Turning a Passion for Food into a Riviera Business: The Story Behind a Homemade Granola Brand - Ariana Shahbazi

When Ariana moved back to the French Riviera in 2020, she knew one thing for certain: she was ready to leave her corporate marketing career behind. What she didn’t know was what would come next.

In this inspiring episode, Ariana shares how an unexpected conversation at a local market pushed her to explore a completely different path; one that led from colourful hummus to the artisanal granola business she runs today.

As a French Canadian, Arianna arrived fluent in French but eager for a fresh start. After years in Dubai working in HR marketing and questioning whether office life truly suited her, she reached a point where she simply couldn’t return to the corporate world. Instead, she gave herself permission to explore her passions: food, wellness, creativity, and see where they might lead.

Her journey into entrepreneurship was anything but planned. It grew one small decision at a time: signing up for micro-entrepreneur training, trying her first market stall, navigating French hygiene regulations, and eventually discovering that her homemade granola, once “just a family favourite”, was the product people truly wanted.

Ariana’s story is about reinvention, cultural integration, overcoming imposter syndrome, and learning to trust the process. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful chapters begin with a single conversation and a willingness to try.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a small food business in France, shift careers mid-life, or rediscover yourself in a new country, this episode will speak straight to your heart.Living the Dream: French Riviera Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France.https://livingthedreampodcast.com