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
More episodes of Starting Small
- Angela Caglia Skincare: Angela Caglia · June 12, 2026 · 33 min
- SIMPLi: Sarela Herrada and Matt Cohen · May 29, 2026 · 44 min
- Delavie Sciences: Dr. Kyle Landry · May 15, 2026 · 31 min
- Pocket Prep: Peter Murphy · May 8, 2026 · 29 min
- Cymbiotika: Shahab Elmi · April 16, 2026 · 32 min
- Scarlett Chase: Sandra Powers Murphy · April 10, 2026 · 32 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Starting Small podcast page.