Anna Lee ’28 Featured on Cleveland News Broadcast The sophomore shared her entrepreneurial journey launching her granola company.

By Lily Caldwell
October 13, 2025

Washington and Lee University student Anna Lee ’28 was recently featured on the Cleveland’s Fox 8 News segment “New Day Cleveland,” where she talked about her new granola company, Dad’s Breakfast Granola.

Lee’s simple and nutritious granola is freshly baked and features healthy, whole ingredients that tailor to a variety of diets. During the news interview, Lee described how she started making homemade granola for her dad and that her passion to share it with others grew into a business.

Drawn to W&L for its entrepreneurship program, Lee applied for summer funding after completing her first year to launch her venture. Through the guidance of professors and alumni in the food industry, she was able to bring her idea to life.

“I am extremely grateful for all the support that I have been receiving from everyone at the Entrepreneurship Department and outside the department as well,” said Lee. “I am especially thankful to professor Jayson Margalus and entrepreneurship fellow JuLee Messerich.”

During her interview, Lee shared the benefits of her air-sealed granola in preserving freshness and offering on-the-go portions. She also discussed her summer developing her brand and selling the granola at farmers’ markets in her area which has been key to her success.

“This opportunity allowed me to spread the word about my business within the Cleveland area,” said Lee. “I even had a customer come to find me at a farmers’ market after she saw me on the news, even though she lived an hour away! I feel so grateful for this experience and am thankful to everyone who supported me.”

Lee hopes to start selling Dad’s Breakfast Granola in Café 77 in the future. She is planning a pop-up event from 2:30 to 5 p.m. in Elrod Commons on Friday, Oct. 24, where students and families can sample and purchase granola.

Lee is working on creating her own independent work major in entrepreneurship which would include a variety of classes from different departments across campus. She wants to continue to pursue her business after graduation.

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