Order the book online or at  your local bookstore.

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THE BRAND

Fiona took her mother's recipe from the 1960’s, updated it, and created new flavors and ingredient combinations.  She hoped her new concoctions would be just the solution she had been seeking. 

​"The eponymous Fiona's Natural Foods became a burgeoning regional natural foods brand, selling granola, quinoa cereal and energy bars to dozens of natural grocers -- including Whole Foods and Natural Grocers By Vitamin Cottage -- throughout Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico and Utah." -Daily Camera, Boulder, Colorado

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THE STORY

"My granola company was more than my livelihood; it became much of my identity." 

I loved [Natalie's] drawing.  Not only was it a wonderful gift, but it showed that Natalie’s mind stayed with the business more than I had imagined.  Her creativity found new outlets through the products I created, and she enjoyed expressing her thoughts about them through her art.

Those first few years, I was in Whole Foods six days a week, either checking inventory or doing a delivery.  Since I often had Natalie by my side, we soon became fixtures in the store.

We were completely moved into the new facility by the end of July 2008.  Since sales had been strong the first half of the year, there was no reason to think that would change.  Like millions of other people, we had no idea what was brewing on the financial horizon, namely with the banks and their real estate investment schemes.  Suddenly, like a sharp slap in the face, sales plummeted.

My experiences make clear the importance of forgiveness, the power of intention, and belief in ourselves. 

Order the book online or at  your local bookstore.

In Gambling on Granola: Unexpected Gifts on the Path of Entrepreneurship, Simon shares a tale that is uplifting and inspiring but also raw and honest. This is a business memoir but also a love story―the love for her daughter, of a journey in uncharted waters, of the products and company she created, and of the continued challenge to follow her dream.

We see her growth and healing over fifteen years, as mistakes, weaknesses, and naiveté evolve into resilience, resolve, and inspiration. For Fiona, it started out as all new businesses do―with an idea. But her world quickly became more complex as she established her company, developed new product lines, forged personal relationships in a competitive environment, grew her business, and held onto her deepest values―all while raising her daughter, Natalie, as a single mom.

PRAISE

"Fiona’s story is both personal and transformative.  She lays bare the hopes and anxieties, challenges, betrayals and lessons learned in creating her own business.  From the mountaintops of a solar observatory where she was raised, to the struggles and triumphs, her story is like a path of granola crumbs leading the reader to understand how to succeed at any enterprise." 

- Jeff Kline, M.A. Ed., Chairman, Hispanic Communications Network, Washington, DC.

"Fiona Simon is an engaging storyteller and her narrative moves right along. It should inspire and motivate anyone who needs to remember the importance of persistence, belief in oneself, and vision in pursuing a goal. Her granola is good and so is her book."

- Bob McCormick, Publisher, Editor, Author