Key Points:
- Nicole Bernard Dawes built Late July into a $100M organic snack brand.
- She launched Nixie, a zero-sugar, eco-friendly soda, in 11,000+ stores.
- Focuses on health, sustainability, and profitable innovation.
Entrepreneur Nicole Bernard Dawes, daughter of Cape Cod Chips founder Steve Bernard, has built two successful brands—Late July and Nixie—transforming the healthy snack and beverage industries.
After helping restore her family’s iconic snack company, Dawes launched Late July in 2003, an organic tortilla chip brand that evolved into a $100 million business before being acquired by Campbell’s. Her second venture, Nixie, a zero-sugar, sustainably packaged soda line, has quickly expanded across major grocery chains and attracted strong investor interest.
From Family Legacy to Independent Growth
Nicole Bernard Dawes began her career in food consulting before returning to her family’s business. In 1996, when her father repurchased Cape Cod Chips from Anheuser-Busch, Dawes joined as director of marketing. The company was struggling at the time, having lost much of its manufacturing and retail partnerships after divestment. Dawes focused on rebuilding consumer trust and brand recognition through innovative marketing and product development.
Her work led to the launch of reduced-fat chips, which became one of the brand’s top-selling products. Four years later, Cape Cod Chips regained its strong market position, and her father sold the company once again. The experience taught Dawes the challenges of scaling a national food brand and inspired her to start her own business focused on health and sustainability.
In 2003, she founded Late July Snacks, a certified organic and non-GMO tortilla chip company. Operating initially from her kitchen, Nicole Bernard Dawes emphasized simple ingredients and eco-friendly packaging. The brand resonated with consumers seeking healthier alternatives to traditional chips and expanded distribution to major retailers, including Whole Foods, Target, Kroger, and Walmart.
By 2014, Late July had become a multimillion-dollar success, leading to Campbell’s acquiring a majority stake. The company’s complete acquisition in 2017 marked a major milestone for Dawes, who had turned a small, mission-driven startup into a household name.
Building a Healthier Beverage Market
Following her success in the snack industry, Nicole Bernard Dawes turned her attention to beverages, an area she believed had room for innovation. Walking through grocery aisles, she noticed that while food options had evolved toward healthier ingredients, the beverage shelves were still dominated by high-sugar sodas.
In response, Dawes launched Nixie in 2019, a zero-sugar, naturally flavored soda brand packaged in recyclable aluminum cans. The brand’s focus on clean ingredients, refreshing taste, and environmental responsibility positioned it strongly within the growing market for healthy beverages.
Nixie offers flavors such as cola, ginger ale, and root beer—classics reimagined with organic ingredients and no artificial sweeteners. The company has already raised $27 million in funding and is distributed in more than 11,000 U.S. retailers, including Sprouts, Safeway, and Ralph’s. Online platforms like Amazon and Instacart also stock the brand, helping Nixie reach a broader consumer base.
Dawes describes her career as an ongoing effort to “fix broken parts of the food business.” Through Late July and Nixie, she has championed transparency, health, and sustainability while proving that profitability and purpose can go hand in hand.
Her entrepreneurial journey demonstrates how family legacy can inspire independent innovation. By combining business expertise with a deep understanding of consumer trends, Nicole Bernard Dawes continues to shape the future of the food and beverage industry—one healthy product at a time.
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