Meet Lars Oltmanns | Food & Beverage Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lars Oltmanns and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lars, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
UP TO GOOD Superfruit Pops are a healthy alternative to sugary sodas. They are low in calories and low in sugars, contain a mindful amount of clean caffeine and are loaded with antioxidants. Our hero ingredient is Cascara (aka coffee fruit). Many people sipping their cup of joe right now, might not have even considered where the it all comes from. In case this is you, here’s what you need to know: Surrounding the coffee bean is a fruit and to me it is the better part of the coffee cherry. In traditional coffee farming the beans are harvested for roasting, but the coffee fruit is discarded once it is separated from the beans. That means billions of pounds are wasted globally every year! This not only contributes to food waste, but negatively impacts the environment by allowing mountains of coffee fruit to decay on landfills and potentially poison water sources. UP TO GOOD partners with small coffee farmers in Central America who practice sustainable agriculture. They source Cascara for our beverage. This adds incremental income to coffee farmers, but also helps to make good use of an otherwise discarded raw material. The key term is “upcycling” … the creative process of transforming by-products or waste materials into new products with environmental value. I think upcycling is the new recycling. UP TO GOOD upcycles coffee fruits to reduce food waste, decrease water usage on farms and increase income for farmers. And the consumer gets a “mood booster” soda that is better-for-you and the planet.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The first two decades of my career in the food & beverage industry were spent climbing the corporate ladder and growing into executive roles. I managed brands and product lines both in Europe and the United States. I became passionate about discovering new brands as I enjoyed finding the next product to hit consumers’ taste buds! After a while, I started to look for a new challenge that was more aligned with my personal values. I began the journey of developing a “better-for-you” beverage that also makes an environmental impact. With my young son as motivation, I wanted to leave a legacy of sustainability. The brand UP TO GOOD was born.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love to expose myself to new things, places and people, but I’m also a homebody, when I really need to find relaxation and “me-time”. I created a little spa oasis in my backyard with an outdoor sauna, cold plunge, shower, fire pit and music. It is the ideal environment to catch up with a friend, tell stories and exchange the latest news of both our lives. But Atlanta also has great places to visit that we should not miss. Adventuring the nature around metro ATL or soaking up the vibes of the different neighborhoods is something I like to share with my friends.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My wife Rebecca (a painter and artist) shares my passion of creating new things. Without her fullest support to go after my dreams I most likely would not have gone the entrepreneurial path.

Website: www.uptogoodenergy.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uptogoodenergy/