About this episode

Lauren Corugedo discusses her experience in modernizing her family's seasoning brand, Chef Merito, while maintaining its authenticity.

Lauren Corugedo grew up watching Chef Merito operate like a hidden gem in Los Angeles kitchens long before the rest of the country caught on. Founded in 1985 by her Cuban immigrant grandfather, Chef Merito started with a single carne asada seasoning and built a loyal following through word of mouth, neighborhood markets, and authentic flavor that didn’t compromise to fit trends. Now, nearly 40 years later, the brand has expanded far beyond Southern California — landing in Costco, Amazon, major retailers, and even Dodger Stadium — while still staying rooted in the same recipes and cultural identity that built it in the first place. In this episode, Lauren shares what it’s like stepping into a second-generation family business, modernizing a legacy brand for a new generation of consumers, and balancing growth without losing authenticity. Make sure to check them out at: https://chefmerito.com Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive…

People in this episode

Host: Cameron Nagle

Guest: Lauren Corugedo

Topics covered

• family business
• entrepreneurship
• authenticity
• legacy brand
• growth strategies

Keywords

• Chef Merito
• family business
• seasoning
• entrepreneurship
• authentic flavor
• Cuban immigrant

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Chef Merito

Places: Los Angeles, Southern California, Costco, Amazon, Dodger Stadium

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