Client Success Story: How Mary Turned a Family Health Crisis into a Thriving Wellness Brand with Help from CCNY

Meet Mary, Founder of Lola Snacks
When Mary, a mother of five, was faced with the unimaginable—her husband suffering from chronic gut health issues and her family relying on food assistance—she made a decision that would not only change her life but improve the lives of thousands more.

“My husband was in constant pain, and nothing was working. Watching him struggle took an emotional toll on our entire family,” Mary recalls. Mary is especially passionate about helping people who, like her husband, suffer in silence. “Women talk about gut health, but men often don’t. I wanted to create something that helps break that silence and supports whole-family wellness.”

Determined to find a solution, Mary leaned into her natural curiosity and resilience. She began researching gut health and learned that probiotics alone weren’t enough—your body also needs prebiotics, and they have to be delivered in a way that the gut can actually absorb.

That was the start of Lola Snacks—a line of functional snack bars designed to support gut health and provide clean, sustainable energy. Mary partnered with nutritionists and leading probiotic companies like the Kerry Group to formulate a product that could truly help. “Because of Lola Snacks, my husband lives a semi-normal life now. That’s everything to us.”

Partnering with Community Capital New York
Mary’s first experience with Community Capital New York came in 2013, when she needed funding to upgrade her packaging so she could present Lola Snacks to larger buyers. “That loan helped us professionalize our brand and move into a larger production facility. We paid it off within 18 months.”

But when the pandemic disrupted supply chains and halted production, Mary came back to CCNY for help rethink her business model. She joined an accelerator program, restructured her inventory process, and identified new local packaging options—including a facility in Danbury. Then, when an opportunity to sell Lola Snacks in ShopRite arose, Mary returned to CCNY once more—this time for help financing a packaging machine to scale production and meet demand.

Support Beyond the Loan: The Power of Technical Assistance
What set Community Capital apart wasn’t just the funding—it was the Technical Assistance (TA) that came with it.
“I have a business background but having someone walk through my forward-looking financials and cash flow with me helped me feel confident that we were making the right decisions,” Mary shares. “Other lenders don’t offer that kind of support.”

Scaling Through Community and ConnectionInstead of relying on traditional farmers markets, Mary grew Lola Snacks by building local retail relationships and participating in health-focused community events. “ShopRite loves working with local, women-owned businesses. It’s all about knowing your product, following up, and showing up—again and again.”

Lola Snacks also invests in digital marketing, community outreach, and in-store demos. “We’re in a digital age, but nothing replaces showing up and knowing your customer,” Mary says.

Mary’s Advice for Other Entrepreneurs
• Know your business model. What works, what doesn’t, and why?
• Turn setbacks into new paths. Don’t let a “no” stop you—use it to adjust your approach.
• Follow up, follow through. Whether it’s a small deli or a large retailer, persistence is key.
• Use every tool available. “TA from CCNY helped me build real, usable forecasts. That’s what investors and retailers want to see.”

Watch Mary tell her story here

What’s Next for Lola Snacks?
With CCNY’s continued support, Mary is preparing to launch in ShopRite stores by March 2025, backed by a new packaging system and a streamlined production model. Her goal? To make gut health accessible, one snack at a time.
“CCNY believed in me from the beginning. Their support helped turn Lola Snacks from an idea into a company that’s truly helping people—starting with my own family.”