Founder: Kimo Olds
Crafted in Concord, NC
- Kimo’s ONO Grindz Chili Pepper Water (Hawaiian Hot Sauce) is a culinary masterpiece that brings a wave of island flavor to your table. Available in three mouthwatering varieties – jalapeno, original, and habanero.
Cabarrus Center Resources Utilized
- Retail Lab | Fall 2021
- Venture Mentoring Service (VMS) Mentor | Flywheel Foundation
Entrepreneurial Journey
- Since living in Hawaii, Kimo has been making his Chili Pepper Water – Hawaiian Hot Sauce. After moving to Concord in 2015, Kimo met his wife Cheryl, was working a full-time job, and making his Chili Pepper Water at home for his own personal use.
- Five years after meeting Cheryl, she finally tried his Chili Pepper Water and loved it. She encouraged him to start selling it.
- In 2020, Kimo started manufacturing the Chili Pepper Water. He expanded from his original flavor to add a milder Jalapeno flavor as well as a hotter Habanero version.
Tapping Into Local Resources
- Manufacturing, packaging, selling, and distributing a food product is no easy task. Kimo gives a lot of credit to overcoming hurdles and getting connected to the right resources to Meg Smit at the Small Business Center at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.
- Through the Small Business Center, Kimo received guidance in finding the right financing options for his current stage of business, got connected with the Retail Lab program, and engaged with professional services and other important resources.
- In 2021, Kimo applied to take part in the first Retail Lab cohort at the Cabarrus Center. Kimo graduated from the program’s very first cohort in Fall 2021.
Sharing His Lessons
- After overcoming hurdles, certifications, and red tape in the food product industry, Kimo is determined to give back in gratitude for all the support he has received.
- Kimo now serves as a mentor for the Venture Mentoring Service at the Cabarrus Center, sharing lessons from his experience with other entrepreneurs within the food product industry.
In the News
- Local Entrepreneur Brings Spirit of Aloha to NC and Beyond (Small Business Center at RCCC, 10-4-2023)
- The Cabarrus Center Retail Lab Program Graduates 14 Local Entrepreneurs (Cabarrus Center, 11-5-2021)
