Not sure if he was in a position for that. It's not like tech where you can just start coding in your bedroom after work. Psychical products are header and then health permits and stuff. Unless maybe he did it at events and trade shows small scale, but by time he could scale up to be in retail he'd probably be copied anyways if trying to bootstrap. Unless he could seek investments but I guess that depends on who you know. So many business ideas die in the parking lot of a bank.

I watch Shark Tank from time to time and it seems like retail and food is one of the hardest things to get into. slotting fees and can be really low margin too.

So maybe he could of went off on his own and done it, but part of me feels like that's a all or nothing bet. I know personally starting a food brand all by myself is not something I'd even try since it seems like a losing game to me and other businesses would be more suited for me to go after.