Built the website and Facebook page, and led marketing and advertising for Wild & Hearty — a plant-based smoothie, juice, and acai bowl bar in Ridgewood, NJ — from launch until its closure during COVID.
Wild & Hearty was a plant-based smoothie, juice, and açaí bowl bar in Ridgewood, New Jersey — a genuinely ambitious concept in the better-for-you food space. Every item on the menu was made to order, on-site, and 100% all natural: no fillers, no preservatives, no added sugars. The full menu covered açaí bowls, chia bowls, oatmeal bowls, wellness shots, fruit smoothies, protein shakes, fresh juices, and specialty toasts — with options that were organic, vegan, vegetarian, kosher, halal, keto, and gluten-free. They also offered mobile ordering and local delivery.
I was involved from the beginning — building the website and Facebook page, and leading the marketing and advertising work that helped establish the brand in the community, until its closure during COVID.
The Challenge
Wild & Hearty entered a competitive better-for-you food market in suburban New Jersey with an ambitious menu and a premium positioning built around freshness and transparency. The challenge was establishing brand credibility and building a local customer base for a concept that required educating customers about its offering — açaí bowls, wellness shots, and farm-to-table sourcing weren't yet mainstream in Ridgewood — while competing against established fast food and casual dining options.
The Approach
I approached this as a community-first marketing engagement. The brand's strength was its values — fresh, transparent, inclusive across dietary needs — and the marketing had to lead with that authentically rather than chasing trends. Building the Facebook page as a genuine community touchpoint, running advertising targeted to the local Ridgewood audience, and keeping the brand voice consistent across web and social were the core pillars.
The Solution
Built the Wild & Hearty website from scratch, establishing the brand's full online presence including menu, brand story, and ordering information. Built and managed the Facebook page, creating the brand's primary social media presence and community hub. Led marketing and advertising — developing and executing campaigns to build local awareness, drive foot traffic, and support the mobile ordering and delivery offering. Maintained consistent brand voice and messaging across all digital touchpoints throughout the life of the business.
The Results
Wild & Hearty built a loyal Ridgewood customer base and earned a 4.4-star Google rating with 76 reviews — strong performance for an independent food concept. The digital presence and marketing work contributed directly to the brand recognition and community following the restaurant established. The business closed during COVID, a casualty of the pandemic rather than a reflection of the brand's quality or community standing.