BeanVivo × Asymmetric — Black Bean Purchase Finalization & Amazon Strategy Discussion
Overview
Meeting between BeanVivo (Aldo Gonzalez, Gabriela) and Asymmetric (Mark Hope) covering two primary topics: finalizing the procurement structure for ROC Tested Clean black beans via BeanVivo's co-packer Valley Food System, and exploring a potential engagement for Asymmetric to manage BeanVivo's Amazon growth strategy.
Date: Late January (production run targeted week of March 16)
Attendees:
- Aldo Gonzalez — BeanVivo (aldo@beanvivo.com)
- Gabriela — BeanVivo (gabriela@beanvivo.com)
- Mark Hope — Asymmetric (mark.hope@asymmetric.pro)
Key Decisions
1. Valley Food System Takes Over Bean Procurement
BeanVivo's co-packer, Valley Food System (VFS), will purchase ROC black beans directly from Asymmetric rather than BeanVivo purchasing them independently. VFS will handle payments, order placement, and truckload pickup coordination. Justin (VFS Procurement) is the designated point of contact.
"Our co-packer has decided that they prefer doing the entire sourcing… they're going to be placing the orders directly, and they will be the ones coordinating the pickup for the truckloads." — Aldo Gonzalez
2. Pricing Held Firm at $1.10/lb
The $1.10/lb price for ROC black beans is non-negotiable. Asymmetric's COGS (growing, cleaning, packaging) is $1.00/lb, leaving only a $0.10/lb margin. No volume discount is available even at 60,000–80,000 lb order quantities.
3. Initial Order: ~60,000 lbs for Mid-March Production Run
VFS will place the first order before early March to support a production run the week of March 16. Beans are already cleaned and in inventory — lead time is effectively immediate upon order placement.
4. Amazon Strategy Meeting Scheduled for February
Mark Hope presented Asymmetric's Amazon management capabilities and track record. BeanVivo agreed to schedule a dedicated Amazon strategy call in February to explore a formal engagement.
Topic Detail
New Procurement Structure — Valley Food System
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Buyer | Valley Food System (VFS) |
| VFS Contact | Justin (Procurement) |
| VFS Location | Ohio |
| Onboarding Required | Credit application + setup forms from Asymmetric |
| Payment Responsibility | VFS |
| Logistics | VFS coordinates truckload pickups |
VFS had not yet contacted Asymmetric as of this meeting. Gabriela committed to sending a formal email introduction connecting Mark Hope and Justin immediately after the call.
ROC Black Bean Order Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Product | ROC Tested Clean Black Beans |
| Initial Quantity | ~60,000 lbs (potentially up to 80,000 lbs) |
| Price | $1.10/lb (firm) |
| Asymmetric COGS | $1.00/lb |
| Margin | $0.10/lb |
| Inventory Status | In stock; no lead time constraint |
| Production Run | Week of March 16 |
| Order Deadline | Early March |
Mark noted a large harvest and does not anticipate supply constraints, but committed to confirming exact inventory figures.
Additional ROC Varieties Available
Asymmetric also carries the following ROC-certified varieties (shared for future product development discussions with Sprouts/Whole Foods):
- Pinto Beans
- Dark Red Kidney Beans
- Small Red Beans
- Canary Beans (yellow)
- Navy Beans
- Canola Beans (distinct species; resembles cannellini)
- Cranberry Beans (speckled red)
Asymmetric also has non-ROC organic beans available at a better price point, suitable for BeanVivo products that don't require ROC certification.
Amazon Growth Opportunity
Asymmetric's Track Record with Doodla Farms:
- Grew Amazon sales from $1,500/month → $126,000/month in 18 months
- ~1,500 bags of popcorn sold per variety per month
- ~$2,000/day in profit; $5,100 in sales on the day of this meeting
- High organic sales ratio achieved by using ad campaigns to build momentum, then reducing ad dependency as repeat buyers return organically
BeanVivo's Current Amazon Performance:
- ~756 units sold in the last 30 days
- ~$19,000 in 30-day sales (across SKUs)
- Currently using overseas contractors (Middle East-based) for Amazon operations at low cost
Asymmetric's Full-Service Amazon Package includes:
- Sourcing and packaging management
- Warehousing and inventory management
- Predictive analytics for inventory levels (API-connected to Amazon)
- Shipment creation and label generation
- Amazon advertising management
Pricing Models Offered:
| Model | Structure |
|---|---|
| Retainer | Fixed monthly fee; higher upfront but cost-effective at scale |
| Commission | Percentage of sales only; lower risk but expensive at high volume |
| Hybrid | Smaller retainer + smaller performance fee |
"When I offered to do everything for Doodla Farms for $5,000 a month… we did a deal where they gave me a lower retainer, but a percentage, and now I'm taking a huge amount from them every month. I told them, you'd have been better off if you'd done the retainer." — Mark Hope
Action Items
- [ ] Gabriela — Email introduction connecting Mark Hope ↔ Justin (Valley Food System); cc Mark on the thread
- [ ] Mark Hope — Confirm exact ROC black bean inventory count; report back to Aldo/Gabriela
- [ ] Gabriela — Compile full ROC variety list (Pinto, Dark Red Kidney, Small Red, Canary, Navy, Canola, Cranberry) and share with Aldo/Gabriela for retailer discussions
- [ ] Aldo — Schedule dedicated Amazon strategy call with Mark Hope in February
- [ ] Aldo — Call Gabriela post-meeting to discuss Valley Food System intro logistics and potential additional volume via Jaina
- [ ] Aldo + Gabriela — Decide internal ownership for the Amazon project before the February strategy call
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