meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Boss Files with Poppy Harlow

Edible Arrangements Founder: From McDonalds Employee to Global CEO

Boss Files with Poppy Harlow

CNN

Business, Entrepreneurship

4.6538 Ratings

🗓️ 7 January 2019

⏱️ 41 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Edible Arrangements founder Tariq Farid turned a single flower shop selling creative fruit baskets into a multimillion dollar global business with 1,200+ franchisees. An immigrant from Pakistan who moved to the United States when he was 13 years old, he responds to recent rhetoric around immigration and says diversity is key to America's strength. He shares the lessons learned from his first job working at McDonalds and calls for more recognition of small business owners by leaders in Washington. Produced by Haley Draznin, CNN.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

In this episode of Boss Files.

0:02.1

Every day was extraordinary.

0:03.2

But I enjoy those challenges, you know, because when, I guess when you've had nothing and you started with nothing, then what do you have to lose?

0:11.8

You know, so you take the risk and you keep trying.

0:13.7

How a fruit bouquet made edible arrangements founder Tariq Farid, a multimillionaire.

0:19.2

He came to the United States from Pakistan at just 13 years old,

0:23.0

cleaned bathrooms at McDonald's, and then a $6,000 loan to open a flower shop changed everything.

0:29.9

Investors thought his idea would fail, but he knew it wouldn't. Why he says coming to America

0:35.8

was the greatest gift. We're a diverse country,

0:39.2

and if we're looking at immigrants, the contribution has been amazing both ways. I don't think any

0:44.6

immigrant, my parents never forgot it. My father makes sure I still don't forget what this country

0:49.1

has done for us. And I think, look at the greatness of the country where, you know, and from there, let's lead, you know, because the world is changing.

1:01.1

His message to President Trump, immigrants are key to America's economic growth, plus his proudest moment today, having his daughter worked by his side.

1:12.6

Here's my conversation with Tariq Farid. Tariq, thank you so much for being here. It's a pleasure. Thank you for having me.

1:18.1

You have said, I have no doubt my family and I would still be struggling if we stayed in Pakistan.

1:23.7

Coming to America was the greatest gift ever given to me. What has America given you as you look back?

1:33.1

Everything, you know, so I think when it started out, my mom, I remember a moment when I was 13 years old,

1:39.7

and we arrived, and my mother was here for about three, four months. And she said something.

1:44.7

She said, my life has now begun.

1:47.7

And because my great-grandfather came to the U.S. back as a labor.

1:54.9

So they were recruit people from India farmers to come, and he worked in Sacramento.

1:59.8

And there was stories in the family

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from CNN, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of CNN and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.