Mother and Daughter Team’s Side Hustles Result in 8-Figure Snack Business

Elisabeth and Gina Galvin, the mother-daughter duo behind artisanal snacking company Stellar Snacks, have taken the snack industry by storm with their entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to quality. Elisabeth, the founder of snack brand Delyse, started her journey as a side hustle in an old CVS before growing into a leading supplier of gourmet snack products. Today, Delyse services national airlines like American Airlines and JetBlue, while Stellar Snacks can be found in various grocers across the country and online retailers, providing in-flight snacks for Alaska Airlines.

Elisabeth’s journey began in the 90s when she moved to the U.S. from the South of France with a dream of becoming an entrepreneur. Despite facing language barriers, she enrolled as a full-time student at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she juggled a heavy course load while pursuing her passion for cooking in the kitchen. It was there that she found inspiration for Delyse, starting with her family’s recipe for French pralines.

Facing challenges like establishing credit with vendors and finding employees, Elisabeth persevered and saw her side hustle grow rapidly. Within two months, she was selling her signature pralines at football games and soon landed a deal with Reno Air, propelling Delyse to new heights. By 1992, Delyse was earning $800,000 in revenue, and Elisabeth’s innovative idea to sell advertising space on snack bags further expanded her business to new heights.

Today, Delyse Inc. and Stellar Snacks continue to thrive, with revenue surpassing the eight-figure mark. The mother-daughter team’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is to create a strong business plan, secure your first customer, and surround yourself with a dedicated team. Their story is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and the belief in one’s mission.