for healthy nutrition.
We started out modestly, roasting nuts in Marie-Josée’s mom’s kitchen and selling our tasty treats through word-of-mouth and at farmer’s markets. Thanks to consumer love and support, the business took off, and today, Prana touches people from East to West and has become an organic industry leader. We are also Canada's #1 organic snack brand.
2. What obstacles did you face?
Facing strong headwinds right after launching the business, the challenges were immediate. Financially, we had just $5,000 to cover both business and personal expenses. Although Marie-Josée was a Montreal native, after five years in Asia, she was unfamiliar with the local market, consumer trends, and the retail landscape. We were, in essence, building the plane while flying and learning to become managers on the go.
We wore many hats, handling everything from sourcing and production to design, packaging, manufacturing, sales, and marketing. Every step was a learning curve, but we embraced it fully. Even now, we remain deeply hands-on, embracing that same DIY spirit that fueled us from the beginning.
3. What lesson do you have for other entrepreneurs?
Follow your heart and cultivate your intuition—it has always served us well.
4. What is the horizon for Prana Organic?
A key part of our mission is making healthy foods more accessible to everyone. We will keep pushing the boundaries of innovation to deliver products that are better for you and better for the planet. As we do so, we are committed to maintaining our role as a leader in B Corp sustainability, while continuing to drive our social and environmental initiatives forward.
5. How do you keep work/life balance? What inspires you?
We do our best to maintain a work-life balance with our three boys who are now 14, 12, and 10. Living in nature and being surrounded by a supportive community of friends is essential to our family’s well-being. The dedicated team at Prana also plays a vital role in helping us keep that balance. We find inspiration everywhere—whether it’s from nature, our friends, employees, kids, travel, books, or podcasts…anything can spark new ideas!