FRANK & EILEEN: You were a corporate consultant before switching lanes to found Sun & Swell, your incredible zero-waste health foods company. What inspired your drastic career change and brave transition to entrepreneur and founder?

KATE: As a consultant in the food industry, I was always at the office or on the road and consistently found myself looking for simple, healthy, sustainable snacks to fuel me throughout the day—but I could never find any. The majority of snack foods on the market are made with artificial ingredients that are bad for our health and then packaged in single-use plastic packaging that will sit around this earth for hundreds of years. I was determined to change this. Our mission at Sun & Swell is to build a more circular food system, one in which you can snack on delicious foods while leaving no waste behind.

Kate is photographed wearing Mary Famous Denim in our Vintage Stonewashed Indigo wash.
FRANK & EILEEN: You were a corporate consultant before switching lanes to found Sun & Swell, your incredible zero-waste health foods company. What inspired your drastic career change and brave transition to entrepreneur and founder?

KATE: As a consultant in the food industry, I was always at the office or on the road and consistently found myself looking for simple, healthy, sustainable snacks to fuel me throughout the day—but I could never find any. The majority of snack foods on the market are made with artificial ingredients that are bad for our health and then packaged in single-use plastic packaging that will sit around this earth for hundreds of years. I was determined to change this. Our mission at Sun & Swell is to build a more circular food system, one in which you can snack on delicious foods while leaving no waste behind.

Kate is photographed wearing Mary Famous Denim in our Vintage Stonewashed Indigo wash.
F&E: Does your work influence your clothing choices? What are your go-to pieces?

KATE: Yes! As a founder of B Corp, that's women-owned and focused on sustainability, I look for clothing brands that align with these values. My core wardrobe includes high-quality staples that are timeless, sophisticated, and comfortable. Some of my favorite pieces are the Malibu Travel Set for a more casual look and really any F&E dresses for going to the office.

Kate is photographed wearing Rory Famous Denim in White.
F&E: Does your work influence your clothing choices? What are your go-to pieces?

KATE: Yes! As a founder of B Corp, that's women-owned and focused on sustainability, I look for clothing brands that align with these values. My core wardrobe includes high-quality staples that are timeless, sophisticated, and comfortable. Some of my favorite pieces are the Malibu Travel Set for a more casual look and really any F&E dresses for going to the office.

Kate is photographed wearing Rory Famous Denim in White.
F&E: Sun & Swell is renowned for its commitment to sustainability, compostable packaging, and, ultimately, making better decisions for our planet. How integral do you think these responsible brand decisions will be to the future of your business?

KATE: These commitments will keep our business growing. I made the decision to build a brand with these values because it’s what my heart told me to do, but it’s also what consumers are looking for these days. They're voting with their dollars and choosing support companies that are using their business as a force for good.

Kate is photographed wearing Rory Famous Denim in White.
F&E: Sun & Swell is renowned for its commitment to sustainability, compostable packaging, and, ultimately, making better decisions for our planet. How integral do you think these responsible brand decisions will be to the future of your business?

KATE: These commitments will keep our business growing. I made the decision to build a brand with these values because it’s what my heart told me to do, but it’s also what consumers are looking for these days. They're voting with their dollars and choosing support companies that are using their business as a force for good.

Kate is photographed wearing Rory Famous Denim in White.

Thanks for cozying up for 'a cuppa with' Kate!

For plant-based snacking that's as delicious as it is eco-friendly:

sunandswellfoods.com
@sunandswellfoods

MORE 'A CUPPA WITH'

JOHANNA VENTE & FIONA BURR

Co-Founders of Saffron + Poe, Interior Designers

"For us, having a very compatible friendship and a strong partnership was key. It is so helpful to have someone as invested in the business as you are to bounce ideas, divide and conquer with."

READ MORE

ELLEN MARIE BENNETT

Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Hedley & Bennett

"To get something started, you have to use your imagination, but for a business to really evolve, you also need to rely on facts and data to support the work."

READ MORE

CRISTINA PALOMO NELSON & MEGAN PAPAY

"We met while working on the design team for another footwear company and would often travel to Italy together for work, spending long dinners with (too much) wine, dreaming of FRĒDA."

READ MORE