SBAC’s Micro-Entrepreneur of the Year is given annually to a business who has demonstrated profitable growth and longevity, has a total of five or fewer full-time employees, and is active in the community. One business that stuck out the most and has met all these standards is Avocado Bleu.
Avocado Bleu started in July 2017 by Teresa Brandow in Bluffton, SC. Teresa worked with Pat Cameron, a business consultant with the University of SC Beaufort Small Business Development Center for 3 years. The plan was to create a business model that reflected a vision and passion for cooking and took advantage of trends like eating healthy, locally grown produce, convenience and take out. With Pat’s help, Teresa was coached through the business planning process of creating spreadsheets, editing spreadsheets and editing again, a long but necessary process. Chef Teresa has lived and worked in the Lowcountry since 1980.She has over 30 years of experience in the food service industry growing up where her family owned two restaurants.
Teresa started as a waitress, then became a bartender, next a chef and now a pastry chef. She works for country clubs in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island and a personal chef to several of those families.
Avocado Bleu offer healthy, made from scratch meals, pastries, desserts and smoothies to cater to any diet: vegetarian, paleo, keto, gluten-free, vegan or an all food diet. Avocado Bleu offers quick and easy breakfast, lunch and dinner options to make healthy eating easier. Avocado Bleu is Fresh on the Menu certified, where at least 25% of their ingredients are from South Carolina to help support local farms and farmers. In addition to servicing humans of the Lowcountry, Teresa also owns and operates a dog treat business, Stella Snacks. Stella Snacks, named after her missed breed rescue pup, Stella, produces healthy, handmade dog treats are all natural. All profit proceeds generated from these treats are being donated to a local pet rescue, Rogue Rescue and Sanctuary.