Adam Torres and Bruce Cardenas discuss the Monetize Talks.
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Show Notes:
Listen to the Monetize Talks coverage. In this episode, Adam Torres interviews Bruce Cardenas, Brand Champion at Legendary Foods, explore Legendary Foods and the Monetize Talks event.
Watch Full Interview:
About Bruce Cardenas
Quest Nutrition / Former Chief Communications Officer
Bruce met the owners of Quest in 2010 and haven’t looked back since. Whether his at bodybuilding, CrossFit or entertainment events, or even if it’s just through engaging with different communities, it’s Bruce’s mission to share Quest’s products, message and lifestyle with as many people as he can.
Through the incredible amount of hard work, passion and dedication the team at Quest has put in, they’ve become one of the fastest growing sports nutrition companies in the world. In just five short years, Quest has expanded to almost 90 countries and is the number one selling protein bar of its kind. They’re in every GNC and Vitamin Shoppe around the world, Walmart’s, thousands of 7-Elevens, and most grocery stores in the United States, and they got there because their team has believed in this brand since day one.
Bruce always thought of Quest as more than just a protein bar company, and he know that developing long-lasting relationships is key to any successful business. It’s been his natural entrepreneurial ambition, combined with Bruce love for connecting communities through meaningful relationships, that has solidified his place with the Quest family. They were instrumental in bringing Quest to market with a billion dollar cash sale November 2019
Originally from Somerville, New Jersey, Bruce joined the United States Marine Corps following high school. During that time, Bruce experienced several classified assessments, excelled on the powerlifting team and earned Bruce’s college degree. Following his time with the Marines, he pursued his lifelong dream of joining the Los Angeles Police Department, where he still continue to serve as a reserve deputy. While with the LAPD, he worked hard to launch a prominent global executive protection business that serviced major A-list artists, actors and CEOs, all the while serving as the Executive Vice President of the largest private chauffeured service in the United States.
Currently a brand builder and consultant for several companies
Full Unedited Transcript
 Hey, I’d like to welcome you to another episode of mission matters. My name is Adam Torres, and if you’d like to apply to be a guest in the show, just head on over to mission matters. com and click on be our guest to apply. All right. So today I am in Beverly Hills, California at monetized talks. This is the 13th edition hosted by David Rivero.
And let me tell you, we got, we got one of my favorite interviewees today, Bruce Cardenas and my man, Bruce. Pleasure. Thank you very much. All right, man. It’s great to catch up with you for the audience that maybe haven’t caught some of our previous work. Bruce is currently representing legendary. And if you look for those that are watching the YouTube channel, you can see what I’m holding up this amazing legendary, legendary, legendary.
Protein pastry is what I call it, but it’s just delicious. For those at home that are those that are in the car, when you get home, Google legendary protein, Google legendary, and you’re going to have some fun. So Bruce, man, how have you been? What’s been going on in your world? I’ve been well other than I had my tricep prepared.
I missed David’s last event. David hosts some of the best events in LA. Yeah. I love his events. What do you love about monetized talks? Like this is a unique gathering in my opinion. I think because he, he has so many walks of life come here, right? Entrepreneurs, people that want to become entrepreneurs, employees that want to know what it means to maybe start a side hustle.
Yeah. So, and he’s there. I mean, where else are you getting? A lot of people charge money for this, right? Yeah. Five, five keynote speakers. They all bring knowledge. They all hang out at the end and they all share. David’s biggest thing, which I love about him is I want you all to connect with other people, exchange numbers, exchange business cards, and he doesn’t ask for anything.
That’s what’s unique about David’s. It’s not like you’re buying something for 29. 95. For sure, yep. You’re expecting the upsell to come because you had so much fun. They’re like, wait a minute. I get to like leave with my like teeth intact. And he says, and what legendary food you leave with. And then he invites you back the next month.
There’s always new speakers. Yeah. It’s one of the best events in town. Yeah. Legendary for the audience that maybe haven’t tried them or don’t know about it. Like, like talk to me. We were very fortunate. I was on the original team at quest nutrition. We sold that and we call legendary quest 2. 0. We figured out all our mistakes and now we have protein pastries.
A lot of people refer to them as pop tarts, but we can’t. Yeah. Protein pastry, sweet rolls, like a Cinnabon. And then we have chips out and the next quarter of next year, we’re coming out with some sick things. I just, I tell people picture going into a seven 11. All the things you want to buy. Yeah. You’re going to be able to do that, but it’s all going to be protein based.
What do you think are some of the reasons that legendary has been so successful? Cause the traction in the market, like, and for everybody that’s watching this, like I knew about legendary before I met Bruce, before I knew Bruce, I was at target. I’m walking down the aisles. I’m like, Oh, this looks different.
Like, what is this? I got hooked on. I think the chips at first, like that light, Crisp chip. It was like a big bag and I’m like, Oh, this looks delicious. I started with the chips and I moved on to the pastries. And then I’m like, what? Then I meet Bruce randomly at an event. And I’m like, wait, you’re the legendary guy.
So like, what, what do you attribute that to? I think once you have a formula, we, we learned at quest, you know, everyone loves high protein, gluten free, low carb, and we just replicate it. But I think more relatable foods. If you’ve grown up in America, you’ve had a Kellogg’s Pop Tart. Oh yeah. So I tell people now, imagine a Pop Tart with 20 grams of protein and healthy for you.
Yeah. So it’s a relatable, I think our, I think legendary is more relatable to people. Everyone, everyone’s had a Cinnabon in the airport or they want it to. Yeah. So that’s, that’s what we’re trying to appeal to the everyday people. And people always try and like well, what’s your demographic what’s your archetype to me?
I use this term six years old is 60 years old Everyone enjoys a healthier version. Oh, I forgot about the cinna like cinnamon roll. Oh, they’re delicious And here’s the thing everyone Never. No one gets enough protein. And there’s no, there’s no explanation. I’ve had moms writing, Hey, my five year old had it warmed up for breakfast.
My grandmother had it as a snack before going to bed. I mean, it’s, it’s a, it’s a universal language. We all get a sweet tooth. I mean, and you don’t have to feel guilty about eating it. Like it’s not just all sugar. It’s not just like, so talk to us a little bit about that. Like it’s actually healthy for you.
Yeah, I mean, listen, 20 grams of protein, no added sugar, gluten free. I mean, we have the celiac community that loves us. We have people that write us that have diabetes. They say my blood sugar didn’t spike by eating. So there’s a lot of people. I say this, you know, we’ve become, we’ve gone from being a protein bar company to a mission based company.
When you, once you start changing people’s lives and their eating habits and their health habits, You’re way more than a protein bar company. Yeah, talk to me about some of the I know Maybe you can’t tell me the updates of exactly what’s coming on 2025 But high level like talk to me about some of the vision for what’s next for the company.
Like I said We I want to paint a picture super bowl is coming up. Ooh, people are gonna go to a super bowl party. It’s me bruce You know, there’s doritos and there’s oreos and there’s nachos All I’m going to say is eventually there’ll be a legendary table with similar products, maybe Oreos. And at the end of the day, people, people want to eat, you know, and not feel guilty.
Yeah. And we’ll have, so we’re going to have things that are good, by the way, we’re gonna have things you’re gonna blow your mind. Yeah. Yeah. Well, my mind’s already been blown. So, you know, I’m game. I’m like, man, why? And, and, and thank you. By the way, you’ve legendary has been very gracious and sponsoring many of our events and many of the conferences we’ve been to, like we come in and we got our coffee and then I’m like, Oh, wow.
Like, cause I feel like even the brand, like I always felt. I don’t know why these were bad, but we didn’t have an alternative of another type product to have for a normal breakfast food that would be good, that we could feel good about giving people. So now when I think about our conferences, you know, there’s hundreds of people there and they’re getting their coffee and then they grab a legendary like cinnamon roll or a pop tart or, or, or, excuse me, the little pastry tart kind of feel like they get to like, you know, and so I think as a company, I can tell you myself and shrug and talk to him like, man, this is awesome.
Like we could feel good about what we’re serving. Exactly. And I tell people, if you have a consumable item and it’s good for you, get it out in people’s hands, go out and bring it to events, bring it to people, get it out there. Yeah. You’re, you’re everywhere, by the way. I see you, man. You’re working. Yeah, I’m off to Vegas Saturday for a couple of events.
Yeah. Oh, man. Are you going for 8 to 8 for him? So that one or are you going to another? There’s so many different ones. I think it might be one of those. There’s like another one. My friend Glenn Sparks is launching his gaming company. Oh. And the launch party is Saturday night. Oh man, I’m going to be out.
I’m heading to Vegas right after this. Literally, I’ll be there at the Sahara by 8am tomorrow morning. For one day? Yeah, no, I’m going to be there all the way up until Monday. Oh, wow. I’m not leaving till Monday, man. I’ll text you. Maybe you can come by the party. Man, I’m in. This is a, then this is, this is the way it happens when you talk about, hold on.
So that’s real time what happens at one of David’s events. That’s, that’s the proof is in the pudding right there. Like that’s real time. This is the kind of place where you can meet someone and say, I want to start a mortgage brokerage company, but I don’t know how. And you’re talking to the guy next door who can mentor you or a cookie company or a drink company.
And, and the cool thing is David, it’s free. Or you’re going to Vegas. Maybe you’ll come to the party we’re hosting. It’s just, it’s all about listening at the end of the day. And I almost wish I figured it out long ago. I know I’ve always mastered relationships, but relationships, relationships. That’s all you need in your early twenties.
Build relationships. Yeah. That’s all because it’ll come back to you. All right. Last question, Bruce. I want you to look in the camera. How do people follow legendary? How do they connect with the brand? It’s a eat legendary. com. And of course we’re on Instagram and yeah. And as of course, you know who I am, Bruce E Cardenas on Instagram.
Awesome. And for everybody watching, just so you know, we’ll put the links in the show notes, so you can just click on the link and head right on over. And speaking of the audience, if this is your first time with Mission Matters and you haven’t done it yet. Hit that subscribe or follow button. This is a daily show each and every day.
We’re bringing you new content, new ideas, and hopefully new inspiration to help you along the way in your journey as well, Bruce, man. Thanks again for coming back. Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate you. Yeah.