Meet Andres Melendez | Director of Operations at CUJI LLC

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

Hi Andres, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Daniella, Andres, and Ricardo are the founders of CUJÍ Foods, a marketplace of South American specialty items located in Boulder, CO.

While doing her Master’s in Engineering Management at CU Boulder, Daniella had an assignment to develop a business model as part of the Entrepreneurship for Engineers class. With the help of her husband Andres and his brother Ricardo, they considered multiple business ideas. Finally, they concluded the concept with the best potential was to solve an issue they had since they moved to Boulder back in 2016. Where can we find our traditional food products?

Colorado has and strong, proud, vibrant Hispanic community. Still, besides the well-known Hispanic markets that mostly carry products from Mexico and Central America, there are no reliable options when you look for products from South America, the Caribbean, and even Spain and Portugal. We are talking about products from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela, to name a few. Believe it or not, the communities from these countries in Colorado are bigger than you think, you probably know more than one person from these countries, and if you do, you know how much they love and miss their food.

With the three working together as a team, it did not take long for the project that began as a class assignment to become a real business opportunity. It evolved into “CUJÍ,” a family business idea they had when they all lived in Venezuela.

What should our readers know about your business?
What is CUJÍ?

Cují is a common tree variant in Carora, our hometown in Venezuela. It’s a tree that grows in semi-arid regions, typically in inclement conditions, high temperatures all year long, and without much water. Therefore, it provides shade and freshness. Usually, the Cují trees and their shade become a meeting point for people to get together while taking a break from the heat. It becomes part of the community, a point of reference, and a part of people’s daily lives.

As our likeness to the Cují tree, we want to become a meeting spot for the community, a place for people that love food and engage with new cultures. Our company aims to become a melting pot of nationalities by developing a sense of community around traditional cuisine and fantastic service.

Ultimately, CUJÍ seeks to become the first stop for purchasing Hispanic food products in Colorado and eventually expand further to encompass North America.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
At CUJI, we love Boulder, so that will be our focus.

Boulder MUSTS (family-friendly plans): Visit Pearl St Mall and take your time and explore the unique stores, watch the street performers, and grab something to eat. The CU main campus is beautiful; add a stop at the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History if you are with kids. Visit the public library and enjoy the Boulder Creek; if you feel like walking, take the Boulder Creek path to the Scott Carpenter Park.

Hiking favorites: Mount Sanitas, Eldorado Canyon, and of course Chautauqua and the Flatirons.

Food, our passion: Rincon Argentino wins our soft spot, EMPANADAS!!! Other restaurants we love are The Corner Bar, Rosetta Hall, Pizzeria Locale, Sushi Zanmai, and Roadhouse Boulder Depot. Then, of course, Frasca and Corrida for special occasions.

Drinks: Sanitas Brewing Co, The Rayback Collective, Liquid Mechanic Brewing Company, Mountain Sun Pub, The Bohemian Biergarten, the Dark Horse.

Events you should visit or participate in: Bolder Boulder, Boulder Farmers Market, Taco Fest, Tulip Fairy and Elf Festival.

Stores you must visit: Into the Wind, Peppercorn, Boulder Bookstore, and CUJI Foods.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
CUJI was born inside a CU classroom, so a big shoutout to the University of Colorado Boulder. CUJI will always be a proud Buff.

Thanks to Dr. John Thomas, Professor of Entrepreneurship for Engineers Class at CU. For being an excellent mentor and guide throughout the development of this project.

Jashan Chopra, thanks for your friendship, contribution, and support throughout the business plan development.

Juan VanderDyz for his support from day one, being a client, friend, and our best promotor.

Orlando Luces, for being the creative mind behind CUJI. He is our exceptional marketing and social media specialist.

To our family, Lilly, Joaco, Roro, Ale, and Santi, you are the reason and motivation for CUJI.

Finally, Thanks to the city of Boulder. It is easier to succeed with a community like this behind you.

Website: www.cujifoods.com

Instagram: @cujifoods

Facebook: CujiFoods

Other: Email: info@cujifoods.com Address: 3340 Arapahoe Ave, Bouder, CO. 80303 Phone: (720) 325-7361

Image Credits
Andres Melendez