--- title: Nicole Berrie of Bonberi on Searching for Healing description: Nicole Berrie was searching for healing in a stressful, overwhelming world. Now she’s on a mission to take our relationship with food back to its roots. image: https://femalefoundercollective.com/hubfs/1-Nov-14-2022-05-00-10-6010-PM.png --- Nov 14, 2022 12:11:23 PM # Nicole Berrie of Bonberi on Searching for Healing [ FFC Staff ](https://femalefoundercollective.com/small-business-spotlights/author/ffc-staff) Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://femalefoundercollective.com/small-business-spotlights/spotlight-nicole-berrie) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://femalefoundercollective.com/small-business-spotlights/spotlight-nicole-berrie) [twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://femalefoundercollective.com/small-business-spotlights/spotlight-nicole-berrie) [pinterest-p icon ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://femalefoundercollective.com/small-business-spotlights/spotlight-nicole-berrie) [envelope icon ](mailto:?body=https://femalefoundercollective.com/small-business-spotlights/spotlight-nicole-berrie) ![NICOLE-BERRIE_linkedin](https://femalefoundercollective.com/hs-fs/hubfs/NICOLE-BERRIE_linkedin.jpg?width=960&height=502&name=NICOLE-BERRIE_linkedin.jpg) Nicole Berrie was searching for healing in a stressful, overwhelming world. Now she’s on a mission to take our relationship with food back to its roots. While writing for Vanity Fair a few years after college, Nicole knew she needed something to offset the mounting pressure of tight deadlines and a jam-packed schedule. Her instinct took her to food, and she dove in headfirst. As she learned more and more about the benefits of plant-based eating – both from scientific and anecdotal sources – she realized she wanted to share the information she’d found, all in one place. So Nicole and a friend launched Bonberi as an online wellness destination. Over time, it became clear that most members of the Bonberi community were there for the food-focused content, so Nicole went all-in on recipe development and curation. | ![2-Nov-14-2022-05-00-08-1621-PM](https://femalefoundercollective.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2-Nov-14-2022-05-00-08-1621-PM.png?width=404&height=404&name=2-Nov-14-2022-05-00-08-1621-PM.png) But Nicole quickly realized that there was an offline hole she could fill, too. Looking around, she saw that “there were lots of high-end vegan restaurants or ‘junk food vegan’ spots, but nowhere that combined fresh produce-driven, grab-and-go options that were nourishing, convenient, and easy to access.” So she took her Bonberi IRL, opening the first Bonberi Mart location in the West Village of NYC. | ![1-Nov-14-2022-05-00-06-4417-PM](https://femalefoundercollective.com/hs-fs/hubfs/1-Nov-14-2022-05-00-06-4417-PM.png?width=404&height=404&name=1-Nov-14-2022-05-00-06-4417-PM.png) Now, in 2022, Nicole has not only opened another location in SoHo, she’s written a book. Body Harmony is part autobiography, part cookbook, and all about creating a healthy relationship with the food we eat and the way we eat it. When talking about intuitive eating and her own journey as a founder, Nicole offers one simple piece of advice: “Go with your gut.” | | --- | --- | | # Q&A ## Question: What drove you to take the leap of opening Bonberi Mart? ## Answer: I saw a need in the plant-based world for an easy, convenient grab-and-go concept in the city. I think more people are looking for convenient choices and like having the curation of salads made for them – they don't have to do the extra legwork, they know we've done the work for them, so they can just grab and go! ## Question: What do you see as a key driver of consumer trends over the next few years in your industry? ## Answer: I think we’ll see a continued shift towards more plant-based items, not as a novelty but as a way of life. ## Question: What advice would you give your younger self as she sets out on her journey as a founder? ## Answer: Don’t be afraid to have the hard conversations. | | --- | ##### in partnership with ![smallsize-webexbycisco-black](https://femalefoundercollective.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Small%20Business%20Spotlight/smallsize-webexbycisco-black.png?width=187&name=smallsize-webexbycisco-black.png) [![LEARN MORE](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21612405/634eb54d-37e4-477d-b05b-3c3e11010085.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21612405/634eb54d-37e4-477d-b05b-3c3e11010085) [THE NORTH](https://femalefoundercollective.com/small-business-spotlights/tag/the-north) ## Related posts [![](https://femalefoundercollective.com/hs-fs/hubfs/1-Oct-12-2022-06-07-49-47-PM.png?height=200&name=1-Oct-12-2022-06-07-49-47-PM.png) ](https://femalefoundercollective.com/small-business-spotlights/spotlight-deanna-mcintosh) [THE NORTH](https://femalefoundercollective.com/small-business-spotlights/tag/the-north) ## [DeAnna McIntosh of Retailing Evolved on Merchandising Strategies for Retail Success](https://femalefoundercollective.com/small-business-spotlights/spotlight-deanna-mcintosh) [FFC Staff](https://femalefoundercollective.com/small-business-spotlights/author/ffc-staff) Oct 20, 2022 2:13:26 PM For DeAnna McIntosh, Founder and Retail Growth Strategist at Retailing Evolved, it all started with... 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