15 Mar How Liat Segal created Yami Fresh and turned it into a successful Chicago business
March is Women’s History Month, so there is no better time than now to highlight Yami Fresh’s fearless, trailblazing leader, Liat Segal. What started out of necessity for a hardworking mom of two supporting her family eventually turned into a thriving certified women owned business. Since its inception, Yami Fresh has helped Chicago offices stock their micro-markets and vending machines with fresh food, snacks, and beverages. It has come incredibly far as a business, but with Liat Segal at the head, we know it’s just the beginning. Here is the story of how Yami Fresh became what it is today.
Liat Segal and the start of Yami Fresh
In 2007, Liat was working for a mortgage company in Chicago, and that same year, the subprime mortgage crisis hit the U.S. In 2008, the company she’d been working for closed its doors — at the time she was pregnant with her second child. This was a pivotal time for Liat, as the need for a steady income became clear.
Cue the lightbulb moment: buy a couple of vending machines! She did as much research as she could and spent many early mornings learning about the ins and outs of the industry and operating vending services. She then placed the two machines at her husband’s moving company…and the rest is history!
Yami Fresh’s journey and growth in Chicago
Fast forward a couple of years and Liat and her husband, who were solely operating the business together, saved up to buy more machines. Eventually, the duo was able to buy a small van and truck for deliveries. Their first official route was created!
“‘Blood, sweat and tears’ was an understatement of the relentless hours that I spent daily on cold calls as well as door-to-door calls, trying to persuade clients to trust a new small company in the market,” Liat remembers. Fortunately, her hard work and diligence paid off. In 2015, Yami Fresh’s revenue quadrupled. Much of this is due to our commitment to hands-on customer service. Providing high-quality break room solutions and refreshment services is at the forefront of everything we do, and it always will be!
Yami Fresh today
Today, Yami Fresh operates hundreds of fresh food, snack and beverage vending machines. We also offer micro-market, office coffee, and cashless pantry services to Chicago businesses. With extensive training in stocking, maintaining, cleaning, and servicing, route drivers are able to provide the most customer-centric service possible. Yami Fresh is focused on being technology-forward and only uses the latest vending management software (including energy-efficient and National Automatic Merchandising Association-compliant equipment). This is how we plan to continue to move forward while keeping food safety with EPA and FDA guidelines top of mind.
Liat will continue to strategically grow the business while focusing on the Yami Fresh mission: To deliver best-in-class refreshment solutions that inspire a better break room experience for our customers.
Support women-owned businesses with Yami Fresh!
Upgrade your Chicagoland break room and help grow a women-owned business while you’re at it. Contact Yami Fresh at 847.423.2448 or info@yamifresh.com for more information about our break room solutions. We offer micro-markets, office coffee, cashless pantry, vending services, and more. We look forward to working with you!
