KOR Gourmet Popsicles W/ Rochelle Bellemare

In this episode of the Sunbeam Chats Podcast, I am chatting with Rochelle Bellemare an Entrepreneur and the Founder of Sweet B’s and SuBe Manufacturing TT, which produces a line of frozen artisan desserts and sweet treats. The flagship brand is KOR, a gourmet ice cream popsicle.

In this conversation we chat about her interesting path to entrepreneurship. Before that Rochelle studied Biology, Ecology and the Environment, specializing in Zoology. Over a five year period, she worked in an Eco Park and in the Emperor Valley Zoo in Port of Spain Trinidad. 

After which she decided to switch careers to build her own business and to pursue her dreams. She then conceptualized Sweet B's and later created a line of liquid nitrogen ice-cream. 

Rochelle spoke about the journey and process for building her first business; which were production, branding, sales, marketing and the highs, lows, challenges and changes she made along the way to grow. Rochelle then spoke about the hard decision she made to close the business and then her pivot to start SuBe Manufacturing TT.  

Rochelle talked about starting over, the reinvention, rebrand and new product development which led to the making of KOR. This time armed with invaluable experience and an investment; she focused mainly on B2B and less B2C with the introduction of this new product line. 

KOR was distributed in retail stores and she partnered with entities for seasonal events and festivals; for the soft launch the  T&T Trade & Industry Convention (TIC) Trade Show. She spoke about having to be flexible when necessary in business and also not compromising on the things that matter most to stay true to the vision and brand. 

Rochelle spoke about what success will look like, milestones, the future and her mission to build a global brand. Which involves multiple KOR product lines across the world, rooted in that Countries' culture. 

She said, KOR is not just a gourmet popsicle, it is memory, identity and stories frozen into each bar. They pull from lived Caribbean experiences. 

KOR popsicles are carefully crafted to reflect island heritage both in taste and the vibrant branding and each product. Each package is rich in culture like the pops are rich in flavor.

I invite you to listen to Rochelle's inspiring story of a woman on a mission to create, innovate and build a brand with cultural relevance and connection to a Country and it's people.