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.
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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. |
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&AQuestion: 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. |