Steve Yeng, co -founder with Brittana’s wife, z Whiskey with Skrewball peanut butter, He was born in Cambodia after the Cambodia genocide, which he left Over 1.7 million people Dead at the hands of Rouge Khmer. When Steve was a yr old, he was diagnosed with polio. His rights leg became paralyzed, and his parents sought medical help across the border in Thailand.
“We entered the refugee camp, basically in a prison in which we could not get out,” says Steve Entrepreneur. “We stood in a queue for food and water. After six years, which is quite a long time for this type of camp, we sponsorship [move to] California by couples who wanted to make a random act of goodness. “
The family settled in San Diego. Steve’s parents got a job in a local donuts store from his primary school, where he first met Brittany. The couple began to fulfill at highschool and remained together when they followed different paths. She received a master’s degree in chemistry and attended a law school. He jumped into the restaurant industry.
Picture Credit: Walking Eagle Photography. Steve and Brittany Yeng.
Steve’s parents bought a donut shop where they worked and he followed their entrepreneurial traces. He and his brother Scott opened Ob Noodle House in 2008 and a holding company in 2016.
“We realized that we really built two separate worlds,” says Brittany – where ” [Steve] I was coming home at 4:30 in the morning and I went to work at 4:30 in the morning. And we expected our first daughter. “
“We used this weaker mentality [and said]”Let’s do it.”
The couple played with the idea of a latest project that will allow for more time: putting on a whiskey brand with peanut butter. Peanut butter, which Steve and his family often received in food baskets in the early days in the USA was a favorite taste. He experimented with adding it to numerous things: wings, pasta, fried rice – then Jameson.
Yengs tinted with a recipe for whiskey with peanut butter to make stable stable, which ultimately meant landing on one that was not creamy, but you’ll be able to mix and well for cocktails. Despite the various life they lived at that point, “peanut butter is glue that really connected us,” says Steve. The duo took over “now or never a moment” and founded the company.
Picture Credit: Thanks to the kindness of whiskey with Skrewball peanut butter
Yengs whiskey with peanut butter had a solid fan base in its small Ocean Beach community in San Diego, but they faced greater skepticism from investors in addition to research and development firms. At one point, an industry consultant completely discouraged the undertaking, saying that he gave the impression of a nice family who mustn’t spend his whole life to savings on an unsecured business idea.
“Everyone laughed,” recalls Steve. “Everyone had doubts. Nobody believed in us. They saw us as new, not a phenomenon. [But the] Skepticism fueled our ride. We went earlier; We used this weaker mentality [and said]”Let’s do it.”
“Finally, it clicked with us that the product itself was an outsider,” adds Brittany. “Not only we were strangers. It’s a whiskey with peanut butter. For the first time people hear it,” I don’t know. ” So this product history and origin [perfectly] Ekapsura the brand. “
“We desired to have it and put black sheep leading the group.”
After refining the brand’s recipe by trial and mistakes, Yengs based their “weaker” status when it comes to their branding. The Skrewball label contains large black sheep surrounded by smaller white sheep. “We look [being a black sheep] As our Supermoucranial, “Brittany explains”. We desired to have it and put black sheep leading the group. “The founders also record a double meaning in the name” Skrewball “: recalling strange, but also hope to find” blood “.
Skurwball was officially fired in San Diego in 2018 – and business business was a huge hit. The brand remained only in San Diego this yr, because it couldn’t sustain with the production required for extension. The founders say that independent alcoholic stores, resembling Beki N, Newport Farms and Crest Liquor bottle, were of key importance for the early success of Skrewball. Similarly, it was with San Diego Bar and the restaurant community, which “immediately brought Skrewball and treated it like her own brand.”
Picture Credit: Thanks to the kindness of whiskey with Skrewball peanut butter
Despite this, some Naysayers considered a significant victory to a flash in the pan, they are resembled the founders. But when the brand began throughout California, she repeated the sold -out success. Ultimately, Skrewball achieved national distribution in all 50 states in January 2020. “We were the fastest up to a million cases for every brand in history over USD 20,” says Steve. “Nobody expected it.”
“In 2020, the only brands that grew faster than we did on the sale of the dollar were Tito’s and Hennessy.”
Of course, like most developing firms, Skrewball needed to fight serious challenges along the way. During the expansion of the brand, the longest closing of the government in US history talks about the strategy of obtaining appropriate labels to stop. Passing by 2020, the company faced serious production deficiencies and bottles that nearly went bankrupt. Sometimes the founders “returned home without electricity because we couldn’t pay the bill.”
However, the Yengs consider those obstacles that catalyst catalyst for the final lasting success of Skrewball, explaining that they helped them prepare for pandemic years. Skurrewball built a surplus of bottles and dry goods at the end of 2019, and this allowed the company to develop and sustain with the demand when global deficiencies appear.
A blow to the road, when many foremost suppliers remained at home, was one other key traffic that increased the company. “I lived on the road – safely – and personally promoted Skrewball, supporting open bars and restaurants,” says Steve. “This brought a lot of consciousness in a time when few other brands were present. In 2020, the only brands that grew faster than we did in the sale of the dollar were Tito’s and Hennessy.”
The couple emphasizes that this is not happiness that Skrewball brought, but their refusal to resign and involve listening to the brand’s clients.
“We are still tasting,” says Bretania. “We were on the market. Maintaining this return loop to make sure you are still suitable for your client, providing him with value and responding to their needs [is important]. It is easy to get behind the desk and forget why you really do what you do. “
Picture Credit: Thanks to the kindness of whiskey with Skrewball peanut butter
“You must be able to adapt. Adapt to the changes and overcome these obstacles.”
Now Skrewball is a multi -million, world -worldly recognized Spirits brand. Until March 2023, it seemed that the right time to search out a strategic partner for the company. “My daughters grew up and I didn’t want to miss it,” says Steve. The founders decided to cooperate with Pernod Ricard, certain values that reflected their very own. Wine and Spirits Company acquired a majority participation in Skrewball. Yengs also enjoyed a moment of full circuit: their brand began with peanut butter in Jameson’s shots, one of Pernod Ricard’s ghosts.
Yengs expect further development of the brand – and still gain doubts.
“[We’re still] By proving that skeptics are wrong – says Steve.[When people first hear about it, they’re like]”I do not know.” “But then they fight, their face brightens and introduces her to a different friend or member of the family, who normally has the same response – and” will never grow old. “
Both Steve and Skrewball overcame the opportunities they have ever arrived at that moment. “When I caught the polio, little is expected from you, especially in Cambodia,” says Steve. “When I was in this refugee camp, I remember [wondering] Why? I was a healthy child; I only needed one shot and none of this would happen. [But what seems like] Looking back, it can be a blessing. You must be able to adapt. Adapt to the changes and overcome these obstacles. “