Seventeen years. It still feels wild to write that number. What started as a tiny dream in a farmers’ market has turned into a journey filled with joy, heartbreak, laughter, exhaustion, purpose — and most of all, gratitude.
Soupergirl has always been about more than soup. It’s been about people: the team members who’ve poured their hearts into our work, the customers who’ve rooted for us from day one, the farm workers and growers who make every ingredient possible, and the entire community across our supply chain that has allowed this little idea to keep simmering and growing for SEVENTEEN YEARS!
As I reflect on 17 years of building, learning, stumbling, and getting back up again, these are the lessons that have stuck with me. Nothing fancy. Nothing earth-shattering. Just the truths that have carried me — and Soupergirl — forward.
17 Lessons in 17 Years
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The next big thing is never as big as you think and will not solve everything. You have to plan for the long term.
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Your team can make or break you. Cherish them. You are nothing without them.
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Also, your customers can make or break your business. Cherish them. Care for them. And never forget to express gratitude for them.
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My mother is always, always, always right. How did she get so wise?
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When all else fails, trust your gut.
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You will never get through your to-do list. That’s ok! I still have items on my to-do list from 2008!!
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While there’s a lot of noise out there that might try to convince you otherwise, people are good. Don’t let the tiny percentage of negative drown out the good.
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No matter what it is and how hopeless it feels, THIS TOO SHALL PASS.
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Every day above ground is a great day.
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Sometimes it really will be better in the morning. A good night of sleep can help bring everything into balance.
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Regret is a waste of time and energy.
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A good sense of gratitude makes every day better.
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Don’t be afraid to ask for help. And whenever possible, pay it forward over and over again.
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Working around the clock, 7 days a week, is not healthy for you or your team. Vacations are necessary for success. And joy!
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Don’t be afraid to cry in the walk-in cooler. Everyone does it! Crying is therapeutic.
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Soup truly is the greatest food.
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I love Soupergirl with my entire heart and soul. No regrets. Profound gratitude for every tear — from laughter or from sadness and fear, every sleepless night, every celebration, every moment of despair, every customer, every teammate — all of it.
A Souper Thank You
If there’s one thread running through all 17 lessons, it’s this: gratitude.
Seventeen years of Soupergirl has only been possible because of the incredible people who have supported us — from the customers who choose our food, to the teammates who pour love into every batch, to the partners and farmers who share our values, and to the community that continues to cheer us on.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Thank you for believing in real food, good food, just food. Thank you for letting us nourish you, season after season.
Here’s to whatever the next chapter brings — challenges, growth, laughter, and of course… soup. Always soup.
P.S. If you haven't seen our 17 years reel on social media, you have to check it out.
Sara Polon (Soupergirl), Co-Founder and CEO, has the attention span of a gnat. Therefore, her post-college career path took many meandering twists and turns including working at an Internet start up, leading tours through the Middle East, and several years as a stand-up comic in New York.
In 2008, after reading Michael Pollan's book, The Omnivore's Dilemma, she founded Soupergirl along with her mom, Marilyn Polon. Sara is passionate about upending the industrialization of our food system. She believes deeply that consumers can make food choices that better themselves as well as the world. She drinks an average of five cups of coffee a day - usually black. In her spare time she enjoys biking, hiking, hanging out with her nieces, and drinking even more coffee.