VITALIST SUPERFOOD BRAND STORY
Sarah Ann Haugen, a Minnesota native, began her culinary career in 2001 at French Meadow. Her ambitions drove her away from her hometown, leading her to spend the next 25 years as a private chef for celebrities and CEOs across Silicon Valley, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. During this time, she also delved into launching and promoting lifestyle brands and held positions such as Wellness Director at major tech-based venture and accounting firms.
In 2012, under the name Wellness Avatar, Sarah launched a 15-product superfood line. This venture evolved into Vitalist Food LLC in 2017. Vitalist underwent various phases, from a test kitchen refining recipes to a gym café serving pre-made drinks and snacks, and even offering subscription boxes and custom cleansing programs for private clients.
Sarah's resilience and dedication to healing through food were evident in every aspect of Vitalist's development. However, challenges arose in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic and a health scare with lymphoma forced the closure of Vitalist's California location. Undeterred, Sarah relocated Vitalist to the Twin Cities area, but adapting to the differences between Minnesota and California presented a new set of challenges, including identifying and connecting with a fresh target audience.
